FORTY THREE

Word Count: 1770

~Akara

I couldn't sleep that night.

Tai wanted to be alone, which I could never fault him for. As much space as he needs, I'm willing to give him, especially since he offered me that in the months after the rebellion, after Marek betrayed me. But once I woke, had breakfast and even lunch, Tai did not once leave his room. Now, evening is encroaching, and I've decided I need to see him, that I can't handle this much worry.

The door handle is icy cold under my fingertips as I step inside the room. In fact, the entire room is cold, the windows open, curtains billowing in the breeze.

On the bed, Tai lies, shirtless and sweating, but completely unconscious. I rush to him, grabbing his clammy hand tightly in mine, his skin burning hot while my teeth chatter with the temperature in the room. Panic sets in deep, as I shake him, but he refuses to wake.

"Tai!" I scream, gripping at his skin to the point I know I'm leaving marks, shaking and slapping him in places to try get him to snap out of this unconsciousness. "Wake up...Please, you have to wake up."

For a frightening moment, flashbacks to Tai on the verge of death from killing the Beast swarm to the front of my mind. The way his eyes are half shut, dark hair plastered to the front of sweaty forehead is exactly like how he was on his deathbed. I try not to let the horror completely envelop me at the thought of his death, that we both have been fleeing from it for too long, and it's caught up to is.

With a gasp, he sits up, pushing out of my arms, nearly bashing our heads together as he does so.

I give him his space, breathing in deeply, trying to quash my panic. "You're okay...I'm so glad you're okay."

"What happened?" he questions, looking around the room as if he had been knocked unconscious by someone else. When he realises it's just me in here, the tension floods from his shoulders, his entire torso bowing forward as his hands fall into his hands.

"I don't know, you were unconscious and wouldn't wake up," I recall, shuddering. I hated seeing that. Does Tai have to go through this every time he sees blood pouring from my body? If so, then I'm not sure how he can sleep at night, since I doubt I'll see a hint of it once again tonight, and this time, it won't be because of Evolet, who still roams lose in the manor.

Tai winces, griping either side of his head. "My head hurts."

"I don't understand," I breathe. "Are you still feeling unwell? Since last talked about it?"

It's not been easy to forget Tai's infliction, since killing the Beast, but it has been made easier considering my own illness. We are both plagued by the consequence of killing the Beast, which is what for being mortals killing an immortal, powerful being. This is nature's way of playing with it's cruel demons, and we are going to die because of it.

"It comes and it goes. I thought I was doing well, that the effects of killing the Beast weren't affecting me anymore," Tai admits sheepishly, although I'm not sure how true that it. Maybe he is saying that to not draw attention to himself.

"Why didn't you tell me you're still sick?" I question, unsure if I'm angry at him...I'm too grateful for him being alright to even consider being mad.

Tai glances down at my stomach. "Because I'm not nearly as sick as you are."

"Why don't you wait here and rest." Not giving Tai a chance to protest, I gently press him back by the shoulder until he is laid flat back against the bed. Still weak, he doesn't move as I lean down to kiss his check. I know what I have to do, even if I can hardly bring myself to do it.

Tai's dull eyes haunt me as I step out of the room, rushing down the hallway to Zavian's.

I only bother with a few knocks, pressing the door open to glance in. "Can I come in?"

Zavian is sitting on his bed, looking up from his book with obvious shock at the sight of me. It's not often I come knocking on his door, even if it's the middle of the day and far from scandalous. He nods, so I slip in, closing the door behind me, wary of anyone who may be listening in.

"Is everything okay?" Zavian asks, looking over me, blue eyes tinted with darkness. "I'm assuming this is about Evolet."

"Believe it or not, it's about Tani blood," I tell him tightly, wincing at how it sounds, and how I intend it to be used. I'm not sure how I'm going to convince Tai, but it's going to include needing to admit that I've been drinking it to keep myself alive. Surely if he sees I'm okay, he will be willing to try, for me. "I need some more."

Zavian closes his eyes, reaching up to delve his hands through his dark locks with frustration. "Don't tell me you're addicted..."

"No. It's not for me, it's for Tai. He's been sick ever since he killed the Beast and survived," I say quickly.

"He hasn't told me." The hurt on his face makes my stomach flip. I want to consol him, but I know secrets are not something Zavian is unfamiliar with, so he shouldn't be surprised at Tai's decision to keep this from him, as much as it hurts.

"And you haven't told him about your addiction," I remind him. He doesn't react, instead looking over my shoulder. "Zavian, are you okay?"

"No," I hear from behind me. Whirling around, I see with horror that I'm looking at Evolet, and an effortlessly smug look on her face. "Seems like everyone in this damn place is dying."

"Get out of here, Evolet," I growl. She is the last thing we need right now.

"Get over it, would you?" she rolls her eyes, brushing past me. I half expect to see Zavian retaliate, with either fear or anger, but he just watches Evolet carefully. He's comfortable in her presence, I realise. Likely because Evolet was once a Noble in this exact manor, but does he not care that she is a traitor? She may be free, but that does not mean she is trusted until she reveals more information, as she promised.

"We need to speak about your hunter boyfriend," she mutters, sitting on the edge of Zavian's bed, stretching her long legs out in front of her. She is out of her fighting leathers, but hasn't opted for her usual attire that she would wear as a Noble.

Zavian gives me a lasting look, as if tellig me to comply with Evolet's wishes. "I'll talk to Tai, you stay."

I want to protest, but instead, I let Zavian brush past and out the door.

"If you have something to tell me, just say it," I mutter. I want answers from Evolet, but not to bear conversation with her for very long.

"I've been watching Marek for awhile now, since he's protecting Vaia," she explains, raising a dark brow. "All I've learnt is that I would be stupid trying to kill him, which is why I've decided to side with you all."

"What do you know about him?"

"I know he visits you more than Tai knows," Evolet taunts, her lips quirking up. A dark feeling weighs heavily in my stomach. Tai knows Marek visits me, knows we have been using it as a way to glean information from him. But can Evolet see my hatred for Marek dissolving away at the edges? Can she see my doubt with Tai's recent behaviour, and how it's starting to haunt me?

"I've been trying to figure out why," I tell her firmly, not wanting her to spin this in some insane direction, make it mean more than it does. "The best way of getting information out of him is staying close to him."

She smooths her hand over Zavian's duvet. "I also know he has been protecting your family."

My heart skips a beat. "How do you know?"

"He lurks outside your village often enough, and Vaia hasn't sent a single person to question your family, or even to kill him," Evolet explains, shrugging casually. The relief that consumes me is so overwhelming my legs nearly collapse under me. "That's very merciful of Vaia, especially considering she's a cruel, evil bitch."

"Why would he protect my family?" I question, less to Evolet and more into the air. I've been too frightened to visit my family, hoping that they would fly under the vadar and Vaia wouldn't send anyone to harm them. To think that Marek has been ensuring their safety is both relieving, and confusing. I want to find him, to thank him, but more so to demand answers from him.

"Because he is still in love with you. That's what fascinates me so much," Evolet muses, examining her nails, which is one part of her she hasn't let ruin.

"Why?"

Evolet shifts her gaze to me, pinning me in my spot. "Because how can he be in love with you, and in love with Vaia's ridiculous narrative?"

"I have no idea..." I draw off. What is puzzling her has been puzzling me for the past few months. Marek acts as though he cares about me, that he never intended to hurt me, and yet he's siding with Vaia, acting as though drinking from the river and giving civilians powers is a good thing.

"It doesn't matter anyway," Evolet sighs, looking unbothered. "She's killing him in...about an hour."

My heart plumets in my chest. "Wait, what?"

"Vaia is having a public execution of him in the nearby village. I think she wants you to see it," Evolet grins.

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If you guys want to read ahead, you can read more of KING'S SEDUCTION on Radish! It's chapters ahead of Wattpad (:

You'll will find it under KING'S POSSESSION on Radish, as season 2!

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I'm officially rewriting Alpha Jasper's story now on Radish! It will be following the same storyline with the same characters, but with revised scenes and some new ones!

I love Jasper's story so much that I wanted to go back and rewrite it. I hope you guys will enjoy it, you can find it now on Radish (:

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~Midika 💜