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The King’s Obsession 16
~AkaraA hand on my shoulder jostles me, pulling me out of blissful unconsciousness."Akara. Wake up." It's Tai's voice.For a moment, I'm transported back, to when him and I shared a bed, when I loved him with everything in me, and there was nothing in our relationship to hide from each other. And then cold, painful reality seeps back into me, and my eyes flutter open, seeing his emerald ones looking down at me."What's going on?" I growl, sitting up. Marek is no longer lying asleep behind me, although it's can't be too late in the morning, watery sunlight only just starting to peek through the curtains."I brought you something," Tai murmurs.He steps back, revealing a person standing in the middle of the living room, looking stunned and mortified. The have dark hair and eyes, and can't be very far into their adult years. Whoever they are, it's clear Tai either manipulated them into being here, or is threatening them."Who is this?" I ask warily."Not sure, but they are a Summoner."
The King’s Obsession 17
~AkaraWe didn't get very far.At least we've made it out of the Scarlet Province, from the looming city that terrifies me. But what terrifies me more is sitting in the same space as Marek and Tai. Thankfully they haven't spoken the entire nine hours we have been travelling, preferring to sit in seething silence, which I like just fine too.Rain started soon after leaving the city, but now that dusk has fallen, has turned into a raging storm. We all mutually decided to stop at a nearby village for the night, which may be the only thing we can agree on for a while.Marek stays close to my side as we wander into the inn. It's small, but it will do for one night. I'm eager for sleep too, exhausted from travelling and worrying about Marek and Tai all day.Tai walks up to the front desk, while the rest of us linger back. "We will take five rooms.""I'm sorry sir, we only have two rooms," she responds, gaze darting between him and us. There are three imposing men in here that would terrify
The King’s Obsession 18
~AkaraThe air in the cabin of the carriage is ice cold and tense as we head into the Jade Province.After last night, I haven't felt very much like talking. Tai sits beside me, a manoeuvre he made when getting in that made me want to jab him the ribs with my elbow, but I've kept quiet, not wanting anyone to ask questions.Although, it's painfully obvious something happened last night in our room. Marek has been watching me carefully ever since I got into the carriage this morning.“Everything okay?” he eventually asks.“I’m fine," I murmur, looking out the window.“You don’t look fine," Zavian notes. I turn to look at my friend, annoyed that he is so good at reading me now, that he can see that something is plaguing my mind. Zavian knows what it is like to have something weigh on you.I shrug, letting out a breath I didn't realise I had been holding. “I just didn’t sleep very well.”That's an understatement. Despite being tired, I couldn't stop thinking about the kiss with Tai, and w
The King’s Obsession 19
~AkaraThe weight of the room bears heavily on me, to the point I can't stand it anymore, and rush out of the room.Both Marek and Tai follow me, but none of them know what to say. They could either allow me to live, and turn into an irredeemable monster and completely lose my sense or self, or they could be merciful and let me die."You have to kill me," I demand. If they won't do it, I'll do it to myself.Marek steps forward, looking like he wants to reach out and touch me, but I don't think I could handle it right now. "Akara, don't...""It needs to be done." I'm pacing back and forth, long grass rubbing against my legs. Nothing is relevant in my mind anymore. All that matters is my impending doom, and how inevitable it is. "Tai, you will do it."Tai's eyes widen and he looks disgusted. "You're asking me to kill you?""Do you want to see me become a monster?" I ask. It's like I can already feel the foreignness in my veins. I'm losing control, the feeling of it slipping away from me
The King’s Obsession 20
~AkaraI stumble from the shop, not bothering to hold back and explain to the woman that I'm not a threat to her.I'm a Summoner.Wasting no time wondering how this is possible, I sprint from the village and into the forest. Looking down, I could scream at the sight of hands that don't belong to me, and yet won't go away."No...No," I panic, rubbing them over my clothes, shaking me, doing anything to try get rid of them. I just took her appearance as my own, without thinking twice about it, and now, it seems I'm stuck with it.I don't stop running, even as my lungs burn and my eyes start streaming with tears. By the time Clea's mother's cabin comes into view, I could collapse into the grass with how exhausted I am. I can't possibly be relieved that I'm not turning into a Snow Demon because this fate may not be that much better.I've killed a Summoner.Marek comes into view, stalking back and forth across the front lawn. He's wondering where I am, where I've gone that has taken me so l
The King’s Obsession 21
~AkaraOne month LaterMy fingers dig deeper into the dirt, scattering it about.Time has been moving blissfully fast since moving here. Each day is almost the same, Marek and I having established our home here. I've come to truly love the Emerald Pack, and it's balmy weather and friendly people. I could see myself here forever, away from everything in my past.Physically, my past may be behind me, but each night I close my eyes, and flashes of Tai and Vaia come to mind. What are they doing now? What are they plotting next?Marek has soothed me some nights, running into my room when nightmares plague me.He tells me to move on. But it's harder than that, even as more time passes.We haven’t kissed again since that night over a month ago. There have been moments when I’ve been tempted, but Marek hasn’t pushed me, knowing I need time after Tai."What a nice garden,” someone says, drawing my gaze up from where it was focused on the flowers I’m planting.I lean upwards wiping my sweaty fo
The King’s Obsession 22
*Mature Content Warning*~AkaraMarek returns within twenty minutes.Most of that time I've sat by the window, gazing out into our front lawn, into the street, waiting for something terrible to happen. For the most part, I expected the entire town to band together and come knocking on our door to either kill me, or demand I leave.When they look at Marek, they see a Summoner who is doing their best to avoid using their powers. But if they hear about me, they will know I have no control over mine.I'm chewing on my fingernail as Marek walks in.He pulls his hood back. "It's done.""You didn't kill him, did you?" I ask, eyes roving over his body, looking for evidence of blood, or anything else incriminating. He looks the same as he did when he left, not even a little bit frazzled."No, of course not," he shakes his head, shrugging his coat off. "I just made it clear I would, if he decided to say anything."I sigh. "Marek..."I knew he was going to intimidate someone, and had he come to
The King’s Obsession 23
~AkaraIt's been two weeks since Marek and I slept together. And there hasn't been a single day since that he hasn't ravished me."This is bad," I say one morning over my tea, watching him wander around the kitchen shirtless, preparing breakfast.He leans up against the countertop, examining me. "Doesn't feel bad."No, it doesn't. In fact, it's the best I've felt in a long time. I haven't worried about anything, or anyone. I haven't thought about my life as a Summoner, or whether our neighbours know...I mean, I've been quite content being locked inside these past couple weeks, consistently entertained by the beautiful Summoner.I've only started to think about what we are doing today, due to a horrid dream I had last night about Tai. Now the guilt has seeped in, the harsh reality of the outside world slowly seeping back into the paradise we have made within this small cabin."I know, but anything could happen these days, anything could go wrong," I murmur uncomfortably, blowing at my
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The King’s Obsession 39
~AkaraI freeze, staring at him as the information sinks in."Where is she?" I question breathlessly.Tai's mother survived, or at least that is what I've been believing since I read Tai's journal, and now, this confirms it. I must have figured it out prior to reading the journal, meaning my distrust of Tai during that time was impossibly high."She's staying in the room next door," Grey tells me. "I found out where she was and wrote to her regarding you. Thankfully she came here to speak to you."I breathe out slowly, processing that. This is just what I need, to talk to someone who has a deeper insight about who Tai is."Take me to talk to her," I demand, closing the gap between Grey and I. Maria...I know her name only because Tai uttered it once.He grabs my arm, stopping me from barging past him and out the door. "Woah...hold on. Can't we talk first?""Grey, you need to understand that you and I will never happen, okay?" I tell him firmly. There is no point hiding it from him, tha
The King’s Obsession 38
~AkaraWith a bit of Zavian's help, I've managed to track Grey down.Someone in the men Zavian hired to infiltrate Tai's estate knew of a man who was once asking questions around town about me. From there, it didn't take long to have a note passed onto Grey, who unsurprisingly, hasn't left the Jade Province.And just like I suspected, he came to the meeting spot I mentioned in the note; about a thirty minute walk away from Zavian's estate."I wasn't sure I would ever see you again," he murmurs, coming to stand a few feet in front of me."You were meant to run away." I was hoping I wouldn't see him again. Not because he's apparently in love with me, but because I don't trust him. I need to trust my instincts, even if I don't know what my state of mind was during that time."How could I, when you're here," he says earnestly.I fight the urge to roll my eyes. This love sick act has to drop soon, I mean, he knows I'm in love with Marek, and I'm to be married to the King, and yet he still
The King’s Obsession 37
~AkaraI stare up into Zavian's earnest blue eyes, stunned.“I’m sorry…What?”“Think about it,” he breathes, going to grab my hands, but I pull them away quickly, unsure of his motivations, scared I'm about to be forced into another marriage. Zavian is my best friend, not someone I want to marry. “It would be a way around the law, if you became engaged to another King.”“I…I guess," I stutter. He's right, it could be a way around the law, but how would Tai retaliate? And the thought of this being something different...I've lost way too many friends. I refuse to lose Zavian.“It wouldn’t be for long. Just until Tai is no longer a threat," he assures me, seeing my flustered expression. Despite my panic, I believe him. He knows what I've been through, and wouldn't put me through that again without good reason. And being forced into a marriage with Tai is definitely a good one.I shift on my feet, lowering voice. “This idea is good, Zavian, but Tai is holding something over me.”“What?”
The King’s Obsession 36
~AkaraWe walk for a while, in tense silence.Eventually, Vaia's complaints become too frequent, so we have to stop, dead in the middle of the forest, with no civilization for at least an hour's walk from here. It doesn't bother me, though, because while I'm here, I'm not locked away in Tai's estate, and if I wanted to, I could run in a single direction and get far, far away from him."We are going to have to sleep under the stars tonight," Marek says, shrugging his long hunting coat off, laying it down across the forest floor."We don't have anything to sleep on?" Tai turns in a circle, looking distastefully at his environment.I stare at him blankly.Has he already forgotten what it was like to live in hardship? We did it for so many months together, and he rarely complained. It's as if those moments are lost on him now, having disappeared into an inescapable void."What do you want? To go to a village and maybe be torn apart by people who may not like you any longer?" Marek asks, k
The King’s Obsession 35
~Akara"We should go down and-"Tai grabs my arm, yanking me back from approaching the door. I yelp, wrestling out of his grip, frustrated. He has no shortage of guards who are downstairs, where something dramatic is clearly is happening."Are you insane, Akara? Were you not there for Vaia's rebellion?" he questions. I frown, rubbing where he had gripped me.Of course I remember that night vividly. I nearly died at Vaia's hand, but whatever is happening downstairs feels different from that night. There can't possibly be another Rebellion, right? Vaia is safely locked up, and people are relieved the political uproar has finally settled with Tai returning to the throne."Yes, I know, but-""We need to hide. This could be anything," he says, glancing at the door anxiously. My eyes narrow, realising that this isn't coming out of nowhere. Tai isn't shocked at the estate being attacked again, having anticipated it, because he knows his new motivations have angered people."Anything? But wha
The King’s Obsession 34
~AkaraWhatever headspace I was in before I lost consciousness cannot have been a good one.But I've never been more grateful for my own self preservation.Pacing back and forth through my room, the warning I wrote for myself is scrunched up in my hand. My instincts have failed me. I thought I could trust Grey, that he was nothing more than a victim to my incessant need to get back to find Marek.Marek and I spent the rest of yesterday afternoon checking every inch of that motel room, only to find nothing. The girl at the desk wasn't very helpful either, claiming she had only just started working there, and couldn't confirm whether I was alone that day with Grey, or whether I indulged where I was going."Akara..."I turn, having already felt the cool breeze coming through my opening window, heard the soft footsteps fall onto my bedroom floor. I knew he was coming tonight.Advancing on Grey, I slam my hands against his shoulders, sending him hurtling back a few strides. His eyes widen,
The King’s Obsession 33
*Mature Content Warning! Read At Your Own Discretion!*~AkaraI stare at the old motel. Huh.Nowhere in my memory do I remember coming here recently, but I have stepped foot into this shabby old place before. My parents brought me to this town once when they were preaching, and we stayed in this exact motel, which is how I figured out where it was after my dream about Grey.Marek isn't impressed, standing next to me with his hands shoved in his pockets, frowning.He wasn't reluctant to spend the day with me. When I revealed my motive, however, he was far more sceptical, wondering if my source of information is accurate.I need to see though...I need to come back here and see if anymore memories come back to me, so I can track my exact movements, and determine how I came to kill a Summoner, and who this mother is.And I already waited all week for Tai to spend a day elsewhere so I could sneak out and get this done.Marek glances at me. "So we are doing all of this because of...""A dre
The King’s Obsession 32
~AkaraStaring out the window, I admire the sun setting over the forest as I wrap my towel around me, stepping from the bath.I wish the Jade Province still felt like home to me. But when I look out toward the forest, all I see is hidden memories, and endless amounts of pain and suffering.Out there, Marek is somewhere, hunting down who hurt me. I wish I could call out to him, have him come here and save me. But mostly, I wish I could save myself. All that matters is finding a way to get the antidote for Marek, to save his life, before I start concentrating on how to save my own.Yawning, I wander out from the bathroom, only to see Tai sitting on the edge of my bed."Ah!" I yelp, backing away a few steps."Woah, sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you," he says, holding his hands up defensively. He's trying not to make me panic, and yet I watch as his eyes trail down my body, only covered by a towel. I shudder. This isn't good.I narrow my eyes, wondering how I could physically force him
The King’s Obsession 31
~AkaraI struggle to fall into an effortless sleep, plagued by flashing dreams...or memories.Through the haze of unconsciousness, I can feel someone's lips pressed up against mine, urgent, desperate. But they are unfamiliar, until my eyes open, and I'm looking at Grey.And just like that, my dream sucks me under."I could kiss you forever," he murmurs against my lips. My hands wind through his hair, tugging at the dark locks.I pull back, examining his face. "So you've decided then?""I'll take you anywhere you want, as long as I get to spend all that time with you." He grins, capturing my lips again. I allow him a few more kisses, before I gently push his shoulders back, holding that dark gaze of his. In some universe, he would be attractive to me, but my interests lie elsewhere."Of course. That's the whole point," I say coyly, tilting my head, painting a not-so-platonic smile upon my lips. He won't sleep with me...I won't allow it. But making him think he will is all a part of the
