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Author: Midika
last update Last Updated: 2022-06-05 16:27:24

~Akara

The 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
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    ~AkaraI'm so stunned, there is a moment where the man's lips are pressed against mine, before I push at his chest, sending him hurtling back cross the room."Get off me!" I yelp, stumbling backward.The man stares at me, like I'm the crazy one. I've never seen him in my life. He has striking dark eyes, and slightly too long black hair, looking like a Scarlet Province native. He's nice to look at, but there is no way I'm okay with a stranger coming in here to kiss me. And now he's acting like I'm acting out of order."Akara? What's going on?" he questions, looking as bewildered as I feel."Who are you, and why did you kiss me?" I demand. Were he not acting like he's genuinely convinced he was doing the right thing, I may have attacked him, but I'm curious to know what he is thinking. And I know I haven't accidently taken up the appearance of his past lover, considering he has said my name.He frowns, digging his hands back through his hair. "Akara, it's me, Grey.""I've never heard th

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  • 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

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  • The King’s Obsession   33

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  • 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

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