All Chapters of The King’s Obsession: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

~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

~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

~AkaraI stare out the window, fuming.Tai hasn't explicitly said I cannot leave, but as I came up to my old room, I noticed the guards tailing me, now standing at the door. So much anger is rolling through me, desperate to come out somehow. My hatred for Tai is overwhelming, and yet I can't act on it. Not yet. Not until I have a plan.I begin pacing across the room. It's not exactly like how it was a year ago, Vaia having changed it while she was reigning, and now Tai has tried to change it back. He missed some details, understandably, but it's eerie, how alike it is.As if he is trying to recreate our past.I shiver, looking toward the bed.There's not much chance for me to get any sleep tonight. Marek is in the prisons, possibly already murdered, or about to be. And I'm stuck in this room, staring out at a forest I once adored. I fell in love in this manor.But not to Tai. No matter how much he wants to force me into new situations expecting old results.A knock on the door has me

~AkaraThe prisons are exactly as I remember them.Moonlight only guides me partially down the steps and into the lowest levels of the prison. Thankfully there are no guards down here that bother stopping me, most barely glancing as I pad anxiously by, looking desperately for whatever cell Tai has locked Marek in, that he will hopefully be freed from tomorrow."Marek?" I call out, voice echoing down the long hallway. My eyes trace over the concrete, trying not to step in the muddy puddles as I walk."Akara...I'm in here," he calls out.Running down the hallway, I follow the sound of his voice until I come to his cell. Eerily, I realise it's the same cell Tai put him in all those years ago. It's demented, how he's trying to relive much of the past. I'm not sure why he chose that time though, since I hated him...I just hope he doesn't think that means I'll fall in love with him again."Are you okay?" I ask, peering through the bars.He emerges from the shadows. I can't see much of him,

~AkaraI stare up at the steps leading onto the temporary stage, shuddering.The last thing I want is to be here, in this Jade Province village, expected to pretend like I'm marrying Tai. But if I want any chance of saving Marek's life, I'm going to have to act, until I can get that antidote myself."Take my hand," Tai encourages.I stare down at it, knowing where he plans to lead me. "Do I have to?""Maintaining appearances, right?" He offers a smile, but I don't return it. I've dressed in this ridiculous garb to please him, so for now, I have no other choice but to plaster a smile on my face and gaze up at Tai like he's the love of my life, because we are about to step on stage before an entire village of people.Sliding my hand into his, I allow him Tai to lead me carefully up the stairs and onto the stage, to stand before the people, who merely stare up at us blankly, waiting to decide whether they want to trust us or not.They have survived a rebellion, which cannot have been goo