¬Akara
I only allow myself a moment for the information to sink in before I’m out of bed, ignoring the slight protest in my stomach from my room.
Marek...or Marek as Tai isn’t in the hallway when I open my door, having vanished into the depths of the estate where he will never be found, able to get back to Vaia with no issue. I don’t even want to think about how I kissed him, convinced it was Tai. Fighting the urge to panic, I run down the hallway, heading straight toward Tai’s office.
Thankfully he is there, as I was half convinced he would be down in the cells, dealing with Nesrin. He looks up from where he was staring at his desk, looking over me, clearly not expecting me to be up and walking so soon after my wound re
¬AkaraThe sunlight bathes my back, warming my senses.I had to get out of the manor. Even the chance of seeing Kailor in person makes me feel sick to my stomach, not to mention I’m still wary of Tai. He’s been avoiding talking about what happened with Marek, like he knows he is guilty of it, but doesn’t want to have to explain it. I’m blaming it on the stress we are all under, the desperation for this all to end...But I can’t help but wonder if it’s worth it, if I’m hoping once it’s done Tai will be back to normal again.Wrapping my hand around a bunch of wildflower stems, I pick them, placing them in my wicker basket. This pretty meadow that flanks the estate is the only place I can get to witho
*Explicit content at the end of this chapter, read at your own discretion!*¬AkaraI find my way back to Tai’s office after many hours waiting for him upstairs. By the time the sun had set and he hadn’t made it to dinner, I decided to seek him out myself.Sure enough, he is in his office, slumped over his desk looking down at a mess of paper on his desk. It smells like him in here, for all the amount of time he spends in here in comparison to anywhere else. He probably had his dinner summoned down here so he doesn’t have to step away from here. As much as I understand how dire our situation is, it still hurts my heart knowing he’s done here so often.
¬AkaraTonight, there is going to be no chance for me to avoid Kailor.Tai has already told me I can stay in my room tonight and not go, but the entire purpose of this event is to appear normal, so news will get back to Vaia and she will think we are no longer bothered by her rebellion. It’s a long shot, but we hope her guard will lower as a consequence, which means that as much as I don’t want to, I’m going to have to go. It’s held downstairs, in the ballroom.A knock sounds from my door, making me flinch. I’ve been awfully jumpy recently."Come in,” I exclaim mindlessly, pulling my hair back around my fa
~AkaraThere’s a cold, deathly silence as everyone drinks in the sight Evolet, and the knife in her hand.She has a disturbing grin on her face, her straight white teeth glinting under the chandeliers light. She doesn’t wear much, aside from a skin-tight black jacket and pants, making it easier for her to sneak in here undetected. A hood is pulled over her head, hiding her newly cropped hair, the extravagance of her once Noble look gone. She looks near feral.She looks around the room, at the stunned, terrified faces. "I'm waiting for my applause..."Nausea, fear and anger all churn in my stomach as I
~AkaraI 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 t
~AkaraI ran all the way there.It was easy to ignore the painful burn in my chest, the way my legs ache and protest as I push myself to continue running through the forest toward the nearby village. My mind is clouded, thinking of Vaia and her plan to have Marek publicly executed. Evolet could be lying to me, but I know in my heart that’s not true. Marek could already be dead, but I need to do something…Vaia’s voice echoes loudly through the forest as I approach, taunting me, knowing that I’m going to attend this. If this is a trap, then I’m running right into it with no remorse."Some
~AkaraTai didn’t have much to say to me the next day.I don’t have to fake my mourning, even if it’s not for the reason Tai thinks. I’ve decided not to tell them Marek is still alive, convinced he is going off to live his life elsewhere, away from us all. The thought of that digs a hollow pit in the bottom of my stomach, even if I know it’s for the better. I’ll let him have his freedom, the life he wants to live without involving everyone else in it.Early this morning, Tai enveloped me in a long embrace, but hasn’t offered any words to soothe me. He doesn’t know what to say, since Marek and I’s relationship is complicated. I don’t resent him for it though, understanding that the supposed
~AkaraI twist the ring Tai gave me around my finger anxiously as he slides into bed next to me."What if something happens to us while we are in there?" I ask mindlessly, staring out the window. It’s been awhile since I joined Tai in his bed, and I’m not sure why it hasn’t been more frequent. Sleeping in the same bed means we have to talk about everything going on in each other's heads, and that’s harder than I would like to admit.He turns, wrapping his arm around my shoulder to tug me in closer to him, which I welcome. "I don't care what happens, as long as you get out of there alive."