FOURTEEN

Word Count: 1711

~Akara

I gape at him, waiting for him to tell me he's joking.

But it never comes.

"Then I die," I decide. There is no way I can take another life to save my own, not when I put myself in a position for Vaia to plunge me into the river. The onus is on me, and I should never have survived the river in the first place, and if it wasn't for Tai's cure, I wouldn't have anyway.

The decision seems easy. I can't possibly go through with this, no matter what anyone says.

But then there is the small reality in the back of my mind that haunts me. The Snow Demon. No, surely that does not count. I have to hold onto the belief that Tai is wrong, that killing a Tani isn't actually a part of saving my life. I refuse to bring this up to him, in case he kills me himself, thinking I'm going to become a monster right before his eyes.

"Uh ah, I'm not letting that happen." Tai looks shocked, like he can't see why I would even say that. Does he not know me at all anymore?

"Tai, whatever you think is between us, it's gone," I tell him firmly. He can't keep thinking he needs to protect me, or that he has any kind of authority over me. "You lied to me. You spiked my drink, you withheld information and now you expect me to kill someone?"

"I saved your life...Akara, you would be dead if it weren't for the cure," he reminds me. He takes a step back, noticing the way his tone is rising.

"She could have lived..." Nakoa says, although we all know it was unlikely.

"Akara may be special in her own right, but not special enough for the incredibly low percentage chance of becoming a Tani," Tai responds. Nakoa scrunches her nose up, holding herself back from retorting back viciously. "And if you did, you would be turning into who knows what. I'm giving you a choice."

I rest my palm against my forehead. "Choice? There's no good choice."

"Becoming a Summoner wouldn't be so bad. They are human looking, they have powers that are only used when desired..." He says with a shrug.

My eyes narrow automatically. He's told me multiple times that because Marek is a Summoner, he can't be trusted, and that he's dangerous. Now, all of a sudden, Summoner's a good, and I should have no issue becoming one.

"I'm not becoming a Summoner," I growl.

Tai tilts his head, a challenge glimmering in his eyes. "Why? You like Marek so much..."

"Don't pretend like you know anything." I'm angry now. I'm angry that after everything that he has done, he thinks he can tell me what to do. It's not as if I believe he doesn't care about me anymore, because I know he does. But I'm not in the headspace to hear it right now.

"You lied to me too, Akara. You acted as though you weren't in love with Marek, that you weren't convening in private with him," Tai exclaims, motioning wildly toward the door which Marek stands behind. "We are the same."

Inhaling sharply, I refuse to let my expression betray me. Part of me knows he's right, but our lies are hardly comparable.

I cannot let him manipulate me.

"Marek doesn't murder without reason," I remind him. He could, if he wanted to. I've seen first hand his magical abilities. He could kill without anyone tracing it back to him, but I've never known him to be like that. In fact, I've never known him to be irrational, or to act on impulse, especially when it isn't right.

Tai clenches his jaw. "I kill one person and suddenly I'm mud in your eyes."

Zavian grabs my arm, interrupting all the thoughts I was moments away from launching at Tai.

"Akara is shocked, for good reason. I mean, so am I," he says calmly. I'm glad he has a better handle on his emotions than I do, otherwise Tai and I may be here all night, arguing with each other as if we weren't just lovers a few weeks back. "Tai, you have a lot to make up for."

Tai runs his hands back through his dark curls, which don't appear to have been washed in quite some time. "Which I will do, once Akara kills a Tani, and becomes one."

"Not happening," I snap.

Because I may have already killed one.

"Zavian, you seem to have become fond of Akara recently," Tai notes, looking between the two of us as if he can see the physical connection of our friendship. "Help me get Marek to the brink of death so Akara can take the last shot, and end him."

Zavian flinches. "No...No that's not happening."

From behind us, the door clicks open, Marek coming to lean against the doorframe. His eyes are blazing with a dark storm of anger, even if his expression is casual, unbothered. I can see the sudden tension arise in Tai from the hunters presence.

"You know I can hear you?" Marek mutters, brows creasing together.

"What do you suggest Akara do? Unless you want her to die?" Tai demands, brushing past me. I follow him with my gaze, worried he's going to launch at Marek and try to kill him. He's not stupid though. Surely he knows he doesn't stand a chance against him without some kind of special weapon.

"You're not helping her deal with that," Marek mutters. "Come on Akara, we should leave."

There is a knowing look in his eyes. He's heard everything Tai has said, and knows that if it's true, then there is a chance I may turn into a Snow Demon. But he too understands that Tai can't know about that, not yet. We need to confirm this first, in case Tai is using this as a way to get Marek killed.

"It's late, and its not as if you have anywhere else to stay," Tai exclaims, looking at me as he spreads his arms out. "Come on, I have plenty of space."

There isn't too much space, only three more doors in here that I assume lead to two bedrooms and a bathroom.

"Not happening," Marek growls.

"Maybe we should. I mean he's right, we have no where else to stay and you told me yourself that this city is dangerous," I bring up. It's not that I want to spend a night in close proximity to Tai right now, but I'm terrified of going out onto the streets in the dark, trying to find a place to spend the night.

Marek frowns. "Akara..."

Zavian steps forward, sensing the growing tension between Marek and I. "We can stay, but only if you explain everything. Starting with why you're here."

"I failed to get my throne back from my sister, and to avoid her coming to kill me at my weakest point, I'm here, waiting out the storm," he explains. He's smart, to come here. Vaia will never be able to trace him in such a large city. But how he thinks he can build himself back after this is beyond me.

I inhale sharply. "You planned for this. You knew I would be put into the river."

"I assumed. The ring dissolves in the river, over time. It made sure the message would get across to you," he says calmly. He should never have assumed. He should have been honest, for once in our relationship.

"Why didn't you tell me any of this?"

Tai's gaze drags over to the man standing beside me, and accusatory look about him. "Couldn't have it getting back to Marek."

"So you never trusted me?" I murmur.

Tai straightens, before sauntering closer to me. Marek tenses beside me, but I shoot him a look. Tai isn't going to hurt me, but admittedly, being so close to him is unnerving. It's like I've forgotten the finer details of his face, the nuances of his scent. It brings back memories, of how I felt only weeks earlier.

"You never trusted me..." he breathes, holding my gaze.

I swallow tightly. "It was never going to work, was it?"

"Akara, I still love you. Don't let any of this fool you," he tells me softly, clearly not bothered that everyone is standing around listening to him confess his feelings. "You're going to kill a Tani, and you're going to save yourself."

I'm not sure what to say, my feelings overwhelming my thoughts.

"Show me to a room, I'm going to need to sleep," Nakoa says after a while. I'm tired too, drained from all the travelling and information I've been trying to sort through. But I'm not sure how I'm going to sleep under the same roof as Tai.

Tai starts pointing to the doors. "You and Zavian can sleep in that room there. Akara and I in mine, and Marek in the hallway."

"I'm not sleeping in the same room as you," I snap. If I sleep in the same room as him, chances are he is going to expect me to sleep in the same bed also. The thought of that makes my stomach twist uncomfortably.

I run my hands back through my hair. "I'll sleep on the floor..."

"You can't sleep out here with him." Tai motions to Marek, who mercifully remains silent, waiting for me to make my decision.

"Tai...Don't start," I sigh, so tired of fighting with him I feel as though I could collapse. "I was running around, on the verge of death while you were here."

"I'm here trying to find a cure," he explains.

"You can't cure something that if your fault. You messed with nature, now you are paying the price," Marek responds, folding his arms over his chest.

Tai pauses, looking tempted to argue back, although seemingly backs off, realising he has no basis to make an argument on.

"Sleep where you want," he mutters, before disappearing into his room, the door slamming closed behind him.

💗••💗

Remember that you can always find this story 10 chapters ahead on Radish (:

You will find it under King's Possession Season Three!!

~Midika 🐼💜