S I X T Y-T W O

Immediately, Kai regretted his decision. Something punched him in the guts as soon as the King opened the door, and even though his nerves told him to back out he couldn't move, or run, or back out.

So, instead, he mentally took a deep breath and cleared his throat.

"I believe we need to talk, sir," Kai said, trying not to sound too nervous.

Arlo looked surprised at first. He looked passed Kai, expecting to see Iris or just about anyone accompanying him, but it was only Kai.

"I have to say, of all people I didn't expect you to be at my door at this time."

Kai then remembered it was fairly late. Only at night could he meet with Annesa.

"Right. I apologize, I wasn't paying attention. Perhaps tomorrow–"

"No, no, right now is perfect. I don't plan to sleep any time soon."

Kai nodded and linked his hands in front of him. "Uh, here?"

"Sure. Come in." Arlo opened his door wider before walking back into his room. Never had a vampire stepped inside his room, so Kai was more cautious then honored. He shut the door quietly behind him and hovered by it while he watched Arlo sit down on his bed. The color scheme in his room was vaguely similar to Iris's. They both had simple taste. Except his walls were a dark gray and the room itself was much, much bigger. It made Kai feel small as well as ponder why he needed all the room.

When Arlo was settled Kai aimed for a chair that was next to a bookcase. He pulled it away before taking a seat. Arlo chuckled.

"So far away?"

The two were sitting almost on opposite sides of the room. Kai appreciated Arlo's welcoming attitude, but he didn't feel like the situation needed the comedy. He looked down at his hands and sighed.

"Sir, I know you saw us. I feel as though it's me who should talk about it properly with you first." When Kai looked up, he didn't expect the King to have a smile on his face. However, it wasn't a smile he was used to seeing.

"Kai, before you start, let me ask you a question. What do you think I want to hear? Do you want me to hear you apologize profoundly for being with my son? Apologize that you've broken a rule and that you recognize your mistakes? Or do you think I want you to be unapologetic? Be proud that you're with my son and say that, no matter the rules, you care for him and always will? Before you say anything, think about it."

Kai's skin became as pale as ever. Was that a trick question? Was it a trap? Only two options and yet one wrong answer could lead to a doom he didn't want to experience. Kai looked back down and squeezed the fabric on his pants.

Apologize and hope the King will forgive him. Or be proud of who it is he loves and hope the King respects it...

Kai raised his head and stared directly at Arlo.

"I'll apologize for breaking a rule, but not for who it is I broke it for. I can't be sorry for loving your son, sir, I just can't. I'm very honored to be his."

Kai realized that the deeper he thought about the question, the deeper he sunk from the truth. His truth may be different from what Arlo wanted to hear, but it was his decision to answer with his truth, and not a lie.

The smile on the King's face became familiar. An accepting curl of his lips. Kai could recall the first time he saw the expression. It was when he was brought in to become a guard. And the first thing he saw was a welcoming and accepting smile from the King.

It was as indirect as it could be and that's what made Kai let out a sigh of relief.

"Good answer," Arlo said. His voice was careful and reassuring, like a vocal too high would cause Kai's glass-like caution to shatter. "Kai, I've always had high expectations for you. High but not decided. I thought I'd just let you grow on your own and take a step back. I decided not to bombard you with commands until you were in the position I wanted you to be in, mainly because I didn't know what that position was. I can't say your relationship with my son doesn't surprise me but I will say it does bring me relief."

Kai raised his eyebrows. "Relief?"

Arlo nodded. "I feared he'd hate vampires when he grew up. And not acknowledge the.....well, gift he has."

Gift? Kai wanted to ask but didn't say anything.

"Anyway, I wanted him to grow up and be different. I always thought that meant he'll come to make changes in the way a King rules. I'm proud of where he is now."

"Sir, a few days ago Iris wanted to tell you about us. Would you have been accepting then?"

"I'll always be accepting. Not only is he my son but he's following his own path and that's what I wanted him to do. Now that I think about it, it's not that shocking. I did have my suspicions. He was never interested in princesses....or girls in general."

Kai chuckled. "He'll be very happy knowing you're supportive of him, sir."

Arlo grinned. "In the beginning. I have a teasing tendency."

"Can't wait to see his face."

Whatever tension and awkwardness that was in the atmosphere had dispersed into something comfortable and pleasing to sit it. The two talked until it was Kai who felt a yawn build in his throat. He wasn't tired but rather ready to do something else. Or talk to someone else.

While they talked, however, Kai allowed himself to vocalize a few of his struggles. It felt nice to talk about them to someone other than Iris or Sage. Arlo was a logical man but gave sentimental answers. He even shared some of his own problems.

Communication wasn't one of Kai's strong points, so he was glad talking deeply with the King was a comfortable experience.

Kai couldn't thank him enough for his acceptance when he was leaving. The sense of closure stayed with him as he left and he held onto it while nearing Iris's room.

He talked with the King. Next was Iris. He had to talk to him. Three days felt like forever. Now was not the time to be distant.

Kai was not very good at practicing what he preached.

He wanted to stable his mind before he talked to Iris. He was stuck between a raging rivalry within his thoughts. On what's right and what's wrong. What he should do rather than what's expected of him.

Kai also wasn't the best at decisions. So far, he knew he was making more poor ones than good. It was time to fix that.

Hesitating, Kai paced quietly in front of Iris's door. In the empty corridor, the only noise was of his frustrated sighs. Contemplating on a simple action had never been so stressful before.

Finally, he ran his hands down his face and shook away the hesitation. He stepped forward and grabbed the doorknob. Then stopped.

He thought, oh wait, what if he's asleep?

He was thinking so deeply about stepping towards the door he didn't consider how late it was.

But then the door opened.

Kai's hand slipped from the handle and he stood straight when the door opened to reveal a surprised looking Zoe.

His heart skipped a beat thinking it was Annesa. Seeing Zoe with her sister's face fresh in his mind made him realize how similar they actually looked. Zoe, however, looked by far the kindest.

"Oh, hello, Kai."

Still startled by the similarity, Kai gave a small wave instead of greeting her back.

Zoe cleared her throat before smiling. "It was most likely against your wishes, but Iris showed me the dagger," she said like ripping off a bandaid. "It's just what we need for this war." She pulled her dangling sleeve down her arm to reveal her palm. A thick line went across it; red and irritated but healed before their eyes. "We heal much faster than you guys do, but a good fatal wound will have the same effect on both generations."

"Death," Kai clarified and Zoe nodded.

"I know you don't trust me, or any of us, but all my actions are pure. My sister won't stop until she gets what she wants. That's why we need to force it away from her."

Kai's fingers flinched into a brief fist. "Your sister," he said quietly, "is she like you and sticks to her promises?"

Zoe looked taken back by the question. Her shoulder brushed against the doorframe as she slipped passed Kai to get into the hallway.

"I wish we were nothing alike. I'd kill do remove any resemblance I have of her, but we dangerously look alike."

Kai could've said that.

"But...yes. Perhaps it's one of the few things we have in common. I am a woman of my word. As is she." She tucked her hair behind her ear and spared another smile. "But anyway, it was good to see you, Kai. I hope you came to make amends with your prince." Her smile briefly twitched into a smirk before she turned around.

Kai reached his hand out and grabbed her shoulder before she walked away.

"What did he tell you?"

Zoe glanced at his hand then up. " 'It's complicated.' What else do I need to know?"

Kai let go and sighed. Who Iris consults isn't Kai's business.

"One more thing," he says, "what else do you two have in common?"

Zoe flicked her hair over her shoulder. Backing up, the moon caught her sharp jaw and made her emotions sizzle in her oceanic eyes.

"We don't stop until we get what we want. Unless we're forced to then it's a vow we're hell-bent on not breaking." She looked him up and down before saying, "Be careful."

Kai couldn't tell if she was warning him about Annesa or if it was for Iris. Either way, she had a knowing look in her eyes that he didn't like.

He watched her leave before taking a deep breath and walking into Iris's room.

The only light sources came from the lamp on the nightstand and the one on the prince's desk. But the light in Kai's room was on, and like a month enticed by the light, he wandered over to it.

He expected Iris to be inside but the room was empty. Was he even in the room? He looked around.

The window was still bare from Sage ripping off the cover. Kai could see the moon from where he stood. Silver, but like described in a fable, with hints of blue.

Kai flinched at the sound of someone clearing their throat and he turned around to see Iris leaning against the door frame. His heart rate sped up instead of slowing down from the startle. He gazed with an apologetic expression yet with admiration.

"I was wondering who Zoe was talking to," Iris said, skipping to question why Kai was here.

"You showed her the dagger."

Iris stared, unresponsive.

"Okay." Kai realized where this was going. "I know you're upset with me and I get it. I've had so much on my mind lately I failed to consider how absent I've been–even when I was with you. I'm sorry."

Iris tilted his head thoughtfully. He continued to say nothing and only study Kai.  When he appeared to have nothing else to share Iris leaned off the frame.

"Is that it?" he asked.

Kai watched him walk forward. "I'm really sorry." Iris stopped in front of him. "Really really really sorry."

"I don't want your apologies, Kai."

Even though he was in arms reach Kai kept his hands to himself.

"Then...what do you want?"

Instead, Iris made the first move.

"Just you."

And Iris tugged Kai in for a kiss.

***

Sometimes I really hate writing because I love it so much that when I'm unmotivated I get depressed.

Oh, and I'm posting the first chapter of my next book either later today or tomorrow! This story is almost over and I'm finding it hard to write the upcoming chapters. Hopefully spending a little more time on something new will regenerate my motivation.

Update:  What a total lie ^^^ 🤭.

~Nikky