It's already dark when everyone has boarded the ship. Ami is high-strung and edgy, so I know that something is up.
"Aren't we leaving now?" I ask Elroy when I see him holding a barrel of something. It smells like alcohol. "Where are you going to bring that?"
"The King decided to ah-stay for another night," he stutters.
"Why are you nervous?"
Then, the smell of alcohol is overpowered by the smell of lavender. I turn to look at Theo before he calls my name. I bow my head at him–something he didn't like me doing.
"What are you doing here, my King?" I ask. I glance at Elroy and he is already scurrying away from us. "It's night already. Shouldn't you be with Princess Kissa? Or do you need me to guard you for tonight?"
He takes my hands and pushes a couple of white flowers on them.
"For you," he says.
I look at it. "Lily," I whisper. Its six petals are gleaming and its reddish-brown anthers are still noticeable even with only the night lamps.
"Casa Blanca Lily. You can smell it. It's not poisonous to werewolves," he jests.
"Why are you giving me flowers?" I ask instead. "And why the delay with our departure?"
"I want to talk with you more."
"So, this is a bribe," I say.
"I just feel like giving it to you. It's not a bribe. Besides, I think that earlier is the first time I saw you jealous. So, I feel the need to celebrate."
I grimace. "A bribe to make me talk to you."
He moves towards me and I take a step back. He keeps me in place before leaning his head on my shoulders.
"Kaiya, is it not enough that I have become a King? You said so before, if we will become together, I need to become a King because you only mate with kings."
I didn't respond. Right now, I feel the need to remove his arms around me, or else this mate bond will activate again and I will attack him with my passion.
"You have no idea how much I miss you, Kaiya. When I saw you again in the hunting park, I was happy. When I realized you mated with me, I was ecstatic. When we said our vows again, I can't remember a time when I was happier. Then-"
"But then you hurt me," I supply. "You lied about your harem. You asked to abort our child when I got pregnant. And you make me feel as if I am your whore. I'm not even going to add what you've been doing to me for the past few months."
His arms tighten around me. "I thought we were making a few steps forward."
"And you are ignoring all these things as if they didn't happen. As if I have already forgiven you."
He pulls back from me and peers into my eyes. "Being a King, you know that those are things I need to do. I can't abdicate either, because we will lose our mate bond. Just like what happened with the Duran king. You might mate with another king."
"You are saying it as if retaining the mate bond is your main purpose in life."
"No, that's not it. I just want to be with you. But I can't do that while you are held captive as the Moon Goddess' vessel."
"You knew I was a vessel. I have to add that to your list of infractions."
"Yes, but I am never sure. I just read an account of you stopping the war and thus, not allowing the Moon Goddess to walk in this plane. It will happen soon, and I don't want to lose you."
"We might be able to postpone, but I think it's inevitable."
"I think we have a shot at it. How about we become friends? Allies? Until you can forgive me again?"
"And so you will continue giving me these gifts?"
"Yes, and if you want something, I can-"
"No. Because every time I am close to you, I hate myself."
He pauses before taking my hands in his. After a minute, he brings my hand to his lips and kisses the back of it.
"What if it's just the Moon Goddess making you feel like that? I'm certain she hates me for fooling her. I don't have the genes of the ancient kings and yet, you mated with me."
Suddenly, sounds of fireworks erupt from the sky. It colors the dark sky with its bright green, red and yellow hues. It creates shapes of the sun, moon, and stars as if it is mimicking the celestial bodies. I can also hear the distinct sound of people cheering.
"Seriously, Theo? Fireworks before our departure?"
"That's not me," he breathes. His eyes are also on the sky.
"It's me," comes the voice. I turn towards it and see Klevon. "Are you surprised?" he asks. "The good surprise? I've been planning it for a few months."
I glance at Theo and see him glaring at Klevon.
"Well, my King, can I talk privately to Kaiya?"
"Dismissing your king, you have the gall to-"
"What do you want, Klevon?" I cut him off.
"Good things happen every time I give you a pleasant surprise, so here it is."
I grimace. Right, I should have not kissed him when he showed me that sunrise. Is he expecting that from me again?
"What kind of good things?" Theo urges. He stands between me and Klevon.
"I didn't know kings are interested in the private life of their warriors."
"Kaiya is not just my warrior."
"She's no longer your lover, either. From what I can see, we are both trying to receive her love."
"Her heart belongs to me."
"Why not ask her that?"
The two men look at me. Klevon with an amused expression and Theo with a worried look. I swallow and unconsciously take a step backward.
"Why are you hesitating?!" Theo asks, which only makes Klevon grin.
"If you are freed, and you chose me, we can become mercenaries together," Klevon says.
"Freed?! She's not imprisoned with me!"
"Like I said, why not ask her? If you are afraid to ask her, I will ask." The two shift their attention to me again. "If you are to choose between us, who will you share a room with tonight?"
"What kind of question is that?" I take another step backward and search for my escape. It's already dark. Maybe I can hide in the cellar for a while.
I am about to run away when they both catch my arm. Theo is holding my left arm while Klevon holds my right arm. I redden in shame.
"We need an answer now," Theo insists.
"And whoever you choose, you will spend your night with him."
The two glare at each other again. "Just let me go, you both are acting like a child."
"Choose!"
"It's Klevon!" I blurt out. Besides, if I am with him, he can control himself! With Theo, no matter how much I want to be with him, I am very sure we will be in the depths of our pleasure until morning, it's better to escape that!
Theo's grip loosens on my arm. I peer into his eyes and I instantly regretted what I said. I should have not chosen anyone! His shoulders are drooping and he is breathing heavily. Worse, he looks at me as if I have just betrayed him.
"I… I don't know what to do anymore, Kaiya," he says and walks away.
Even when he enters the hallway back to his room, my eyes still follow him. I hurt my mate again. Why can't we just separate without hurting each other? And so, exasperated, I sit on the nearest bench and look up at the sky.
"I guess I won't be receiving that kiss, huh?" Klevon interrupts and sits next to me. "You chose me and yet, it's obvious to whom your love belongs. He's just too dense to realize it."
"Or maybe he just doesn't love me that much," I whisper.
"Is that why you are making yourself useful? The reason why you are making friends and getting used to living outside? Are you afraid of being thrown away in the future?"
"Humans are like that, right? Once he tires of me, I will be thrown away. He even asked me to abort our child before. That is what he is like. He throws away things that don't matter to him anymore."
"I will not say that you are wrong,"
"I am a bit useful now, right?"
"Honestly, I don't think he cares about you being useful or not."
"Hmm," I mutter as I stare at the night sky. The fireworks are still ongoing, but soon they will end. "Thank you for this Klevon. I am surprised you are able to bring them all here."
"I want to see your reaction. And besides, I think it's about time we talk about what the blind vampire is talking about. You know, about how we are matched?"
"I don't think you should care much about it."
"But I think that if you break the mate bond with Theo, you will mate with me next."
"You are not a King," I remind him.
"I am not, because I rejected the position. But I have the genes for it."
I look at him and make a small smile. "If that is the case, you will need to have a harem of your own, too. And then, I will hate you."
He laughs. "I think there's no difference. I have a harem back in Pitchford, and you hate me now."
I snort. "So, there's no need to change the status quo, right?"
"Right," he agrees.
Then he places his hands over mine and we smile at each other. He leans forward and I close my eyes. He places a chaste kiss on my lips before pulling back.
I am still looking at him when he grins and says, "Thanks for the reward. I think I will really have a fetish for doing these things for you."