I am lying in bed in a state of half-filled dreams and half-awakened consciousness. I feel a presence beside me and hear the gentle sound of my name being repeated. It sounds like Theo, who should be doing his work as a King, but instead, he is staying in my room. Then I notice the ceiling. This is not my quarters. This is Theo's room.
"I am trying my best to take her out, but she keeps slipping," Inanna says. There are bags under her eyes, and she looks thinner than the last I've seen her.
"But you said that the Moon Goddess failed to reap her..." Theo whispers. He looks so helpless, as if he's trying to carry the pain in my body on his shoulders.
Wait... pain? I feel weak, but there is no more physical pain. My mind is exhausted, and I remember Inanna trying to take me out of my dream state.
"Theo..." I whisper.
Instantly, Theo moves towards me. A look of grief on his face. "I am so sorry, Kaiya," he says softly, brushing a stray strand of hair away from my forehead. "It's all my fault."
I manage a weak smile and reach for his face. He grabs it and allows me to feel his warmth. "It's not your fault, Theo," I say as I slowly remember the tribulations I suffered in my dream state. "The Moon Goddess can't wait any longer."
"How are you feeling?" he asks.
"No pain, but I feel weak and starving."
In my peripherals, I see Inanna go out and call for food.
"I think I have to thank Inanna for that? I see her in my dreams a lot."
"Yes," he whispers. "She's been trying to get you out."
"How many days have I been sleeping?"
"Three days."
I look at my clothes. I am wearing a different one. There is also no blood, but I clearly remember that I bled.
When Inanna returns with the food, she says, "While you are awake, we need to stop the Moon Goddess from reaping you."
"How?"
"You need to get impregnated by Klevon. Or any Owusu, for that matter. Once you get pregnant, it will confuse the Moon Goddess and won't be able to take you. However, once you successfully bear a child, the Moon Goddess will return for you again. But since you have a child, there's a chance that the Moon Goddess will get confused and take your child instead."
"It's never-ending. The Moon Goddess will always be after me," I say.
"Such is the fate of Vessels," Inanna responds.
I glance at Theo. He is not meeting my eyes. "You agreed to this?" I ask.
I watch him swallow before turning his attention to Inanna. "Will you please leave us alone for a while?"
After Inanna closes the door behind her, Theo envelops my hand. I struggle to quell the fear that is rising in me. I can feel it in my veins, like a tide of anxiety.
"Kaiya, I agreed to it. Seeing you like that, close to death, I'd rather let you be with someone for a few nights than lose you forever."
His words rip through me, cutting deep into my heart. I want to lash out at him, yet the words stuck in my throat. Betrayal and pain battle within me, and I can feel my chest tighten as I fight to find the right words.
Instead, I let my tears fall. It's too easy for him to let me go. "Why are humans like this? You don't have any loyalty. You can just give me away when I have no use for you."
"That's not it, Kaiya. I just can't lose you. It's the same when I was with my concubines."
"It's different," I whisper.
He moves towards me and hugs me. I want to push him away. His words hurt, but deep down, I know he is right. I want to resist and deny it all, yet I grab his body and accept him.

***************
After I am bathed and prepared for the night, I am ushered into another room. I look around. The bed is freshly made, and the scent of jasmine is wafting through the air. I can feel the tension in the air, and I nervously take a seat at the foot of the bed.
I glance over at Klevon, who is sitting on the couch. He looks angry. His jaws are clenched, fingers interlaced, and his eyes fixed on the floor.
Suddenly, he breaks the silence. "Even if you are being forced to do this, please know that I won't be able to stop once I start," he warns, his voice low and even. "Do you still want to do it?"
"I have no choice. If I don't do this, I will die, and the Moon Goddess will walk this earth."
"Which means... wars. Kingdoms will be gone, and there will only be the Moon Goddess as the lone monarch, with the werewolves rising in power. If that is the case, shouldn't you be happy? Your life will improve."
"I don't like wars."
He takes a deep breath and gets up. "Then, let's get started."
He moves towards me, and I look up at him. Face to face, we shed our clothes. All the while, he is saying, "Kaiya, this will be different from before." And all I did was nod at him.
Afterward, I make my way to the bed and climb on it. The sheets are soft, and before I can lie down, Klevon crawls next to me.
He looks at me for a long moment. He reaches out and touches my face. "I have long dreamed about this, but I never once imagined doing it like this," he says. "If it becomes unbearable, just close your eyes, Kaiya."
He leans in, and his lips brush against mine. I close my eyes. This is Klevon. Kisses are okay, and the touches are all fine. I should not feel anxious like this. We've done it before. Nothing is different except the actual penetration.
And so, my fears dissipate the more he kisses me, his hands exploring my body. I can feel his hardness between my legs, and he starts to rub against me. When his mouth encloses in my chest, I think of the desire I had for him, back when we were in Duran.
As if sensing that I am slowly responding to him, he moves up to my mouth and kisses me again. I open my mouth this time, allowing his tongue to entangle with mine. He leans in, pressing his hard body against mine.
His hands move lower, and I feel a growing need in my gut. He parts my legs, and his fingers dive into my crotch. I gasp, arching my back as he circles around my clit, rubbing it softly but making sure I will feel everything.
He moves his hands up and down, teasing me until I can't take it anymore. I realize I am panting under the ministrations of another man that's not my mate. He increases his pressure, and I moan in pleasure. He moves faster, pushing two fingers inside me, and I can feel my orgasm building up.
My body trembles, and I claw at his back as I come, my voice rising with each wave of pleasure. When it finally subsides, he gently wipes away the tears that have formed.
"We are not yet done," he says.
Without warning, his lips move downward. He kisses my inner thigh, enticing me with his tongue. I feel a warmth spreading through me. He works his way and teases my clit again. I moan as he brings me to the brink of pleasure again.
As Klevon continues to drive me crazy in bed, I struggle underneath him. "No, no more!" I plead, but he continues to drive me wild until I can't take it anymore. "Just fuck me!" I breathe.
He suddenly stops and looks up at me. He pulls away before snorting and pinning me down on the bed. "Is that so, Kaiya?"
I open my eyes and see that he is making me crazy, but he is not looking as aroused as he was back in Duran. This is something that's not enjoyable for him. I glance at his crotch and see that he is hard as expected. Yet, why is he furious?
Then, he prods at my entrance. He is too huge, but I am so wet that he pushes inside me with little effort.
Suddenly, before he can even go halfway, my body is overwhelmed by a wave of conflicting emotions. On the one hand, I am so aroused that I want to continue and take him in, yet simultaneously, a feeling of repugnance and disgust flood my body. I scream in confusion, unable to process the intensity of these clashing sensations. Fighting against my desire, I push him away with all my might, sending him flying off the bed and into the wall behind him.
Tears blur my vision as Klevon's eyes bore into me. He watches me sadly, and I want to linger to tell him that the fault is not on him but on me. But a part of me can't stand being here another moment, so I hurry and grab my clothes, desperate for someone to rid me of this gnashing revulsion at the pit of my stomach.