I hesitantly step through the doorway. It quickly becomes apparent why General Brandon sent me here again. Theo is sprawled on the couch, a half-empty bottle of whiskey by his side. His eyes slowly shift toward me, and I feel a wave of unease wash over me.
I take in the room's state. There are empty liquor bottles everywhere, and I can smell his blood.
"Kaiya!" he greets. His arms open towards me. "Come and join me!"
I glance at him. "King Theo, I–"
"Ah, right! You don't want to. You don't want to have anything to do with me." He chuckles and leans on the couch again. "Any reason you are.... h-here?" he slurs.
He stands up, but instead of taking a step, he stumbles and hits his head on the table. I flinch. So, that's why I can smell his blood. I move closer to him and support him to his bed.
He reaches for my cheeks and peers into my eyes. I pause. "You aren't here because you love me," he whispers. "Or are you?"
"I am here because General Brandon asked me to check on you."
"General Brandon," he muses, as he turns to face me and looks up at the ceiling. "Brandon... such a good friend for bringing you here," he comments after a long silence.
I simply nod my head and move away from him again. I pick up a glass of water and give it to him while he sits on the edge of his bed. Like a child wanting to get my approval, he drinks the whole thing in one gulp.
"You look so pretty tonight," he tells me after he drinks from the glass. "So very beautiful." He brings his hand up to brush his thumb along my cheek. I can feel his rough fingers through my skin and it sends chills down my spine. "Do you remember when you were mine?" he asks with a sudden hunger in his tone.
I take a step away from him, unable to handle this moment any longer. However, he catches my wrist. "Kaiya, I haven't been with Kissa since we arrived from the island."
I look at him. There is an imploring look on his face. "I haven't even touched any of my harem women."
He slides his hold on my hand and presses his lips against my palm. "Kaiya, you are the only one I ever wanted. All the other women with me-they are just duties. Just physiological causes."
My mind is reeling with another of his confession. He didn't sleep with anyone else in his harem? Not even with Princess Kissa? A warm feeling arises from my chest, but I quickly dismiss it. Not yet! Not until I am entirely okay!
"So, please, don't leave me again," he whispers. "Please stay." His voice cracks with desperation. "Please." He pulls me closer to him as he places a kiss on my neck. I stiffen and move back from him, but he catches my other hand and pulls it around his shoulders.
I stare into his eyes, feeling the heat of his breath against my face as he speaks again. "Do you love me?" he asks. "Kaiya?"
"Theo, I told you, I will not leave you. I will return."
"But there is no assurance of that!" he yells at me. "I am afraid, Kaiya." He leans close and whispers, "I don't want to be abandoned anymore."
"I will return, Theo," I promise him, trying to calm him down.
"I don't believe you! The last time you said you would be back soon, you are gone for ten years!"
"That won't happen again."
"It can. For ten long years, I have searched for you. It was terrible. I am lost." He raises his head to me and asks, "I know! Make a lasting vow with me. Same as what you have done with the vampires!"
I sigh. I sit beside Theo and wrap my arms around him. He starts to relax as his arms wind around me.
"I won't make a vow to you, Theo," I start. "I won't create a bond that will imprison us to each other. Not anymore."
"I won't let you go with just a single promise made through words."
"But that's what I am asking of you. You need to trust that I will return to your side."
He is quiet for a while. I look up at him and see his jaws clenched. He places his forehead on mine and closes his eyes, as if in pain. "I need to hear you say that you will return to me."
"I will return."
"No," he says in an almost sad tone. "I need to hear your promise that you will ALWAYS return to me."
I gaze at him and cup his cheeks. I press a chaste kiss on his lips. "I will always come back to you, Theo. Once we are done with the issues in Owusu, I will return to your side. You just need to wait for me."
He gazes at me with hope. "Say it again," he says in a soft whisper.
"I promise you, Theo. I will return to your side."
He kisses my lips and whispers, "Again."
I obey. And so, I promise him again and again that I'd be back to him. My voice chafed with each re-iteration. He clasps my hands tight in his own and releases them only when he falls asleep.
************
I am sitting beside him as he lies on his bed. He is breathing steadily, but I can feel his body heat even though he is lying on his back with a thick blanket covering him. His head rests on the pillow, and his arms are sprawled over my legs. I watch his lips as they twitch in sleep.
The scent of whiskey and blood lingers in the room. My eyes go to the bottles of alcohol by the bed. I turn my head and look out the window. It is the early morning hours.
I think of Theo and the words I said to him. I had promised him I would return and never abandon him again. That I will never leave his side again for long. But for now, we need to separate. I reach for him and brush his hair to the side. It is matted and tangled in places. Ten years, is it? It must have been hard.
I stand up. My eyes move from him to the mess in the room. I shake my head and grab the first thing in my path. And then, I continue cleaning up. An hour from now and his duties will start. I just hope he doesn't have a migraine.
A knock sounds from the door. I open it and see a servant holding a tray of soup and two pairs of bowls and spoons. "For you and the King," she informs.
I take it from her and place it on the table in the middle of the room.
"That smells nice." I turn towards Theo and see that he's already up. He walks towards me and kisses the side of my neck. "Let's wash up and eat?"
I smile at him, glad that he is up and making plans for the day. I just hope he still remembers what we discussed last night. He says that he will allow the mark to disappear.
"You don't have a headache?" I ask.
"I don't think I have," he says as he wraps his arms around my waist and presses his forehead against my shoulder blades. His hands slide down my sides and cup my butt as he brings me closer to him.
I squeal and move away from his hold. "I will wash up first. Go and take your breakfast," I order as I hurriedly enter the bathroom. He pouts, but turns away from me and starts with his soup.
After washing up, I sit beside him. "Theo, you remember what we talked about last night?"
He nods. "Later today, we are going to meet Inanna for the removal of your mark on me."
I take his hands and squeeze them. "Thank you."
He gives me a smile. "I don't feel like answering it with 'the pleasure is mine' because I am still not pleased with it."
I feel guilty about his statement. "The promise still stands, Theo. I will return to your side."
"You better be. Or I will spend the Kingdom's entire fortune to find you," he warns before kissing my lips. "Now, let's eat before I forget myself and eat you instead."
"That's getting pretty old," I respond, forcing a smile.
"It still rings true," he answers.