A King's Seduction ✔️

THIRTY THREE

Word Count: 1810

Time feels as though it's passing at a strange rate.

Over the past few weeks, I haven't had anymore bleeding. I've spent every night being walked to my room by Tai, who would linger at the door frame, ensuring my safety, then return in the morning. The healers still have no idea how I've managed to escape death, and I've avoided sharing how with Tai. He's got enough on his plate recently, he doesn't need this as well.

I lean against the window sill in my room, noting the gloomy weather outside. Low cloud lingers across the top of the forest, crawling through the foliage toward the estate. Somewhere in the distance, Vaia and Marek are living their lives oblivious to what is happening with me.

Would Marek care if he found out that I almost died? He didn't seem to care that Vaia stabbed me in the first place...

A knock on my bedroom door makes me jump. Looking over my shoulder, I'm surprised to see Zavian standing there, looking better than I've seen him be in weeks. I've been incredibly lucky to not have any side effects of drinking Tani blood, including not becoming addicted. In no way do I crave it - in fact, just thinking about how it felt to drink it makes my stomach queasy.

"How are you feeling?" he asks softly, motioning for me to come outside into the hallway. He likes to act like he hasn't been checking up on me, but I know he is as worried as Tai is. If I become addicted to Tani blood, he feels as though it's on me.

"Back to normal," I comment, closing my bedroom door behind me. "I never want to drink that ever again."

Zavian smiles, looking genuinely relieved. "I'm glad to know there are no cravings there."

We walk outside, the mid-morning fog creeping it's way across the formal lawn now, swallowing up the sight of the forest beyond. Shivering, I sit with Zavian on the front porch step, considering running into that fog to not look. Even though I've managed to avoid Kailor, I still feel anxious walking through the halls at risk I'll run into him. Honestly it's the last thing I want.

"Do you feel cravings?" I fold my arms over myself, tucking my cardigan closer against me. There has been a bitter chill haunting the estate recently, settling everyone into a cooler mood. Even Tai has been tense, although I feel like I haven't seen him as much, as he has been working with Kailor, both trying to figure out how to deal with Vaia. I've been at some meeting's, although each time I'm there, not much progress seems to have been made.

"Every waking moment," he admits, looking out across the fog. "It's been a couple days since I've had any, so I'm a little tense. I'm trying to avoid it, though."

I want to tell him he looks better since he has taken a break from drinking Tani blood, but I'm not convinced he wants to hear that from me right now. "Good."

"How was it, with Marek?" he asks. I know he is referencing when I gave myself into Vaia. Memories that I've been trying my best to shun anyway flood me again. Not thinking about Marek recently has been the best thing for me, even if he still creeps into my dreams sometimes.

"Weird," I admit. "I think he actually still cares about me, that it isn't some act."

Zavian tilts his head, looking concerned, but not judgmental with what I'm divulging to him."Does that bother you?"

"Yes...It's easier to hate him knowing he wants nothing more than for me and Tai to fall," I sigh, brushing a piece of lint off my leggings. "Whatever his reasons are, he has nothing against me."

"Yet you still want to be with Tai?" Zavian questions.

I narrow my eyes on him, expecting him to be teasing me, but there is nothing but seriousness in his expression. Maybe he just doesn't know how deep my feelings run for Tai. Marek may not want me dead now, but he still betrayed me and Tai, which I can't forgive him for, whether he cares about me or not.