Having survived the River, Akara wakes alone, and with a decision to make.
Find Marek, the mysterious hunter who saved her life through deception and lies?
Or find Taius, the King, who's lies are coming to the surface.
And through the decision on...
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Word Count: 1791
~Akara
I stare up into Zavian's earnest blue eyes, stunned.
"I'm sorry...What?"
"Think about it," he breathes, going to grab my hands, but I pull them away quickly, unsure of his motivations, scared I'm about to be forced into another marriage. Zavian is my best friend, not someone I want to marry. "It would be a way around the law, if you became engaged to another King."
"I...I guess," I stutter. He's right, it could be a way around the law, but how would Tai retaliate? And the thought of this being something different...
I've lost way too many friends. I refuse to lose Zavian.
"It wouldn't be for long. Just until Tai is no longer a threat," he assures me, seeing my flustered expression. Despite my panic, I believe him. He knows what I've been through, and wouldn't put me through that again without good reason. And being forced into a marriage with Tai is definitely a good one.
I shift on my feet, lowering voice. "This idea is good, Zavian, but Tai is holding something over me."
"What?"
"Tai's injected Marek with a poison that releases when he desires. Only he has the antidote," I tell him. Ever since he told me I've spent each night considering where Tai would keep such an antidote. I've checked most places, but knowing him, he has a secret spot for all his new technology that he would never tell me about, whether I got him to trust me or not.
I was his lover at one point...I thought we would be together forever. And he never thought about telling me all his secrets.
"And you believe him?" Zavian asks, eyeing me sceptically.
"Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. It's hard to tell," I say. I sound ridiculous, believing a man who has lied to be multiple times, but what if I call his bluff and I'm wrong? I wouldn't be able to live with myself.
His eyes narrow. "Are you sure? I don't trust that."
"He's lied to me before, definitely. But I can't talks a risk. I mean, it's Marek." I motion up the stairs, where I know he is lying in wait, wondering what Zavian and I are talking about. Marek is just too important for me to risk.
Zavian nods, thankfully understanding. "Soon, Tai is going to hit the Scarlet Province with his weapon, and it won't matter anymore."
"We can stop it, I'm sure we can."
"I have people in his estate. I'm going to find where he is keeping this weapon, and I'm going to dispose of it," he assures me. I have doubts about his men being able to find it, considering Tai's other secrets remained hidden for quite some time.
