After Kian explained everything to Malak, the latter held his head low in between his legs. He had his hands covering his ears while tears tainted his cheeks.

Malak couldn't, no, he didn't want to believe what Kian was telling him. The existence of another world with creatures inhabited it wasn't why he didn't want to believe it. It was how Kian described everything. He filled it with so many details that Malak's previous life flashed in front of his eyes, almost like a movie. All his dreams now made sense. They were memories of his past life. To add to the realism, his memories also brought physical sensations. He experienced both joy and sadness from major events that marked his life. That also included the pain he went through when the Society of the Silverlight tortured him before killing many innocents, including himself.

It was too much for the eighteen years old. His soul was shaken to the core. Two parts of him were colliding with each other, fighting for the right to rule the body. It filled his head with memories of his past life, while his heart and body were trying to resist it.

“S-stop,” Malak sobbed as Kian took him into his arms.

“I'm sorry,” Kian apologized as sadness tainted his tone, knowing he couldn't do anything to make his lover's pain go away.

“It hurts. My -hic- body hurts. My head is -hic- going to explode,” Malak choked on his saliva as fresh tears dripped down his cheeks. “T-they tortured me. -hic- They used a towel soaked with water to -hic- choke me. Then they cut my -hic- horns. There was so much -hic- blood! I was so -hic- scared.”

Hearing the pain and fear from his loved one, Kian mentally cursed himself. He knew about the danger. But to respect Malak's opinion, he didn't assign him more guards, nor did he confine him into his room. Kian failed to protect Malak, and now he was once again the source of his sufferings.

“I'm sorry, this is my fault. I swear I'll make everything right,” Kian said as he wiped Malak's tears. “Don't think about it anymore. You're safe. There's no need to be scared.”

Slowly, Malak slowly stopped having hiccups and the tears gradually dried up too. Meanwhile, Kian never stopped whispering soothing words.

After a while, Kian tried to move him off his lap, but Malak refused and hugged him tighter. Complying with his wish, Kian lifted Malak, so they could get off the floor and sit on the sofa.

“Anka, she died too. They stabbed her as she tried to protect me," Malak mumbled as he wiped his runny nose with the back of his hand.

“I know,” Kian answered as he hesitated to inform him more of the cruel reality that they lived in.

“Was she buried?”

Kian stayed silent. Anka was Malak's maid and bodyguard, but they were also close friends. They knew each other before he married me. Since she was half panther and half-human, Kian thought she would be enough to protect Malak from mere humans.

“Please, I need to know,” Malak begged as Kian bit his lips.

“The humans… They displayed your heads on spikes as they attacked the city… I never found your bodies… I'm sorry.”

Malak remained silent as the news sank in. “I see…”

While he wasn't conscious of it, Malak started emitting magic particles. Although this world wasn't favourable to magic, Malak still emitted a condensed form with his emotions as a medium.

“Why? Why would they rebel?! We abolished slavery, the principal source of discontentment. We heard their requests and… Why couldn't humans and demons coexist, just like us?”

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Before he could blow the house up, Kian gently covered Malak's eyes and whispered calming words into his ear. He knew it was hard to calm down. Especially when negative emotions polluted everything on its path. But it wasn't the time. Vengeance and answers will have to wait.

“I'm sorry,” Malak apologized after he calmed down. “Nothing can be done about it. It's like we're in the same world anymore…”

“You don't need to be sorry. You were never given the chance to grieve,” Kian gently rubbed his back.

Malak nodded as he silently prayed for every innocent life that was robbed of their life that day. He also prayed for the families that were left behind and wished for their well-being.

For a moment, Malak observed the man he loved. Everything about him was the same as he remembered. Except for one thing. In the past, Kian rarely smiled, but his eyes reflected his true emotions. Today, it was the contrary. All the memories Malak had of this “human” Kian were filled with his bright, cheesy smile. Yet, it never reached his eyes. It pained Malak to know how much he suffered alone.

“You must have suffered too,” Malak said as he took Kian by surprise. “You don’t need to hide it.”

“Not anymore,” Kian hugged Malak tightly as all kinds of emotions overwhelmed him. “You're with me now. For so long, I have waited and searched for you. Finally, you're back.”

Malak closed his eyes and submerged himself in his embrace. It was warm and comforting, just like he remembered.

“Yes, I'm back,” Malak smiled as he searched something in Kian’s beautiful eyes. “I’m not leaving you this time,” he promised, before slowly leaning in for a passionate kiss.

As Kian had his arms around Malak's waist, the young man wrapped his arms around Kian's neck. It wasn't their first kiss, but for them, it felt like it was. Not only their bodies but their souls were finally brought back together.

Needing to breathe, they allowed each other to break the kiss. Panting, they stared at each other's eyes as they shared words of their undying love.

“I love you,” Malak confessed with a shy smile, while a slight blush tinted his cheeks.

“I love you too, always and forever,” Kian answered with an even brighter smile, showing his perfect set of white teeth.

Once more, they shared another passionate kiss as they both let go of all their worries. Right now, having each other was the only thing that matters.

They spent hours in each other's company, simply enjoying each other's presence.

“You haven't changed at all,” Malak said as he had Kian's face in between his hands. “Well, except for the horns and that dark commanding presence of yours,” he caressed Kian's hair as the latter laughed.

“That bad?”

“You didn't even try to hide it.”

“Well, I'm the King and own half of the world. It gives me all the bragging rights,” Kian shrugged. “Credibility is the most important.”

“Ezrel would cry if he heard this,” Malak chuckled before a frown appeared on his once joyful features.

“What's wrong?”

“We will have to go back, don't we?”

Kian sighed before nodding. He didn’t like the disappointment in his lover’s tone. “Yes.”

“What about my family and friends from this world? I can't… leave them.”

“We can't take them with us,” Kian answered without hesitation. “They won’t be able to adapt… It’s too dangerous,” he quickly added.

Tears filled Malak's eyes. “I know,” he cleared his throat before wiping his tears away. “Can't we stay here a bit longer? I-I need to think.”

Kian didn't need to ask to understand. Although he wanted to go back as soon as possible, Malak was attached to this world. It was understandable since he was born and raised here. He was only a normal teenager for eighteen years. They could try to live within this world. However, this wasn't their real home. For Kian especially, he will never be truly happy, but for Malak, he will wait a little more.

“Take your time,” Kian smiled as he caressed Malak's cheek tenderly.

“Thank you.”

“You're welcome,” Kian answered as he silently promised to never make the same mistakes again.

After Kian brought Malak back home, he stood alone in his living room. Now that Malak fully regained his memories, Kian's powers were gradually gaining in strength as well.

With time and great concentration, he created a bird with feathers black as night, similar to a crow from thin air. In a foreign language, he whispered to the inanimate animal. Once Kian finished talking, its eyes glowed red as they came to life. The bird flapped his wings as black dust filled the air. Flying, it flew three laps around the living room before going straight into the fireplace. Right before the impact, black flames arose from the unused fireplace and engulfed the messenger bird.