Novels2Search

Chapter 18

Kaid half expected the Empress to be gone by morning. Yet, pressure and light weight on his chest proved otherwise, along with the warm and steady breath near the nape of his neck. How often the past two years he’d have to use pillows or various blankets to mimic a presence beside him, her presence specifically. He wouldn’t have to do that much any longer or perhaps ever again.

“You’re awake,” she hummed, almost making Kaid flinch with fright at her being awake. Then again, it was always a rare occurrence Kaid would wake up before his beloved, given sleep never came easy to her.

“How could you tell?” Kaid asked out of curiosity, feeling her stir on top of his chest further closer, despite the gap already being minimal. She didn’t answer right away, instead let her lips meet his in a gentle, good morning kiss. Her lips then peppered across his jaw and cheeks, wanting to kiss every inch of him.

“Your heartbeat accelerated,” she replied, pulling back slightly to admire him, her fingers tracing the growing facial hair around his jaw. He was right, it was growing back fairly fast.

His fingers moved up and ran through her hair, tucking a strand behind her ear, “Did you sleep okay?”

“Wonderfully, thank you. I missed laying on this rather comfortable pillow,” she smirked, her blue eyes staring lovingly into his brown ones.

Blue and brown eyes were just meant to be. Her blue eyes symbolized the ocean blue waves in all their treacherous glory. Their waves crashed against the earth, the brown sand or dirt. The ocean could not exist without the earth beneath it, and the earth would be a parched landscape without the moisture of life that was water.

Kaid’s morning, hazy thoughts were interrupted with a playful, gentle slap of her hand across his cheek. He glanced up at her with confusion, still seeing that look of love in her eyes.

“Don’t ever do what you just did last night again,” she demanded, her voice soft and playful but she was making it clear she was also very serious about the matter.

“I’m sorry. I just thought I could help and-”

“You did. You did Kaid. Gods, you gave me something nobody else could even dare to try. But the last time you did something like that for me, it was almost at the cost of your life. You made me worried sick,” Jessamine explained her worry, “promise me you won’t do that again.”

“I promise,” he nodded. He understood her worry, the same worry his mother had possessed as well. There was a huge risk of unknown in bringing Jessamine there. He didn’t know much about this void, and her arriving had brought some unwanted trouble. Trouble Jessamine didn’t need to know about, yet.

He rose up slightly, excitement in his eyes, “So, what did you talk about?”

She couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm, a burst of warmth hitting her heart. She truly felt she didn’t deserve him.

“Just…the burdens of the past. Burdens that are no longer so heavy, thanks to you,” Jessamine sighed, but didn’t want to get caught up in that, “She mentioned speaking with you…that you even bowed to her.”

“I did?!” Kaid looked distraught and embarrassed, “I mean, she was the Emperor’s wife I suppose that still makes her royalty.”

“And if you are to be my husband, will people bow to you?” Jessamine inquired, seeing his face blush a fury of red.

“I-I, no!” Kaid stammered, rather surprised at her words. Gods, only she could really twist his tongue, make him act like a real, righteous fool. But there was no shame in being her fool, in making her laugh, smile, and smirk.

Jessamine knew more than anyone else Kaid hated any sort of attention. Even when he was the special guest at her own birthday celebration, he had diverted most of the attention to her if he could. She didn’t blame him. For a man who was so unseen for thirty years in Caladin, to be in the spotlight for an entire Empire was toiling. She’d relieve that burden whenever she could.

“She really likes you, by the way. As I knew she would,” Jessamine kissed his lips deeply, letting herself linger there. She could feel the heat radiating from his cheeks against her own, not before feeling his tongue gently pry.

“My mother likes you too,” he admitted in a mumble. The words surprised Jessamine who pulled back, sitting across his hips. He noticed her reaction and wondered if she had gotten into her own head about that as well.

“I…are you sure? She wasn’t just saying that to please you?” she asked.

“I think in the beginning she was a bit distrustful. She did not want to see me hurt again,” Kaid explained, “but you’ve grown on her. She can see how strong you are, strong enough to become the person you’ve always wanted to be, with or without me. And she’s seen how much you care for me. The world would have hunted me down, but you are the interlude after the Time Paradox. Despite thinking the song was over, you continued, expecting a beautiful chorus to arrive.”

“Arrive it has,” Jessamine whispered with an assured smile.

A gentle knock at the door interrupted them, the couple glancing that way.

“Kaid? It’s late in the morning, you’re going to miss breakfast if you don’t get ready soon. We don’t want to be late to our own tour, mind you,” Mara’s voice echoed through the solid, decorative wood.

Jessamine let her finger delicately run over the sensitive part of his midriff, drifting under his linen shirt to tangle at the beginnings of his pelvic hair. He squirmed slightly, giving Jessamine a disapproving glare, but remembered that it was minor revenge for their mishap in the Uhkhtarian bath house.

“I’ll be fine. I’m not that hungry. I need to clean up-” Kaid spoke before immediately being interrupted by the sensation of Jessamine gently rutting her hips against his. An immediate flush of warmth spread to his cock, unable to resist the feeling this time.

“Well, you didn’t eat much last night. Do you need help getting ready after?” Mara asked.

Kaid answered immediately, “No, I’m good. Thank you.”

There was a soft pause, Jessamine rolling her hips again and Kaid’s eyes narrowed at her. Before feeling the perfect brush against his clothed semi-erect tip. Jessamine only held a mischievous smile, before giggling quietly at his reaction. Kaid moved his hand to grab her hand away from his shirt, as if trying to knock her off balance but she immediately shoved his hand away. Which only inhibited more giggles from her lips.

Kaid almost assumed Mara had left until she spoke again, “You haven’t heard from Jessamine have you? Is she doing alright?”

Jessamine could feel Mara’s burning curiosity from behind the door. It was clear and obvious Mara knew the two were back together, unlike most. She was quick to pick up on that, somehow. But there was no malice held for that truth held in Mara’s heart. If anything, she was glad the two were reunited, all thanks to her.

“No, she’s-” Kaid was immediately interrupted.

“I’m quite fine, thank you Mara,” Jessamine spoke over him, seeing the shock in his eyes. She could also feel the immediate curiosity Mara held wither away as embarrassment overtook her.

“Right, sorry! Didn’t mean to interrupt,” Mara was quick to leave. Yeah, she’d need a lot of breakfast to distract her from the gross thoughts invading her mind. She should have known better to give the two some privacy.

“I thought we were keeping this a secret,” Kaid rolled his eyes at Jessamine, moving to sit up but she shoved his shoulders back down.

“Mara’s good at keeping secrets. Besides, she already knows,” Jessamine shrugged.

“I mean, she knew we kissed but she didn’t need to know that we’re fucking,” Kaid retorted.

“We aren’t fucking…at least not at the moment,” she teased, seeing him roll his eyes. But that grin of his appeared, his muscles relaxing underneath her as if he just surrendered his body to her.

“If we both show up late to the tour, people will talk,” Kaid felt her tug gently at the edges of his shirt. Despite his words, he was quick to lift off his shoulders, raising his arms for her to dispose of such a garment. He wouldn’t need a night shirt for any night much longer with her to keep him warm.

“As if they already don’t. But you’re right,” Jessamine sighed, planting her palms gently across his chest as she rocked her hips in a steady motion, “I suppose we will just have to make this quick.”

The main city of Vitross looked so different than Alec remembered. When he was young, the city was divided by the three districts with clear distinction between upper, middle, and lower. Now, he could hardly tell which was which. The entire infrastructure of what used to be the lower districts were no longer rotten wooden homes or unstable structures. Limestone streets were everywhere, followed by gray or white painted homes even in the darkest parts of the city.

The harbor had changed from an eastern hub to western, the new harbor wall dividing the ocean with the city still barely frayed by water erosion. It must have been Jessamine’s solution to all the chaos of the Time Paradox and flooding. With the view in front of him so different, he almost believed he was in a different home entirely. A change like this conducted in only just a decade alone…imagine what this place could look like in a century.

But, not every ruler would be so benevolent as Jessamine had recently.

Kiev greeted Alec with a warm smile, adjusting the gloves for his uniform given the cold morning that it was, “Don’t you just miss that sea smell?”

“It doesn’t smell so foul anymore,” Alec smiled in return, “Is it just you for protection? Surely we will need another five or six guards with us to keep us safe.”

Kiev laughed softly at that, “Oh, we shall be just fine. Jessamine does not like wandering around with a protection detail. I have plenty of guards stationed in the city at specific locations. But you will find there is minimal danger. Besides, if anything does happen, the best fighters in all the Continent are present: you, me, Kaid, and the Empress herself.”

Alec watched as Kaid walked down the steps, dressed in a royal velvet colored kaftan. It seemed like he never wore the Lord Protector’s uniform, as Alec remembered Payne wearing it all the time. It was supposed to be tradition, a show of strength. Yet, Kaid somehow got away with wearing whatever he pleased. It made Alec clench his jaw in disapproval, knowing a lot of tradition had been disregarded since he left.

“Morning,” Kaid greeted them both before making his way to Mara.

“You are lucky I did not have little Kai go to wake you this morning,” Mara whispered, crossing her arms. Her body language gave off an appearance of annoyance. But really, she had a small smile on her face.

“Sorry,” Kaid sheepishly winced, “we want to keep it a bit hushed for now. Jessamine already has enough on her plate and she doesn’t want the unneeded attention.”

“Right. It does give off a bad appearance to break off an engagement with the Lungor heir and immediately sleep around with her Guardian…” Mara hummed. Well, when she put it that way, Kaid didn’t realize how bad that might sound. Even worse if they knew of the minor relation between her two suitors. “You two are entitled to your privacy…especially already knowing just how little you have. Your secret is safe with me.”

“Thank you,” Kaid smiled.

Mara paused for a moment, Kaid observing her eyes watching behind him. Kaid slowed time to a halt to level her eyes to whatever she was looking at: Alec. And Alec was still in conversation with Kiev, yet his ocean blue eyes were watching Kaid’s backside. Mara held slight malice in her passionate eyes, one Kaid knew couldn’t be dampened easily.

“Easy…” Kaid warned lowly, “give him some time.”

“You may have easily forgiven him for your hand but I haven’t,” Mara bitterly retorted, “and I heard he upset Jessamine, which should irk you.”

“It does,” Kaid gritted his teeth for a moment, “but the situation is complicated. He is complicated.”

“Every one of your enemies are,” Mara sighed.

“He is not my enemy,” Kaid dejected the notion. Yes, it was clear they didn’t like each other. But Alec was nothing like Payne. While Payne had been more subtle in his physical prowess and ability, it was clear Alec was trying. Something must have happened in the gap of time between him leaving Vitross and now returning, something to call him back here.

“Well I’d demote him to a rival, but that would acquaint him with being on the same level as you…”

Kaid ignored that comment, instead glancing over at Kai who lurched over a break in the wall to glance at the city, “Are you excited? There are plenty of fun things to do in the city.”

“When can I go sailing?!” Kai asked excitedly.

“Well, it sounds like he’s a Vitross citizen already,” Jessamine walked over, smiling at the boy, “we will get those sailor legs into shape in no time. We can visit the beach later today.”

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Kaid was surprised to hear her soft voice, not hearing her greet Alec or Kiev who stood towards the side. Given Alec’s reaction, Jessamine had completely disregarded her brother. Good. Kaid knew an apology was needed, and Jessamine made it clear she wasn’t quite ready to hear one anyways.

“The tides are strong during this season, perhaps in a few weeks,” Kaid smiled, running his hand through Kai’s hair who glanced at the Empress with a smile.

“Well, I do prefer this weather compared to Uhkhtar. I swear, I’m still finding sand everywhere. No offense to your home, Kaid,” Mara laughed.

“This is my home,” Kaid retorted, feeling Jessamine’s knuckles brush his own, “and I am happy to share it with you both.”

Home was such an odd term. Some considered it just an abode of living, a house, a structure where one could rest, eat, or enjoy lovely company. Other’s took a more natural aspect, finding the sea, sand dunes, or snowy mountains as a comfort for home. Kaid, well, he never pictured home as something physical. Otherwise, Caladin would have been his home, which was anything but homely. Uhkhtar had been friendly enough, but he always knew it was a temporary sensation.

His home was with his friends and his Empress.

“What are we waiting for?” Alec asked Kiev, a bit too loudly as the others heard.

“Sorry we are late!” Christine and Kassandra shouted at the top of the stairs, holding hands as they made their way to the rest of the group.

Alec found another stray from tradition. Christine was an outsider, yes, but she was a seamstress and nothing more. She didn’t have much influence on politics as she’d thought. The fault lay with Kassandra. While it was clear from appearance she was of Vitross descent, it wasn’t the aristocratic kind.

Payne had allowed Jessamine to bring forth outsiders into her council. Why? Did Payne believe it would make no difference as he had full control over Jessamine? Or did he too believe her picks to be faulty, unwise, and most of all, an infiltration?

Jessamine smiled at the presence of her friends, Christine giving her a warm hug knowing the uncomfortable day she had yesterday, “You doing okay?”

“Yes,” Jessamine answered with a soft smile, knowing she felt much better this morning than the entirety of yesterday, “thank you, I feel horrible for leaving you all during dinner-”

“Nonsense. There will be plenty of dinners to come,” Mara interrupted.

Jessamine felt relieved that nobody seemed upset about the outburst and disappearance yesterday. Well, beyond her brother. She wasn’t quite ready to face him, nor did she want to be seen as forcing him to apologize. Knowing what she already knew to happen this morning, she knew he’d need time. Time to adjust, time to really take in her work, and also time to realize he had to start anew here.

Things were definitely not the same since he’s left, and while he might think his disappearance had left a mark wide enough for his return to be celebrated…he’d be wrong.

One person’s re-appearance was quite celebrated, however.

Kiev led the front as the gates opened, already a small crowd awaiting upon hearing the news the Empress would be going around the city with some familiar faces. Kaid watched their eyes light up with joy, as if the sight of their Empress was an inspiring one. Two years ago, Jessamine had to hide behind long dresses and head coverings to get a sense of her people’s problems and desires. Two years, there was a frightfulness in having an Empress not willing to hear their slights. Now, she walked among them as if she was just like them, no mask at all to shroud her honest eyes.

“It’s Kaid! Kaid!” murmurs in the crowd shouted at seeing him.

Kaid immediately grew shy at the sentiment, like a young boy destined to be prince, hiding behind someone's shadow to avoid any attention. But despite that shy tendency, he held his head high, trying not to smile too much or that strong persona would shatter. It was clearer than the gray, dark sky that his sentiment here was still positive, that the Time Paradox did not change that.

Jessamine was too busy to really notice the chants for Kaid, near the front with Mara and little Kai to show them around the main courtyard area. Jessamine even held little Kai’s hand around, showing him his new home and all the other kids he could play with if he so wished. What Kai saw was unlimited possibilities, a rare emotion for a child to feel. Kai felt he could be whatever he wanted here, follow his ‘uncle’s’ footsteps, or be someone else entirely.

Alec watched in dismay at everything. How close people got with Jessamine, commoners touching her hands with warm wishes, or how Jessamine would eagerly move to hear people’s problems. Women fawned over Kaid’s presence, blushes hitting their pale skin if his eyes met them with a warm smile. It all felt like a parade of mockery, not to showcase power or strength, but to humiliate Alec.

It didn’t seem like a single soul recognized him in the crowd. They thought he was an understudy or acquaintance of Kiev, who also got a fair amount of attention but mostly with his own men.

The rage Alec felt building was intoxicatingly bloodthirsty. He wanted to show these people who he was, become unforgettable in the most gruesome way possible. He could feel his father’s voice in his ear, hearing the dismay and disgust in what this city had turned into. But then he swore he heard Zarya’s voice carry in the wind, the words unrecognizable. The sensation of a chill across his neck was enough to shake the feeling of violence away.

For now.

“Lord Protector!” Barnett shouted at Kaid, approaching him with a few other fellow guards, “The mighty savior of time returns!”

“Barnett,” Kaid greeted him warmly. He remembered the first time Kaid had walked this city, straying away from Jessamine momentarily. Of course the situation had become a bit of a racial, miscommunicated spat between Kaid and the guards. But Kaid had forgiven Barnett, given his instigator of a friend was no longer influencing him. Influence weighed so heavily here in Vitross, but it was no longer dark.

“The Empress told us all that the Time Paradox took a toll on you. Are you alright?” Barnett asked.

“Yes, with some rest and time away I’ve been able to recover well. When Jessamine gave me the offer to return, I must admit, I was skeptical at how I’d be received,” Kaid admitted shamefully.

“Nonsense! You’re a hero!” another guard laughed.

“Yeah! We heard what you did with Pestilence, how you protected Empress Jessamine, lost your hand, yet continued to fight and killed him!” Barnett laughed, “Kiev is inviting us all for drinks tonight, apparently with Alec, would you like to join us?”

“I’m flattered, but I’m afraid I have a lot of work ahead of me,” Kaid smiled, taking the moment to do some investigative work, “did you know Alec well?”

“Well, we were more acquaintances than friends. Alec didn’t have a lot of friends, by choice. I think it is a Kruzika trait, keeping a small number of friends close and giving distance to everyone else,” Barnett answered, “But, his return doesn’t change anything. If he can help the Empire, then that’s all that matters.”

“Agree…” Kaid nodded, “well, I’ll leave you to your drinks. Just don’t oversleep tomorrow.”

“I won’t, if you promise to spar with us tomorrow,” Barnett teased.

“Hm, maybe I will take you up on that offer,” Kaid laughed softly, letting them walk away towards Kiev. When Kaid looked around for his friends, he found Mara and Kai at a market stall, observing some wooden carved toys. Kai was eager for a sword, already wishing to fight. Ironic how Kaid would do anything to ensure that boy avoided a fight at all cost, yet boys his age rushed into the ideas of adventures and battles. As long as it remained a fantasy, then the toy would remain just that and not become a tool.

Kaid took a moment to find Jessamine, seeing her bent down near the edge of an alley. Her hands held frail ones, seeing an old, withering man on the ground, begging. His heart stopped at the sight, his eyes wetting at feeling the proud sensation come over him. This was the Jessamine she had always wanted to be, the one he had seen even if her darkness tried to shroud it all.

Kindness was always mocked. Always. That’s why people strayed far from it. Jessamine had already faced a mountainous volume of mockery all her life, especially when she became Empress. Her shield for such was to turn cruel, to use fear and power. Power and fear could never be mocked, and that’s why she liked it to protect herself. Now, she didn’t care about the mockery. She had seen those mock Kaid for such kindness, and now used it against them.

When Kaid first met her, there was something seductive and alluring about the fear she caused, about the power in both her lineage and Oblivion. Nothing was as beautiful and lovely upon seeing her kindness right now. He felt like he was falling in love with her all over again.

“Do you have anyone to help you to the Eastern Courtyard? There is a shelter there, warm beds and food if you need,” Jessamine whispered quietly, not caring about the dirt that stained her dress as she sat on her knees.

“Yes. I’ve been there. I just wanted to see you,” the sweet elderly man smiled.

“Well, what can I do to help?” Jessamine asked, observing his hands before infiltrating his mind, only slightly, “Are you a knitter? Do you like to knit?”

“When I can, yes Empress,” he nodded, “my hands get shaky but…I try when I have the right tools.”

“Well, see my friend over there wearing the blue saree? How about we commission you to make some knitted sweaters for the orphans this upcoming Winter? We will give you all the supplies and tools you might need, and you can work at your own pace,” Jessamine suggested, eager to find a solution.

She could see the man’s eyes light up with delight, nodding eagerly.

“Yes, Empress,” the man had slight tears in his eyes, “That would bring me joy.”

“Then it shall be done. I will have Christine deliver some tools to the housing for you and we will pay for every sweater finished,” Jessamine smiled.

“Oh, thank you Empress. Thank you!” the man cried, still holding her gentle hands before seeing a presence behind her, “Oh! Lord Kaid!”

“Do you need help getting to the housing?” Kaid asked, letting his hand linger on Jessamine’s backside, wanting to instill a proud touch against her spine.

“No no, I will go later in the afternoon. I didn't mean to take up your time,” the beggar insisted, “I have lived for eighty years, yet this empire has not known what real leadership is until you two. You two are such a lovely couple.”

“Oh,” Jessamine laughed as she rose to her feet, feeling that hand resting on her backside momentarily brush her ass as Kaid wasn’t quick enough to pull it away, “We aren’t…”

“That’s against the rules,” Kaid followed up, despite seeing the man’s eyes still light with laughter.

“So is walking amongst commoners,” the man retorted, “Thank you, Empress.”

“Of course, should anyone else you know need my assistance, please ask,” Jessamine smiled warmly, tugging at Kaid’s arm to move slightly. The rest of the area was still crowded but most people were back to their normal routines. It was easier for them to blend in now, as most people were keen on giving the Empress and her personnel some privacy.

“I don’t think we’re very good about this whole secret relationship thing,” Kaid whispered, hearing her laugh, “I’m proud of you, Jessamine.”

Those words were almost as powerful as hearing ‘I love you’ from this man’s voice. His voice was deep with truth. Jessamine had always seen a relationship as a hindrance, that a man would always view her as competition and drag her down to his level. Instead, this man beside her only uplifted her at any chance he got. And for him to be proud of her, despite the ups and downs of these past two years, it made her happy. She truly felt this was the beginning of making a good difference, one that would last longer than her own existence.

“Thank you, Kaid,” Jessamine felt tempted to kiss his cheek, “I couldn’t have done it without you, without knowing you. Kindness must be taught…and I was a rather stubborn pupil. Thank you for being patient with me.”

“Of course,” he smiled widely, bending down slightly to brush the dirt off her dress.

“Okay, now you’re just making it obvious,” Jessamine teased.

“Empress, if I wanted to make it obvious, I have more preferable methods to ensure everyone knows that I belong to you,” Kaid teased back.

“And what does that entail?”

“My lips on yours.”

They continued with the tour, finally reaching the harbor. The black waves of the sea rocked the docked ships in the distance, the gulls cried at every chance they got, and the salt sprayed with the wind with every gust. There was hardly any disparity shown near the harbor. What Kaid remembered as the Lower Districts looked nothing like he had remembered. While some areas were dirtier than others given the labor, everything looked as equitable as it could be.

The orphanage was so different from what Kaid remembered. All the children looked well nourished. There were plenty of toys, books, or things for them to do. Lilah was back in charge, despite everything that happened. Kaid thought Lilah would react indifferently, but she welcomed the sight of Kaid returning. Even some of the orphans that recognized Kaid ran to him, asking him to come and read again at some point.

Jessamine had established a place for them where children could be children. They didn’t have to worry about their next meal or if their beds would be warm enough to beat the evening chill. Even when growing up, their opportunities didn’t stop. When they were old enough, they could begin to work as apprentices for trades, do whatever their dreams desired.

“Where is the Lower District?” Alec asked, breaking the silence in the tour for once. Kaid almost thought he was still lingering around.

“There is no Lower District,” Jessamine answered, “This is the Harbor District. We have the Harbor District, Mercantile District, and Diplomatic District. It was Kassandra’s idea to remove the idea of District names being based on class structure. Instead, they are named are the general occupations of the citizens. But, anyone can live where they choose. If a diplomat or governor wishes to live closer to the ocean, we will not stop him.”

“And if a laborer wants to live close to the palace…?” Alec inquired.

“I see nothing wrong with that,” Jessamine hummed. She gave Kaid a soft look to keep walking with the rest of the entourage, remaining at a distance with her brother. “Most of the Lower District got swept away by the sea. I had to improvise, and what better way to build change than from this opportunity.”

Alec shook his head slightly, sighing, “My home is so unrecognizable.”

Jessamine felt slight (only slight) sympathy with that sentiment, “You’re right. I do miss the rats running all over the place, or beggars dead on the sides of the road.”

“And economically? How did you-”

“I used the family funds,” Jessamine shrugged, knowing that would irk him even more.

“That was our money, money our ancestors built with their bare hands!”

“And it was just sitting there in a bank, piling up from interest and of no use to society. I am not here to rule this Empire for profit, even so, my decisions have become favorable in terms of economic prosperity. Vitross is growing from this investment.”

“You giving handouts to people is not helping them,” Alec disagreed, “It’s not how I would have ruled…”

“Yes, and who’s fault is that?” Jessamine clenched her jaw, hating how she felt that way, “Father may have taught you how to control an empire, but not once did he teach you how to govern it. My handouts are a crutch to people who have been broken for centuries. Change is inevitable, Alec. You can either choose to fight the current or ride with it.”

“Not when the current is strong enough to destroy a third of the harbor…” Alec muttered, his eyes resting on Kaid, “does he know the death toll?”

“Alec…” Jessamine tilted her head with disapproval, “Now’s not the time.”

“I think he deserves to know. Not just here, but Lungor, Arilla…the entire Continent.”

“He saved millions,” Jessamine retorted.

“Theoretical millions. Vrah told me he didn’t find any malfunction of the sort in those turbines. Payne could have been bluffing,” Alec’s eyes still followed Kaid.

“Payne was cunning but he never bluffed. That wouldn’t be the first time Vrah would lie or hide things from you,” Jessamine shook her head, not wanting to have this conversation to ruin the rest of her day.

“Kaid deserves the truth,” Alec hummed, as if he had known Jessamine had withheld truth from him in the past. In that, Alec was right. Kaid deserved the truth, but not in a way that would put the guilt on him. Did the first person to ever discover poison’s deadly wrath become responsible for all the purposeful deaths soon after? What about Lungorian firearms? Was the patent maker responsible for every death by a bullet?

“You tell the truth because you like the way it hurts people. That’s not sincere honesty, that’s being a real asshole,” Jessamine exclaimed, “You’re not the only one with daggers of truth up your sleeve. I, too, have plenty of ammunition against you.”

“Then what is stopping you?” he challenged slightly, seeing the slight surprise on her face.

“The fact you have to ask that is what concerns me,” Jessamine stared at his eyes, knowing it was just a mirror of her own, that same deep ocean blue, “enjoy your evening with Kiev. I hope it sobers you…”

It in fact did not sober him. Alec staggered slightly on the black sand illuminated only by the full moon above him. He only had one drink tonight as it was not his intent to get drunk, but just enjoy company. It was hard to enjoy such company with his sister’s words on the back of his mind. He couldn’t get what he wanted without hurting her. Yet, as children he had always gotten his way, and she paid the price regardless. Did his actions against his own sister mirror that of Kaid’s of unintended consequences?

Alec found the black boulder across a mile stretch of sand, shaped by the eroding waves to appear like a shark. Etched gently on the smooth side was a star, the Lungorian star.

“What took you so long?” Vrah asked, removing himself from his invisible shroud to appear in front of Alec.

“I had to make sure I wasn’t being followed,” Alec hummed, “and after the stunt you pulled yesterday, I figured I’d make you wait.”

“Kaid being my half-brother changes nothing of the plan,” Vrah shrugged.

“It makes this situation much more difficult for me. You also failed to tell me how much my sister seems to care for this Uhkhtarian. You said she hated him,” Alec accused, “yet, his portrait replaced that of my father’s!”

“Are you going to continue with the plan, or not?” Vrah crossed his arms.

“Of course I am,” Alec scoffed. As if anything was going to stop him from getting what he wanted.

“So stop fucking complaining and get serious about this. You need to be very careful in how you approach this now. The opportunities to get close to Kaid alone are already limited as it is. You need to make sure there aren’t any witnesses. Kaid is useless without his Oblivion and Jessamine will dispose of him the second she realizes that.”

“And if there are - witnesses I mean?”

“Kill them, if you must. Nobody, and I mean nobody can know Pestilence is still alive,” Vrah ordered.

Alive, and working for Lungor…or so Vrah thought.