¬Akara  Tonight, there is going to be no chance for me to avoid Kailor.  Tai has already told me I can stay in my room tonight and not go, but the entire purpose of this event is to appear normal, so news will get back to Vaia and she will think we are no longer bothered by her rebellion. It’s a long shot, but we hope her guard will lower as a consequence, which means that as much as I don’t want to, I’m going to have to go. It’s held downstairs, in the ballroom.  A knock sounds from my door, making me flinch. I’ve been awfully jumpy recently.  "Come in,” I exclaim mindlessly, pulling my hair back around my fa

~Akara  I couldn’t sleep that night.  Tai wanted to be alone, which I could never fault him for. As much space as he needs, I’m willing to give him, especially since he offered me that in the months after the rebellion, after Marek betrayed me. But once I woke, had breakfast and even lunch, Tai did not once leave his room. Now, evening is encroaching, and I’ve decided I need to see him, that I can’t handle this much worry.  The door handle is icy cold under my fingertips as I step inside the room. In fact, the entire room is cold, the windows open, curtains billowing in the breeze.  On the bed, Tai lies, shirtless and sweating, but completely unconscious. I rush t

~Akara  Tai didn’t have much to say to me the next day.  I don’t have to fake my mourning, even if it’s not for the reason Tai thinks. I’ve decided not to tell them Marek is still alive, convinced he is going off to live his life elsewhere, away from us all. The thought of that digs a hollow pit in the bottom of my stomach, even if I know it’s for the better. I’ll let him have his freedom, the life he wants to live without involving everyone else in it.  Early this morning, Tai enveloped me in a long embrace, but hasn’t offered any words to soothe me. He doesn’t know what to say, since Marek and I’s relationship is complicated. I don’t resent him for it though, understanding that the supposed

~Akara  "We are going to get through this, okay?" Tai assures me steadily. "I'll see you on the other side." A hole has gauged itself within my stomach, filled to the brim with cold, bitter doubt. The look Evolet gave me only a few moments ago was heavy with warning as she fills up the garage with everything they need. We are separating now, with Zavian and I going opting instead for a secret entry while they make their obvious entry to hopefully succeed in gaining all of Vaia’s attention.  "I know. I'm just worried for you,” I say. And I am. It doesn’t matter what happened last night with Evolet and I in his room, I still care about him, still want to trust him

~Akara The sound of wheels grating along a gravelled surface roused me from sleep. Jolting up, my heart patters violently in my chest as I look around at my surroundings, memories struggling to come back to me. I'm in a carriage that sways back and forth, moving quickly, and sitting opposite me is Marek, with a solemn expression on his face. My mind tumbles back into a dark memory. Almost a year ago, when Marek first kidnapped me from the Inn, and I woke in a carriage just like this one, as confused as I am now with a man in front of me who was basically a stranger.