I moved through the city streets in a daze, my mind heavy with the deal I had just made. Zephyr's words echoed in my head. I had always known the cost of the Spider's help would be steep, but not like this. Not Kai.
The weight of my decision pressed on my chest like a leaden stone. I had promised to protect my friends, to fight alongside them against the corruption threatening to overtake the city. But now, I was caught in a web far more dangerous than the one spun by the nobles. It was the Spider's web, and once you were trapped, escape was nearly impossible.
I had no choice but to keep moving forward. But with every step, the darkness inside me stirred, the shadows pulling at me, craving more control. I could feel their power growing stronger with each use—an intoxicating strength that frightened me as much as it empowered me.
Can I trust myself? Zephyr's words had cut deeper than I wanted to admit.
As I slipped out of the last alleyway and into the early morning light, I spotted the tavern where I had promised to meet Kai and Rose. My heart tightened. How could I face them now, knowing the bargain I had struck? How could I look Kai in the eye, knowing I was setting him up to be a pawn in a game far more twisted than the one they had been fighting?
Taking a deep breath, I entered the tavern, my eyes scanning the room. It was nearly empty, save for a few early risers huddled at tables. In the corner, I saw Kai and Rose, deep in conversation.
Rose was her usual self, talking animatedly with a mug of ale in hand, her confidence still radiating from their recent victory. Kai, on the other hand, looked more subdued, his expression thoughtful as he listened. His eyes, however, were sharp, scanning the room every few moments, always on guard.
When he spotted Luna, his expression softened. "There you are," he said, standing to greet her. "How'd it go?"
I forced a smile, but it didn't reach their eyes. "It's done. The Spider will help... but there's a price."
Kai's brow furrowed, and Rose tilted her head curiously. "What kind of price?" Rose asked.
I hesitated, my throat tightening. I couldn't tell them everything. Not yet. "The Spider will stall the nobles' plans for a while—long enough for us to gather allies and build a defense. But they want to make sure their influence remains strong after the nobles fall."
Kai crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. "What does that mean, exactly?"
I glanced away, unable to meet his eyes. "They want control over the city's future. Specifically... they want someone in power who will ensure their interests are protected."
Rose scoffed. "So, they want a puppet. Typical."
Kai's eyes narrowed. "And they think that someone is going to be us?"
Silence was answer enough. I could feel the weight of Kai's gaze on me, searching for the truth I was too afraid to admit.
"Who, Luna?" Kai asked, his voice low and serious. "Who do they want?"
I swallowed hard, finally looking up to meet his eyes. "They want you, Kai. They want you to become the next patriarch."
The room fell into a suffocating silence. Rose's eyes widened in shock, while Kai's face became unreadable, his jaw tightening. I could see the storm brewing behind his eyes, the mix of disbelief and anger slowly rising to the surface.
"You can't be serious," Kai said, his voice cold. "They want me to take the patriarch's place? To control the city on their behalf?"
I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. "They think you're the perfect choice. Trusted by the people, strong, reluctant enough to seem genuine..."
"Reluctant enough to seem genuine?" Kai repeated, incredulity creeping into his tone. "Luna, you know I don't want power. I've never wanted it. You knew that."
"I know," I said quickly, my voice trembling. "I know, Kai. But we need their help. Without the Spider, we don't stand a chance against the nobles. They'll crush us. This is the only way."
Kai stepped back, shaking his head. "So that's it? You promised them I'd become their puppet, and we'd just go along with it?"
My heart sank. "I didn't promise. I just... agreed to bring it to you. We'll figure something out. We always do."
But Kai wasn't listening anymore. He was already walking toward the door, his hands clenched into fists. "I need some air," he muttered, his voice barely concealing his frustration.
Rose looked between them, concern etched on her face, but she stayed silent. I stood frozen, watching Kai's retreating figure disappear into the street.
My worst fear had come true. I'd lost him.
Turning back to Rose, my voice wavered. "I didn't know what else to do."
Rose sighed, leaning back in her chair. "You should've told him everything from the start, Luna. Kai's not the kind of guy who takes well to manipulation—even if it's for the right reasons."
I nodded, my heart heavy with regret. "I know. But I couldn't risk losing the Spider's support. Not when everything is on the line."
Rose gave me a long, hard look. "You've got a hell of a mess to clean up. But you still have a chance to make things right—if you're willing to fight for it."
My jaw tightened, determination flickering in my eyes. "I'll fight for him. I'll find a way to fix this."
Rose raised her mug in a mock toast. "Good. Because if you don't, you'll have bigger problems than just the Spider to deal with."
I forced a small, bitter smile. "Yeah. I know."
I watched Rose take another swig from her mug, but my thoughts were already elsewhere. The plan I had put into motion was unraveling faster than I'd anticipated, and the stakes were higher than ever. Kai's reaction was understandable, but it still cut deep I'd known he wouldn't agree to become the patriarch; that wasn't who he was. He'd spent his life resisting the very idea of power for power's sake. And yet here I was, trying to convince myself it was the only way.
The weight of it all—the shadows, The Spider's deal, the fragile alliance with my friends—pressed down on me. I stood, ignoring the emptiness settling in my chest.
"I need to find him," I muttered, more to myself than to Rose.
Rose, however, didn't miss the resolve in her tone. "He's angry, Luna. You're not going to change his mind in a few minutes."
"I have to try." my voice was firmer now. I shoved them back, focusing on the task at hand.
Rose raised an eyebrow, setting her mug down. "Just don't push him too hard. Kai's more stubborn than you think when it comes to stuff like this."
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. I turned and left the tavern, my footsteps quick and purposeful as I stepped into the early morning streets. The sun was just beginning to rise higher, casting long shadows across the cobblestones, but I paid them no mind. My heart pounded in my chest as I retraced the path, I thought Kai would have taken.
I found him just beyond the city gates, leaning against a crumbling stone wall that overlooked the vast forest stretching beyond the capital. His back was to me, his shoulders tense. For a moment, I hesitated, unsure of what to say. I had already said too much—and not enough.
Finally, I stepped forward, my boots crunching softly on the gravel. "Kai."
He didn't turn around. His voice, when it came, was tight with controlled anger. "You know I can't do what they want, right?"
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I know. I'm not asking you to become something you're not. But I need you to understand—without the Spider, we won't make it. The nobles will overrun us, and everything we've fought for will be lost."
Kai turned; his face etched with frustration. "And what? Your solution is to sell us to the Spider? To put me in a position where I'm forced to be their puppet?"
I stepped closer, my voice soft but insistent. "No. We'll find a way to make sure that doesn't happen. We'll fight them if we have to, after the nobles are dealt with. But right now, they're our best shot at winning. You know that."
Kai shook his head, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. "I can't believe you made this deal without talking to me first. We've always made decisions together, Luna. Always. And now... now you want me to just accept this?"
My heart ached at his words. He was right. I had broken their unspoken trust, the bond that had held them together through countless battles and betrayals. "I'm sorry," I said, my voice cracking. "I didn't know what else to do. I thought if I told you, you'd walk away, and I—"
"I would have walked away from the deal, not from you!" Kai's voice rose, his frustration boiling over. Because I have feelings for you."
I stared at Kai, the weight of his words crashing over me like a tidal wave. The air around us thickened, the world narrowing down to just the two of us and the charged moment hanging in the space between us.
"W-What?" I managed to stammer, my heart racing as I processed his confession. I had always sensed something deeper between us but hearing him say it out loud sent my thoughts spiraling.
"I said I have feelings for you," Kai repeated, his voice quieter now but still firm, as if bracing himself against a storm. "And this—" he gestured between us, his expression torn, "this is not how I wanted things to be."
I felt my chest tighten with emotion, the shadows inside me swirling with both hope and fear. Could this change everything? Would it make it easier to fight together, or would it complicate things further?
"Kai, I..." I took a deep breath, desperate to find the right words. "I never meant to put you in this position. I thought I was protecting you—protecting all of us."
"You don't protect people by making deals behind their backs," he countered, his voice strained. "You protect them by being honest, by standing together."
I stepped closer, drawn to him like a moth to a flame. "I didn't want to drag you into this. I didn't want you to feel like you had no choice."
"I don't want to be anyone's puppet," he said, his eyes searching mine for understanding. "Especially not the Spider's."
I nodded, feeling the tension between us shift. "Neither do I. But I can't just let the nobles destroy everything we've worked for. I thought... I thought if we could buy some time, we could find a way to turn the tables on the Spider."
He exhaled sharply, frustration still evident on his face. "And what if they manipulate you to control me in the process? Or worse, what if they come after you? I won't let that happen."
"I can handle myself," I insisted, my voice steady despite the tumult of emotions inside me. "But I need you to trust me. I need you to trust that we can outsmart them, together. We're stronger united."
Kai's expression softened for a moment, the storm within him giving way to vulnerability. "You're right, we are stronger together. But I need to know you're not going to make decisions like this again without me. We're a team, Luna. Always."
I nodded, feeling a flicker of hope. "I promise. No more secrets. I'll fight for us, for what we believe in. We'll face the Spider and the nobles together."
As I spoke, I reached for his hand, intertwining my fingers with his. The contact sent warmth coursing through me, grounding me amidst the chaos. Kai's grip tightened, a silent acknowledgment of our shared resolve.
____________________________________________
-To be continued
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