Adri
Pa's death left me distraught, defeated, and devoid of all hope. All I've been able to do is cry, sleep, and repeat. As I lay half asleep, dreaming of a time before this torment began, a warm hand caresses my thigh. Panic surges through me as I look up and see a strange male sitting beside me. His eyes bear into mine with an intensity that makes my skin crawl.
"Who are you?" I demand with a trembling voice.
"I'm Duran," he replies with a predatory smile playing on his lips. "The King's brother."
"Aren't you a little young to be the king's brother?"
Ignoring my question, he slides closer. His leer is ravenous and unsettling.
"According to the orders of former King Adrav, I've been chosen as your primary suitor; husband if you will. It's our responsibility to commence the continuation of the colony."
Revulsion washes over me as he leans in for a kiss. Pushing him away, I bark rejections of all kinds. "There's no way I'm letting you anywhere near me! I don't know who you think you are, but lay a hand on me again and lose it. King Adrav does not make decisions for me."
Being rebuffed turns him into an unrecognizably deranged figure, lording over me as if to say he'll take what he wants, whether I like it or not. Before he can lay another hand on me, I slip away, attempting to hear what is being said to the guards outside my door.
"The human is set for execution. King Adrav has requested that we move him to isolation," I hear one say.
Kellan!
Desperation claws at me as I rush to exit the room and plead to see him. The guards and Duran restrain me since no is not an answer I can accept at this time.
"Princess! It's better that you stay here; trust us," one guard says and closes the door again.
"Don't worry; I'll handle this." Duran arrogantly remarks as he dismisses them entirely.
The sound of their footsteps slowly fades down the hallway until I'm left with nothing but silence and the presence of the Zephyr cretin. Fully aware of our complete privacy, his demeanor darkens.
"So, you prefer a weak, pathetic human over your own kind?" he sneers.
"I don't expect someone like you to understand. Our hearts are bonded, and no law can undo it," I declare, despite my fear. "The darkness in your heart is undeniable, and no amount of torture will end in the promise of union with me."
Outraged, he lunges at me, pinning me against the wall. His hand slowly tightens around my throat, and he leans in closer. "I don't mind a challenge."
Running his lips from my forehead over my cheek, he stops and takes a quick nibble. "Your taste is as intoxicating as your scent," he says, licking my cheek.
I'm unable to speak or even breathe as he tightens his grip; I feel myself losing consciousness and have no fight in me to fend him off.
"That's enough!" A domineering voice reverberates behind him.
Duran's rage is ceaseless, and he refuses to let me go. The Zephyr violently pulls him away from me and repeats his command. "Get the hell out of here, Duran. Do not make me tell you twice."
Standing chest-to-chest, Duran's arrogance is unwavering. "Tsk, tsk, king for a week, and already you think you own me."
So, this must be the famous Jonah I've been hearing about—the new king.
"Just leave," he says.
Jonah turns to me with a softened expression. My extremities are numb—these Zephyrs have all proven to be highly unpredictable. I watch on in suspended animation, a passenger in my own body as he embraces me.
"I apologize for my brother's barbarism. I sometimes think our evolution skipped him. Come sit."
A vague smile appears on my face as I take a seat on the chair next to the dressing table, gathering myself. He continues to apologize for the circumstances under which I have been brought here and assures me that he will do everything in his power to make me see the good of our people and the splendor of Kymaerio Peak.
"It's not easy following the traditions that have shaped your nation, but I hope you can appreciate how necessary it is."
Suddenly, Zeera enters, and her contempt for me triples.
"How touching," she sniggers. "The king and his damsel in distress."
"Zeera, don't," he orders.
She glances at him in disbelief at such disrespect, and he jumps up to lead her out of the room. Their arguing can be heard as though they never left because, for some reason, she chooses to do it right in front of my door. Their voices grow louder and more aggressive, and all I can think about is how I'm definitely not getting involved with this lovers' quarrel.
The argument escalates as it seems Amali has arrived, attempting to break it up.
"Zeera, calm down. You know it's nothing like that," she asserts before crashing through my door.
"I've told you to mind your business!" Zeera shrieks.
Her hair and eyes glow blue as she ascends above Amali. "Don't make me hurt you, Mali."
Jonah steps in, trying to calm her down, but something about her is untamable. "Can you please pull yourself together? You are overreacting," he says.
"I want her dead!" she screams, charging all the way into my room.
My delay in processing that she is referring to me almost costs me my life, but thankfully, Jonah leaps in front of me and attempts to reason with her that I am needed for the expansion of the colony.
"Killing her will make you the FOOL," he continues.
Unphased by her blatant display of rage and hatred, Zeera refuses to back off. She attempts to strike me with a blast of energy, but Amali jumps in and takes the full brunt of her force. As I rush over to her aid, the magnitude of Zeera's power and instability becomes crystal clear. Her sister's flesh sizzles with burns from her ruthless attack, yet her husband must tackle her out of the room just to get her to desist.
"We're leaving!" he commands, holding both her hands down.
She glares back but dares not defy him. Running around the room to grab whatever items I can use to help dress Amali's wounds, a glimmer of hope flickers within me.
"Thank you," I whisper.
"She may be lost," she says as I help her pull herself onto the bed.
Her attention drifts, clearly recalling the events that just transpired.
"If I help you, will you promise to help our people?" she asks with pained breathing.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, carry on our species. I know it's backward, but this is the only way we know how to ensure our bloodline continues. I'm loyal to our kind, Adri, and if I help you, I need to know that you will help me too."
The weight of my situation presses heavily on me, but remembering something Kellan had told me, I nod in agreement.
"I promise."
Finally, a way out of this torment seems possible. I just hope I make it out of here in time to reunite with Kellan.
Adri