Chapter 55 Do Not Tell
The knight gestured around the shimmering void. “We have observed his attempts to shield you, to keep you ignorant. His intentions were noble, perhaps, but ultimately futile. Your power is too significant. Your role, too vital.”
“So, you want me to keep this a secret?” Klishei pressed, trying to process the enormity of his words, the casual way he spoke of cosmic laws and Yeseus’s fate.
“For now,” Jaden affirmed. “Consider this our first, informal meeting. A demonstration of our reach, but also our restraint. We will not abduct you, not while you choose to walk this path peacefully. We will meet again. Frequently. In places and times of our choosing. Always discreetly. Always without conflict. So long as you do not involve the Alpha.”
Jaden was hesitant to specifically mention Yeseus’ name, Klishei could see. The knight saw her arching eyes at the realization.
“Your protector complicates everything. As an Alpha, he should be the first to understand your plight. Also, I hope you have not forgotten that the blight of his heart is still active. The more time that you spend together, the faster that he decays. I am sure that you do not want that.”
Klishei paled. Then, it was replaced by anger. “Can’t you guys just leave us alone?”
“Surely the Phoenix mentioned this. She did not choose you. You chose her. But this is the reason why I come in peace. Only when you are ready will I lead you to the king. But for now, I fully understand if you are resisting.”
Klishei stared at him, her mind a whirlwind of fear, anger, and a dawning, terrifying understanding. The dreams, the power, the cosmic warriors – it was all real. And she was at the center of it.
“Do we have an understanding, Klishei Aizal?” Jaden asked, his voice softer, almost persuasive.
Klishei swallowed, her throat dry. She thought of Yeseus, his fierce protectiveness, the way he had shielded her from Daevar. She thought of the sanctuary, of Suneia and Naelyr, of the fragile normalcy they had carved out. Bringing this cosmic threat to their doorstep felt like an unbearable burden.
“Yes,” Klishei finally said, the word barely audible. “An understanding.”
Jaden’s smile returned, though it held a new, knowing quality. The shimmering cosmic realm around them began to waver, the pillars of light softening, the distant planets fading. The scent of ozone dissipated, replaced by the familiar market aromas. The air grew warm, the sounds of human chatter gradually returning.
Jaden’s silver-scaled armor dissolved, his starlight cloak vanishing, leaving him once more in his crisp white linen shirt. The celestial sword at his hip became a simple leather satchel, slung casually over his shoulder.
“Excellent,” he said, his voice now the smooth, jovial tone of a salesman. He gave her a polite nod, a flicker of something ancient still lingering in his honey eyes. “Then I wish you a pleasant day, Klishei. Enjoy the market.”
He turned, melting seamlessly back into the bustling crowd, a dark-skinned, handsome salesman hawking his wares. Klishei stood frozen, the cerulean scarf still clutched in her hand, the weight of her secret pressing down on her.
Out of all the things that he dropped on her, what only remained were the words ‘the blight of his heart. She had not forgotten. On the nights that they lay beside each other, she was always checking on his body. Yeseus would chuckle at her, telling her that he was okay and that he had decades more to live.
Whether it was a lie or not, the fact remains–she will be the cause of his death, sooner or later. But if there is a way within the cosmic palace and the king that Jaden is talking about, the one she saw in her dreams last night, the one named Zarakhi–there should be a way.
“Klishei!”
Yeseus’s voice, sharp with concern, cut through the market noise. He emerged from the hardware stall, his gaze instantly locking onto her, a furrow between his brows. He moved through the crowd with a predator’s grace, his Alpha senses undoubtedly picking up on her unease.
“Klishei, are you alright?” he asked, reaching her side, his hand gently touching her arm. “You look pale.”
Can she do it? Can she hide the fact that she will be hiding something from him?
Her heart was pumping hard, giving messages of discouragement. You have been together for so long, it said. Why would you hide anything from him?
Klishei forced a smile, the taste of ash in her mouth. “Just… got a little lost in thought. This market is so vibrant, isn’t it?” She tightened her grip on the scarf, its soft fabric a flimsy anchor in her suddenly fractured reality.
But if it was for the sake of finding a new way for the blight of Yeseus to disappear, Klishei was willing to do anything, even if it meant doing it alone.
The hidden world, the cosmic knight, the chilling understanding – it all swirled beneath the surface, a silent, terrifying truth she now solely carried.