A Few Surprises

A Few Surprises
Chapter 48

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Elena
The sun was high when I went back to the war room. I didn’t plan to though, I just found myself wondering there. I noticed Kael has taken the cake I left for him. He could’ve left it out or he could’ve thrown it away, but he didn’t. He took it and ate it.
That was something, right?
I pushed open the doors and walked in. Kael was standing by the window, with his arms folded. He turned around slowly when he heard me.
I closed the door behind me.
"Umm do you have a minute?" I asked, keeping my voice low.
He didn’t answer right away. His jaw clenched, then relaxed. "Yeah."
I stepped closer, not too close, just enough to see his eyes clearly.
"I know you don’t trust me right now," I said. "I know I gave you a reason not to, but I need you to understand something. That kiss... it wasn’t what it looked like."
His face didn’t change.
"You kissed him."
"He kissed me."
He looked away, and my heart dropped again. I didn’t back off, instead I walked closer.
"Kael, I pulled away, I walked out. I was scared, yes, and confused."
His voice was quiet. "And you think that fixes it?"
"No, but it's a start."
He stayed quiet for a while, then said, "I didn’t eat the cake because I forgave you."
"I know."
"I ate it because I missed you."
I swallowed hard. "I missed you too."
He finally looked at me.
His eyes weren’t cold anymore. They looked tired, like he hadn't slept all night, like he was still trying to find a reason not to push me away again.
"I wanted to let things be." he said. "I wanted to pretend like it didn’t matter, but it does."
I nodded. "It matters to me too, and that’s why I’m here."
"Do you know what I thought about last night?" he asked, moving closer.
I shook my head.
"I thought about the first time I touched you," he said. "You flinched, yet you didn’t pull away. That night I knew you were scared, but you still let me in."
His hand reached out, slow, like he didn’t want to scare me.
I let him touch my cheek.
"I still want to believe you," he whispered.
I leaned into his palm, and my throat felt too tight to speak. I nodded slowly.
Then he leaned down and kissed me. It was soft and yearning.
I kissed him back, wrapping my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, because I needed it too.
I missed him. God, I missed him.
He broke the kiss first, breathing hard.
"I’m still mad," he said against my lips.
"I'm sorry."
"But I’m not letting you go."
I looked up at him. "Then don’t."
We stood there in silence for a while, foreheads touching.
He didn’t smile. I didn’t expect him to though, but his hand stayed on my waist even when I pulled back slightly.
"I want you to tell me everything," he said. "Even if it hurts. Even if it makes me hate you for a second."
"I will," I said. "I promise."
He studied my face, and something in him softened, then he nodded.
I moved to sit on the edge of the table. He stayed standing, but his hand never left me.
"Lucian won’t stop, I hit a nerve when I pushed him away." I said.
"Let him try again. I've forgiven his mistakes for far too long" Kael said.
"I think he has teamed up with Elara. I am always seeing them together."
Of course she is."
"She wants you."
"Well, she can keep wanting."
I gave a small smile. "They’re planning something, I can feel it."
He frowned. "Then let them. I'll deal with it when the time comes."
I reached for his hand. "Promise me something."
"What?"
"Don’t shut me out again, even when it hurts."
He looked at me, eyes serious. "Only if you promise the same."
I nodded.
Then I rested my head on his chest and stayed there for a long time.
Maybe we wouldn’t be perfect, maybe we’d mess up again. But at least we were on the same side now.
And that was relieving.
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Rhea

I saw her come out of his room that afternoon
Her lips were swollen. Her eyes were also watery, but it didn’t look like one from crying.
She looked like a storm that finally passed.
Kael came out ten minutes later. His face still looked stiff, but there was less tension in his shoulders, like he finally exhaled something that was choking him.
Good. That meant they were talking again.
Still, something felt off. Elara had been quiet all day. At this point I was tired of her.
I walked around the side wing until I spotted her.
She was near the eastern edge of the gardens, sitting alone on the marble bench.
I walked up, slowly.
"Plotting another scene or just admiring the sky?" I asked.
She looked up at me, and smiled too sweetly.
"Neither, just thinking."
"That means there's trouble on the way.”
She laughed softly. "Kael took her back, didn’t he?"
I didn’t answer, and I knew she didn’t need me to.
"Tch. Weak."
"Or probably strong enough to forgive."
She stood. "We’ll see how strong he is when everything falls apart."
"What are you planning, Elara?"
"Me? Nothing." Her voice was innocent. "But I think Lucian has a few surprises.”
"I know you’re feeding him."
She gave me a slow smile. "Then stop me."
I stepped closer. "You think this is a game? You’re playing with fire."
"I always do."
I narrowed my eyes at her. "Try anything stupid, and I’ll burn you with it."
She didn’t flinch, instead she just smiled wider.”
"Careful, Rhea. Threats only work if you can follow through."
"Well watch me."
Then I turned and left her standing there. Whatever she and Lucian were planning, I was going to find out. I wasn’t going to let them ruin Elena again.