Chapter Twenty – Carriers?

Chapter Twenty – Carriers?
Taliya’s hair was sprawled messily across the pillow as she slept soundly, her soft lips parted slightly with each calm breath. 
Slowly, a hand brushed through the strands of her hair.

Taliya frowned faintly at the disturbance, and then, her lashes fluttered open — 
And her heart nearly stopped.

Kaidon.

He was shirtless, lying casually on his side, one arm propping up his head, the other gently playing with her hair as he sniffed her scent, his dark, possessive eyes glued to her face.

Taliya gasped and shot up from the bed so fast that Kaidon growled low in his throat, clearly not pleased.

She backed away to the other side of the bed, her chest heaving, fear shooting through her veins.

But Kaidon didn’t move. He just stared at her — like she was something precious. Something he could never get enough of.
Slowly, he rose from the bed too, his toned body flexing as he stood.

"You look so beautiful, soulmate." Kaidon rasped, voice hoarse with something heavy and intense.

Taliya gulped, shaking her head. 
“P-please... can you leave?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a second, Kaidon’s face twitched — almost like he was...hurt.

Then, he started walking toward her.
"Why?" he asked, his deep voice curling around her like smoke.
"I want to be here." he said simply, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Taliya averted her gaze, trying not to look at his broad chest, the scars, the strength he radiated. 
Girl, you have a boyfriend! Focus! Ugh, how do I make this demon-man leave? she thought in panic.

“What are you thinking of?” Kaidon asked, and Taliya flinched when she realized how close he was now.

He stared at her, frustration flickering through his dark gaze.
He hated this. Hated that she feared him. That she flinched from him.

"I would never hurt you." Kaidon said softly, voice vibrating with something broken, something raw. 
"I would rather give up my life than harm even a single hair on your head."

Taliya swallowed hard, her heart pounding painfully in her chest.
"Please... just let me go." she whispered.

And that was when Kaidon's eyes darkened in a way that made her knees weak with fear. 
"You can’t reject me, Taliya." he said, his voice low, dangerous.

"You almost did yesterday." he muttered, eyes clouded. "Don’t ever do that again. You can’t reject me. Never."

His body visibly tensed, like he was struggling to control himself, before he finally turned and walked toward the door. 
He opened it but paused, glancing over his shoulder at her one last time.

"You don’t have a lover, Taliya." he said, his voice deep and firm, like it was a truth he was carving into stone.
"It’s just me."

And then he walked out, shutting the door quietly behind him.

Taliya collapsed onto the bed, gasping for air, tears filling her eyes.

"Why? Why? Why am I trapped in this cursed world?" she cried, clutching the pillow tightly, her whole body trembling.

Meanwhile…

“This is absurd, Your Majesty. He knows the rules, yet he broke them.” one of the council members snapped, his voice echoing through the grand chamber. 

The air was tense. Seven councilmen sat in their designated seats, their faces stern, their gazes sharp. At the head of the room sat the King, his expression unreadable as he listened. 

Beside him stood his son—Alaric. 

"Just because he’s a demon doesn’t mean he can do whatever he pleases," another council member spoke,
frustration laced in his voice. “There are rules for a reason.” 

The King remained silent, fingers tapping against the armrest of his throne, deep in thought. 

"Your Highness, the plan to eliminate Kaidon is still on hold," one of the older councilmen reminded him. 

The King exhaled slowly, the weight of it all pressing against his chest.

"How exactly do you expect to ‘eliminate’ a demon that easily?" another councilman cut in, voice laced with irritation. "He is the last of his kind. The strongest of them all. No ordinary magic can match his fury." 

"Then let him destroy himself," another sneered. 

"It’s not that simple," the King finally spoke, his tone firm. "Fighting Kaidon directly is suicide.” 

Alaric, who had been silent the entire time, flicked his father a side glance. He was listening carefully now. 

"Then what do we do?" The first councilman leaned forward. "Because we cannot allow him to continue living. If he does, he may find a carrier—a woman strong enough to bear his offspring. And the bloodline will continue." 

At that, Alaric stiffened slightly. His gaze darkened at the word carrier. 

The King sat quietly for a long moment, his mind turning. Then, with a slow hum, he pushed back his chair and stood. 

“Excuse me,” he said. “I will rejoin you later.” 

Without another word, he turned and left the chamber, his steps slow but purposeful. 

Alaric followed. 

The two of them walked down the long hallway, the morning sunlight filtering in through the stained glass windows, casting golden patterns along the stone floors. 

Then— 

“What did Council Thaddeus mean by carrier, Father?” Alaric asked, his voice cold, unreadable. 

The King stopped walking.