27

Kaya opened her eyes and took in Nico's sleeping form next to her. She was disappointed to find that his clothes were back on, reaching up she pushed his hair out of his face and he opened his eyes.

"Morning."

Sighing, Kaya put her head on his chest. "Don't ruin it."

The events from last night flooded her mind and she smiled to herself. They shared flesh. 

 It was a bond that went beyond mere connection; it was a merging of souls. The shared experiences and intimate moments had created a profound sense of unity between them as if they were two halves of a whole.

Nico wrapped his arms around her middle pulling her closer. He kissed the crease in her neck. "We could start over?"

"As much as we both want that, we do eventually have to-"

The room door opened and her father was standing in the doorway. Instictively Kaya sat up and pushed Nico away from her. King Kojo's eyes blazed as his gaze went back and forth between them.

"What the hell are you two thinking?!" he roared. Sabella poked her head in from behind him, eyes wide. "Sabella alerted me that you'd been acting strange. And I come in here to see my daughter sleeping with an elf?!"

He spat the last word like it was poison.

Now. Now is her chance to get Nico out of here. Maybe not in the way she'd like, but he'd be free.

"He molested me," Kaya said, wincing at how easily the lie came. She looked down at her lap when King Kojo charged toward Nico, tackling him to the ground.

Sabella screamed for guards and they came running inside. A guard hauled Kaya off the bed and carried her out in the hall. 

When the guards had managed to pull her father off of Nico and drag him out, he looked dead. His head sagged and he offered no resistance. He didn't even look up when she called his name.

Huffing, her father snapped at Sabella to get Kaya washed up and fitted for her gown tomorrow. He moved to march down the hall but turned, "Was that all he did to you?"

"Yes, Father." Kaya bit the inside of her cheek. 

King Kojo looked as though he'd aged twenty years. "I'm sorry, my dear. I'm so sorry."

Then with a swish of his cloak, he walked down the hall, following the guards who were dragging Nico away.

Sabella led her to another room where the water was already prepared. Yanking her arm from the woman's grip, she snatched a towel. "I'll bathe myself."

"But your father-"

"I don't care what my father wanted you to do."

Sabella flinched at her tone. "You have no right to talk to me that way! I just saved you from being hurt or...worse!!"

"I didn't need your help," Kaya growled. She slammed the door in the woman's face and slid down to the ground, crying.

Out of all the things to accuse him of that is what she'd thought of? Kaya could only imagine the torture her father would put him through before punishing him.

Likely exile.

Kaya put a hand over her mouth to muffle her sobs.

Great mother. I'm sorry. Nico. I'm sorry.

...

Nico had never experienced pain like this before. The first girl he'd given his heart to had turned around and betrayed him.

She lied on him.

Beating after beating, Nico eventually grew numb to all the pain. He hadn't eaten and he hardly had the strength to offer any form of resistance. 

King Kojo stood in front of him his form blurry and far away. He was shouting questions at him.

How long has this been going on between you and my daughter?

Were you planning to do this?

Did you threaten Kaya's life if she said she'd tell anyone?!

Do you know how hard I want to bash you head into that wall?!

The last question actually made him laugh, a raspy one that hurt his throat. King Kojo grabbed him by the front of his bloodied clothes. "Did I say something funny?"

"King Kojo, if we go any further we'll surly kill him." a guard said, swallowing nervously. 

"Ah. You're right. Wouldn't want to get to carried away before he's exiled would we?" King Kojo threw him back to the ground and the guars chained him to the wall.

Then the two of them filed out without another word.

Nico sat then slumped against the wall, he wasn't sure how long h'd been sitting there but he heard a knock at his cell door.

"Nico?"

Kaya.

Scowling he turned and glared at the wall when she entered, a guard following close behind. She waved him off. "I don't need you in here. He's chained to the wall if I stand corrected. I'll be fine."

"But Princess, King Kojo-"

She slammed the door in his face, using her air abilities. "Nico. I need to get you out of here," she whispered. "Talk to me..please."

When he didn't answer, Kaya sighed. "Look, I didn't mean for that to happen. I just wanted you to get out safely. I didn't mean to lie on you..please, just talk to me."

Nico finally looked up at the princess and fixed her with a cold glare. "You wanted me to get out safely, yeah?" he coughed. "Wel..how safe do I look to you? You lied on me Kaya and for what? To gain your father's pity? Love? I though we understood each other, I thought I could trust you. I have nothing more to say to you."

"I didn't mean..." Kaya sniffled. "Nico, please!"

"Go."

"But-"

"GO!"

The door opened and the guard grabbed Kaya's arms and yanked her out. Nico laid his head back on the cool stone wall and closed his eyes.