Chapter 20

~Kamari~

Sleep didn't come easy tonight, although Koa slept like a log. Even though he wasn't fond of me punching him, he still wanted to be close to me. But I couldn't stand to toss and turn anymore, so I got up. The other two were asleep as well, so I guess it was just me who couldn't rest.

I couldn't stop thinking about what Calea said. How many miscarriages did my mother have before having me? If that was true, there was no way I'd have a DragonBorn in three months. Father set me up to fail. He knew it. 

I sighed heavily. I went to the entrance and sat there, gazing at the stars. I knew this part of me had always been there, but with my mother, it didn't seem bad. When we spoke, it made sense even when others thought it was mad or even dark. No matter what she did, I still ached for her presence. I wanted things to make sense again. I missed the freedom of having someone that truly understood me. 

But didn't I have that already? I look over my shoulder to Aneth and Nye. A twitch of a smile curves my lips. It's been a month now, and I still haven't done enough. My eyes start to burn, and my mind is now my enemy. Tears slid down my cheeks as I wished just for a moment to be free of all this. 

I suddenly hear shuffling behind me, and when I look up, I see Aneth. I wipe my tears. "Oh, are you up?"

He says nothing and sits down with me. I pull my knees to my chest, "I feel like I've let you guys down…" For some reason, being vulnerable to Aneth was easier because he couldn't understand some of the things I said. "I want to fix what's broken, but I fear the odds have been stacked against me. Oh, did you hear I might not be able to carry a DragonBorn? That was the kicker for me…"

So why was I here? What's the reason for a Human/Shade Hybrid to be Queen, who could be barren, to sit on the throne? I might as well give it to Browen.

I sigh heavily, running my fingers in my hair. "Kamari." I gasp, looking up to Aneth; he holds out his hand, "Give." I place my hand in his, and he takes his nail and scratches the top of it.

"Ouch!" I hiss, and when I try to retract my hand, he holds it tight. He lets my blood drop to the ground. "Watch."

Confusion furrows my brow as I see dried, coagulated blood on the ground. It starts to fizzle and sinks into the dirt. "Oh, that's not good…" I swallow hard. 

"Wait." Aneth's voice is solid and timbered. "Watch."

Suddenly, a tiny sprout comes to life. My lips part as they grow insanely fast into a black lily. "How?" I look to Aneth, who gazes at it with such warmth. 

"Blood of Shade." He picks the flower. " It can give life." He gives it to me. "Venom takes away."

"Their's a difference? I though my blood was posion." Aneth shakes his head, and grabs my hand, and points to my nails, "Dark." As I look at them, I see the slightest bit of black at the tips of my nails.

"Life in the body, Venom on the outside."

If this was true, then why did my mother have such a hard time conceiving? But knowing this, made me feel a bit better. "You know so much about Shades, yet, your still unsure of me?"

The way Aneth looks at me makes my chest feel lighter, his eyes held a softness in them, "Venom. Is painful. Can Kill you." Aneth locks eyes on me. "But shade protects its home. Never barren."

My eyes widen, then I remember the woman who found the Shade corpse from what Javall was showing me. That forest that it laid in, it was bountiful, full of greenery and life. No wonder it fought so viciously to keep it that way.

"I got too close…" Aneth says, and shows me a scar on his back. It looked like someone stabbed him. "Pointed tails." Aneth explains. Without thinking I reach out and touch his skin, he slightly flinches, but he doesn't move away from me. "Please don't leave again." The words come out soaked in vulnerability. And I didn't know know why. As he turns around, his gaze makes me feel seen, and makes my heart thunder.

And I act on impulse, I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him into my lips. In this moment I didn't want anyone else but him. His kiss is hesitant at first, but then I feel him start kissing me back. His hands cradle my head as he deepens the kiss. Making my mind go fuzzy. I moan and place my hands on his chest, aching for him. All of a sudden Aneth stops, his eyes glow, and I notice a hardness against my stomach. 

Heat flushes my cheeks. I snake my hand down his lower abdomen, caressing the hardness beneath me. HIs breath gets heavy with every stroke. And the thought of getting caught made it even hotter. "Kamari, Stop," Aneth pants, he places a hand on my chest slightly pushing me back.

I bite my lip. Goddess I wanted him so bad. Why coudn't their damn heiracrhy have to stop something that came so naturally. I felt better this way. More receptive for me. "We can go some where else," I tease, kissing him again. I place his hands on my hips, "Please, I want you Aneth." I beg him. The haze in his eyes doesn't dull the amber, it intensifies it. 

Aneth groans, then softly pushes me off of him. "Go to Koa." He stands his eyes saying something completely different than his words. I press my lips together suddenly feeling my face burn. I get up and walk back to the pool area, where Koa still layed sleeping.

I get back under the covers, slightly embarrassed about what happened. But I shouldn't be. I finally made somekind of connection with Aneth. I may have gotten a little too heated…

I suddenly feel Koa's hand on my chest, and with a forceful push, I'm laying on my back, and he's hovering over me with his tranquil eyes. "I have very good hearing Kamari." The slight rasp in his voice, has me in a choke hold. 

Ugh. Great.

"You can't be jealous."

"Jealous? No." He sits up, "Insulted." He says with a venom in his voice.

I sit up, "Insulted?"

"You rather have someone weak lead the pride? Aneth has not challenged me. He is not strong enough." Koa says with such vigor, "You tried to challenge me. Do you think I'd like to do that to you."

I swallow hard. I was really fucking things up with my impulses. I look to the ground, "I'm sorry…" Koa stares out into the water. "Sometimes it's hard, and I don't mean to run over your rules. I know you're strong, you would have drowned me…" 

I glance up, to see a slight smirk on his face. "Koa," I crawl to sit in front of him, "I won't do it again. I promise." I caress his cheek with my hand, and he leans into it. 

Koa gazes at me, mischievous in his eyes, "You're such a Harlot."

I gasp, playfully, "What did you just say?"

"You heard me." Koa lifts my chin, and kisses me, and wildness erupts, " But you're mine." He whispers in my ear. I giggle laying my forehead on top of him. 

"You should sleep. You've been up all night." Koa says, and nods. I've gotten into enough trouble for one night.