(Akina's POV)
I walked back to the room they had arranged for me—alone. It felt a little unsettling without Serco by my side, but I knew he had to speak with his father.
"You lying skank," I heard from across the hall.
It was the pale girl from earlier. She had snow-white, slightly wavy hair, silver eyes, plump pink lips, a turned-up nose, and rosy cheeks. Her eyes were red, like she'd been crying.
"You're the girl from earlier. Hi," I said, giving her a small wave before turning toward my door.
"There's no Lofton family in the entire kingdom! I don't know how you're doing it, but if you're tricking Serco, you will regret it!" she snapped.
I chose not to respond and moved to enter my room, but she grabbed the doorknob and pulled it shut again.
"How…" she started, then sniffed me and immediately recoiled, covering her nose. "Are you human?!"
I opened my mouth to reply, but before I could, she burst into hysterical laughter.
"Oh thank God! He'd never get serious about a human! What a relief."
…I think I hate this girl.
While she laughed to herself, I went ahead and entered my room. I played games on my phone, but with no Wi-Fi or data—probably due to the whole not being on Earth thing—it got old quickly.
A few hours later, Serco came to visit. He looked tired, his hair slightly disheveled, dark curls falling into his face. He brushed them back with his fingers and gave me a forced smile when he saw me looking.
"I missed you!" I blurted the moment our eyes met. I hadn't meant to say it out loud, and my face turned red immediately. Hopefully, he didn't notice.
"Aww, you're blushing," he teased, which only made it worse. "I missed you too," he added, which sent a rush of emotions through me.
He sat beside me and rested his head on my shoulder. I wanted to wrap my arms around him, badly, but for some reason, I couldn't move. I also wanted to ask about his talk with his father—but stopped myself. I didn't want to pry.
"Will you marry me, Akina?"
Even though I'd already figured this trip was basically an engagement party, hearing him say it still left me stunned. I couldn't speak. I was frozen.
My mind screamed, "YES!"
Serco took my hand and intertwined our fingers.
"On Infaniya, we live long lives. When we find a partner, we know quickly what that person means to us—their intentions, their sincerity. I have no doubt about your loyalty or your love. I know I want you by my side, now and centuries from now. Forever."
He lifted his head, and we locked eyes.
"How do you feel?" he asked gently.
He said he trusted me, but the way his voice wavered told me he feared rejection.
"I can wait… if you want to finish school or travel… I'll wait for you."
Unable to maintain eye contact, he looked away.
"Yes… I want to marry you," I finally managed to say.
Serco gently squeezed my hand and smiled, like someone who'd just received the gift they'd wished for most.
"Good, because I got you a gift, and it would've been extremely awkward if you turned me down." He lifted my hand, revealing a stunning ring on my finger—an iridescent oval crystal surrounded by ten smaller ones, each a different color, set on a silver band.
"This ring is made from my energy. Even when I'm not around, it will protect you. It also lets me know where you are… if you need me."
He showed me his own ring, which bore the same rainbow crystals.
"You'll also know where I am. If I need you… or more accurately, if I miss you."
If he'll feel it every time I miss him… oh no. That's going to be embarrassing—I miss him constantly when he's not around.
"It's beautiful," I said, then leaned in to kiss him. I'd been paralyzed for so long, it felt freeing to move. He kissed me back, holding my cheeks and smiling into it.
Five kisses later, he stood and said, "I'm glad you like it. I'll let you sleep—it's late."
I grabbed his wrist. "I don't want to sleep yet."
He stared at me for a moment, then said, "Then I'll stay. By the way… my parents like you."
"I'm glad." I'd been worrying about that.
"I should tell you… when we get married, our souls will be bonded. You'll adopt some of my flames… and become like me."
"I'll be an Infaniyan?" I asked, surprised. I'd hoped I could live longer… but becoming another species?
"You'll be similar. You'll gain the ability to wield fire, your life will be greatly extended, and you'll be much stronger—physically and mentally. Even an Infaniyan would gain new power through soul bonding, but because you're human, the change will be… dramatic."
"Why didn't you mention this before?!"
He raised his eyebrows. "I wasn't sure how you'd feel… and I didn't want it to influence your answer."
He tilted his head. "Your reaction isn't like anything I imagined. Why?"
I swallowed and admitted, "I was scared you'd choose me even though I'll only live maybe a hundred years. I didn't want you to stay with me out of pity. Even if you stayed through all my wrinkled, frail years, the thought of leaving you behind terrified me. I'm just glad… I don't have to worry about that anymore."
Serco scoffed. "I'm just shocked by my own stupidity—and how adorable you are." He kissed my forehead. "I love you, Akina."
"I love you too. Now shut up." I covered my face, embarrassed. Serco leaned closer and whispered:
"I love you… you're so cute, Akina… hey, Akina, are you listening? I said I love you."
"I KNOW WHAT YOU SAID!" I shouted, my face burning. "I love you too…"
Serco kissed me again.
"My father divorced the woman who raised me. The person he's married to now is my real mother—she's half Afarion, and still holds Afarian citizenship. Smoke is my only full-blood brother."
That explains why they resemble each other the most.
"Why are you telling me this? It sounds like a royal secret."
"You're family now. You deserve to know why things may be… tense." He took a deep breath. "My mother is King Striton's third wife. His second wife—who raised me—refused to leave the castle after the divorce, to avoid disgracing her family and to help raise me. Tiren is the son of the first wife, Nebura… she died in the war."
Wow. The King's life sounds like a soap opera.
"The second wife and Tiren… had an affair. That's why she pushed for a divorce."
"What?!"
"Yeah. Old news to me, but she always hated me. Tried to keep me weak so Tiren would have a chance to become king."
"Where is she now?"
"After I was sent to Earth, Tiren backed out of marrying her and exposed the affair. She was banished and stripped of her titles."
He looked up at the ceiling and sighed. "I wanted you to understand this family's history… but if you're okay with it, I'd rather change the subject."
I nodded. We talked about a book I was reading. In return, he told me about something he'd been studying. It went over my head, but I loved hearing his voice. It made me feel warm.
Eventually, I fell asleep—and Serco left.
The Next Morning
I jolted awake. My room… okay. Yesterday wasn't a dream. I looked at the ring on my finger.
I'm really engaged…
A knock at the door.
"Come in!" I called cheerfully.
It wasn't Serco. It was Tiren.
"I appreciate the warm welcome," he said, closing the door behind him.
"I also have a cold goodbye for you," I replied, pulling my covers up. I felt too exposed in my nightgown—and something about him made me feel sick.
"Please, don't be like that. I just want to talk." He locked the door.
Something shifted. The air grew heavy. Fear gripped me.
"I told you not to come here," he said, his tone darker. Suddenly, he was on top of me, covering my mouth with one hand and groping me with the other.
I panicked, hitting him with all my strength. I couldn't move—he had me pinned.
"It's okay… you won't remember anything. And I know you don't hate me that much," he whispered.
He leaned in—and then screamed.
His lips had burned black. His hand—up to his shoulder—was scorched, and his shirt was in shreds.
"SH!T!!"
The engagement ring was glowing. A second later, Serco burst in, holding a golden key.
"Tiren... I warned you to stay away from her," he announced. His voice was deadly calm.
Before Tiren could speak, Serco's fist slammed into his face. Two teeth flew across the room. Tiren raised his arms to guard, but Serco broke through them like twigs, punching again and again until a pool of blood formed.
Vines wrapped around Serco's arms—but burned away instantly.
I'd seen him fight before. But this time… he was furious.
"You thought you could get away with touching her?" he repeated, again and again, calm but seething.
Tiren whimpered and conjured a stone barrier. Serco shattered it like a cookie.
One last punch knocked Tiren out cold.
"Then you should've kept your hands to yourself," Serco growled.
Only then did I notice the audience—his brothers, all watching with cold expressions.
"Enjoying the show?" Serco asked, then snapped his fingers.
Tiren burst into flames.
I screamed, startled. Tiren's howls were worse.
"He'll live… don't worry," Serco whispered, pulling me into his arms.
Tears spilled down my cheeks.
"I'm sorry… did I scare you?"
I shook my head and squeezed him tightly.
Serco wiped my tears. "So… would it be okay if I hit him again?"
I laughed through my tears.
Then we kissed—just as Striton appeared in the doorway and shouted:
"What the h*ll happened?!"