I don’t hate you. Not anymore.
He wanted to say the words aloud. The truth of them burnt in his chest. But in the end, he said nothing.
‘I’m not going back,’ Dawn muttered, turning her face away, biting her lower lip to keep the tears at bay.
Kai gave a nonchalant shrug. ‘Fine, then I suppose we’ll simply make our home down here.’
Her head snapped round at once, eyes wide with disbelief.
‘And why, in all the gods’ names, would you stay with me?’ she demanded, her voice laced with rawness. ‘You want to be with the Fire Princess.’
‘Mm,’ he said mildly. ‘But you see, I wasn’t raised to leave a wounded woman alone in the dark of some forsaken cavern. So, until you’re able to stand without screaming, I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.’
‘I’m not going back,’ she repeated, arms folding across her chest like a shield. ‘You can stop. I know what you’re trying todo.’
‘Do you?’ he asked, a crooked smile playing at his lips. ‘And what am I doing, witch?’
‘You’re trying to convince me.’
‘Convince you of what?’
‘To return.’ Her tone darkened, bitter and sharp. ‘But I won’t. Alina will slit my throat in my sleep the moment I do.’
Kai laughed. A low, amused sound that earned a warning glare from her. ‘Who knew it was so easy to scare you, witch? Had I known, I’d have threatened you months ago.’
Dawn let out a breath, half a laugh, half a scoff. ‘The difference is, I know Alina means it.’
‘Oh?’ he said, raising a brow. ‘And I don’t?’
‘No.’ She shook her head slowly, the movement delicate with pain. ‘You’re too good, Kai. Too damn noble. This world doesn’t deserve someone like you.’
Silence settled between them, soft as snowfall. He looked at her, truly looked, heart knocking a little harder beneath his ribs. For a brief moment, his hand moved, reaching out on its own accord, as if it longed to make her meet his gaze, to see the truth reflected in those eyes. But instead, he exhaled and turned towards the phoenix, whose feathers shimmered in the dim light like flame-kissed gold.
‘You could show Alina she’s wrong,’ he said softly. ‘Prove you’re not what they think. That witches aren’t the monsters we were taught to fear.’
Dawn gave a bitter laugh. ‘And what are we then, if not monsters?’
Kai said nothing. Only smiled faintly, something small and sincere. Without hesitation, he reached out and took her hand, his fingers wrapping gently around hers, offering warmth, offering truth.
And this time, she didn’t pull away.
‘You’re like the rest of us,’ he whispered. ‘Survivors.’
The Fae and witches have always been bound by the thread of magic, their fates intertwined through power older than stone. Some kingdoms, by nature of shared beliefs or origin, simply draw closer. Drakonians and phoenixians, for example, are united in their devotion to the Sun God, refusing to bow before any other deity. Wolverians, too, share many customs with wyverians, even weaving their ancient stories together with those of the valkyrians. But similarities, while they can foster kinship, often breed something else. Jealousy. Rivalry.
It becomes a quiet war. A contest of grandeur. When there is nothing in common, it’s easy to turn away. But when both wield magic, both will strive to prove their mastery. Who casts stronger spells, who builds more awe-inspiring cities, who dazzles more brilliantly in the eyes of the world?
And this rivalry, sharp-edged as it is, has forged wonders. It has driven both kingdoms to carve beauty into the earth and summon power from the skies. It has made us stronger, more aware of what we can become.
But I fear it will also be our undoing.
One day, every kingdom may fall.
Not because we were too different, but because we were too alike to unite.
Because we were too busy fighting each other to face the true enemy.
The gods.
