XXXIV

Afterfall

They leave. They leave without a word, Rurik is the one to flick his wrists and take the forcefield down. I am at a loss of words and my hands won't stop shaking. My father-in-law just tried to melt the skin off my bones and the only thing that stopped it was my magic's intuition to not die. I headed to the bathroom connected to the room, turning  the sink water on, and cupping water in my hands then splashing it on my face. I take a deep breath but all it does is shake then that's when the nausea comes. I run to the toilet, lifting up the toilet seat and throwing up what feels like my insides out. It's my father who walks into the bathroom, rubbing my back and crouching down next to me. Another cough and gag comes out of me as I continue to puke.

"Let it out." Is what my father tells me in a cool voice, and I only nod. My stomach twists and cramps, a dull cramp but it still stings to give me a reminder of why I am throwing up in the first place.

"He wanted to kill me," I wheezed, "He wanted to-" I threw up again and sigh heavily after I am done this time.  My father hands me a towel that was hanging up in the bathroom, letting me wipe my mouth. 

"He's not a good man, Pluto," My father sighs, "When I found out that you had moved to Black Soul, it's always been like I could never catch a full breath, that I was always trying to catch my breath, but then you came into that room. You told me who you were and finally, I could draw the air back into my lungs like I could once before. I don't think I could ever turn my back on that man, but Pluto," He frowns, brushing his hand through my hair, "Jaejin won't let anybody hurt you, even his father. I trust that boy with you, Cha or not, that's the boy I want you to never leave." He kisses my forehead and I nod. I understood my father more after today, I understood why he couldn't turn his back on Minjun because now, I wasn't sure that I ever would too. My father steps up and leaves, then it's my Mate who walks into the bathroom. I grab his hand to stand and stand up against the edge of the sink. I cross my arms over my chest, and look at JJ in the eyes.

"He tried to kill me," Is the first thing out of my mouth, "Your father tried to kill me with his Acid."

"Pluto, he just-"

"Your father," I snapped, "Can't let go of his past. Can't let go of the mistakes of my mother even if he had my mother for fifteen years!" I yelled at him and he reached out a hand,  but I bared my fangs at him.

"Your mother killed my grandfather, who I never got to meet!"

"Your grandfather burned down my mother's damn Kingdom!" I screamed in his face, "Your father tore my chance away from staying in Red Blaze, your father, just tried to kill your fucking Mate!" I barked and pushed him away from me.

"What do you want me to do, Pluto? Give up my Crown? Give up the relationship that I have with my parents? What do you want from me?" He snaps, placing his hands on his hips and his jaw is tightened as he tries to catch my blue eyes.

"I want you to fucking choose me! I am always your second choice, your piece on the back burner because you think I will always be there, waiting for you! Guess what? I am done waiting for you. I am done waiting for you to make up your mind so when you do let me know, so I know if I can tell my father if I am staying in Red Blaze or not." I growled out and Jaejin's eyes narrowed.

"Waiting? Do you not see that Mark on your neck?"

"So far, I see a brand that you decided to put there, I don't see the commitment that you promised me. I don't see the man who promised me that I would never be hurt by his father. I don't see the man who crossed enemy lines to come get me!" I huffed and there's a knock on the doorframe. It's my sister and thank the Gods that it is.

"They want to continue the meeting but they need Jaejin to take his father's spot, you'll have to take the spot of his Mate, Pluto." She says softly and I really needed my sister then. That's who she was being, not my father, the King, not my brother, the Prince, and definitely not the High General. Jaejin nods and heads out the door. My sister grabs my shoulders and brings me into a hug.

"Breathe, bubs. Breathe." She says, patting the back of my shoulder. I only hum in response and follow my Mate out the door. Everyone stares but I don't look at them, I don't want the looks of judgment, or the looks of that I'm a threat. I know what the other Pyromatic Kingdoms are thinking, that maybe I'm the Heir to the throne but I'm not at all. I'm just the kid who got blessed with more Pyro powers than his brother, although that changed because I have the Mark on my neck. Mates and their marks make each other stronger, either that be physically, mentally, or due to the magic in our bones. So far on my list, I have engulfed my body in flames and a fire force field. The Kardos family has always been known to be the dramatic ones, our ultimate fire move has always been engulfing ourselves in flames.

The meeting continues with more statistics and although Jaejin is right next to me, I feel like I did a month ago; that I was here in Red Blaze while he was in Black Soul. I still feel like he's across the grand sea that separates our two Kingdoms, that even if I tried to wish for him to be here, that it would never be enough. The other side of the bond is quiet, and sad. Did I want Jaejin to pick his Crown over me? By Demis sake, I never wanted him to do that. I was willing to never tell him about the Bond in the first place because I knew his father would never approve of me being his Mate but it's not like Jaejin would let me deny it either. He was headstrong, and rarely took no for an answer. It's one of the many things I loved about him, he was willing to seize the moment.

"Additional comments and concerns may be voiced, we'll go by every Kingdom." Queen Anastasiya voices and goes down her list, "Alsada Shadow." Of course, King Souta won't say anything against us. Alsada Shadow had a good relationship with Red Blaze but they aren't going to say anything with the Cha heir across the table from them.

"No comments or concerns." Princess Setsuna is the one to tell the Queen.

"Dahab Mountain."

"No concerns, but I'd like to congratulate my nephew on his completed bond." My Uncle grinned at me, and tilted his head towards me.

"Thank you, Uncle Asad." I nod back and he smiles.

"Baingani Storm."

"One concern, for Prince Jaejin Cha." Kiara demands.

"What is it, Princess?"

"Does your father plan on burning Red Blaze to the ground?" She asks him and my father straightens in his seat, suddenly interested in what the meeting has to inform him. I look over to my Mate and Jaejin's jaw tightens.

"Nothing will happen to Red Blaze. If anything, my father agreed to a Treaty. He also agreed to bless our Mating bond." Gasps surround the table and whispers. King Rurik whistles loudly to get everyone to calm down. I grit my own teeth together, biting the inside of my cheek.

"So you are saying we will have peace in the realm again? He's going to approve your bond and sign a treaty? Why would he do that? With no gain?" It's King Devyan Naidu who questions JJ first.

"We will. My father never touched her, she was held under the castle and taken care of. My father used to send me to speak with her when I was a teen, and I found out who she was. When I was 17." Jaejin explains and there's more whispering.

"And all will be forgiven, King Kardos?" King Souta asks him, curiously.

"Yes, if and when Minjun Cha approves of a treaty, I am willing to sign a treaty with the House of Acid." My father announces and that takes Jaejin by surprise, I don't know why.

"And his attack on my nephew, Lucijan?" It's my aunt, Eniko who asks my father. His younger sister seems to arch an eyebrow up at him because that's her brother, and if they are anything like me and my siblings; that no matter the distance, she knows her brother just as she  knows how to breathe.

"We will speak about that when we write up the treaty. I am also leaving it in, Jaejin Cha's hands on how he wants to deal with that situation. I trust his judgment." He tells everybody at the table and more leaders just nod their heads in understanding.

"Are there any other comments or concerns for other Kingdoms that anybody would like to get out of their system?" Rurik goes around the table and everybody shakes their heads. I think they are all still shell-shocked from the events and revelations that have happened at this meeting today.

"Alright well, that ends the Eclia Meeting of 1022. You may go change; we are about to have our annual following ball and dinner. Lovely to see you all again, till next year." Anastasiya takes the barriers down with her hands, facing them flat in the air and pushing an invisible wall. She mutters a few words in Azeri which is the everyday spoken language in  Bely Glacier. I've never heard it spoken but that's probably because it's a harsh language, very bold, with its rolling R's. Everybody leaves as I stare out the window in the room, it's snowing, of course. Why wouldn't it be in Bely Glacier? I feel like those fluttering flakes falling from the white puffy clouds. A white dragon flies by and makes a playful roar as it twirls up in the sky.

"Pluto," Orion grabs my attention, grabbing onto my shoulder, "Let's go. We gotta get ready for the ball and dinner." I look around, Jaejin is watching me from the doorway. My brother had turned my chair and was crouching in front of my knees. My sister and father were standing right behind my brother. I swallow and hope that I can find water soon for my parched throat. I take a deep breath and stand up from the chair; Jaejin is still watching like a predator watches prey. I follow behind my family, but I have to follow Jaejin to our shared bedroom. This crown feels heavy as we set a foot into the room. Jaejin walks in after me, closing the door behind us. I take the crown and set it on the bed, grabbing the sheets in my hands and taking a deep breath. This room feels tight around me, this room feels suffocating and that everything in this room is out to get me. Including the love of my life who watches me without saying a word to me.

"Say," I gulp, "Something." I snap at Jaejin, looking up at him.

"Your eyes," He mutters and I look at the mirror hanging above the bed, my eyes changing color. I don't feel myself tapping into my dragon's magic but apparently I do. My eyes are much like Jaejin's when he was protecting me earlier, they are yellow feline eyes. I take a deep breath and let it out in a shuddering breath. I blink a few times as I look at Jaejin again. "Better." He muses.

"Say something, Jae." I snap again, as I look down at my hands. I scorched the blankets, just a bit to leave a black mark. I let go of the blankets and walked across the room, to watch out the window, yet again. I cross my arms over my chest as I watch the snow turn to viscous quarter sized hail. I look over at Jaejin again and he's watching me.

"I don't know what to say, Pluto," He licks his lips, "I was ready to kill my father for you when I stood in front of you but that's not about that."

"No, it's the fact that my father trusts you to make the right judgment call for his attempt on my life."

"And he will be punished for it, Pluto, but you can't expect me to do anything now. I am not King."

"King or not, you should've told him or done something after the fact. Except no, you didn't get to meet your grandfather, that's the important fact here." I bark at him and he winces.

"That was.. I am sorry Pluto," He strides across the room to me, "But I promise you, that you have never been my second choice. You have always been my first choice that has been locked in a cage, away from me. I just hadn't found the key till recently, Pluto, and I realized that the key was in my heart. I will never treat you anything less than you  deserve, I promise you that, my Pyro." I nod slowly and give him the benefit of the doubt. He pulls me into a hug and it seems to fix the numbness that I feel. He lifts my chin up with his hand, and gives me a passionate kiss on my lips.

"Ready for a ball, Prince Jaejin?" I ask him, a slight smile breaking out on my lips.

"I think you meant to ask me something else," Jaejin smirks down at me, "I think you meant to ask if we have time for a quickie in the bed?"

"You're insufferable and obsessed."

"Me? Obsessed with you? Always, my Pyro."