Venice's POV:

Rain continued to look at me. I knew he was considering my words. As the Queen, I knew that he would do anything to fulfil his duties. But I didn't want a Queen anymore, I wanted my mate. But I wanted him to be my mate of his own free will and never by force. So I just kept quiet. He looked away and then looked back at me. "I was 10 years old when I realised that you were my mate. The moment I realised that, Pensri kissed you, and your mark never filled. Mine not only filled, but the bands of the prophecy appeared around my hips. I could tell no one except Sky. One, because you and Rick were friends and so were our families. Two, because I did not want you to be my mate out of pity," he said.

"So, I continued to keep quiet, and stayed away from you, because I never wanted your mark to fill. I wanted you to keep wondering who it was and why you never found him or her. The Council would soon start to put pressure on you, and I just wanted you to suffer as much as possible, as much as I did. The day of my accident, I knew well before that you were going to find out about me, because the alignment of the stars had foretold that the prophecy was about to be put in motion. What I didn't account for an actual accident happening to me. In the first year that I was there, every single time your name came up, I hated it. I didn't know whether you were visiting me because you wanted to or because you felt guilty," his words sliced through my heart, but I guess he needed to let it out.

I wanted to say something, but before I could, he continued. "I didn't want your guilt or your pity. No matter how many times I tried to ignore it, I knew my feelings were not going anywhere. I wanted to continue hating you, but the truth was 3 years was not a short period of time for you, nor for me. Yet you persisted, and it raised my hopes and made me want to forgive you. I didn't want it to be made easy, that's why I said I want us to work for it. These past 6 months, I really felt we were getting closer and that we could probably make a go at this mate thing. I tried to get rid of all my horrible memories and replace them with those we were making now. But seeing Jack today, it shook the very foundations of the trust I was trying to build with you. How can I forgive you Venice? How?" I could see tears pouring down his face. For the first time in my life I felt so helpless.

But if he was hurting, I was hurting along with him. I went and knelt down in front of him. There were many things I wanted to tell him and I had no idea where to start. So I decided to begin with the most important part. "Rain, I love you!" He looked at me in shock. "I know it's hard to believe. Maybe I wasn't sure before, but these past 6 months have made me realise that if there is anything in this world I never want to lose, it's you, and your unlimited affection for people. You are loving, caring, smart, talented. You are stronger than people think you are, a true warrior, a true Queen. You have my heart, my soul, my loyalty and my trust. Even if you don't want to give me yours...,"

"They are already yours P'Phayu," I looked at him in shock. Not just because of what he said, but because for the first time he had called me Phayu. I could not believe what I was hearing. "Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, a small smile on his face, as he wiped away his tears. "I don't know. How am I looking at you?" I asked. "Well, your eyes seem to be bugging out!" he giggled, that sweet sound a soothing salve on my wounds. "I am just a bit....," I started. "Shocked? You don't believe me?" he asked.

"No, it's hard to. I have been such an asshole that I really don't know if I deserve your love," I said. "You don't," he said, more cheerfully now, "but you get it anyways." "Rain, I love you and I am sorry," I said. "You are sorry about loving me?" he asked quizzically. "No, no! I mean! No! That's not what I meant," I said, even more flustered. He really had the ability to make me lose my train of thought! He smiled at me, a single tear trickling down his face. "Rain," I said, wiping away the tear from his cheek. "I will never be sorry that I love you. However I am very sorry that I hurt you so much. You were the person I was meant to cherish the most in the world. Instead I ended up hurting you the most. Maybe it was foretold, maybe it was written in some prophecy, but nonetheless, I should not have become the impetus behind it. For that I will always and forever be sorry. But never sorry for being in love with you, never!" I said with complete conviction.

"Phi, like I told you before, I don't know if I will be ever able to completely forget what happened between us, but I am definitely going to try my best to do just that, as much as possible. I want us to go ahead with better and maybe happier memories than we had in the past so that we live a better and happier life. We have to overcome many obstacles together, so let's do that. Let's just live our lives the way we want to, okay?" he said. I nodded and pulled him to his feet and into a hug. He leaned back and looked at me, and I bent down placed a soft kiss on his lips and drew back immediately. He smiled at me and kissed me back. Just a peck, but at least it was the start of something new. Finally old wounds had begun to run clean!

Rick's POV:

Jack? Jack Anusorn? He was Pride? He was our first battle? I couldn't believe my ears. I knew Lady Avani would not lie to us, and having seen Rain's expression as he had rushed out, told me in more than words that the news would not be good. But to hear the name of a friend in such a scenario was utterly terrifying and beyond my thought process. Zan understood what exactly I was feeling. He hugged me from the side, knowing that I was terribly confused and scared. This was probably the worst news I could have ever received. No wonder Rain had looked so shocked and upset. I wanted to run after Rain and assure him that all will be well. "I should go and see Rain," I said. "No Hia, don't go. Let P'Venice handle this please," Sky said to me.

While I understood where he was coming from, I was worried about my brother. Rain and Phayu had been gone a long time. I turned to Sky. He was also looking worried. "Worried about Rain, Sky?" I asked. "Yes, I am worried, but not in the way you think. Not about P'Venice and him. I am worried about him having to fight against P'Jack. While they were never friends, P'Jack was friends with you and P'Venice, so he is someone known to him. And that's the worst that could happen. If the first had been someone unknown, it would have been easier," he said. I looked at him, thinking how right he was. "Don't overthink this Rick," Zan said to me, hugging me closer.

"Rick," I turned at the serious voice of Lord Raejin. "Yes, Lord Raejin?" I asked. "Your brother is much stronger than you think. He may seem like he has broken down, but in reality, he is a warrior beyond measure. He has been trained by the Gods and the Archangels. His own powers are actually beyond even ours. We have control over one element, our own. But he can control all of them, something no one do. He has been trained to face any possible scenario and I know for sure that he never gives up, however hard it gets," he said.

It was the most I had heard anyone from their group say, and hearing them say this about my brother, the respect in his voice, and the love he had for Rain, clearly shone through. Now I understood why Rain had said that they were not Gods and Goddesses for them, they were family. The bond was so strong, so visible, it was hard to deny. I now remembered Lord Raejin's visit to us a while ago. I remembered the anger and poison in his voice when he spoke to Phayu. At that time I had wondered, but now I realised that it had been an extension of his hatred. For them, Rain was no more a student. He was someone they loved, took care of and he gave them love and respect in return.

Not for the first time, I felt awed when I thought of Rain. He had always been the little brother who had loved me, made me feel special, joked with me when I had felt down, and always comforted me that my choices in life were never going to change the way anyone looked at me, and if it did? Well, it was their problem! But now, as the future Queen, as a warrior who had everyone's respect, he was not just my brother anymore. Rain was someone I could look up to. I looked at Zan and he smiled at me, probably understanding what I felt.

I looked towards the door and wondered where Rain was. "Sky? Do we really not go and see where he is? I mean, they have been gone a long time," I said, worried. "No Hia. Let them work things out. A large part of our victory depends on their complete bond and surrender to each other. They have to be one single force if we need to have a shot at winning this," Sky said. "Also, once Varain and Venice solve all problems between them, then Venice needs to start his training as well," Lady Avani said. "Training? Isn't he already training?" Zander asked. "He is training to be a warrior, but he needs to train to be a King," Lord Alizeh said.

"What does that mean?" I asked, confused. "As you are aware, Varain trained with us for 3 years. His training makes him the most lethal weapon known to man. But sometimes, there is a possibility that he may not be able to do what is expected of him for whatever reason. The only person who can do what he is supposed to do is Venice. That's why he needs to train at least to make the kills," Lord Llyr said. I was about to speak when I heard someone coming down the staircase.

Sky's POV:

We all turned as the door opened. When Rain and Phayu walked in hand and hand, I could clearly see that whatever they had discussed, they had turned a major corner in their relationship. The easy smiles on their faces were clear indicators that they had resolved a lot of their issues and were, if not a completely secure couple, very comfortable and peaceful in each other's presence. I looked at the others in the room, and all their expressions showed the same relief that I was feeling. I had known Rain had forgiven P'Phayu a long time ago, but he had set a boundary with him that even he had not dared to cross.

But now their boundaries were visibly down and their happiness was a living, breathing being in the room. I was extremely thrilled for my best friend. The two of them had indeed come a long way. I felt more than heard Avani come forward. "Varain?" she said. I could see the reluctance on P'Phayu's face when he had to let go of Rain's hand, but he had to as he had moved forward, towards Avani. "We are pleased for you my dear. Finally, you look like you are at peace," she said, smiling at Rain. Then she looked at P'Phayu. "Venice, it's time for you to take on the mantle of the true King beside your Queen," she said, as she held out her hand to him.

He looked a bit taken aback, but he stepped forward and took it immediately. "It's time for the true King and Queen to ascend. Venice, your training to be a perfect partner to your Queen and mate will begin tomorrow," she said. "Training?" P'Phayu looked completely confused. "Am I not already training?" "This is a different type of training. Gabriel and Michael will be here tomorrow early morning to train with the two of you. Hereafter, you both will exclusively train with them and we will take over the training of the others," Alaz said.

Rain looked at me. "Sky?" I knew exactly what he wanted. I opened my arms and he rushed into them. I hugged my best boy and like always, it felt like home. "I am okay Rainy, as long as you are happy, so am I. If he is the reason for your happiness, then I will forgive him for everything he ever did." I looked at P'Phayu. "If you ever break his heart again, this time I will kill you, if that's the last thing I ever do," I said. "As the Queen's guardian and best friend, there will be no punishment if you do that," he laughed. I went up to him and hugged him as well. For a moment I felt him stiffen against me, then his hands came around me and he hugged me right back. "Thank you Sky, for taking care of him all these years and for being there for him. I know I can never replace you, but I will try to be someone you can trust in every way," he said.

I nodded against him, not trusting myself to speak. These were words I had waited almost 10 years to hear. Finally, I knew that my best friend was in good hands. He would finally get what he had deserved to get a long time ago. I stepped away. "I will hold you to that Phi," I said, smiling at him. Just then P'Pai came in. He saw all of us, and then looked at me. He immediately rushed over seeing the tears in my eyes. "Sky, babe? What is it? What is wrong?" he asked. I could see the worry on his face. "I am okay. Everything is ok. I promise!" I said. "Then why the tears?" he asked. "Look," I nodded towards Rain and P'Phayu who were holding hands again. It was as if Phi could not get enough of being close to him. P'Pai looked at their hands and then looked at me.

"Is this what I think it is?" he asked, with a smile on his face. "Yup! They talked it out," I told him. "I am really glad for you both," he said looking at both of them. "It was high time you guys got together. We should have a big party tonight!" he said. "That would be nice," Neoma said. "From tomorrow, some difficult days start. So let's make the most of today," she continued. "Don't forget to invite your families. We need to share the news with them too," Idalia smiled at all of us. Finally, I could see the start of happiness in everyone's face, and that made me also very happy!