This is set in a different point of view so you'll see both Kai and Cayne/Prince Gordon. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Twenty One (3rd POV Kai/Prince Gordon)

Kai had spent the night, awake, in the room by himself. He had spent the time allowing his anger at the prince to pent up and snake around him like a second pair of clothing. The only reason he was in this situation was because of him.

His süda belonged by his side, in his arms. She didn't belong in another man's and shouldn't have danced with him. He had warned her what would happen, but she hadn't believed his words until his fist connected with the prince's jaw.

He wondered whether she was alone right now, or whether she had run into his arms for comfort. It was selfish of him to hope she was alone and he knew it. But he couldn't imagine her crying with the prince, allowing him to soothe her. It was his job, something he enjoyed doing,

He enjoyed holding her in his arms, shunning the world and its evils away from her. He enjoyed running his hands through her hair and down her back in a slow, rhythmic motion. he enjoyed whispering sweet nothings into her ear and telling her all would be fine until the tears came to a stop. He took pride in knowing that he was able to calm her fears and reassure her.

When she had come in, he had been relieved until she started talking. It was then she started spouting irrational thoughts about them taking a break as if it was the most reasonable thing. He wouldn't let her know how much it had hurt him to know his süda wanted distance from him.

Everything he did was for her, or for them. She was the reason he barely slept during the nights, keeping watch over her. She was the reason his eyes always seemed to wander, always making sure she was nearby.

He couldn't bear to lose her or know she'd been harmed while he was by her. He wouldn't stand by and allow something to happen to her while he was alive. He wouldn't abandon her as he had his leap in their moment of need. She was his to protect and he would do just that.

She had been on his mind the entire night, along with him, causing the anger to build up into worry, jealousy, and worse yet, fear. What if she decided the prince was a more suitable mate for her and forgot about him completely?

While Kai went without sleep, Prince Gordon was doing the same within his office. Keeping two shifters in his palace was proving more difficult than he had thought it would be. Sure, he had expected trouble, but not near as much as he was being given.

Despite their trouble, they were doing exactly what they were sent here for; changing the minds of the public about their kind. It was astonishing how they were doing so, even changing his own mind.

He did not have much of an opinion on shifters before meeting the two of them. They were simply there, no longer a threat to humans, as every species was on the hunt for shifters. They weren't likely to cause much trouble with so many against them.

However, upon meeting the two of them he found shifters to be something to strive towards. Kai may harbor hatred towards him, but he held a passion for Ivy that most humans did not achieve. He held a determination that humans had given up a long time ago.

Ivy held a gentleness that he had never known existed. She was gentle with everything around her, despite the situations she faced. She had a spirit within her that he could only hope would never die out or leave this world.

They had both shown him that shifters deserved their second chance within the first few weeks, but they still had not gone out into the public. Now that Kai was being sent off,their chance was growing that much slimmer. Prince Gordon would help however he could, but it was up to Ivy now.

"Have them bring him down to the carriage," Prince Gordon said, glancing at his watch. He had just finished discussing Kai's living arrangements with his brother, who was willing to take him in.

He had considered allowing Kai to stay in, but after hearing the threats he had cursed from within the room he had decided it was best to send Kai elsewhere. He had thought about asking Ivy, but could hear her crying from within her room. He had thought it was best to leaver her alone.

"Prince Gordon said there has been a room set up for the shifter," one of the guards informed him. Cayne nodded, not bothering to look at him. He glanced at his watch again before a set of guards came out of the palace.

Kai was amongst them, his eyes holding a fire. Prince Gordon knew it was directed towards him, yet he didn't look away. Kai had placed himself in this mess; it was not Prince Gordon's fault.

A guard opened the carriage door for Kai, who bared his teeth at Prince Gordon before stepping in. If Prince Gordon thought this ride was going to be pleasant, Kai was determined to prove him wrong.

Two guards climbed in the carriage, sitting on either side of Kai. Prince Gordon was escorted in next before another guard joined them and the door was closed shut. They could hear rustling in front before the horses took off, the carriage moving behind.

It was quiet for a few moments, Prince Gordon looking out the window very aware that Kai's eyes were on him. Kai wanted to tell him it was what cats did with their prey to see the fear cross his eyes, but he knew it would only result in punishment.

"Ivy will be safe within the palace, I promise," Prince Gordon tried, but failed miserably. Kai growled, a humorless laugh escaping him.

"Safe with your enforcers who would like nothing more than to skin her alive? Or safe with you?" He spat, the venom soaked into his voice almost tangible.

"I will not allow harm to come her way. You may not trust me, Kai, but I care for Ivy enough to make sure she is safe within my lands, no matter the costs," Prince Gordon explain, finally looking over at Kai.

"You care for her too much, you loll. And that's the reason I don't trust you with her," Kai snapped, the guard's tensing at his tone. Prince Gordon shook his head slightly, keeping them at bay for the moment.

"I do not care for Ivy in the way that you do, Kai. I have seen the way my brother's companion is treated and would never wish that on anyone. If it makes you feel better, I am going to court a Princess," he said, but it did nothing to soothe Kai's fears.

"You say that now. What happens when you and Ivy are alone, together? Do you think I'm rumal enough to believe you would not take advantage of the moment? If I hear of you touching her, I'll find a way to kill you," he growled, a clear threat in his words. The guards yelled at him in warning while Prince Gordon sighed. This was going nowhere.

"I cannot give you a physical promise, or show you nothing will happen. However, I can give you a promise as a Prince that I will not make any advances towards Ivy. I promise," Prince Gordon said, mostly doing so for himself.

He believed Ivy should have her own choice, and that Kai should not interfere with it. But he also knew hatred would rain upon her if he did become more fond of Ivy than he should. He cared for her enough that he wouldn't allow for this to happen. She deserved a happy life, not one where she had to watch her back or hold fear beside her on a daily basis.

Kai knew the promise meant something to Prince Gordon and the rest of the world, but it meant nothing to him. It was easy to make a promise and then break that very promise. It was something humans constantly did, whether aware or not. In his leap, promises had been seldom used because it was something they strongly believed in. It was why he had made Ivy promise him in hopes that a promise still meant that much to her.

"Keep your promises to yourself," Kai muttered, disappointment running through Prince Gordon. Could Kai truly not trust him this once?

"You can't understand why she means so much to me because you've never held someone so close to your heart," Kai murmured, glancing out the window as he talked. His words had grown softer, his voice fading.

"When I first met Ivy, I knew she was for me. She was different than the other girls, in a good way. The others were all playing dress up, and giggling with one another. But Ivy? She was following around the adults, pleading to help them in some way. All Ivy wanted to do was help.

She continued doing this for years, helping out our elders. She would give them a hand when they needed it, or when they claimed they didn't. She was always there for them," he started, a faint smile forming.

"Once, I asked her who was there for her and she told me she didn't need anyone to be there for her. She said she would be fine. I made myself a promise that day that it would be me. I would be there for her whenever she needed it. And I was.

She may not realize it now, but I'm still keeping that promise. I'm there for her all the time, no matter the costs. She's my suda and nothing is going to change that." he said, letting his voice fade completely, silence tying up his story.

Prince Gordon was quiet for a moment, considering his words, before saying, "Sometimes, Kai, we need to step away from those who are there for us. Sometimes, we need to step out into the world on our own. Perhaps this is Ivy's chance to do so."

Kai stared at him, thinking. Kai was aware that Ivy was her own person, that she was strong. He knew that better than anyone. But that didn't mean she should go without him. It was okay to have someone there for you all the time and Prince Gordon didn't understand. He was stubborn in his ways.

Kai huffed, not bothering with a response. He stared out the window, wondering what Ivy was doing and whether she was okay.

Prince Gordon took his silence as a good sign, looking out the window. He began wondering whether Ivy would thrive without Kai by her side constantly, or whether it would break her.

*side-note: would y'all be interested in holiday cards?

loll- (fool)

rumal- (foolish)

suda- (heart)