A Disguise #2
“Don’t apologise. Kids are kids.” I wave at the girls. They look to be around six and seven.
“Hi,” Alfrea says to both of us as Sarena whispers.
“He’s scary.”
“Sarena!” Dorene gasps.
I laugh lightly. “He does look it, but I assure you he is a big, cuddly teddy bear.” I wink at Kai, who cocks a brow.
“I don’t think I am.”
I nod to the girls. “Ignore him. You know, men. They like to act big and scary,” I say cheekily. The girls laugh.
“Daddy does, too,” Alfrea whispers as she rushes over to me. “You’re so pretty.”
“I love your hair,” Sarena says as both girls begin staring at me.
“Your eyes are so beautiful,” Alfrea adds.
“Aw, thank you, you are both so pretty, too!” I say sweetly.
“And you have pretty lips,” Sarena states, now observing me with fascination.
“She’s very pretty. Is she a princess?” Alfrea asks.
“Aiy, she’s a stunner, we can see that. Now, be polite and go wash up, girls. Dinner will be on the table soon,” Dorene scolds them.
“Sit down, Kai, come, make yourself at home,” Alfren says, motioning for Kai to take the seat next to me.
He’s too tall for this small home, as he keeps his head low so he doesn’t knock into the rafters.
He sits down beside me, folding his long legs against his chest as he sits on the stool.
His leg brushes mine, and we look at each other.
I smile slightly, my gaze flicking to his lips before I look away swiftly.
“So, have you been travelling far?” Alfren asks as he sits down across from us and begins to remove his boots.
“Yes, it’s been a few days,” Kai answers.
Alfren nods. “Are you travelling for any specific reason?” he asks.
It’s an innocent question, but even I don’t know what Kai wants to tell them, so I simply leave it to him to answer.
“Well, there is a lot of unrest where we’re from. It’s quite close to the opening of the veil,” Kai says without hesitation. He sure has thought this through.
Alfren sighs. “Ah, that makes sense. I heard there’s plenty of hope across the veil, in a world very different from this one,” he muses. “Have you ever considered going through to the other realm?”
“Not really, we just want to find a peaceful place to set up home.” Kai smiles at me, and I put on a coy smile.
“Yes, besides, those openings are dangerous, what with it being the gateway for Varkhazan to bring his men in from,” I say lightly, refusing to look away from Kai’s smouldering eyes when I speak.
“It is scary, but you know we dryads are peaceful. All we want is to live peacefully and raise our kids. What with Morcant being so ruthless, and then the army of the tyrant Varkhazan from another world? What we need is a just ruler,” Alfren says, his eyes are shadowed, and he looks older than he is.
“Alright, dear, let’s not bore them with that. Come, let’s eat,” Dorene says as she motions us to the table. There are four chairs, and she’s got two stools added. “Take the chairs.” She motions to us.
“Thank you,” I say as Dorene tells us to begin helping ourselves. “May I ask what exactly about Morcant’s ruling is it that bothers you down here? I’ve lived quite sheltered my entire life until I married Kai, and every town and village has its own experiences, so forgive me for my ignorance.”
The couple exchange looks. “Morcant’s taxes on the land folk, including his control over the water supplies, are unjust. Sometimes we don’t even have water to drink. It’s a vital tool that all living beings need,” Alfren explains, helping himself to some fish and bread.
I nod, taking some bread and potatoes. “I heard it’s worse in some areas,” I admit. Although I had never really heard of it firsthand, there were rumours.
“Then, not to mention the sea sirens drowning poor fishermen and destroying entire ships and never being held accountable,” Dorene adds sadly. “I lost my parents like that. Good, innocent folk.”
“I’m sorry,” I say softly, wishing that everyone could live fairly and equally. I know sea sirens did attack ships. Some did it for fun, as it’s in their blood to do that. But what’s wrong is wrong. I also know that.
“And then this Varkhazan, the coward, doesn’t dare come to this world himself but sends his dogs to do his bidding. He’s as bad as Morcant!” Alfren grunts as their daughters come rushing back in.
“We washed up!”
I steal a glance at Kai, whose face is an emotionless mask. If only they knew they were feeding one of Varkhazan’s most loyal men and the daughter of Morcant.
The thought makes my own gut twist. I was starving, but suddenly I’ve lost my appetite.
Looking at the family in front of us, I feel shame for tricking them. They deserve better than this.
It’s an hour later, and night has fallen. We were shown the washroom that is just outside the main home before Dorene showed me to the small room where we will be sleeping. I look at her, realising this is their room.
“This is your bedroom,” I say softly. It’s just the two of us; Kai is with Alfren, who wanted to show him something outside.
“It is, but it’s slightly larger than the girls.
You will be comfortable here. Alfren will sleep in the main room, and I will sleep with the girls.
You’re pregnant, and if I can offer you a few nights on a comfortable bed, then I am more than happy to do this for you.
” She smiles at me, placing a hand on my shoulder.
Guilt washes through me, but I smile instead.
“Thank you,” I whisper, hugging the older lady. I mean it.
“Oh, it’s nothing, dear. I’m glad I can help.” She smiles, despite how tired she clearly is from the day’s work.
Once she leaves, shutting the door behind herself, I sit on the thin mattress that is on the stone floor. They have a small, humble home, but their hearts are big. Tucking my legs to my chest, I wrap my arms around them and rest my head on my knees.
What can we do to make the world better for everyone? Why does Father think he has a right to rule the land and hold access to water over these innocent people like a weapon?
The door opens, and I blink, coming out of my thoughts. I look up as Kai leans down to step through the doorway and straightens, sliding the flimsy lock in the door before removing his shirt and taking a seat on the mattress as he begins to remove his shoes.
The dim light from the lantern flickers.
“What happens when you claim this land for Varkhazan? What will Varkhazan do for its people, for people like this family? You want to kill Morcant, and I know your kind hate sea sirens, but what will you do for the sea sirens? They would still be your subjects, right?”
Kai looks at me; he’s silent for a moment, looking down at his boots before he yanks them off. “Varkhazan wants me to rule in his stead. Once I kill Morcant, I will be responsible for these people, and I assure you, I’ll do a far better job than Morcant ever has.”
“Better than those Varkhazan sent the first time?” I ask softly, not expecting him to be the one who will rule over this land. His eyes flick back to mine, and he gives me a curt nod.
“Yes.”
A sliver of hope fills my chest, and I nod. “Will you listen to everyone, regardless of species?” I ask. He turns towards me, and my eyes dip to his chest. My stomach clenches as I involuntarily move back slightly, but he simply leans closer.
“Yes. Are you satisfied now? Or do you have more questions, darling?” Kai asks, raising an eyebrow as his eyes trail over me, causing my core to clench.
“Yes…” I think I did. I think I wanted to clarify if that included the sea sirens, but… I’m not sure right now. Not with the way those liquid gold eyes are burning into me.
“Oh? And what might that be?” His tone dips low as he reaches for me, his thumb brushing the corner of my mouth. The gesture is almost lazy, yet it steals my breath.
I meet his eyes, searching for something I cannot name. “What do you want from me?” I whisper.
For a heartbeat, silence hums between us. Then his jaw tightens, and something raw flashes in his eyes.
He cups my face tighter, his touch both a warning of who he is and a dangerous invitation. The air thickens. I can feel his pulse, fast and steady, and it pulls at something deep inside of me.
I want him! Gods, I want him so much…
“Since you asked the question, allow me to show you,” he murmurs, and then his lips meet mine. The world seems to blur, and pleasure dances through me.
Suddenly, I find myself on my back on the bed with Kai straddling me as he pins my wrists to the bed. “Kai…”
“It’s too late to change your mind now, darling. When you play with fire, you get burned. You’re mine now.”
His words shouldn’t excite me. They shouldn’t make my pussy clench with desire, but they do. Far more than I will ever admit.
I hold his gaze, arching my back, wanting to feel him against me, but for a painstaking moment, his eyes simply roam over me, darkening before he leans down, his tongue flicking across the corner of my neck, making my eyes flutter shut. And then he’s ravishing me.
It’s passionate and intense, a collision of everything unspoken between us, everything forbidden, and in this single breath, nothing else exists.
Just us.