Chapter 14 #3
“The alternative is to surrender to the warlord. Relinquish the throne. Become part of his new empire and leadership, and hope that he is as benevolent as he is powerful.”
Powerful. That was not a word I expected Keanu to use in describing the warlord.
“Keanu, we cannot fight the warlord. He is already ruler of the other islands. Fighting him, even if you were to join with Kalani and the others, is foolish. If we have an option not to fight, we must take it.”
Keanu’s fists clenched, and his jaw tightened. Without a word, he marched out of the tent, leaving me alone.
I gaped, staring at the door. Did I offend him?
Was he angry at me? Or did he realize I was right?
The thought dawned on me that Keanu had disrespected Kāne.
He believed he was more powerful and knew better than the god of all gods.
Did he realize this? Did he realize his hubris had literally killed him?
It made me come to terms with the fact that Keanu probably did think he was better than everyone else.
After all, he became a night marcher because he thought he was better than Kāne himself.
So would he selfishly put himself before his people, just because he thought he was “protecting” them, when, really, he was just trying to preserve his power and place on the throne?
How many times had Keanu said he was protecting his people but did it out of his own interests?
No wonder Kāne punished him…
After a moment, I left the tent, only to find Keanu standing close to a ledge, overlooking the ocean. I approached, slowly, then stood at his side.
He turned to me. “You’ve known all along, haven’t you?”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“The riddle… it’s not about war. The deadliest game isn’t politics or war.”
“Then what is it?”
Keanu slowly put his hands on my waist, drawing me closer to him. “It’s what I’m afraid to do,” he replied. Color tinged his cheeks. “Falling in love is a deadlier game than any of this… for me and for you.”
He does know what the riddle means!
“Because, one way or another, we’ll both lose our hearts,” he said.
“I can’t bear to think of hurting you, Oliana.
I thought I could fool you into loving me, but that only hurts more.
I don’t want to lie to you, and I’m afraid to get closer to you.
When I left the other week, I hoped the distance would make me forget about you. ”
A lump formed in my throat.
“But I realized I only missed you more. I only wanted to spend more time with you. I feel as though we’re strangers, yet at the same time, you’re a stranger I would die for over and over again.
” He stroked my cheek with his thumb. “I would die for you, Oliana. But that is foolishness. I realize now I must live for you too, and we cannot waste any more time.”
“You really did know the meaning of the riddle all along?” I still couldn’t believe it. “What about becoming one with the shadow? Do you know what that means?”
Keanu pursed his lips and looked away.
I paused, then, “Your service must be willing, Keanu…”
“And what of the eternal flame?” he asked. “Is that not something you must do? If I become a night marcher and willingly serve, how will I know that the eternal flame will be lit for me?”
I hadn’t gotten that far. What was the eternal flame anyways? Could someone like me light it for him? Where? When?
The waves washed on the shore in the distance below and a cool salty breeze gently blew my hair.
Keanu sighed and rubbed my shoulder, returning to the topic of us. “I kept thinking I could prove myself wrong, but… being out here showed me the truth. The deadliest game is love… not one way, but mutual. Do you love me, Oliana?” I’d never seen him so vulnerable.
I broke eye contact to give myself a moment.
Think, Oli, think! Did I love him? I found him incredibly attractive. I missed him when he was gone. But I did not know him. We were still strangers, and he even pointed that out himself.
My hesitation was an answer, and Keanu nodded. “Perhaps you could learn to love a beast like myself? The man who robbed you of your days, the man who does not deserve your affection, yet I still ask for it?” His voice was full of hurt, not caused by me, but by himself.
“Show me,” I said, taking his arms and drawing closer to him. “My days are wearing thin, Keanu. I don’t think I love you now, but… I want to.”
The corner of Keanu’s lip turned up and he nodded. “I will show you, then, my wife. And, perhaps, you might just return my feelings.”
Was he saying he loved me? He didn’t say it outright, but butterflies were exploding in my stomach.
My legs grew weak, and, before I could think of what to say or do next, Keanu leaned in and kissed me.
If there were a thousand ways one could bottle passion into a singular moment, it was all in that kiss.
I melted into him, loving and hating everything about this.
Because, at the end of the day, one of us would have to become one with the shadow and it should be him…