Stepping onto the island, I feel my blood curdle. I look at the other ten warriors with me. There's also General Lorant and Klevon. They are all tensed. Even Theo is scouring the area with eagle-eyed focus.
It's understandable. Something is wrong within this island, but I guess that's always the accompanying feeling every time humans play with the gods. The last time humans tried to commune with the gods, werewolves are created. However, soon, it causes a war that claimed thousands, if not millions, of lives.
I see Theo's eyes shift on me. He moves towards me, but I look away and follow General Lorant. He is already making his way toward the island.
Entering the foliage, it's become even worse. There is a suffocating fog and everything is wet. Suddenly, I smell lavender. Theo is beside me as I turn. I frown at him. He catches my hand as I move away.
"Stay with me, Kaiya. This…" he mutters. "… is unnatural."
As if proving his point, he raises his palm. Water erupts from his open palm. It's dancing… or rather, it's unstable. It's as if he is trying to make a tornado but only managing a misshapen, disproportionate blob of water.
"Your magic is…"
"Unstable, even when we are still close to the ocean," he admits. And then, his expression turns into that of a child who is looking for affection. "Kaiya-"
"Stop," I cut him off. "And maybe, you can let me go. It's already suffocating. Stop adding to it."
He seems hurt and yet; he loosens his hand on me. We continue to walk around the island. It's quiet and the monsters that we are expecting to meet us never once shown themselves. As per General Lorant and Klevon, they didn't even feel their presence.
When night comes, we camp in a clearing. Some continue to take care of the tents while some starts dinner. Since I am assigned the first shift, I am allowed to have an early dinner. And since this is my first expedition, I am paired up with Klevon. Although, I think Harbin is to blame for that.
And so, those with early shifts sit around the bonfire to fight off the cold that's getting worse with each passing second. In our hands is a bowl of hot soup with a piece of meat mixed in.
Klevon is sitting beside me, slurping loudly on his bowl of soup. During these moments, I miss Harbin. He is the only one I can have a conversation with, that revolves around books. I should have never stopped meeting him for tea if I know that I will be trapped in Klevon's crass company.
I snort. I have no right to say that as if I am raised to be an elegant woman.
Klevon leans towards my ears and whispers, "Theo is glaring at me as if he wants to kill me."
I shift my attention from the soup to Theo. There are three women warriors with us and those three are around him as they take care of his needs. They are pouring him soup, involving him in conversation and one woman warrior even had the gall of pressing her voluptuous chest against his upper arm.
Jealousy rises from my heart. I look away, annoyed at the view. I can't even help but glance at my average-looking chest. This flap of flesh should not be a cause of my insecurity, and yet, Theo is doing that to me as well.
"You don't have to be insecure about your chest," Klevon whispers. "I kinda like yours. It fits nicely in my palm."
I turn to him. He is smirking while looking down at me. The way his eyes move in mischief, it's obvious he is reminiscing the night he pleasured me with his fingers. He is even moving his hands as if he is touching me.
I hit his salacious hands. "Stop that, pervert!"
He laughs and leans backward while looking at me. "I might drop dead sooner than I expected," he teases.
"And I told you, you are not allowed to die yet."
"Yes, yes, my Queen."
He is about to place his arms around my shoulder when a hand stops him. It's Theo. "Klevon, how many times should I warn you that you are not allowed to touch her?"
"My King," he greets. Although his eyes are glinting in mischief. I hope he doesn't do that though. He can't test Theo's patience like that.
More importantly, since Theo is here, I start to drown my soup. He should have stayed with his harem of warriors. Because of his presence, I feel the need to escape.
I glance at the two. Theo and Klevon are glaring at each other. I notice when Theo pushes Klevon off my side, then he moves behind me. My soup is still unfinished, but to hell it is. I will just finish this somewhere.
And so, I get up from my seat. After taking a single step, Theo pulls me back to him. The soup almost spills, but I balance it as I am forced to sit on Theo's lap. The soup is still unstable inside its bowl when Theo wraps his arms around my shoulders.
"My dear Kaiya," he whispers against my neck, and his breath sends shivers of desire along my body, but there is also the unmistakable smell of alcohol lingering on him.
Who in their right mind will bring alcohol into this expedition?!
Trapped in his embrace again. I look around. No one is looking at us. Rather, they all looked embarrassed as they try NOT to look at us. The women warriors are also nowhere to be found. Then my eyes go to Klevon, who is sprawled on the ground. He is about to get up when I raise my arms to stop him.
"Why are you drinking?"
"Because you are close to me and yet you are ignoring my presence all day."
Each day and he is becoming more like a child looking for attention. "We are on an expedition. Why did you even bring alcohol?!"
"I'm just being prepared, in case I find the need to use it. I didn't think I will drink it instead."
Abruptly, he buries his face against the crook of my neck. He inhales before whispering, "I miss you so much, Kaiya."
Then he starts placing small kisses on my neck and shoulders. And my body starts to react to him. Before his kisses escalate, I remove his arms around me and say, "You should sleep. You need your energy for tomorrow, my King."
"This is how I recharge my energy. Being with you makes me feel like everything will be fine."
I feel a prick in my chest because, for me, it's the opposite. Every time I am with him, I feel like I will lose control. And if I lose control, I sense as if something terrible will happen.
"I won't share your bed anymore, Theo," I say, and I sense his arms tightening around my body. "As much as I can, I plan to resist this mate bond with you."
He freezes at that. "But Kaiya, I love you even without the mate bond."
"But I don't think it's the same with me. Besides," I answer. I feel bad about hurting my mate like this, but I know I can't return to who I was before. "You are mistaking lust for love. I can understand, though. Even now, I am still imprisoned by it."
"You know it's not true. This love frees us. It does not imprison us."
"If you really love me, you won't subject me to these kinds of suffering."
Hearing no response from him, I shift my attention to General Lorant. He is the only one openly watching us.
"General Lorant, will you please help the king to his tent?"
General Lorant blinks. Then he gestures for two other warriors to come closer. "Please help the King to his tent," he orders. "Also, guard him well tonight. The abnormality in the air is getting worse."