The old man watched as Kaden and Inara walked away, blending into the crowd, as their last words echoed inside his mind.

"I can't help you, old beggar." Kaden had said, his voice low with regret. "Everything in you seems to be in an irreversible state of dying. How is it even possible?"

"How?" the old beggar had responded, laughing. "A troublesome madman trying to drag me with him. But I am not asking for help. I don't need any, suicidal boy. I have made peace with the inevitable."

"Then what would you wish at this point?" Kaden had asked next, Inara listening beside him, her face puzzled by the strange exchange.

"The Red Crown says many things that are only true in fantasy books and legends meant to make children sleep. But there is one thing I agree with you on, boy."

The beggar had bared his rusty yellow teeth.

"An honorable man would never die alone. Because he would be remembered. So remember me, boy, so that I will not die alone. Remember my words, and hopefully, one day, you will understand them."

"Preferably," he had added, spitting on the ground, "not as late as me."

Kaden had nodded then, and placed a hand on the beggar's ballooned legs. They both flinched, but for different reasons.

Kaden couldn't save him, but his intent of death could give the old man more time.

So he activated it, making the beggar's body undying for a while, while killing the pain with his sword intent.

After that, he walked away with a faint smile, asking one last time if he would see him again one day.

"You will," the old beggar had answered. "Hopefully before I can no longer hold on."

Kaden had given a curt nod and waved his hand, even if he didn't fully understand, and left with Inara.

Now the old man sat there alone, his face splitting into a small smile as his eyes rested on the moon above.

"I wish to see them too," he whispered. "But I can't, can I? I don't have much energy left. Not nearly enough. Little Kaden took it all out of me. Really, everything! Hahahah. That's good. That's really good."

He coughed, then spat.

This time, his spit was black like charcoal, emitting a disgusting, corrupting stench.

He sighed wearily. "Love each other or perish," he whispered.

That was his philosophy. And yet, it seemed he would die because of love.

He managed one last smile, then slowly his entire body began to waver and quiver, like restless water, disappearing as if he were nothing but a fever dream.

Before fully vanishing, he turned his head and spared a hard glance at the Red House of the Warborn.

His lips parted into a grin — something close to happiness, or even pride or even sadness — as a teardrop slid from his right eye.

Then he disappeared.

The tear finally splashed onto the ground.

It was black.

…

Kaden and Inara began to walk through the streets illuminated by the red light of the lanterns.

People were already dancing under the song of Fire and Blood.

The mood was joyous, soaked in too much pink.

Noises were everywhere, yet somehow an uncomfortable silence lingered between them.

Kaden had tried multiple times to meet Inara in order to apologize during the past years, but to no avail. And now that the Snake Princess had finally accepted, he found himself at a loss for words.

What did he want to say?

I am sorry?

Kaden felt it would sound bland and undermining. Saying it alone would not solve anything. Not with how Inara was.

He knew that much.

Reditha and Blanche fell silent. This was Kaden's battle to overcome, so they decided to take the backseat and simply watch.

It was not the kind of battle Prometheus was good at.

He only knew how to kill and — barely, very barely even — how to save those he cared for.

Yet what Kaden didn't know, but was slowly learning, was that sometimes the hardest battles were not those where swords flashed and blood smeared the sky.

They were these quiet moments of silence between two people who wished for nothing but to speak, yet were lost in how to speak again.

Two years. Two years were truly a long time.

Kaden was not the only one.

Inara was the same, or maybe even worse.

She had hesitated a lot before coming, but she did. She did after knowing what she wanted, despite not being sure it was a good choice.

And the reason she was late was one she herself was ashamed of.

Inara had taken so much time choosing a dress that her mother cursed her for it. She hated to admit it, but the Snake Princess wanted to look beautiful in front of Kaden.

And that, even after everything that happened between them. Added to all those nights she slept drained and broken, constantly repeating to herself that she hated him.

Ironically, the more she did, the more she became aware of how deep her feelings ran.

Two years. Two years were truly a long time.

Suddenly, Kaden halted. Inara followed awkwardly, surprised by the suddenness of the action, before shooting him a quizzical glance.

Then she swept her single eye around, realizing where they were.

They now stood in a quieter place, where the song was diluted.

It was a grand open space. In its center, a small crimson fire flickered sporadically, fireflies flying above it mesmerizingly.

Couples surrounded the fire, hands locked together, whispering gently to one another.

Kaden and Inara stood slightly behind, their frames partially hidden by shadows.

Prometheus turned, facing Inara, and took in the sight of her black dress laced with crimson.

He admired how her green hair flowed down like water, her eyelashes curled perfectly, her lone green eye slithering like that of a snake.

She was stunning. And with her eyepatch, there was a wild, unique aura to her.

In the same way Kaden admired Inara, she admired him.

And the Mother of Monsters had to restrain herself from showing any visible reaction to the effect Kaden had on her.

She barely succeeded.

"Am I allowed?" Kaden suddenly asked, pulling Inara's attention back to him, his eyes boring into hers.

"Allowed what?" Inara echoed, mirroring his stare defiantly.

"To tell you that you are beautiful in your dress," he said, making her heart skip a beat, "or am I going too far?"

Inara didn't answer immediately. She was dazed for a moment, before her monsters stirred, woke her up. Then she shook her head softly, regaining herself.

"No," her voice was almost too soft, her eye darting away in sudden shyness, "you can. And you look… you look good."

Her face flushed faintly.

Kaden chuckled, thinking inwardly how cute Inara could be. The tension inside him began to fade.

So, without hesitation,

"Then allow me to be bolder," he continued, "and ask you how your last two years were."

"Would it be easier if we don't face each other?" he added, before stepping beside her.

Now they were looking at the glowing fire together.

The shift happened so fast that Inara's reaction lagged behind, but she regained herself in a heartbeat.

She exhaled, cursing herself internally for always losing composure around Kaden, and began to speak.

She didn't say much, vaguely hinting at what she had been doing over the years.

Kaden listened as if it were the greatest tale he had never heard. Sometimes he asked questions, sometimes he exclaimed in wonder when Inara bragged about new monsters.

Monsters she had created herself.

In no time, Kaden saw the Inara he knew again.

The one who spoke without filter, cursed freely, and grinned with confidence. She was relaxed. Kaden released a hidden sigh of relief.

Silence settled once more between them, but this time it was calm, almost comfortable.

It didn't last.

"I'm sorry for hurting your feelings," Kaden said, pausing briefly. "I'm sorry for making you feel any way you shouldn't have."

Inara went silent, listening, her hands curling into fists.

"I know saying sorry won't erase everything you went through—!"

"It certainly won't," Inara cut in. "Sorry won't bring back the tears I cried, or erase the feeling of my heart shattering, or return the sleepless nights."

She paused, then whispered, "But can I blame you? I told you how I felt. And you told me how you felt. So if I think about it…"

She smiled sadly and looked at him.

"You didn't hurt me, Kaden. I hurt myself by feeling more than I should."

"Don't say that," Kaden said tightly. "You didn't choose to feel those feelings."

"But I chose to express them!" Inara replied, her voice rising before falling again. "I chose to make them real. And that is the difference."

Words lodged in Kaden's throat.

They looked at each other.

"So don't feel guilty," she said, trying miserably to sound casual. "I didn't speak to you all this time because I was afraid. Afraid of what I would feel in front of you. And you know what?"

Her smile was so forlorn it hurt to see.

"I was right to be afraid. But I'm also glad I came."

She pressed a finger against his chest, her eye locking onto his sword-shaped gaze.

"So tell me, Kaden. Please…"

Her voice tightened.

"Tell me if one day something could change between us. Will your heart ever feel what mine feels for you?"

"Will you open yourself to me, the way I opened myself to you?"

Kaden heard the question and felt the weight behind it.

Would he feel the same one day? It was hard to tell. And he was no seer or anything similar to that to know the answer.

But Inara didn't need that as an answer. Yet he could offer nothing else.

So he smiled, faint and tight, its edge wavering in hidden sadness.

"What will you do if I say no?"

"I will leave, Kaden," she said instantly, "and we will never meet again. You hold my blood oath, but I will trust in the honor your family is shouting all over that you won't use it to force me."

"I didn't force you for the last two years." Kaden scowled, "You know I won't."

Inara didn't respond. She just stared at him, waiting for his answer.

Kaden sighed, then…

"What will you do if I say yes?" He asked once more.

"Then," Inara breathed, her eye wavering, "I will wait for you. I will wait no matter how long it will take. As long as you promise me."

It was heavy. The expectation in Inara's eyes was heavy on Kaden's soul.

He just realized now how he had underestimated her feelings for him. And accepting them meant accepting another burden inside him.

Kaden didn't like it. But he couldn't lie to himself, saying he didn't feel pain during these past years with Inara ignoring him.

It made him aware of how he cared about her, and that he didn't want to lose her.

Inara knew. And she was threatening him, realizing that simple fact.

She was doing all she could to guarantee a place inside his heart, and damn his burden and his own feelings.

"Are you ready to go that far?" He asked, "Even blackmailing me?"

"Yes. I am ready to go that far. Why are you surprised? You know me, Kaden. So choose."

"You didn't give me any other choice except one."

"So what?" Inara said.

Kaden fell silent, then slowly he leaned his face closer. Inara instinctively wanted to stagger back, but Kaden was way faster.

He grabbed her waist with one hand and pressed her against his chest, then used the other hand to grasp her cheeks.

Inara's monsters instantly emitted intense killing intent, wanting to strike…

"You attack," Kaden said, voice cold, "you will all die."

Inara and her monsters trembled, watching how Kaden's eyes were glowing so bright it looked like his eyes were bleeding blood.

A sense of death and the feeling of a sword being pressed on their necks flooded their entire being.

They all froze.

Kaden smiled next, looking at Inara's surprised face, "I am Kaden Warborn, Inara. No one blackmails me."

Inara's eye began to slither and fragment like glass. Oeil was waking up. A monstrous aura spilled out from her, harrowing and chilling.

Her mouth cracked open, her voice layered, "Really, Kaden?"

"Yes." He answered, unfazed, "Maybe you doubt my words?"

Inara said nothing, knowing well he was not joking, sensing the feeling of death all over.

She realized they would all die if they attempted to fight him.

At that realization, a weird feeling began to envelop the Mother of Monsters.

Still,

"Your damn answer." Inara growled, not backing away.

Kaden chuckled, then retracted his intents and let Inara back away from him.

She didn't. She pressed against him even more.

Prometheus rested his crimson starry eyes upon her, then nodded lightly, "Well, Inara, I will allow myself to be blackmailed and promise you one thing."

Kaden raised a finger upward.

"I will open my heart to you. I will let you see who I am." He smiled strangely, "Will you bear it?"

Inara grinned wide, "I will not only bear it. I will do more than that. The question is, will you bear my feelings for you?"

Kaden rolled his eyes.

"I have seen worse. So don't—!"

His words were gulped down.

Inara was not able to bear the feelings bubbling inside of her since Kaden had threatened her with his power.

That feeling of being the one dominated and not the one to dominate sent a jolt of intense heat through her body, and without care…

She crashed her lips onto Kaden's own.

—End of chapter 387—

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