The kiss was brutal.

In a burst of unexpected strength, Inara was already on Kaden, kissing him in the way she had always dreamed of.

She poured into the kiss all her feelings — her frustrations, her pain, her insecurities, and most importantly, her love.

The Snake Princess wished for Kaden to understand her. She wished him to know that everything she was doing, and was prepared to do, was nothing but the byproduct of her unanswered feelings.

The past two years had been hell on earth for Inara. Far more than anyone could believe.

In more than one way, Inara would have wished for monsters to be pricking her flesh rather than this. At least that was something she was used to.

At first, she had decided to let go of Kaden, forget about him, walk away, and never return.

But that thought proved unrealizable. Besides being the man she loved, Kaden was more than just that.

He was the one who helped her become who she was now. He supported her, even if unknowingly.

Kaden was also the man she had sworn a Blood Oath to. Inara didn't regret doing that, but it only meant she couldn't get away from him.

The next thought was to settle for being friends. Nothing else. Nothing more.

After all, she was the one who had sought more anyway, so the simplest solution was to lower her expectations.

Everything would be fine then.

But being friends with the man she loved? Inara knew herself. She knew she couldn't do such a thing.

Hell, she would have preferred to leave him rather than settle for that and watch him be all lovey-dovey with Meris.

Death sounded far more logical than that.

So after thinking terribly hard, so much that her head spun, she came to the only possible conclusion.

If Kaden didn't want her as a lover, she would make sure he did. No matter what she needed to do.

It was reckless, and if her mother knew, she would have cursed her senseless. But the Mother of Monsters had made her choice.

So here she was, kissing Kaden forcefully, praying he would understand her plea.

Praying her heart would link with his, and that he would hear the cry of pain and love her heart was singing for him.

And it was with those hopes that Inara broke the kiss and stepped back, her mouth smeared with saliva, her chest rising and falling, her face flushed red, looking at Kaden with hidden fear.

The man mirrored her stare. Prometheus's face was painted with surprise, yet there was a hint of understanding in it.

Inara saw it. Her eye lit up, thinking maybe — just maybe — her Hero finally empathized with her.

Kaden exhaled softly through his mouth, lips still rosy from her kiss.

"I promised you I would open my heart to you," he murmured, looking at her, "and that is exactly what I will do."

"And I do understand your stance. I know it's never easy to love someone, to expect something more, and still be turned down."

"Do you really?" Inara's voice was bitter. "I doubt you do, Kaden. You've never felt that. Or am I wrong? Everyone around you loves you. You never needed to seek anyone's love."

She paused, gathering herself, then continued,

"Meris was the same. She was the one who sought you, not the other way around. And here I am," she chuckled humorlessly, "doing the same. Even worse."

"That doesn't mean I can't understand," Kaden retorted.

"Yes, true," she grated. "But it would be nothing but shallow understanding. You cannot relate to me, Kaden. You fucking cannot. And I'm not asking you to."

She stepped closer, her eye stern. "I only ask for your love. I want you to love me."

"That's the problem, Inara," Kaden sighed. "You seek my love, but there's something you still don't understand."

Her brow knit angrily, but Kaden continued, sharper now.

"If you want to be loved the way you want, then you need to love me the way I want." His voice rose, irritation bleeding through.

Inara's eye widened slightly, her heart pounding as his words echoed mercilessly in her mind.

He wasn't done.

"That's what I've been trying to tell you. I told you I would let you into my heart, what did you think that was for?" He sighed through his teeth, exhausted. "It was so you could know me better. Because if you think you already do, then you're deeply mistaken."

"It was also a way to connect deeper with you. To build something stronger. Something you wish for, but clearly don't yet know how to build."

He shook his head, and sudden fear gripped Inara, fear of what he would decide, of what he might do in this state.

She reached out quickly and grabbed his hand, her grip tighter than she intended.

But it was too late.

Kaden was looking at her, exasperated.

The Snake Princess realized painfully her mistake.

Instead of trying to know how the one she loved wished to receive love, she had decided to force herself into him.

She had been selfish, Inara berated herself with hidden anger and fear, and love was not a selfish matter.

She opened her mouth, but…

"I need to go." Kaden said, interrupting her words. He twisted himself, swaying Inara's hand from his arm.

Inara staggered back in surprise, her heart tightening like a fist, her throat dry as she watched Kaden walk away.

"W-Wait!" Inara cried out behind him. "I—I was lost. I didn't know." She tried to defend herself.

Kaden didn't stop. Soon, he would blend among the people.

Inara bit her lips, frustration boiling inside of her. She took a step, using her power to appear in front of Kaden, snapping like a snake.

He raised an eyebrow at her.

Kaden was patient, but his patience was not infinite. Since the beginning, he had tried to do well with Inara.

He had admitted he made a mistake regarding his comportment with her, but Inara was tiring to deal with.

Kaden was a hair's breadth from continuing on his way, but he halted as Inara's voice rang out.

"I will go back to Fokay today." She blurted. "After meeting with you, I intended to go back. I have wasted too much time. Something is gnawing at my insides. My monsters are worried."

She took an experimental breath, then exhaled as she spoke at the same time,

"I am not saying all of this to justify my harshness," she clenched her jaw, "but yes, I didn't want to go back without your love or your promise of one."

She lowered her head. Kaden stared at her, seeing the hidden difficulties she was going through.

"I wanted something, Kaden." She breathed.

"What then?" He asked.

"Something that would make me wish to do anything to come back alive. I told you about my fears. I fear going to Fokay and dying there, alone among monsters, my corpse rotting away."

She raised her head again, a forlorn expression on her face. "Your words made me able to go through my first time in Fokay. That's why I wanted the same again."

"Only this time, I want your love. I want to know that whatever happens once I go, if I come back, you will be here, waiting for me. Not as a friend. But as my lover."

Inara said that, then fell silent, sighing. Next, she took a step aside, making way for Kaden.

She had said everything she needed to say.

Kaden followed her movement with his eyes, realizing what Inara was reaching for.

The same way his family and loved ones made him grit his teeth and push through any ordeal…Inara wanted the same.

But she wanted it from him, and him alone.

It was a strange feeling for Kaden.

Yet could he promise her that?

He himself didn't know if he would come back alive. He had advantages others didn't, but that didn't mean death didn't hold a grip on his soul.

It did. Far more than he even believed.

'Is that the world we live in?' Kaden thought dryly. 'Living and parting with friends and lovers without knowing if we will ever see and laugh with each other again.'

That made him think of Asael, and Kaden prayed fearfully that his friend was okay. That he was doing well, wherever he was.

That realization made his irritation and lingering anger melt completely.

Life was too unpredictable to allow anger to cloud one's eyes.

Kaden looked at Inara again, raised his hand, and held her chin. Slowly, he lifted it until their eyes were locked onto each other.

"I fear the same thing, Inara. So let's do this."

He smiled faintly. "We will do our absolute best to come back alive, so we can see each other again."

Inara's eye widened.

"After all, I still need to learn your love language. And you still need to learn mine."

"So," he extended his hand toward her, "deal?"

Inara didn't answer immediately, surprised by his words, his understanding, his gentleness. Then slowly, her face mirrored his.

"Yes!" She beamed, ignored his hand, and hugged him tightly. "Deal!"

Kaden chuckled faintly.

Everyone needed a drive to face the difficult situations that arose on their path.

It could be anything. Freedom. Glory. Money. Destiny. Revenge. Strength.

Inara's drive was strength. But added to that, there was now something more.

Something that moved worlds.

Something that made beings across Fokay and Darklore hunt dragons, slaughter entire families, strike bargains with sinister entities, manipulate whole kingdoms.

That thing, that concept, was known to all.

Even to a child.

And just like that, Inara's Sul Lotus Blood ended there.

—End of Chapter 388—

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