Dear Immortal Tyrant

The pair was silent for the longest moment. Kaden remained on the bed and stared at the blank ceiling. Every so often, he'd hear her quiet shift. When he'd close his eyes, he could hear her soft breathing. He knew she wasn't asleep by the erratic heartbeats. Was she anxious? What was on her mind? He was willing to pay a pretty penny to hear her thoughts.

"How come in my third life I have a brother and not sisters like my second two?"

Kaden tilted his head to glance in her direction. She was still on her side and not facing him. His gaze softened at her attempt for a conversation.

"Because your sisters were liabilities. In the first life, she joined the war and encouraged it. In the second, she had a part in your arrangement with Atlantis. Having a brother is a much safer option," he responded calmly.

Lina said nothing else. She remained to stare at the gentle sway of the curtains. The double french doors were opened by a tiny crack, but it was barely enough fresh air.

"If there are Immortals and Vampires in this world… is there still werewolves?"

"Yes."

Lina was curious what other supernatural creature existed on earth. She could imagine hundreds of years ago, people didn't expect fairytale creatures to roam the ground. But the Hybrid War decades ago brought forth many unexpected things. Vampires against humans, werewolves against the world, there was no peace until an alliance was formed.

"I studied history and in Wraith, there are none."

"Of course not," Kaden dryly said. "Historically, Wraith has always been the headquarters for vampires. Werewolves were killed on sight there."

"Then… where?"

"To the far North of Wraith, where the Winters are the coldest and Summer the most abundant. There is a metropolis of werewolf population, though they've adapted to blend in with humans and vampires alike. There are werewolves living amongst us that you wouldn't even know about."

Lina quickly sat upright at this newfound information. What else did she not know? Was it because she had been human all this time? What did humans even know about the hidden world of the supernaturals?

"They have adapted through natural selection to have red eyes as well, over golden ones like the moon," Kaden continued to explain.

"How do you know such things?"

Lina couldn't bring herself to look at him. She was still hurt by his decision. Yes, she wanted to be a Pure-Blood so she could be with him longer. But living for the rest of eternity? Now, that was something she wasn't prepared for.

"I've lived thousands of years, dove. I've witnessed the first human and vampire couple, the first human and werewolf mates, and learned secrets that not even the current King and Queen of Wraith know of."

"So you're just an old man."

Kaden's lips curled in amusement. He gazed over at her. His happiness died. She remained with the blankets tightly around her body. She was still not looking at him.

"Then… did you mee the first human queen and vampire king?"

"Yes," Kaden admitted. "When I left my crown on the throne, I traveled the world. There was no country I didn't visit. No place I didn't see."

"Why?"

"To search for you."

Lina was stunned.

"I was there to witness the first war that founded Wraith in hopes of seeing a crazy woman who'd resemble you. I roamed to the far, far north of Wraith to meet a stuttering young woman and a Duke who commanded over the largest army of werewolves I've ever witnessed."

"Why amongst the werewolves?"

"In the hopes that the gods played a cruel joke and turned you into one of them." If Kaden closed his eyes, he could still picture the bittersweet moments of his peers. The founders of Wraith were an interesting couple, but so was the most prominent household of werewolves.

"I see."

Lina plopped onto her side again. She remained in a curled-up position. Staring at the curtains that danced with the wind, she could see sunlight peeking through the cracks. From the light, she saw thousands of particles. It wasn't dust, but just flecks that some scientist could probably explain.

Another silence fell over them. Lina was curious about the world. She had thousands of years to explore it—with a single man. There will be many fights in the future. They'd probably break up and get back together again. The cycle would repeat so many times until they'd eventually grow bored of each other and try someone else, only to realize none could ever replace each other.

"You're infatuated with me now, but one day, we'll grow tired. We'll want to try new things, new people, and so on… there is no eternal love as the poets claim it."

"For someone who has just become immortal, you're quite certain of the future."

"I mean it," Lina said.

"Because you'll do it? Or because you believe I'm that kind of man?"

Lina paused at the danger in his voice. Was he accusing her? "It's the nature of humans to eventually grow bored."

"You forget we aren't human. We never have been, dove."

Lina closed her eyes. If people were watching over her from the skies, she couldn't help but wonder if they threw fit knowing she was now an immortal. They said she was Heaven's favorite. She hoped they found someone else.

"Instead of worrying about the future, let's concern ourselves with the present." Kaden's voice was filled with deep understanding, one that she didn't want to reciprocate.

Kaden tugged her blanket down to reveal her head. He saw her ears twitch at his action. She hugged herself tighter in response. He stroked her hair silently.

"I have followed you across three lifetimes, dove. If I was going to get bored, I would've already. If I was tired from chasing you, I wouldn't be here."

Lina's breath hitched. She wanted to believe his words. He was always a charismatic speaker. Kaden knew the right things to say to heal her. He always seemed to.

"Take your time, dove. I am in no rush."

Finally, the bed dipped again. This time, he got up from the mattress.. And soon, he was heading for the door.