Dear Immortal Tyrant

For once, Kaden had the last say. 

Lina recalled the moments before her death that she was the one who ended everything. Her words were meant to hurt him as much as his actions had scarred her. Now, she was left to wallow over what she had done not once, but twice. If only she had recalled her memories in her earlier lifetime. How easy would that have made everything?

If only… the Princess of Teran didn't meet the Prince of Ritan.

Suddenly, Lina couldn't help, but wonder. What would be her life if she had never met him? What if one of her sisters married him? What if it wasn't her? Would things have played out differently?

Would modern-day Ritan be split between Teran? Would Prince Kade go off to conquer every neighboring city until he created this gigantic state? 

"Would… he have become immortal?"

Lina realized that she was at the center of the problem. She was the root of the issue. Letting out a shaky breath, she couldn't help, but be curious. If she had never fallen in love, if the two never met… what would it have been like?

Lina's ring finger burned in response. She glanced at the spot and saw a lack of a ruby or sapphire. Would Lina have been with her destined lover, who was supposedly Atlantis? Would Kaden love Priscilla and everything will become the way it should've been?

Nothing would've fallen apart. The pieces wouldn't be spiraling in place.

A single question remained. Why Milo… why not a sister?

- - - - -

"Mr. DeHaven, you have returned."

The head butler bowed his head upon his Boss's arrival. Their Boss was a whirlwind of fury as always.

Kaden angrily yanked off his tie. The butler collected the item, took the coat, and accompanied him up the stairs. Kaden ran a frustrated hand through his hair and let out a tired sigh. He fucking hated paperwork. What a mundane life it was. Papers after papers, reviewing reports one after the other, working hard to make money just for a single woman. 

"Did she eat?" His voice came out as a threat.

Only the head butler dared to respond. All of the other maids and butlers stopped dead in their tracks, nearly holding back a whimper. His presence was no joke. He was frightening and he knew it.

"We're uncertain," the head butler calmly responded. "Unfortunately, the Madam didn't leave an empty plate outside the bedroom doors, nor was alone permitted entry."

Kaden sharply exhaled through his nose. He stopped right in front of his doors. The lights were off. 

"Leave us."

The head butler bowed his head in departure. He stepped backward and was mindful to not disrespect the temperamental man who was either grumpy or angry. Rarely, did the people ever see an emotion beyond that. Except, when the Madam was present.

"If you didn't eat, I'm shoving the food down your throat." Kaden stormed into the room and slammed it shut. Sure enough, he needed to start shoving.

Kaden saw the untouched plate. The sandwich was in the same position and so was the spoon. His frown deepened so hard, his lips might fall off his face. She was good with tantrums. This was a trauma response and he damn well knew it.

Lina was on her side again. Her head barely surfaced from the blankets. She buried herself in his bed, under his roof, and breathing his air. Everything she was experiencing belonged to him too.

Afterall, Kaden had drained nearly the entirety of his blood for her. If there was a way immortals could die, Kaden wondered if extreme blood loss would've caused it. He didn't want to know, for the pain had been more excruciating than imagined. 

Kaden had an abnormally high pain tolerance, but nothing beat the body dry as the desert. Eventually, every cell and fiber took control of his rationality, until he was forced to let the same-blood type fill his system, though it was difficult finding a match.

"I'd rather you break things than give the silent treatment." Kaden sank down on the bed, exhausted from a long day of not seeing her. He laid with his arms behind his head. He couldn't see her expression, but he imagined she was awake. At least, that was what her racing heart implied.

"Are you going to remain angry at me?" Kaden asked in a quiet tone. He was this close to snapping, but wanted her to remain in the bed. She was physically repulsed around him, but he still wanted her presence—even if they weren't touching.

Lina didn't respond. She tensed and further hugged her knees. He heard the rustling of the blankets. Glancing over, he saw that she pretty much cocooned herself in.

"You have the rest of eternity to be irritated, dove of mine." Kaden closed his eyes. He could hear her startled breathing, for his words must've stabbed right into the wound of immortality.

"I had to do what was best for you. Your survival rate from the gunshot wound was zero to none," Kaden continued. He needed to tell his side of the story. He needed her to understand that he was selfish with a reason.

"After three lifetimes, you can return to the world above. But me? I am still on my first and will forever be. You and I may not be destined, but I've loved you far more than a fated lover ever can." Kaden turned onto his side to look at the back of her head. She was in a funny position, one that brought forth a slight and pained smile.

"I am greedy, dove. I should've consulted you, but a smart woman made the stupid move to take the bullet in my stead. She doesn't want me to feel physical pain, but don't mind putting me through emotional turmoils." Kaden continued to watch her hair. He saw her tiny squirm. His lips twitched. She was attempting to writhe away from him.

Sucks for her, he was dripping with warmth as usual. And she could never escape from that. By now, he was certain she was sweating underneath all of that material.

"You can hate me, curse me to the depths of hell, but I'll still remain by your side, my dearest dove. It's you and me against the world for the rest of eternity. There will be hard times. We will have disputes, moments of agony, and loss.. But there will be just as many joyous moments, for we'd have all of eternity to bring forth happiness."