Chapter 19

Zai had been pouting the entire ride home since I refused to repeat myself until we got there safely. He'd definitely stressed out dozens of humans today with his antics.

His three brothers were playing games in the living room when we arrived, sounding loud and chaotic. Valin and Cera had laptops in front of them, while Rai held a controller, eyes locked on the TV screen.

"Oh, Zai, you're home! Come play, our team needs you," RJ shouted, waving him over.

Zai glanced at me. I nodded to reassure him—it was okay. I'm used to being alone. He could spend time with his family for once.

"I'm busy!" Zai yelled back.

Wait... did my nod not translate well?

"I'm okay, play the game," I said aloud, trying again.

"Not until you say it," Zai responded, giving me that look—the one I was helpless against. In front of his brothers, too, who were now fully tuned in to our exchange.

"Just say whatever it is," Valin grumbled, eyes glued to his screen. "The random who joined our team is worthless. He's dragging us down—and his voice is annoying. Yeah, I know you can hear me!"

"I love you," I said softly.

Zai kissed me sweetly, then said, "Louder."

"I love you!" I repeated, louder this time.

He got giddy and hugged me. I noticed the repulsed looks on his brothers' faces and quickly pulled away, rushing upstairs in embarrassment.

"I thought you were asexual," Valin muttered. I guess Zai wasn't lying when he said he didn't date much—if his brother would say something like that. Cera looked indifferent, not saying anything. For a moment, I almost felt like there was nothing to worry about.

I went to Zai's room and grabbed one of his overpriced T-shirts to wear as a nightgown. My phone chimed from inside my purse. It was a message from Zai:"I love you too."

I smiled at the screen, then lay in his bed, hugging my phone to my chest until I drifted off. I barely stirred when Zai crawled in beside me, careful not to wake me. He just curled up at my side.

In the morning, he helped me get dressed for my official audition.

There were five people waiting at the studio. I was instructed to go into the recording booth. I saw people I hadn't met before introducing themselves to Zai. He seemed indifferent, but I could see the desperation on their faces. I tried to ignore the noise outside and focused on singing from my heart—for the first time, sharing one of my songs with others.

Once it ended, everything happened fast. Before I knew it, we were reviewing the contract.

"Talent is something," Mark said, "but publicity is more important. You'll need a social media page, and we'll start working on a music video for your song over the next month."

He gestured to a young man. "This is Richard."

"Hi," Richard said, raising a hand. He looked about my age, but his clothes were worn and his hair a bit messy.

"He's one of our best composers. He'll be working on your next song."

It was all moving so quickly that I fell into an old habit—I started crying.

"I can't wait. Thank you all so much!" I sobbed.

Mark whispered something to Zai, and suddenly Zai was at my side, draping his arm around my shoulders.

"Why are you crying?" he asked softly.

"I'm just so happy!" I shouted.

The others laughed. Only Zai remained uncharacteristically serious.

"We're done for the day, right?" he asked.

"Yeah, but I might call tomorrow. As soon as the new track is ready, Snowe will need to meet with our lyricist. Then it's going to get busy," Mark replied. He waved Richard over, and they left the room together.

Zai and I returned to the house. Cera was passed out on the living room couch, cheese puff dust all over his mouth and his controller still clutched in his hands. RJ and Valin weren't home. The house felt oddly empty.

Zai ushered me upstairs to our shared room and sat in his desk chair, fingers interlaced, expression deep in thought.

"Are you… really happy?" he asked, gripping the arms of the chair.

I sat on the bed and answered, "Yes… I had given up on my dream of standing on a stage. It feels so close now."

I felt overwhelmed with gratitude. I wanted to express it—but before I could, he spoke again.

"…The world of entertainment isn't as glamorous as it looks from the outside." His tone shifted. "Just… don't let your guard down. Don't forget to communicate with me."

I moved from the bed and settled into his lap, resting my forehead against his.

"I'll be careful," I promised.

His arms wrapped around me instinctively.

"…Zai…" I murmured. "It's been a whole day. I missed you."

His eyes lit up. This time, he understood—and our conversation ended there.

I surprised myself with how bold I'd become. Between the thrill of what we did together and the excitement about work, I couldn't sleep.

"Oh, right—how did I use lightning earlier?" I asked as he lay beneath me, still wide awake.

"You really want to know?" he sighed. He sounded like he was hoping I was still in the mood for something else. "I've been sharing my power with you the whole time. It's part of the union ritual. The stronger one shares with the weaker—until we stand as equals."

He recited the words like vows.

That means… I'm not weak anymore.

I hesitated. It felt wrong to ask about someone who I almost killed, but…"Are you glad Cera survived?"

"I wasn't worried," Zai said, brushing my hair back. "Because f**k him. Doesn't matter to me if he died."

"That's harsh… Then why do you live with him?" I asked, folding my arms over his chest and resting my chin there.

"Mmm… I guess I'm in the mood to tell a story now."

I squealed in excitement, triggering a small smile from him.

"Rai was the first to get banished—he was caught screwing one of the King's concubines. Father was furious… but not enough to kill him. Instead, he sent Rai to Earth to live with his actual brother, Markis. Markis is just trash personified. Irrelevant.

Anyway, I took note. I started stirring chaos in the castle. Turned most of the staff against the King, sowed seeds of rebellion. I convinced the head cook to poison him. It hurt, but he survived and had the cook beheaded. After that, he issued a warning to everyone—he had no idea how deep it went.

Our trainer had a crush on me. I wasn't into her, but I used her anyway. The King trusted her, so I told her the only way we could be together was if he was dead. She was already unhinged, so I knew exactly what that would lead to.

She slipped a power suppressant into his food. He thought he was just tired and went to bed. That's when she stabbed him. Sadly, he awoke during it, stopped her, and because she was so stupid, she admitted she did it for me.

That's why I was sent here."

I gasped. "Twelve years ago?! You weren't even fully grown! What was that woman doing looking at you?!"

"We can alter our appearance. But yeah, I never tried to look older. She was just into kids."

Zai said it with chilling indifference.

So much trauma, so early. No wonder he doesn't react to death normally.

"Cera and Valin always looked up to Raijian, I guess. When they found out what we were doing, they left Afaria behind and helped us. They're both talented in their own ways. And they appreciated when I gave them brief visits to the outside world—so they respect me."

He paused.

"Oh, and don't worry—the King can't follow us. His soul is tethered to the planet. He won't send bounties either. We're too valuable."

"What makes you valuable?"

"There's a prophecy that the war will end with the Chosen as victors. Seven on Infaniya, seven on Afaria. It's vague, but Afaria is losing. We're their last hope."

Zai looked at me.

"…Your heart's racing." He noted

"It's just… scary, imagining you in a war," I admitted.

"I wouldn't lose, Snowe." His voice was full of quiet certainty.

But I'd never seen him fight, outside of roughhousing with his siblings.

"I'm staying out of this one," he added. "Don't worry. I've got enough on my plate just taking care of you."

He reached for my hand again.

"Anyway, Cera and Valin helped build our business. So even if I don't like them… they've earned their place here."

That made sense. I still had questions about why he didn't like them—but those could wait.