Chapter 70 (Explicit)

(Tana's POV)

Insinz and I were locked in an embrace, lips pressed so tightly together I could feel every inch of his body against mine. I was slightly out of breath—both from enduring his toxicity levels and from the intensity of the kisses—when there was a knock at the door. I pushed him away, got up, and unlocked it.

Raijian stood outside with a mischievous smirk. He probably got the gist of what was going on behind the door.

"We're watching a movie downstairs... if you both want to join us..." His teasing tone made me blush. I nodded and quickly closed the door in his face.

Insinz's clone was lying on the bed, smiling.

"Wow... that was... fun," he muttered.

I did feel stronger, but his reaction was making the situation even more uncomfortable.

"Do you want to watch the movie with everyone?" I offered.

"Can't," he replied immediately.

"Why not?" I sat beside him.

He rolled over and slid his hand up my thigh onto my bottom. I smacked it away, and he sighed.

"I'm out of energy. You really were trying to swallow me whole—you sucked the life out of me."

"Don't phrase it like that! And of course I did! I'm in a hurry. We have to finish this step as fast as possible."

"Faster isn't always better, Tana," he said in a mocking voice.

"Stop flirting with me!" I scolded.

He sighed again, then whispered, "I'll have to return to your necklace to restore my energy. I'll miss you."

I closed my eyes and turned away—trying not to be swayed by how much he looked like Insinz. A moment later, his body dispersed into its gaseous form and was absorbed by the heart-shaped stone around my neck.

Still flustered, I joined everyone downstairs, curious to see what this "movie" Raijian had suggested was. Valin, Innoccence, Aluma, and Raijian were already there.

"Did... Cera not want to join?"

Raijian shrugged. "He went home to say his goodbyes to his boyfriend."

I smiled and sat beside him. "Wow, even Cera has found someone!" That was unexpected. Coming to Earth had turned out to be a good thing for Cera and Zai—at least romantically.

Raijian chuckled at my reaction and patted my head. "That's right."

Then he quickly retracted his hand, and Aluma hugged his arm from the other side as the movie began. It was a comedy about a young female reporter who fell in love with her city's Infaniyan Guardian. They were both clumsy—especially her. She seemed to break something in every scene. He, meanwhile, was clumsy with his words, often upsetting her in his attempts to protect her.

It'll probably end with them together… but I'm not sure the writer understands what Infaniyans actually look for in a partner. Especially a human one. Mutual trust is everything. The way they argue, it seems like there's barely any. They lie constantly too... I guess it's meant to be funny.

We have plays like this at the palace sometimes, but this felt more like peering through a window into another world.

"She's injured five people just by existing!" Valin noted, laughing.

He nudged Innoccence, who looked up at him and blushed. This might be the first time she's really noticed him. She tried to return her focus to the movie. Then he offered her some popcorn. She nodded eagerly, dug her hand deep into the bag, and crammed handfuls into her mouth.

Halfway through the movie, Valin's phone rang. He got up to answer it.

(Valin's POV)

"Hey..." I answered the call.

I could hear Lisa take a deep breath, then she raised her voice.

"Where are you? I need to see you."

Her voice hit me like a quake.

"I'm... at my brother's," I replied.

I heard a door close, hurried footsteps, then a car door slamming.

"What are you doing?" I asked, suddenly nervous.

"Nothing until you tell me where you are! You think I'll let you leave without a kiss? Without an embrace? Without seeing my face when I promise you that I—just tell me where you are, Valin!"

My hand was shaking... Has she already accepted me? She doesn't even know what being with me really means... does she?

"Valin!"

After she shouted my name, I gave her the address. About fifteen minutes later, she met me outside. Her eyes were red, and tears were still falling. Has she been crying this whole time?

She rushed to me, held my cheeks, and pulled me down into a kiss.

"I love you, Valin..." she whispered.

I blinked in surprise, but when she pulled away, I leaned forward to kiss her again. She moaned—and it nearly broke me. I backed away quickly and covered my mouth, trying to hide my devious grin.

"I love you too," I said, now that she was at a safer distance.

She pushed my hand away and hugged me, resting her head in the crook of my neck.

"Your eyes... even though the sun is still up, I saw them light up."

I hadn't even thought to hide them… but it was fine now. She knew.

"I want you too..." she added.

Why is she doing this to me?!

"I don't know when I'll come back," I admitted, struggling to keep myself calm.

"Talk to me. I want to understand."

We sat on the porch steps while I explained the politics of Afaria. Even after the king is dead, we'll need to put new systems in place—elect new leaders to oversee each region instead of leaving everything to a single ruler. And we'll need to find a way to establish peace with Infaniya. Even if the fighting ends quickly, everything else could take time.

Lisa listened quietly. Then she sighed.

"This all sounds so dire. If you're fighting him, the current king must be extremely corrupt…"

She pouted a little.

"Even if I can't fight, I want to be with you through the aftermath—through the rebuilding. That's how I can support you."

My heart shook.

"Afaria isn't the best place for a human. Most Afarions don't consider humans... intelligent. You're more like food that can, unfortunately, talk."

She took a deep breath.

"You wouldn't let anything happen to me. And I don't care if they like me. I just want to be with you."

That was it. I could no longer hold back.

I scooped her into my arms and rushed into the house, slamming the door behind us and sprinting upstairs.

"Hey Valin, what about the no lovers rule—eh, never mind," Raijian called out teasingly.

Aluma and Snowe have nowhere else to go, so no one can say anything when I lay Lisa on my bed, rip off her clothes, and f*** her until she's screaming and c*mming so much she begs me for the mercy that I no longer have the capacity to give.