Chapter 45

I waited in the hot tub for Zai to return. Thankfully it only took him 20 minutes. He hung our new outfits up on the hooks sticking from the wall in the corner. Then started undressing before joining me in the barrier. I felt flushed for more reasons than just the heat and tried my best not to look at him so I could keep my mind straight.

"Snowe... I'm not upset with you... I'm annoyed with the situation, I wish you had given me some warning but... I'm more pissed off with him than you." Zai admitted. He sat down next to me and put his arm over my shoulder.

"I should've mentioned Smoke sooner," I replied and he laughed,

"I know why you didn't, the other 3 women I was with... I never mentioned them to you, because even if they don't mean anything to me now I knew it would make you uncomfortable to think about me with someone else." I felt a wave of relief, "But you knew he was the one who invited you here and still decided not to mention it." Zai accused,

"I didn't think he thought of me that seriously! We only went out for 2 days and kissed a couple of times... he never called me his girlfriend and he was known for being promiscuous... so it was hard for me to think he was serious about me." He sighed after my explanation,

"He tortured a man for 10 years for touching you and you thought he wasn't serious." I hung my head and said,

"I... admit I have issues believing I matter to people... I'm sure you've experienced my lack of confidence too... I'm sorry."

"Well... He must've wanted to see you again before he moved on with his fiancee... I think he cared more about you than you realized. Not that it matters." Zai noted before turning to look at me and meeting my eyes. "This is a nice hot tub... how often do they clean it?"

"Oh... there's a rune on the wall here that instantly purifies the water," I answered while pointing to the symbol on the floor.

"This gets rid of pubes too?" He asked and I giggled,

"Yeah as soon as they float over it. As long as the hair and dirt aren't attached to us they get cleansed and teleported away. Zai hummed and nodded knowingly.

"Memorized... alright now... how did you like the dinner?" He asked, this time laying light kisses down my collarbone.

"It... w-was ... kind of boring right?" I answered. Zai grinned and looked up at me,

"Well yeah, would've been happier going out with just me and you." He commented. My blushing worsened. "The food was okay though... even if the flavors were kind of off." I beamed a bit,

"That's because the soil on Infaniya is a bit different than on Earth, our veggies have distinct flavors. So our spices are changed too, the only consistent thing is the salt." I informed him enthusiastically.

"Our veggies? I thought you were a certified Afarion now." He teased then he gently bit my lower lip and kissed me. "We have an early day tomorrow... let's stop wasting time." My eyes met his, it looked like he was blushing too, I had always thought Zai was relaxed during these scenarios but maybe the things he said embarrassed him just like they do me sometimes. We had our way with each other in the hot tub then after growing weary of the heat, dried off and moved to the bed to continue, until an hour before the wedding. 

I got dressed and made sure my hair was pinned up, I felt shy looking in the mirror because my eyes were still shining bright red. The wedding was held in front of the palace, there were no seats so the visitors were just standing and chatting before the ceremony began.

"I need to talk to your old boyfriend," Zai said in a mocking voice. I felt like he was teasing me so I pouted and watched him walk off to talk to Smoke. I can't read lips and there were too many conversations going on for me to overhear theirs so when Zai returned I asked,

"What did you talk about?"

"Oh... I asked him where your old teacher currently lives... I plan to visit him after the wedding... Also, I challenged him to a sparring match tomorrow. There are rules here that I must abide by, so I'll save punching him in the face for then." I gasped, shocked. Zai is gonna fight Smoke.... wait and is he gonna fight Qon too?! I can't imagine him letting Qon off easy if the slight animosity from Smoke is enough to get him in a fighting mood! The ceremony began and I didn't know how to protest, part of me was happy that someone wanted to fight Qon for me. I don't know how I feel about letting him spar with Smoke though. The wedding ceremony went off without any issues. The bride was beautiful. It was hard to believe she was once human. She and Serco exchanged rings, then exchanged drinks and the crowd cheered as they shared a marital kiss.

"The new King and Queen of the Southern Content Serco Shion and Akina Shion!" The Priestess announced and it began raining teal flowers over the whole ceremony. I greeted some of the guests and they asked how I knew the prince, I kept things vague and said I was a family friend. It's better if they don't recognize me. When Zai would hold my hand or touch me suddenly my eyes would change and some people would gasp and whisper,

"They must be newlyweds too. So cute." Or something similar. After eating a little we left, and Zai carried me with his speed straight to the house that I can only assume Qon was staying in. It upset me that he was released and living freely but I know it was just pettiness and if I truly experienced all the time that had passed, my feelings might not be so intense. Zai knocked on the door and Qon answered. He still had visible scars and no fingernails but other than that he was looking healthier than the last time I saw him.

"Who are you?" He squinted at Zai, then looked at me and said, "Oh."

"Can we come in?" Zai asked with a smile. Qon looked hesitant. "Don't worry... I just want to talk." Zai assured but his tone was menacing and I knew him well enough to know when he was lying. Still, Qon let us in and we went to his kitchen and sat at the table.

"So what? You want closure or something?" He asked apathetically towards me, "I admit it, I had a crush on you, and I took it too far. Sorry." I feel like the way he was wording everything was too casual for what he did to me, And it seemed Zai agreed because in less than the blink of an eye Qon was on the floor his chair broken with a knife up to his neck.

"You need to talk more respectfully to my wife." 

"You think I'm scared of blades?" Qon asked with a smirk then his face turned distraught and he visibly began sweating.

"It's an emerald blade... sharp enough to lop your head off." The metal in the room turned to spears and they all lunged at Zai, I screamed but none of the weapons could get within 2 feet of him as if there was a barrier around him. "How do you like feeling defenseless, for a change?"

"I'm sorry, okay for real! I mean it... b-but she came to me and started relying on me. You gotta understand how I took that the wrong way." Zai nodded knowingly then stabbed the blade into Qon's shoulder and twisted it. He screamed so loud I got chills. Zai took his blade out and stood up. The wound in Qon's shoulder closed up slowly and spiraled leaving an ugly scar. Qon raised his hand in Zai's direction but it seemed like none of the metal in the room was obeying him.

"It's magnetized... I have a brother who can control metal we used to spar all the time for fun. You are much, much weaker than him." Qon got to his feet and held his neck, till the bleeding slowed down.

"Bastard." He grumbled and Zai gasped, pretending to be offended,

"I really only wanted to talk, until you pissed me off." Qon glared but didn't say a word, "I'm giving you an option, you can fight me or... you can fight Snowe and I'll be the referee. Tonight." I was shocked by his proposition, but the lighting swirling the room with all the metal spinning around as well and going haywire made Qon's choice simple.

"Snowe... I'll fight Snowe... will that satisfy you?" I grinned widely,

"Yes... let's go to the arena, now!" My excitement surprised him, and I was the first out the door.

"Just remember... if you go too far or disrespect her, I will end the fight by killing you in the most painful way possible," Zai whispered as soon as he thought I could no longer hear him.