Shadows of Avarice - Book #1 (BxB)

Chapter 42

A few days passed after Shiva's and Xia's exchange. As promised, Shiva continued her lessons with Xia. This took up a lot of his free time, but Xia didn't mind. He was learning something instead of being bored for most of the day. It wasn't like he had anything else to do while staying in the palace anyway.

During this time, Xia still didn't muster up the courage to speak with his family. He was running out of time to tell them about Dariya. If he didn't tell them about this opportunity to leave, then they would be disappointed with him. It was their dream to leave Rasea, but he was still reluctant to say anything. Deep down, Xia didn't want them to leave, even if it meant denying them what they wanted. It would be selfish of him to keep this to himself. Alishba was already upset with him. He didn't need another reason to make her sad and angry.

He promised himself he would tell them tomorrow as he walked down the hallway to Osiris' room. It was getting late, so visiting them would have to wait. Xia wanted to see Osiris. They had the chance to see each other every night, but not during the day. His heart pounded in his chest at the thought of Osiris. He felt silly for feeling this way. He never felt excited to see someone so much before. Yet, he was still reluctant to admit how he felt.

Once outside the sultan's door, Xia knocked and waited for a response. Though Osiris had previously given him permission to enter whenever he wanted, Xia was reluctant. He didn't want to barge into someone's room, and he was also worried about walking in when the sultan's curse was active. Osiris would lock his door before the curse took over, but it still worried Xia. He dreaded to think what would happen if the curse took over when they least expected it, but Xia hoped to change that soon. Osiris just needed to hang in there for a little while longer.

When he heard Osiris call out for him to enter, Xia opened the door and went inside. He shut the door behind him and saw Osiris standing on the balcony. The sultan didn't turn to face Xia. He continued to look out at his kingdom, his long black hair untied for once and billowing in the wind. Xia sensed that something was off about Osiris. Normally when Xia visited, Osiris would sweep him up in his arms, and they would share a passionate night. This time, Osiris kept his eyes forward and didn't turn around.

Hesitantly, Xia approached him. When he was standing close to the sultan, he asked, "Osiris . . . is everything okay?"

With a sigh, Osiris finally looked at him, his bright purple eyes looking into Xia's blue ones. Osiris had mentioned previously that his curse was taking over more often, but this was too soon. He shouldn't have lost control of himself for a couple more days. With how bright his eyes were, Xia knew it would take over tonight. Osiris must have felt it, too. He kept his distance from Xia, even though there was the urge to grab onto him. If he touched Xia tonight, he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't accidentally hurt him.

"I think you should sleep in your room tonight. It's not safe for you to be with me," he said.

"It's getting worse, isn't it?" Xia already knew the answer. He'd been told this before. With each passing day, the curse threatened to take over more and more.

Osiris nodded. "I fear one day, it'll take over completely, and I'll never be able to regain my humanity again. If that happens . . ."

He trailed off. The outcome wouldn't be good. If Osiris continued like this, then he risked putting his whole kingdom in danger. Many more people could die at his hands, and some of those people could be the ones he cared about. There was also the possibility that Osiris would need to be taken care of. A beast couldn't rule a kingdom.

"Xia, if I begin to lose myself completely, then I want you, Shiva, and Amani to leave the palace. I don't want any of you to be hurt because of me. For Soraya, it's a little more complicated, since she's the only one who can help me control the monster in me. But if she can't help anymore, then she needs to flee with the rest of you. I want the four of you to be safe, and I can provide for all of you. I've already started preparing for this outcome." Osiris seemed to believe that the worst would happen no matter what. He sounded as though he had already given up.

But Xia wasn't ready to give up. He wanted to keep it to himself, but he couldn't anymore. He didn't want Osiris to give up on him already. Their relationship had only just begun. Xia wasn't ready for this to end.

He grabbed Osiris' hand, not caring that the curse could take over at any moment. He looked Osiris in the eyes and asked, "What if there's a way to save you?"

Osiris gave him a sad smile. "If there was a way, don't you think I would have figured that out by now? I've been searching for years for a way to break my curse, but it's all been in vain."

"Well, I think I've figured something out. I spoke to the nobleman who kidnapped me, and he told me about a witch named Elvira Murik. She's the one who cursed you, and I think she's the key to all of this. I know she's dead, but he told me about a cave in the desert where I think she did some of her research. If I can find this cave, then maybe I can find a way to cure you. A guide has already agreed to help me, so don't give up before we try this. There might still be a chance to help you," Xia explained. He knew Osiris would be upset with him for going behind his back and preparing all this, but the sultan never would have allowed him to do otherwise.

He was proven correct when Osiris said, "No, you're not doing this. You don't know where this cave is, so I'm now allowing you to venture into the desert where you'll be risking your life for me. Plus, that man could have lied to you. He kidnapped you and his life is forfeit, so he has no reason to tell you the truth."

"He has no reason to lie, either. If he's doomed to be executed, then he loses nothing by telling me the truth. And since he even gave me this information, I think you should reconsider his execution. If he's telling the truth, this could potentially save your life. I wouldn't have figured this out if it wasn't for him." Xia tried putting in a good word for the noble, as he promised. He was showing his stubborn side as he was unwilling to back down. He wouldn't pass up this opportunity to save the person he cared about, even if it meant putting his own life in danger. This was worth the risk, even if Osiris believed otherwise.

Darkness flashed in Osiris' eyes for a moment. "Xia, listen to me. I won't allow you to travel through the desert in search of something that you don't even know exists, so stop being a stubborn brat about it."

Xia was taken aback by Osiris' words, but he knew that this was the curse talking. He could feel that Osiris was beginning to lose himself as he dug his nails into Xia's hand which was still holding his. Regardless, Xia wouldn't back down.

But when he was about to retort, Osiris grabbed a fistful of Xia's long hair with his free hand. He forced Xia closer to his body, then roughly kissed him on the lips. This took Xia by surprise, and he didn't pull away at first. He was too stunned to move until he felt Osiris bite down on his bottom lip. The pain brought him back to reality as Xia pressed his hands against Osiris' chest and pushed him away. He touched his lip where Osiris bit him. His hand came away with blood on it.

Osiris quickly backed away from Xia with guilt in his eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you or talk to you like that. I-I think it's best if you leave for tonight. I don't want to hurt you again. We can discuss this in the morning."

Xia didn't want to leave the sultan's side, but it seemed that this discussion was over. Osiris refused to look in Xia's direction. The guilt of hurting Xia was almost too much to bear. Xia knew it was only the curse making him act this way, but Xia wouldn't push it any further. He didn't want to risk angering the dark side of Osiris anymore.

Sadly, Xia nodded. "Goodnight, Osiris. I'll see you tomorrow."

With that, Xia turned and left the sultan's room. As he walked away, he heard Osiris lock the door.