Shadows of Avarice - Book #1 (BxB)

Chapter 44

Xia slowly walked to the dining room. After what happened last night and earlier in the day, Xia already had a feeling he knew what was coming. Osiris had doubts about whether he could be saved, and it seemed like he didn't even want to give this a shot. After years of dealing with this curse, Xia couldn't really blame Osiris for giving up. He tried and failed so many times. That would make anyone feel hopeless.

Part of Xia was worried about Osiris' curse surfacing again while they were together at dinner. The curse showed itself two times now when it shouldn't have. It could happen again tonight, which did scare Xia. His wounds were healed after bathing in the healing springs, but the memory was still there. Osiris must have been hurting on the inside as well after wounding Xia. The elf didn't mind, but he also didn't want to lose his life because of the curse. Xia needed to be cautious as well.

Once reaching the dining hall, Xia didn't bother knocking as he entered. Osiris was already inside waiting for him, alone. This would be a private dinner, just for the two of them. The other girls dined separately tonight. After his encounter with Osiris early, the palace was quiet. Xia had a feeling there would only be bad news on this night.

Xia took the open seat beside Osiris. Some people would have been afraid of the sultan after what he did, but not Xia. Xia knew Osiris wasn't to blame. It wasn't his fault that people got hurt when the curse took over. The only person who could take the blame was the witch who cursed him, but she was long gone. Now it was up to Xia to figure this all out by himself.

The silence between them was beginning to grow awkward as they sat there, neither of them willing to be the first to speak. Neither of them picked up their utensils to eat either. The food that sat in front of them would grow cold, but Xia didn't have an appetite.

Finally, Osiris was the one who spoke first. He asked, "How are you feeling, Xia?"

"I'm fine . . . Have you given my proposition some thought?" If Osiris denied him again, then Xia wouldn't push the matter any further. He would have to do this alone if that were the case. He could bide his time if he needed to.

Osiris nodded. "I have, but my thoughts haven't changed. I realize that you've presented me with an opportunity, but I don't want you to go. I don't want you to risk your life for me when what you're looking for might not even be there. I don't want you getting hurt by anything, Xia, which brings me to the next thing I would like to talk about."

The sultan hesitated and looked down at his plate. What he wanted to say was hard, but Xia already knew what it would be. He dreaded this moment ever since Osiris brought it up last night. He just didn't think it would happen this soon.

"You're sending me away from the palace." It wasn't a question. Xia already knew the outcome of this conversation.

"Yes . . . It's to protect you. Shiva and Amani will be leaving as well. I've already given them the news and they'll start packing tomorrow. I'm sorry, Xia." Osiris didn't look at him as he said this. He couldn't. If he looked at Xia, then he might change his mind about letting him go.

Xia might have already known this was coming, but he still didn't want to hear the words. "But what about us? I don't want to leave you. This is the first time I've ever felt so strongly about someone. This can't end like this."

"We can't be together when I will always be a threat to your life. Soraya will stay by my side. I need her divine powers to keep me sane," Osiris said.

These words shattered his heart. Knowing that Soraya would stay by Osiris hurt more than anything the sultan could do to him physically. The person he had feelings for was choosing another. Xia didn't forget about Osiris' relationship with her or the other girls, but it didn't hurt until now.

Xia bit his lip as he tried to hold back the tears. For the first time in his life, he had something else to fight for. He always fought for his family, but now he had Osiris. He didn't want this to end before it even began. He was only beginning to accept how he felt about the sultan, and their relationship already blossomed into something that Xia never considered before. He never expected to fall for Osiris. Falling for him was never the plan, but things changed. Xia had changed since meeting him.

He couldn't just accept this. "I'm not going to give up on you. Whether you send me away or not, I will save you. I won't allow things to end this way."

"Xia . . . I forbid you from going to the desert in search of a fairytale," Osiris said with a sigh.

"You can't stop me. I'll tear the whole desert apart if it means we can be together. Whatever happened to wanting to marry me? You were so adamant about wanting to be with me before. I won't accept that all of this was for nothing. I know you're feeling hopeless because of your curse, but things don't have to end like this. We can figure this out together." Xia was stubborn. Unlike Osiris, he still had hope.

However, all of his confidence fell apart when Osiris said, "Things change. I don't want to be with you anymore. I don't . . . love you."

If his words hurt before, this was like being stabbed in the heart. "Y-you don't mean that."

Osiris stood up from his chair. He didn't look Xia in the eyes as he said, "Pack your things tomorrow. The guards will escort you back to your family, and then you can leave Rasea with them."

The sultan didn't wait for Xia to fight back. Xia didn't know if he even could. He sat there in stunned silence as Osiris walked away and left him alone in the room.