In the Shadows~zayn au~Completed ✅EDITING

~Chapter 70: Essential Enemies or The Changing of the Guard~

Hey everyone! Here's another big update!! How are you all liking #PillowTalk??? I am so freaking proud of that man! He's done so well! The real question is, will I survive until he releases the rest of his music on his album? Probably not, but oh well. Lol. 

Regardless, here's a portion of the chapter from Ambassador Zayn's POV in honor of his success, because we don't get a lot about Zayn's feelings in this. Woop woop!! PILLOW TAAAALK

Also, dedication to fcbarcelona27 because she sent me this wonderful picture of time-period appropriate Zayn (1800s, 1650s, whatever). Also, honorable mentions to LaylaMonfradini (she's awesome and the real Queen Layla Styles and lets me complain about life), WinonaSmith (she lets me bounce all of my ideas off of her and is still reading despite my giving her all the spoilers), lxl_Zalaina_lxl (because she's also great about letting me complain about my life and about my constant intermittent communication <3), and MadOverMalik (she always is the first to vote and it makes me feel good :D xoxo) All the love to you all!!!

Zayn's POV

He woke up alone. For the first time, he wished his company had stayed. He understood why she'd done it, but her sneaking away made it feel like they'd done something wrong. They had; he needed to tell himself that that. Having done this couldn't be considered right if he analyzed it, but it had felt right at the time. The rum and her impending departure had coincided to cloud his judgment. They'd been hasty and foolish, but he couldn't bring himself to truly regret it.

Everything that had happened was for the best. Their time was over. Any longer together and their parting would have been even worse. As it was, he was afraid to admit how much he cared about her. He wanted to go with her, help her in what was surely going to be a horrific fight with her father, but he was trapped, required to go hide in another country until sent for to finish negotiations. There was no way to ignore the fact that those negotiations would end with her marrying his brother. He put his face in his hands, demoralized. No good solutions existed.

When he saw her again they would be essential enemies again. He'd never get to hold her again, not in any capacity. The first time he'd held her was when these emotions had first emerged, unwelcome, the first time he'd held her as she cried over her fears. He'd had the honor of lending strength to this woman who wanted to do everything on her own. They'd shared strength, fear, and comfort.

That was over now and Zayn wished he could have the time to properly grieve over something important coming to a close, but he needed to be in another nation soon so Kalysta could send for him. Perhaps a stop to see his father was in order too, not that the thought made him any more eager to leave.

Regardless, it was time to put the mask back on. Who knew if he'd ever be able to remove it again?

Kalysta's POV

She woke of her own accord with the disturbing feeling of being unaware of the time. There was no window in her room and based on the depth of her sleep she could have been sleeping for days with no knowledge of it. She sat up and stretched, looking around for Delia.

The woman was sat in the chair next to the door, her head slumped to the side as she slept. Kalysta was glad she could get some sleep. The next few days weren't going to be easy for either of them. Delia had probably had a good time here, no actual responsibilities and relaxing with the man that she loved. She would never admit to loving William, would say she was too old for such foolishness, but Kalysta knew better. Just as Delia had suspected the depth of her feelings for Zayn, Kalysta could see just how much Delia had minimized her own regard for William.