Unexpected

Chapter Sixteen

KAI

"That," Cinder giggled and collapsed against the wall. "was amazing, but so mean. You nearly made the poor girl faint with a bat of your lashes!" she gasped out, clutching her ribs. Kai laughed, taking her metal hand into his, feeling the faint buzz of electrical wires underneath the smooth platinum plating.

"It was your dare, remember that," Kai murmured as he pressed his lips to her forehead and slipped the palm of his hand behind her head, pulling her closer.

A smile tugged at the corner of Cinder's lips. "How long until Scarlet's wedding?" she asked against his shoulder.

Kai pulled back. "About four days. Are you staying that long?"

"We'll make it work," Cinder shrugged. "I left our friends in charge back at Luna, I'm sure it'll be okay."

"Mhm," Kai laughed. "I'm not so sure about that."

Cinder raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"We'll see, we'll see," he chuckled. "Only Cinder can run her crew. Without you-" he poked her side. "crazy things will happen."

"I left them on good faith," Cinder argued. She rolled her eyes and glanced skyward, then rubbed her eyes then stifled a yawn. "I'm going to bed, alright? I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast," Cinder yawned again and pushed open her door.

"Not even a goodnight kiss?" Kai called after her, pouting.

"Idiot," Cinder sighed heavily. "Come here."

Kai smirked and gathered her up in his arms, Cinder sliding her arms around his neck. They kissed quickly, Cinder leaning her nose against the crook of his forehead. Kai let her go, and Cinder offered him a fleeting smile before closing the door.

Kai let out a groan and dragged a hand down his face. Long day.

He slowly went back to his own room, a floor above the royal guest suites. But not before someone confronted him in the dark hallways. The two guards stationed outside his bedchambers startled to attention, and Kai paused, making out the slender silhouette and the curl of dark brown hair.

"Clover?"

"I have to tell you something," Clover muttered as she emerged from behind the hallway.

"I completely forgot about you." Kai said, dumbfounded.

"Clearly." Clover rolled her eyes.

Kai pressed his fist to his mouth. "Oh, right. Cinder-I mean Queen Selene is here," he sighed. "I'll arrange a special meeting with her tomorrow if you want. Or the day after, she's bound to be busy."

A ghost of a frown played across Clover's face but disappeared as soon as it came. "No, actually, I came here to talk to you about that." she lingered in front of him, and shook her head. "You want to talk in the hallway then?"

Kai tightened his lips. "Alright. We'll talk in my room."

The two guards regarded Clover with suspicion, but Kai waved them down as they both sidled into his room. Kai sat down on an armchair, gesturing her to do the same.

Clover stared at him. "I um, might have lied to you about the whole thing..." she muttered and glared at the floor.

Kai leaned forward. "Pardon?"

"The whole Lunar-Cinder thingy? It was all crap."

"What's your point?" Kai probed, narrowing his eyes. 

"You don't need to schedule anything for me," Clover explained hurriedly. "what I mean to say is, I'm not anyone special. I just-" her cheeks flushed beetroot red. "I'mahugefanofyouandIreallywantedtoseeyou," she blurted out then clasped a hand over her mouth.

Kai stayed still, processing what she said slowly. A buzzing feeling entered his head, and he began to feel a little...nonchalant. Unbothered. He shook his head, driving away the blank thoughts. Why was it starting to feel like someone was getting inside his thoughts? Yeah, you've had a really long day today, Kai. 

"So...you lied? Again?" he managed to say in disbelief. 

Clover squirmed in discomfort. "Yeah? I mean, I'm a huge fan of yours. And I really wanted to see you in real life person. So I made up those things about Cinder and Luna because I had studied your biology for such a long time, not to mention learn every bit of your personality so I would know how you would respond-"

"Wait, wait," Kai clenched his fingers. "So you're telling me you wasted my time because you're just a fan of me? You just wanted to see me? It was all nonsense, how we met...?"

"To clarify," Clover winced. "I'm a fangirl over you."

"Unbelievable," Kai rolled back his shoulders, eyeing Clover with distrust. "You could have been a murderer for all the star's sakes and I was gullible to let a fangirl get into my very own palace?" he muttered to himself, standing up and wiping his hand across his forehead.

"Like I said, I studied enough about you I know what-"

"You're leaving tomorrow morning," Kai cut her off with a flat tone. "I don't have time to deal with your..." he trailed off and gestured towards Clover. "all of this. I have a royal Lunar ambassador in my home and you're just going to cause distractions. Please, pack your belongings tonight."

Clover closed her mouth. "Very well. Our acquaintance was short but..." she hesitated. "at least I got to meet my idol," she said. Kai frowned. Because it sounded like she was persuading herself.

"A fangirl?" Kai said quietly, then glanced over at her. "How come you didn't act like it then? When we first met?"He was probably just seeing things, but he thought he saw her eyes darken and her lips curl into a manipulating smile. Then it was gone.

"I had to keep up the act," Clover said. Though it sounded like a smooth purr in Kai's ears. "otherwise you wouldn't let me in."

"Leave instantly," Kai said with a lot of conviction, pointing towards the door. "I will have guards sent to your room tomorrow morning to ensure your safety in leaving this palace. Please do not return," Kai ordered.

Clover tilted her head. "It really was a pleasure in meeting you," she whispered. They locked eyes and now for sure Kai saw the coldness in her eyes. Her hand wrapped around the doorknob and the door swung open, a flood of cool air coming in.

 Buzz. Buzz. There it was again. 

That weird, numbing feeling spreading over his thoughts as Kai peered into her gaze.

"Goodbye." he forced out as dignified as he could whilst his other hand flew up to massage his temple. Already, a pounding headache was arriving.

Clover's lips tightened and she left.

Kai shivered, feeling an empty absence in the room. Surprisingly, the numbing grip on his mind subsided, fading away until he felt nothing. Until he felt like himself. Kai frowned at the door, his hand falling back into his lap. For some reason, nothing clicked together about this, but he forced the thoughts about Clover, her peculiar arrival and the strangeness of her personality from his mind.

She was nothing to worry about. Nothing at all-she was a nobody, just a simple fangirl, Kai tried to convince himself. Clover was just a normal citizen, normal, just like everybody else. 

So why did it feel like something wasn't right?

A/N: Meh. This chapter could have been better-but it wasn't. I think you've all forgotten Clover until now. Anyways, who is she, really? Did you get some of the hints in the chapter?