Into the Flames

I turned to Kai again and began to ask questions "Why did you come alone? Do people not really like you?" was my first one. Kai choked on his wine and from the coughing coming from behind me so did Sloane.
"I have plenty of friends. I just felt coming alone would be better." Kai responded coolly. "Why did you not bring any friends, Princess, or are you just not liked and have to push your own self-value issues on to others?" He asked me, coming back just as snide in his remark. I laughed. I could not hold it in. I laughed in front of my mother and Sloane.
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"We're going to find a way around it." He said as if he was stating a fact. I looked up at him to see tears in his eyes. "I promise." He said. Looking down at me, a tear fell down his face and my hand went up to wipe it away. I pulled him into another hug and I did not want to let go, and we stood there for a long time. We both knew that the promise would probably not be kept, but it made us feel better in that moment to think that the inevitable was avoidable.
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Contains strong language and gore