Dear Immortal Tyrant

Lina pretended she didn't hear him. She stalked to the kitchen, took out a glass, and poured herself iced water. She needed it to cool her boiling blood. She was furious at him for leaving. For not coming back. For ignoring her. She stood by the marble kitchen counter and gulped down the icy water, even though it stung her lungs.

Suddenly, something slammed down next to her. When she glanced down, it was a bottle of pills. All her blood vessels froze.

"What's this?" Lina demanded. "Poison?"

Kaden dragged his vicious gaze from her face to her stomach.

"Contraceptive pills," Kaden snarled.

Lina paused. What?

"How—"

"From your weight and height," Kaden gritted out. "It'll stop your monthly period."

Some birth controls allowed for monthly cycles whereas others gave the option to stop the bleeding. She was surprised he thought to such an extent.

"And with your medical history," Kaden deadpanned. "You don't have diabetes, heart or cholesterol conditions, liver or gallbladder issues, or a blood clot disorder. This is the best kind for you."

Lina didn't want to know how he got her medical history. She could only assume it was from her parents due to patient confidentiality. Staring at the supply of birth control, she didn't know what to say. She could only look at it with disbelief.

"Thank you," Lina uttered in a small voice, grateful for his kindness.

Lina reached for the bottle, but he snatched it from the counter.

"Give me a date," Kaden demanded. "A date for when we will have children."

"When life becomes stable…"

Kaden's fingers curled around the pills. His expression was grim.

Lina lowered her gaze to the ground. She felt like she had done something wrong, but knew she hadn't. It was the way he looked at her; pained and frustrated. She already gave her two cents. Where was his opinion?

"Fuck." Kaden angrily loosened his tie. He was glaring at the bottle in his hand.

Lina raised her head to see the action in time. He rested his free arm on the kitchen counter. She saw his muscles flex when he braced the cold stone. He tore his eyes from the bottle to her. Her heart skipped. His eyes were burning.

"Come here," Kaden seethed.

Lina's stomach twisted with anxiety. No one in the world could deny him when he said it like that. She shook her head.

"Lina." His patience was hanging on by a thread. "Now."

Lina wasn't some child to be commanded. Yet, when he looked at her like he was going to screw her brains out, she could barely speak. She simply gawked at him. A familiar pulse between her thighs came to life.

"Do you think I don't want children?" Lina suddenly asked.

Kaden threw her an incredulous look. The hand gripping the birth control had turned white with anger.

"I want kids as well!" Lina yelled at him. She could feel her emotions bubbling and threatening to explode.

"I want to hold our child in my arms! I want to hug them when they cry, laugh with them when they giggle, and chase after them when they run! I want to do everything that a mother does, but we're not ready for children right now! Especially with our unstable relationship. One minute we're angry at each other and the next we're madly in love!" Lina screamed at him.

Kaden was shocked. His voice was stifled by her raised voice. He saw the emotions on her face. The hatred in her eyes. The pain in her expression. She wanted what he wanted. But not now. The present-day wasn't the right time.

"I want us to get along before having children, so that we do not fight like cats and dogs in front of them. Do you really think having a kid will solve anything? I can promise you it'll only make things worse!" Lina reprimanded.

Lina placed a hand on her chest. "My parents were on the verge of breaking up when it was suddenly announced that my mother was pregnant with me. They stayed together for my sake, but for all of my childhood, I watched them fight, yell, and break things in front of me!"

Lina didn't forget her traumatizing childhood. Two people who should've divorced were forced to stay together. It was a miracle neither of them murdered each other. They only settled down for the sake of Milo, but not for the sake of Lina. Why? Because Milo was a son.

"We will wait," Kaden forced out.

Kaden was surprised by the three words that voluntarily left his mouth. He was initially unable to understand where she came from. Now, he did. She wanted a stable relationship and life before they proceeded with children. It was the only way. This wasn't a fairytale where children magically solved the problem. The responsibility of fathering and mothering a child was a privilege and a huge commitment that would be life-changing.

"We will wait." Kaden made up his mind. They would have kids when it was the right timing. Whether that was next week, next month, next year, or in a decade, he'd wait for the perfect moment.

"So come." Kaden tried again. "Come here, dove."

Eventually, Lina obliged. She closed the space between them. Immediately, he grabbed her nape and buried his lips in her hair. He kissed the side of her head, then dropped his face to her neck. She felt something probing at her fingertips. The bottle.

Lina slowly wrapped her hand around it, then placed the pills onto the countertop. He pressed a kiss on the spot that her neck met her shoulders. She jumped, her fingers digging into his arm. At this, he let out a deep groan of desire.

Lina could feel it in her stomach. She could feel it in the entrance between her legs. She shivered as his fingers curled around her neck. He kissed a line up to her chin, then, her mouth. He captured her lips in a searing kiss, one that'd be burned into her memory forever.

"I love you, dove," Kaden hoarsely whispered against her mouth.

Lina's words were caught in her throat. Instead of responding, she grabbed his belt loop and yanked him closer.

"I love you," Kaden repeated, pressing his lips to her cheek.

Lina could feel her heart crumble from his adoration. This man was going to ruin love for her. He was going to ruin romance for her. There would never be another man. Another lover. Even if there were, none of them could ever compare to Kaden.

He, who waited a millennium for her. He, who sacrificed so much. And she, who fought everyone to stay with him. A love like this was difficult to find.

"I love you, Kaden," Lina admitted.

Lina's fingers curled around his belt loop. Her chest was pressed against his hard body. She could feel the power of his arms as they snaked around her lower back. He was doing all he could to bring her incredibly close. Not even a piece of paper could fit between them.

It was the last thing she thought of before cupping his cheeks and kissing him. She brushed her mouth against his and slid her tongue inside. A masculine noise vibrated through his chest, sending shivers down her spine. She felt an emotion deep in her heart—adoration for no one but Kaden.