Dear Immortal Tyrant

Kaden realized two things. One, Lina didn't run to Atlantis' aid. Two, Lina didn't run to his aid either. She remained by the doors of the living room, her lips taut in a straight line and her eyes filled with disapproval.

Kaden offered her a crooked smile. In response, her lips dipped into a frown. He heard the doors slam shut behind him. Without another pause, he headed in her direction. She turned to leave, but he instantly quickened his pace.

Kaden grabbed her waist and hugged her from behind. His arms snaked around her, tight like a cobra. Burying his face into her neck, he nuzzled the spot and kissed it. She smelled delightful, like chamomile tea.

"Where's my welcome home kiss?" Kaden murmured, his lips greedily trailing a path to her jaw. She shifted her head away from him, but his mouth sought out her chin.

"I'm still furious," Kaden reminded her, his grip digging into her waist. "What little noise was he talking about?"

"When I'd cry," Lina muttered.

"Ah, he likely thought I'd make you scream for bloody murder instead of when we're in bed," Kaden mused. Her lips twitched, but she suppressed her smile.

"Don't be angry with me," Kaden said in a gentle voice, nothing like a command.

Lina rolled her eyes. She shoved at his arms, but they never budged. Instead, he pressed their entire body together. She felt the heat radiate off his muscles. His chest was tight and hard against her back. His hair tickled her skin, but he continued whispering sweet words and kissing her jaw. His mouth hotly skimmed the surface, his lips teasing and warm. Her eyelids fluttered.

"Did you have to send him the invite?" Lina grumbled. "You knew it was going to piss him off."

"He'd find out one way or another," Kaden warned. "Better now than at the wedding."

Lina pressed her lips together. She felt like he had a worse intent than that. This childish husband of hers. On a brighter note, Atlantis left the invitation on the ground. On a worse note, their relationship would never be the same again.

"What did he say to you?" Kaden asked her in a beguiling voice.

Lina glanced side to side and saw the foyer was vacant. She wasn't surprised, given the last treatment by the phone table.

"He professed his love to me, nothing new." Lina left out the part where Atlantis knelt before her like a knight dedicating his life to her. She didn't want to hide it from Kaden, but also didn't want him to jump to conclusions.

It wasn't like Atlantis was going to propose to her or anything. Lina still didn't understand why he liked her. She was a spoiled brat when she was young. Was it because she treated him like a normal person? Was it because she cherished him? She didn't know why.

"Did he hurt you?" His tone was deadly. One misstep and Atlantis would wake up with a bullet hole embedded in his skull.

"Not more than you've hurt me," Lina said, touching her chest.

"This time, his words moved you."

Lina froze.

"No, I—"

Kaden spun her around. Lina let out a soft gasp. His eyes became as volatile as the worst storm clouds—the kind that called forth a hurricane. His features darkened. Danger screamed from his cells. His presence threatened to choke her as it swallowed all the oxygen in the room.

"You fell for his words," Kaden realized, grabbing her by the arms. "You believed it."

"I've always believed in his love for me," Lina said. "It was always a matter of accepting them or not."

"And did you accept it?"

"I didn't," Lina shot back.

"No," Kaden agreed. He jabbed a finger right at her chest. "But your heart did."

Lina swallowed hard. She glared up at him. How could he turn the narrative against her like this?

"It's not like I provoked him," Lina reminded him. "He came here on the basis of the invitation that YOU sent."

"Don't turn the tables on me," Kaden bit out. "I only did so—"

"You did it to provoke him," Lina snarled. She grabbed him by his tie and yanked him to her height. She refused to have to look up at him to argue. When he was at eye level, he grabbed her wrist in warning. She knew she was choking him. She tightened her grip.

"Don't make me the villain when you sent the invitation to brag," Lina seethed.

Kade's eyes flashed red. "You're never the villain, dove. I am. I will always be the villain in your life. You may view me as a hero now, but one day, you'll turn your back to me. One day, you'll scorn me like a villain, for I stole you from your destiny. When that happens, at least I'll have a piece of you."

"You want a child not because you want a family, but because you want a piece of me?" Lina shot back, her heart coming to a halt.

"A family is what I've always wanted for us. But families always break up, and when it does, I'm taking our child," Kaden bit out.

"You don't trust me," Lina muttered. She dropped her hand. She felt cold water being poured over her. Letting out a shaky breath, she staggered backward.

"No, dove," Kaden said, his stony expression softening on the spot. He reached for her, but it was too late. She was already creating distance between them.

"If you'd trust me, you wouldn't think I'd divorce you. If you did, you—"

"I trust you, I always do!" Kaden quickly went after her. She was already making her way up the staircase, but he cornered her. He grabbed her hip and hand, forcing her to look at him.

Lina stood over him, three steps higher than he was. Her face was filled with anguish, unshed tears in her eyes. All along, she had faith in him. It was why she never reacted sourly to Priscilla. It was why she never doubted his love for her. But whilst she was serious about their relationship, he was second-guessing her intentions.

"I do trust you, dove," Kaden said. "I do not trust the forces working against us, dove."

Lina's eyes flickered. "It's you and me against the world, Eden."

Lina didn't forget the proposal that he made to her. "Marry me, Lina, and the whole world can be damned. You once told me that, do you still mean it?"

Kaden could feel his chest growing heavy. He slowly nodded his head, his grip tightening on her hand.

"I always mean it, dove."

"Truly?"

"Always."