Kael's hand pauses mid-air, his gaze lifting from his food to meet my eyes.
"Finish your food and we shall talk about it Elara" he says with a sigh of defeat.
I frown.
"Why do you avoid my questions? The question isn't going to change just because you refused to answer it this time Kael" I say through gritted teeth.
Why does he have to be so difficult with his answers? Why is he so vague and dismissive with his replies?
Frustration tightens my face, but I continue eating, determined to get my answers.
We eat in silence, the only sound being the clattering of the utensils.
After the meal, I sit down at the round center table in the living room and wait for Kael, who hesitantly sits beside me at the table his gaze pointed at the floor.
He takes in a shaky breath before I can say anything.
"I know you want answers and I know it frustrates you that I'm not being cooperative with my replies" he begins, at least he acknowledges it alright.
"The truth is I was surprised when I saw you at the lake the first day" he says looking into my eyes.
"I could sense a creature that didn't belong in the woods and tracked you to the lake thinking it was an intruder."
"When I saw you, I didn't understand what you were. Shapeshifters shift into their primal forms the moment they sense danger but you just stood there shocked, even as I approached you" he says cracking a small smile on his face.
"But when I got closer, I could see the difference. The expressions on your face and the scent you exude.... I realized what you were... And I needed to protect you at all cost." His expression hardened at the last line.
"Protect me from what?" I ask, my voice soft.
"From the other colonies" he says as I stare at him.
"Varena isn't the only colony in this place Elara. There is too much history that you need to know before you can understand the gravity of my words."
"I know I cannot keep you in the dark, atleast for your own sake. So I will tell you the truth." He says, his amber eyes brighter than before.
"There are many colonies around the world Elara, some liberal and relaxed while others are conservative and superstitious." He continues as I listen to him like in listening to an old folktale.
"The stance of a colony usually changes with the leader of the colony and his council and Varena was once a conservative colony too until I took over as the leader and replaced most of the council." My eyebrows shot up at this.
"Whoa! So you're the leader of this colony? That is impressive!" I say in awe.
I'm finally getting to know about this place and especially about Kael.
Kael's face breaks into an awkward smile.
"I am. But I don't think it is such a big deal to be honest."he says before continuing with a neutral expression.
"The conservative ones can go to any length to follow the superstitions even if it means destroying somebody's life..."he says, his voice trailing off.
I don't understand what this has to do with protecting me? Is he implying that I'm in trouble with such colonies?
My frown deepens as he continues.
"I'm telling you about this because there is a prophecy related to you, or more precisely about beings like you" he says and I draw in a sharp breath.
"Even though I'm the leader and more than half the council is liberal, the council also consists of a few powerful individuals who I couldn't replace completely..... They will bring you trouble Elara and you need to be protected from both them and any other colony that might want to target you" he finishes with a drawn out sigh.
"What exactly does this prophecy say?" I ask, uncertainty filling my chest.
Kael averts his gaze from me and hesitates before answering.
"It states that the colony that possess the pure being shall receive the blessings of nature" he says.
"Possess as in whichever colony I reside in?" I ask for clarity.
"Yes" he admits with his head low.
"So why didn't you tell me this in the forest?" I ask.
I was grateful he was telling me all of this but I still needed to know why I was kept in the dark about all this.
Kael opens his mouth but no words come, instead he just bows his head and sighs.
A long silence stretches between us before he finally speaks.
"I should have told you at least after I knew you would trust me. But I didn't. I wanted to, many times... but every time I opened my mouth, the words wouldn't come. I was afraid, Elara. Afraid that if you knew, you'd run—and that I'd lose the only good thing I'd found in a long time." he says with his head hung low.
"I wanted to get you out of here but everyday I spent with you, I was happy, looking forward to another day with you" he continues.
"I know what I did was wrong and I won't make excuses for it but I hope you can forgive me for it some day" he says lifting his sad amber eyes into mine.
Honestly, I had good memories with him in the cave. I was not really mad at him for hiding this from me as much as I just needed to know why.
I grin at him and say "I just needed to know Kael. It would have been nice to know about this earlier but it's not fair to expect you to trust me immediately."
"Why did you leave that night? What happened?" I ask about the night that changes everything.
"There were intruders from another colony that entered our territory that night. It was unexpected but I had to be there. But after we took care of them I realised that they may have come here in search of you and so I had to get you here."
"The cave was safe but every time I would go out your safety was not completely guaranteed so I had to get you here in a rush" he confessed.
I was silent. Processing everything that I just heard.
"Tomorrow I plan to introduce you to the colony" he says looking at me, searching for a reaction.
"But I cannot stay here forever Kael!" My words were full of anxiety.
"I know and so will the rest of the colony. I don't want to force you or anyone to stay where they don't want to Elara" he says softly.
I don't know why but I do trust his words and it puts my mind at ease.
"Ok. Goodnight Kael" I say before going to my room and shutting the door behind me.
I lay on the bed, pondering what tomorrow will bring until I slip into a dreamless sleep.