Yes, and a kiss from Mileena.

They followed Fenrir inside.

The doors to the imperial dining hall closed behind them with a soft echo, and the three women paused almost instinctively as they stepped into the chamber.
The emperor’s table had been prepared, and not in the cold, ceremonial way they expected.

A long obsidian table stretched across the centre of the room, its polished surface reflecting the glow of dozens of candles placed along its length. Their golden light flickered gently against the tall stone walls, softening the otherwise intimidating architecture of the palace.

Four places had been set at the far end of the table. Fine plates of black porcelain rested upon embroidered cloth runners. Crystal goblets shimmered beside them, already filled with deep crimson wine. The scent of roasted meats, fresh herbs, and warm bread drifted through the hall, filling the air with a comforting aroma rarely present in this fortress.

Servants moved quietly along the edges of the chamber, placing dishes and adjusting silverware with careful precision.

But they looked… confused.

Shao Kahn had rarely used this hall. The emperor had preferred eating alone in his chambers, barking orders for servants to bring him food rather than sharing a table like this.

This place had known silence for centuries.

Tonight… It knew laughter waiting to happen.

Fenrir stepped toward the head of the table and gestured casually.

“Yes,” he said with a small grin. “Dinner.”

He pulled out the central chair and sat down, motioning toward the seats beside him.

“I made this for us.”

Kitana blinked in visible surprise. “…You made this for us?” she repeated, clearly caught off guard.

She approached slowly, then took the chair to his left, her posture graceful as she settled into it.

Fenrir scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. “Well… technically I asked the servants to help prepare the food and set the table,” he admitted. “But the idea was mine.”

He gave a small shrug.

“If we were in Earthrealm, I probably would have cooked something myself… though I’ll admit my cooking skills are questionable at best.”

Jade chuckled softly as she moved to the chair on Fenrir's right.

“It's the thought that matters,” she said warmly. “And the thought itself is… quite charming.”

She folded her hands neatly atop the table.

“Thank you for the gesture, Emperor.”

Fenrir smiled back. “It’s nothing,” he replied.

Then his tone shifted slightly, still warm, but a bit more deliberate.

“Actually… I was hoping it could become a tradition.”

Mileena, who had taken the seat beside Jade, raised an intrigued eyebrow beneath her mask.

“A tradition?” she echoed, leaning back slightly in her chair. “Oh? And why would that be?”

Her tone was teasing.

“Did we already impress you that much?”

Kitana rolled her eyes lightly at her sister’s tone.

Fenrir chuckled. “Well… I did promise you all something earlier,” he said. “I said that if we were going to rule together, then I would treat you as partners.”

He rested his forearms lightly against the table. “And partners should know each other.”

His gaze moved between the three of them.

“So, I figured this was a good place to start.”

He gestured to the table. “I’d rather not spend my evenings eating alone like Shao Kahn apparently did. And since you three are technically my queens…”

A small grin tugged at his lips.

“It seems fair that I share dinner with you.”

Kitana studied him quietly for a moment. Despite the tension earlier between her and Mileena, a small, genuine smile appeared on her face.

“That is… surprisingly thoughtful,” she admitted, touched by his kindness and gentleness.

Mileena tilted her head slightly. “Careful, sister,” she said dryly. “If you praise him too much, he might start expecting it.”

Jade smirked. “Oh, please,” she said. “Knowing Fenrir, he’d probably be happy with just surviving our criticism.”

Fenrir raised his hands defensively. “Hey now, I haven’t even asked the difficult questions yet.”

Servants approached the table then, placing the first course before them, small plates of sliced fruit, honeyed nuts, and soft white cheese appeared beside warm bread still steaming from the oven.

The aroma alone was enough to make Fenrir's stomach rumble slightly.

Jade noticed and laughed quietly.

“Well,” she said lightly. “It seems our emperor truly is hungry.”

He rolled his eyes, answering in a soft, jesting whisper, “I haven’t eaten since yesterday; those things tend to happen.” Jade chuckled at that, her smile warming my heart.

Fenrir cleared his throat.

“Alright,” he said. “I suppose I should begin somewhere.”

He leaned forward slightly, resting his arms comfortably against the table.

“Tell me something about yourselves,” he said. “What do you enjoy doing when you’re not ruling the realm, dealing with politics or fighting?”

The question caught them slightly off guard.

Jade let out a small, amused laugh.

Kitana smiled faintly.

Mileena covered her mouth briefly with her hand, hiding a grin behind her mask.

Fenrir's gaze flickered briefly toward Mileena as the servants poured wine.

He noticed something; she kept her mask on.

Even when she lifted the goblet to her lips, she subtly tilted her head away from him, using the angle of her hand to hide the movement.

And when she tasted the wine…She made sure he wasn't looking.

He pretended not to notice, so she felt comfortable…. Something he hoped Mileena noticed.

Kitana gently swirled the wine in her glass before speaking.

“Well,” she said thoughtfully, “I have always held a strong appreciation for the fine arts.”

She examined the colour of the wine. “Painting, sculpture or poetry.”

She took a small sip.

“The cultural expressions of a people reveal much about their soul.”

Mileena snorted quietly. “She means she likes boring paintings.”

Kitana shot her an unimpressed look. “Coming from someone who spends half her time collecting literature.”

Mileena blinked. “…I do not.”

Jade raised an eyebrow. “Really?” she said. “Then what exactly were those four crates of books you brought back from Sun Do last year?”

Mileena opened her mouth to respond.

She paused, then frowned. “…That is completely irrelevant.”

Kitana smirked. “Of course it is.”

Mileena crossed her arms. “Reading is a respectable activity.”

“And appreciating the craftsmanship of a painter is not?!” Kitana countered smoothly.

For a moment, the two sisters simply stared at each other. For a moment, there wasn’t hostility between them, more like playful sisterly banter.

Then Jade laughed softly under her breath while the two princesses continued their banter.

Fenrir leaned slightly toward her and whispered. “Are they always like this?”

Jade took a sip of her wine. “Sometimes,” she said with a small smile. “Though honestly… I prefer this version.”

Fenrir tilted his head. “The version where they insult each other?”

“No,” Jade said lightly. “The version where they aren’t trying to kill each other.”

Fenrir chuckled. “Fair enough.”

He turned his attention back toward her.

“And what about you, Queen Jade?” he asked.

Jade smiled slightly at the mention of the title. From his lips, it felt…warmly. “I enjoy music,” she answered.

Fenrir brightened.“Really?”

“Very much.”

“What kind?”

Jade tilted her head thoughtfully. “Traditional instruments mostly. String ensembles. Wind flutes.”

She looked at him curiously.

“And you?”

Fenrir grinned. “Oh… I like music too.”

He took a sip of wine.

“Though I suspect our definitions of music might be very different.”

Jade leaned forward slightly.

“You might be surprised,” she said playfully.

Then she added with a teasing smile. “Perhaps one day you should take me to Earthrealm and demonstrate these musical styles.”

Fenrir raised an eyebrow. “Are you suggesting we take a private trip together?”

Jade immediately realised what she had implied, and a faint blush crept across her cheeks.

“I meant… educational purposes,” she corrected quickly.

“Of course,” Fenrir said solemnly. “Purely academic.”

Mileena leaned toward Kitana and whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear. “Academic.” Raising her eyebrows, highlighting the absurdity of her defence.

Kitana tried, and failed, to suppress a smile.

Jade groaned softly and covered her face with her hand, but in the end, a soft laugh came out of her lips.

Fenrir chuckled. “What’s so funny?” he asked.

Jade shook her head. “It’s just… strange.”

“How so?”

She looked around the hall. “I never imagined I would be sitting at Shao Kahn’s dining table… drinking his wine… as a queen.”

She lifted the goblet again.

“Actually, it’s been a very long time since I was able to enjoy wine like this.”

Fenrir lifted his own glass.

“Well then,” he said warmly. “It’s my honour to share it with one of Outworld’s most beautiful queens.”

Jade raised an amused eyebrow.

“Careful, Emperor,” she said. “Flattery can be dangerous.”

She leaned forward and tapped her goblet against his with a heartfelt smile. “Cheers.”

“Cheers.”

They drank, then Fenrir turned back toward Kitana and Mileena.

“Actually… that raises another question.” He said, returning to Mileena’s tastes.

Kitana looked at him curiously.

“What sort of literature or art is common in Outworld?”

Both sisters blinked.

“What do you mean?” Kitana asked.

“Well,” Fenrir said. “Earthrealm obviously has its own traditions and cultures in all aspects of art. I imagine Outworld’s culture developed differently.”

Mileena smirked. “What? You mean humans don’t write books with ink and paper?”

Fenrir laughed. “Actually… not as often anymore.”

Three confused looks met him instantly.

“What?” Jade asked.

“Well… these days people mostly use computers for it.”

Kitana frowned. “Com…puters?”

Fenrir nodded, finding Kitana’s response cute with a joyful grin. “Machines that help people write, draw and create things digitally in some areas.”
Silence.

Three very sceptical expressions stared back at him.

Jade blinked slowly. “A machine… creates your art?”

“Well… not exactly,” Fenrir said quickly. “People still make the art. The machine just makes life easier for some.”

“That’s dumb,” Mileena said flatly.

“Idiotic,” Kitana added.

Jade nodded. “I’m afraid I must agree.”

Fenrir leaned back in his chair.

“…I walked into that one.”

The three women burst into laughter.

Kitana wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.

“If it makes you feel better,” she said kindly, “even I struggle to explain military strategies to the war council.”

“That’s because you over-explain everything,” Mileena said.

Jade chuckled at Mileena’s statement, agreeing with her.

“Do you truly think Baraka can survive an hour-long lecture about troop formations?”

Kitana paused.

“…That is a fair point.”

And this time, the entire table laughed together, even the servants along the walls glanced at one another in quiet disbelief.

The emperor’s hall had not sounded like this in centuries.

And somehow…It felt right.

After that, we had our dinner. The dish placed before me looked like some form of steak accompanied by roasted vegetables, at least I hoped that was what it was. Outworld cuisine was going to take some getting used to. The colour alone would have sent most Earthrealm chefs into a panic, but it smelled surprisingly good.

Still… there was a small voice in the back of my mind whispering, “Hopefully this won’t poison me.”

I pushed the thought aside and took a bite; to my pleasant surprise, it was excellent.

The four of us ate together at the long table that had probably been a good while since it’s seen a formal and rigid banquet under Shao Kahn’s rule. Tonight,
however, it felt very different. The atmosphere was relaxed, almost intimate. Conversation flowed naturally, shifting between light banter and thoughtful exchanges.
Laughter echoed through the dining hall more than once; it was a sound that seemed almost… foreign to this palace.

I noticed it in the way the servants moved; several of them lingered longer than necessary while serving wine or clearing plates. Their expressions were puzzled, curious, like they weren’t used to hearing warmth within these walls.

Perhaps Shao Kahn’s court had been many things, but joyful had never been one of them.

Across the table, Mileena continued eating carefully while wearing her mask. Every so often, she would lower it just enough to take a bite or sip from her glass, always doing so with deliberate precision.

She was subtle about it, but I noticed how she positioned Jade between us, using her friend almost like a shield so I couldn’t easily see her mouth.
I pretended not to notice, not out of pity… but respect.

If she wanted that privacy, she deserved it.

The dinner continued smoothly until the servants brought dessert, some kind of dark fruit tart with a deep crimson glaze that shimmered under the candlelight, surprisingly sweet.

Afterwards, the table wasn’t cleared immediately. Instead, we remained seated with wine and quiet conversation, the warm glow of the chandeliers casting long shadows across the hall.

None of us wanted the moment to end…But none of us admitted it either.

We simply lingered.

Finally, Kitana broke the comfortable silence.

“So, Fenrir.” Her voice was softer now, the wine clearly relaxing her posture. She sat with regal elegance as always, though the sharp tension she normally carried had eased into something warmer.

“What are your plans moving forward?” she asked. “If you would be so kind as to share them with us.”

Her tone was light, almost conversational, but I could still see the strategist behind those eyes. Even slightly intoxicated, Kitana was studying me.

“Well,” I said, leaning back slightly in my chair, “the first decree, getting a tailor, is already in motion and well completed as you saw earlier today.”

Jade chuckled softly beside me. “I appreciate your dedication to the realm’s most urgent crisis.”

I smirked at her teasing.

“Someone here has to ensure their emperor doesn’t look like he wandered out of a battlefield.” Mileena let out a soft, amused hum behind her mask.

“But jokes aside,” I continued, “I was thinking of travelling through Outworld. I want to see the current state of things with my own eyes before I begin working with my new advisors.”

Kitana tilted her head slightly. “Where would you begin?”

“Sun Do,” I answered. “Then Lei Chen.”

That caught their attention.

“Hmm.” Kitana leaned back thoughtfully. “You want the people of Outworld to meet their new ruler… personally.” There was a note of approval in her voice.
“Yes,” I replied. “They must be as confused as you were when this all began. From what I’ve been told, the official confirmation of my coronation has already been sent across the empire. It’s only a matter of time before questions and rumours spread.”

I rested my elbow on the table.

“It’s better if I calm those fears myself. Let them see me, let them hear me.”

Mileena spoke next. “It would also serve another purpose.”

All three of us looked toward her. She had straightened slightly in her chair now, her posture suddenly more deliberate, more regal.

“Shao Kahn’s loyalists are undoubtedly still hiding within the empire,” she continued. “If you appear publicly in Sun Do and Lei Chen… if you speak to the people directly… it will send a clear message.”

Her eyes glimmered faintly behind the mask. “A new Kahn has been chosen.”

I nodded. “Took the words right out of my mouth.”

Kitana studied her sister for a brief moment, perhaps surprised by how sharply Mileena had read the situation.

Then she turned back to me. “It could work,” she admitted. “But it is also dangerous.”

Her fingers traced the rim of her wine glass thoughtfully.

“Public appearances would leave you exposed. Sun Do is large enough that controlling every potential threat would be difficult.”

“That’s why I will be going with him.” Jade’s voice cut in calmly.

All of us looked toward her in surprise.

She met our gazes with quiet confidence.

“Do not forget that Fenrir and I share a similar position,” she said. “We were both thrust into power without the luxury of growing up within a royal court.”

She gave me a sideways smirk. “The people already know you two. They have seen them as princesses for years; accepting both of you as their queens will not be difficult.”

She gestured lightly between the two sisters.

“But we do not share that privilege.”

Then her smirk widened slightly. “Besides… you need a personal bodyguard who is not Ermac, Reptile, or Skarlet.”

I chuckled. “Fair point.”

Kitana exhaled slowly before nodding. “That arrangement would reduce the risk considerably.”
She looked toward Mileena.

“In that case, Mileena and I should remain here. The palace still requires oversight… and there are many remnants of Shao Kahn’s regime that need to be addressed here. We will deal with them.”

Mileena nodded. “Yes… plenty of rats left in the walls.” Her tone carried a dangerous amusement.

I gave them both an appreciative nod. “That works.”

A moment of silence passed before I leaned forward slightly.

“Now that we’re already discussing important matters… I suppose I should address the elephant in the room.”

The mood shifted subtly; all three women exchanged glances.

They knew exactly what I meant.

The decision that had been hanging over us since yesterday, their future roles beside me.

Kitana spoke first. Not for the group, for herself.

“Yes,” she said quietly. “I have been thinking about it all day.”

She straightened slightly, her expression calm but resolute.

“I accept these conditions.”

There was no hesitation in her voice.

“I want to help my people,” she continued. “And I believe you truly intend to do what is right for Outworld.”

Her eyes met mine. “I cannot promise love,” she admitted honestly. “Not yet, I would be lying if I claimed certainty about something so profound.”

Her voice softened. “But I am willing to stand beside you. To share the throne, to support you in everything that comes with ruling this empire.”
She placed a hand lightly against her chest.

“Shao Kahn’s poison has lingered in this realm for far too long. Life must return to these lands.”

There was strength in her words, but also sincerity.

Inside her mind, however, another thought lingered.

Not about ruling, but about the other role she had just accepted.

Being his queen.

Fenrir did not deserve a cold or distant partner. He had shown nothing but kindness, fairness, and restraint since arriving… Even affection. He… he didn’t deserve a cold shoulder, he wasn’t ill-hearted in his actions or statements, he was pure of heart.

And yet…Her heart was uncertain. She feared she couldn’t reciprocate.

She did not know him well enough to love him.

But she did know one thing.

When she looked at him… something stirred within her.

Something curious, something warm… even arousing sometimes.

This morning, she saw him with those interested eyes… the hungry ones. The ones that she didn’t feel often, but when she did, it was because something was pulling her in.

He is handsome to her; she could sense those thoughts and warm sensations growing by the minute in her body and mind, but for it to grow into something deeper? That worried her… could she love him? Would he love her back if that happened?

That’s something else she needed to ponder on thoroughly from now on; hopefully, time will give her the answers she’s looking for.
Jade spoke next. “You already know my thoughts on this matter, Fenrir.”

Her voice carried the same calm conviction it always did.

“If what you have told me is true… then I am more than willing to stand by your side until the end.”

Her gaze sharpened slightly.

“But understand this.”

The warmth in her tone hardened just enough to make her point clear.

“If you ever betray that trust… if your words prove false… then the bridge between us will shatter permanently.”

Kitana nodded quietly.

Jade was many things, but disloyal and unjust was never one of them.

Inside Jade’s thoughts, however, a different vision flickered briefly.

A future where Outworld thrived instead of suffering.

A future where its people followed their emperor not out of fear…But respect, crafted and nurtured from the ruins of malice.

She imagined sitting beside Fenrir as that future took shape.

She even imagined something more personal, a child in her arms.

Their child.

A new generation was born into a world finally free from Shao Kahn’s cruelty.

She could see herself loving him and him reciprocating that warmth.

She could see herself, for the first time, as a queen.

The queen and Empress of Outworld and Edenia.

It was only a fleeting thought, but it lingered warmly in her heart.

Finally, all eyes turned to Mileena.

She had been quiet during the entire exchange, far quieter than usual.

Unlike the others, she hadn’t spent the day carefully analysing the political implications; her thoughts were somewhere else entirely.

She had always dreamed of ruling Outworld one day.

Not like Shao Kahn. But with strength, with authority.

Yet she had never imagined ruling beside someone else… aside from Kitana.

Now that possibility existed.

And while she found Fenrir undeniably attractive…There was still one fear clawing at the back of her mind.

The same fear that had haunted her for years.

Rejection.

What would he think when he saw her true face? ...Would he recoil? Would he look at her like everyone else eventually did? ...Like a monster.

She swallowed the knot forming in her throat and **** her voice to remain steady.

“Yes.” She nodded once, “I accept as well.”

She said nothing more.

Fenrir watched her carefully.

Something about her tone felt… wrong, but he didn’t push.

“Well,” I said after a moment, offering a small smile, “I guess that settles it.”

I looked around the table.

“So… what now?”

Kitana and Jade both laughed softly. Mileena managed a small grin despite her lingering thoughts.

“Well,” Kitana said warmly, “we could discuss ideas for the future.”

She glanced toward the tall windows where darkness had fully settled outside.

“Unless you would prefer to continue tomorrow. It is getting rather late.”

“Actually,” I said, “there is one matter I would like to resolve immediately.”

Jade glanced at me curiously. I looked at all three of them.

“My first official decree.”

I paused.

“I want to abolish slavery in Outworld—”

“Agreed.” Kitana interrupted without hesitation; her voice was firm.

“Say no more.”

She placed her glass down decisively. “That barbaric practice should have been abolished long ago.”

Jade nodded; her opinion on that matter was already clear.

“Mileena?” Jade asked gently.

Mileena blinked as if returning from distant thoughts.

“Huh—? Oh… that.”

She nodded quickly. “Yes. Of course.”

Her voice softened slightly near the end.

“There is no need for it… People should be allowed to be themselves.”

I nodded slowly, “Then it’s settled.”

I looked at each of them in turn.

“Tomorrow the decree will be issued, and the process of dismantling the **** networks across the empire will begin.”

The three women nodded together.

In that quiet moment, something significant had formed.

Not just a political alliance, not just a marriage.

But the foundation of a new rule.

---

After that, I said goodnight to Kitana and Jade.

The wine had left us relaxed, the mood light and almost peaceful, something rare for this palace…Yet one presence was missing.

Mileena.

She had left the dining hall earlier than the rest of us.

At first, I assumed she had simply gone to her chambers, but something about the way she left had lingered in my mind; Quiet, Distracted and almost… troubled.
So, I went looking for her.

The palace corridors were mostly empty at this hour. Torchlight flickered softly against the stone walls, casting long shadows that danced with every step I took.
Servants had already begun clearing the halls for the night. Tarkatan an outworlders guards patrolled the corridors maintaining security and peace to them.

Eventually I found her.

She stood on the balcony behind the throne room, overlooking the vast dark landscape of Outworld.

Her arms were wrapped around herself as she stared into the night. The wind moved gently through her hair, rustling the fabric of her clothes. From behind, she looked small somehow, despite everything people feared about her.

Lonely, lost in thought.

I approached slowly, careful not to startle her.

“It’s cold out here.”

My voice broke the quiet gently.

She jumped slightly, clearly not expecting anyone. When she turned and saw me standing there, surprise flickered across her eyes.
I slipped my coat off my shoulders and stepped closer.

“Here,” I said, draping it around her shoulders.

“I don—”

She tried to protest, attempting to push it back toward me.

“It’s okay,” I said softly, adjusting it around her anyway. “My treat.”

For a moment she resisted.

Then she sighed quietly and allowed it. “…Thanks,” she murmured, her voice was softer than usual.

I leaned against the stone railing beside her, giving her space while still staying close.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer your room?” I asked gently. “It’s warmer there.”

“No… it’s okay.”

She stared out across the dark horizon again.

“I was already planning on leaving. I was just… thinking.” Her voice sounded distant.

“You don’t look like you’re okay,” I said carefully.

I glanced at her from the corner of my eye.

“You can tell me what’s on your mind, I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

She was quiet for a moment, then she looked at me.

“…You promise?”

For the first time since I had met her, the teasing spark in her eyes was gone.

What replaced it was something raw, something ****.

“Yes,” I said gently.

She turned her gaze back toward the distant mountains.

“Do you have siblings, Fenrir?”

Her voice was soft, almost hesitant.

I exhaled slowly. “Used to.”

She looked at me again.

“He died when I was younger. Along with my mother.”

Her expression softened immediately.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “My condolences.”

“It’s okay,” I replied after a moment. “Why do you ask?”

She hesitated, Then the words slipped out.

“I think Kitana hates me.”

The admission sounded painful even to her own ears.

I blinked, surprised. “Why would you think that? Did something happen?”

“I don’t know.” Her fingers tightened slightly around the coat wrapped around her shoulders.

“She’s been colder to me these last weeks.”

Her voice trembled faintly. “And it’s not anger. I know the difference.”

She let out a quiet breath. “I know how my sister acts.”

She swallowed. “She looks at people like that when she hates them… when she finds them disgusting.”

Her eyes lowered.

“She used to look at our father that way.”

A cold wind moved across the balcony.

“And you think she’s looking at you the same way?” I asked carefully.

“What do you think?” Her head snapped toward me, irritation flashing in her eyes.

The sudden sharpness caught me off guard, but it vanished just as quickly.

She looked away again.

“…Sorry,” she muttered. “I shouldn’t snap at you. You’re just trying to help.”

“It’s okay,” I said quietly. “Really.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s not.”

Her voice broke slightly.

“I hate feeling like this.”

Her shoulders trembled faintly.

“I hate that people look at me like I’m something disgusting.” She turned sideways, hiding her face from me as tears slowly slipped down her cheeks. “I’m tired of it.”

“I don’t.”

The words left my mouth instinctively.

She looked at me again, confused.

“What?”

“I don’t see you that way,” I said honestly. “Why do you think that about yourself?”

She stared at me for a long moment, then she lowered her gaze.

“There is something wrong with me.”

“There isn’t,” I said gently.

She shook her head.

“There is.”

Slowly… hesitantly… her hands rose to her mask.

For a moment she just held it there, like removing it would expose something far more terrifying than teeth.

Then she pulled it down; The mask lowered…Her Tarkatan features were revealed.

Two uneven fangs curved outward through the sides of her cheeks. The structure of her jaw split slightly along the edges, exposing rows of sharp teeth that framed the more human shape of her lips in the center.

It was brutal…Alien even.

And strangely beautiful all at once.

She looked away from me immediately.

“I was born this way,” she whispered. “I’m repulsive.”

Silence fell between us, the wind moved softly across the balcony.

Mileena braced herself for the usual reaction.

Shock, disgust and/or Fear.

Instead, Fenrir simply looked at her.

Not with horror, not with pity.

Just… understanding.

Then he chuckled softly. “That’s the issue?”

Her head snapped back toward him.

“What? Can’t you see?” she demanded, as if feeling that I messing with her.

“Yes,” I said calmly. “And I don’t see the problem.”

I smiled gently. “I’ve seen far worse things than a few teeth.”

I stepped closer; Slowly, carefully and tenderly.

When I raised my hand toward her face, I paused long enough for her to stop me if she wanted.

She didn’t.

My thumb rested lightly against her cheek just above one of the fangs, brushing softly against her skin.

“I think you’re gorgeous,” I said quietly. “Just the way you are, Mileena.”

Her breath caught slightly.

“You’re only saying that to make me feel better,” she murmured, avoiding my eyes.

“No,” I said with a small, crooked smile. “I told you earlier tonight that I wouldn’t lie to you three.”

I gently lifted her chin so she would look at me.

“I intend to keep that promise.”

Our eyes met. “You’re beautiful,” I said softly. “Unique, too.”

My thumb brushed lightly against her cheek again.

“In the best way.”

For several seconds she said nothing, the world around us seemed to fade.

Her breathing slowed; her eyes searched mine as if trying to find the lie she expected to see.

But there was none.

Only warmth and acceptance…And something else.

Something she hadn’t felt directed at her before.

Without thinking she closed the distance.

Her lips crashed against mine; her arms wrapped tightly around my neck as she kissed me with sudden, **** intensity.

For a moment I froze in surprise, then instinct took over.

I didn’t break the kiss. Instead, my arms wrapped around her back, holding her steady as she leaned into me.

The warmth between us spread quickly.

Her body pressed close, her breathing uneven.

For a few brief seconds the world outside the balcony ceased to exist.

Then reality caught up with her, she pulled away suddenly.

Her eyes widened as if she had just realized what she’d done.

“I—” She stumbled backward. “Sorry… I—” Her voice faltered.

“Forgive me.”

Before I could say anything, she turned and rushed toward the palace doors.

“Mileena! Wait!”

But she was already gone; Her footsteps disappeared into the shadows of the hallway.

The balcony fell silent again.

I ran a hand through my hair and let out a long breath.

“…Fuck.”

I leaned back against the stone railing, staring up at the dark sky.

“Why does everything have to be so confusing?”