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Kai

Kai didn't think the school had ever been so crowded. Aurors roamed the halls, investigating every shadowy corner, every crack, every stone, trying to find any more secrets the school was hiding. They had already started taking the teacher's out for hearings to find out their involvement. Too bad all the guiltiest ones were already dead.

All of the werewolf students had been located and were being interrogated on their experiences as the Ministry tried to figure out what they were supposed to do with all of these kids who were, supposedly, avid supporters of Levana but at the same time her greatest victims. Personally, Kai just thought the "avid supporters" idea was born from pure prejudice. And the media. And that was probably the most annoying thing: Artemisia was filled to bursting with reporters. The damn doxys had managed to sniff out the people most involved in the whole thing even faster than the aurors and had quickly made it their mission to draw out as much information as possible from them. And they really wanted all of the information. The past three hours had made Kai one-hundred percent sure of that.

"How long did you know about the headmistress' activities?" asked one of the reporters, his Quick-Quotes Quill scribbling furiously on a floating pad of paper.

Kai forced himself to keep smiling, even though his cheeks were really starting to hurt by this point. One thing he'd learned about the press over the years, always act like you love them. It'll make your life way easier. "Several months actually, when I and a group of friends went to investigate why the centaurs had been acting so violent."

"And why did you and your friends decide to handle the matter yourselves instead of contacting proper authorities?" another reporter asked.

"Well, when we first started looking into it, we didn't really know what we were getting into. It wasn't until later that we realised just how dangerous this entire thing was, and I guess by that point we were so dependent on each-other and it felt so personal that the idea of asking for help from the Ministry didn't really cross our minds."

"Your fellow students have reported that in this friend group you have one of Levana Blackburn's werewolves. Is this true?"
Oh boy. "Yes, it's true."

The reporters chattered and whispered to each other excitedly. They looked a lot like a flock of hens clucking away at each other in the morning. "What prompted you to trust a werewolf, much less a werewolf with a connection to Levana?"

"These werewolves are not willing accomplices." Kai said firmly, "If anything, they are Levana's greatest victims. She has been collecting them, forcing them to serve her under threat of death. It is a possibility that she actually orchestrated some of their infections. In no way are they to blame for these events that have come to pass."

The reporters nodded distractedly and made notes, or murmured something to their Quick-Quotes Quills. "And what about the fact that you had a Lunar in your company? What prompted you to trust them?"

Kai's eye twitched. He'd been dreading this. "As a matter of fact, our group consisted of mostly Lunars, each and every one of whom has proven themselves to be trustworthy and reliable allies in our endeavours."

"But Mr Royal, our sources say that only one of those Lunars actually had access to the so-called "gift". How do you know that they weren't manipulating you the entire time?"

Kai paused, carefully thinking about his words. "While it's true, Lunars have been known to use their abilities for selfish means, I've learned that is not any real proof that all of them are evil. After all, if you think about it, we humans have done some pretty despicable things too. So I don't see why the simple fact that they could have manipulated us, is evidence that they absolutely did manipulate us. As far as I know, the only person they used their abilities on was Levana and, as I'm sure you will agree, that is an entirely justified course of action."

The reporters nodded and made their notes. "And what do you have to say about the rumours that this person was actually related to Levana Blackburn?"

Okay, Kai was really getting tired of this now. "If you really want my opinion, those rumours are only that: rumours. Please excuse me, it's been a trying day and I don't think I can answer any more of your questions right now. We can continue this conversation tomorrow if you want." Please, please don't want to continue this conversation tomorrow.

Kai quickly turned on his heel and walked away, ignoring the questions the reporters shouted after him. He knew from experience that that was the best way to get them to leave and find another victim-sorry, person to interview.

He hadn't been lying about it being a trying day though. Merlin's beard, he'd almost died several times! He'd seen Scarlet being tortured, her, Wolf and Cinder all falling off the tallest tower in the castle, and he'd had to watch as Cinder almost die in a duel with Levana. But… could he call her Cinder anymore? If the rumours were true then that wasn't even her real name. And the fact that she was Lunar… Kai still couldn't really wrap his head around that. And, if he was being totally honest with himself, he shared some of the reporters fears. How did he know that what he felt for her wasn't just something she'd made him feel? How did he know that she actually felt the same way? That that flush of red in her cheeks or twinkle of affection in her eye when he flirted with her wasn't just a clever trick of glamour?

The answer? He didn't. And there was only one way he was going to find out.

Finding Cinder wasn't hard. All he had to do was look for another thick crowd of reporters firing off their questions. Her glove and left pant-leg was still burnt from when her prosthetics caught fire during the fight with Levana, and even from a distance Kai could see them glowing brightly in the shadows of the reporters. Cinder herself looked vastly uncomfortable with all the attention. She seemed to have shrunken in on herself a little, and her shoulders were hunched up all the way up to her ears.

An involuntary smile tugged across Kai's lips. It was reassuring to see her like this, still so awkward and unused to attention.

With practiced confidence he strode over to the crowd of reporters, deftly stepping between them and grabbing Cinder's elbow. He flashed them a bright grin. "Pardon me for interrupting, but I think that Miss Linh's getting a bit tired. Can you guys let her off for the rest of the day? I'm sure she will be fully open to answering all of your questions tomorrow."

Without waiting for a reply, he turned on his heel and walked away, pulling Cinder along beside him. The reporters still tried to ask questions despite the obvious dismissal, but Kai tuned their voices out. He'd had more than enough of them for one day. Actually, scratch that, he'd had more than enough of them for a lifetime.

As the reporters' voices faded with distance, Cinder breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks. I was about to die."

Kai grinned. "Don't mention it. As someone who's had to deal with the press all their life, I know how torturous they can be."

She groaned. "Merlin's beard, I can't even imagine having to deal with reporters on a constant basis like that. I'd probably jump out of a window every time they came by."

Kai sniggered. "Yep, that's an urge I can definitely relate to."

Cinder chuckled lightly, but quickly sobered and gave him a scrutinising look. "Why do I get the feeling you didn't rescue me because you're just a gentleman helping his girlfriend?"

"That can't be an extra reason?" Kai asked sheepishly.

He'd been hoping for a smile, or a snarky comment. That's what the Cinder he knew would have done. Instead, her gaze flicked to the ground and she rubbed her arms anxiously, her magical hand casting a warm glow against her tan skin. "Kai… I know what you want to talk about already. It honestly isn't that hard to figure out. And I just want to say that I understand."

"Understand what?"

Cinder finally looked him in the eyes again. "That you don't want to be with me anymore."

Kai actually stumbled back a few steps from shock. That he didn't want…?

"I mean, I can hardly blame you, can I?" Cinder continued, oblivious to his reaction. "After all, a Lunar? I wouldn't want anything to do with me either, especially after dealing with Levana. And I understand if you don't believe me when I say this, but for what it's worth, I've never used my gift on you Kai. And I promise that I never will." She barked a bitter laugh. "If I had my way, I wouldn't even have this stupid power at all. Great Merlin, I'd rather have werewolfry than this! At least then I'd only have to deal with it once a month."

Kai stared at her. She looked back. She seemed… apprehensive. And afraid. But also accepting. He could see it in her eyes. Whatever he said, whatever he decided, she would take it.

Memories flashed across his mind. Cinder smirking at him when he said something dumb. Cinder crying over the loss of her sister. Cinder hugging him when his dad died. Cinder kissing him. Cinder insulting Levana when she hurt Scarlet. Cinder fighting Levana and, ultimately, defeating her. Cinder being brave. Cinder being kind. Cinder being confident.

Cinder being Cinder.

Carefully, as if she was a nervous animal, he reached out and gently clasped the side of her cheek. Her eyes widened as her gaze flicked back and forth, from his hand to his eyes, and for the first time Kai saw a glimmer of hope in their depths.

He smiled warmly. He cupped her other cheek in his free hand and gently brought her lips to his, kissing her softly.

A/N: Because it's been way too long since I've written Kaider.

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