CHAPTER 14

Why? Why did he do that?

I sat quietly, my body frozen in shock. The prince wasn't in the room, but I waited for him to arrive, anger slowly replacing all other feelings. After admitting he was my best friend, he makes a deal where I'm the consolation.

~Flashback~
"You said you would," the pirate captain taunted Zuko.

"You did what?!" shouted Sokka, glaring at Zuko. "You bargained my sister for a twelve-year-old boy?!"

"Shut up!" one of the pirates yelled, kicking the back of Sokka's knee to make him fall forward.

Zuko turned and nodded to the guard holding me, mentally telling him something. The guard quickly picked me up and ran from the scene. I could hear Sokka and Katara shout for me, but I was carried away, not being able to look back. By the time he stopped, I could just barely hear the voices and fighting going on between pirates and Firebenders.

"You're safe now, Miss Kiara," the guard said. He set me on my feet by a tree and looked around cautiously. He seemed on edge. "Prince Zuko will be fine. Once this is over, we'll all go back to the ship and it'll be normal."

"What did the pirate captain mean by that?" I questioned. He looked down at me. "Did Prince Zuko actually make a deal like that? Me for the Avatar?"

"I'm not at liberty to discuss that. Prince Zuko made me swear. I was ordered to take you away if the captain brought it up."

"But the prince made the deal?"

"I think it's best if you talk to him about that."

I narrowed my eyes, looking at a thin tree to my right. "Trust me, I intend to."

~End Flashback~

Now, here I was, waiting on the prince. I was going to get the truth out of him. I didn't care if he blew up at me. He could hit me or burn me, but making that kind of deal with a greasy no-good pirate that sent me bad vibes, just for the sake of his honor, and after I told him that he was my best friend, I was beyond furious with him. Angrily sighing, I stood and began pacing, eventually groaning and throwing a nearby book at the wall. It hit just beside the door as it opened.

And in walked the devil. I glared at him. He said nothing. It was silent between us, until he walked toward me and spoke.

"Kiara, I-" I cut him off, which was probably not a smart thing to do considering his short temper. He stopped walking and just stared at me.

"I don't want to hear an excuse. Tell me the truth. Why did you make that deal?" I demanded. He looked away from me. "Because of your honor? You really want your father's approval that much that you'd bargain someone you call your best friend? What the hell is wrong with you?"

He suddenly snapped his head up, his eyes angry. "You want to know why?" he asked, his voice dripping with venom as he stepped toward me slowly and dangerously. "I made the deal because it was the only way to find that boy. Do you think that I suggested giving you to him? No! He did! And do you want to know what else he told me?" My back was to the wall now, Zuko towering over me. "He told me that if I didn't agree, he would have his assassins kill you." My eyes widened in shock. "I had no intentions of handing you over to him. I only made the deal to save you."

"But why would he even bring it up?" I asked after a quiet moment, letting the information sink in. "It's not like I'm important."

"Why is Zhao so set on having you?" he retaliated. "Do you really not know? Any man would try and take you. You're obedient until you get angry. Other than the scar on your back, you're flawless. And you're young. Older men like the pirate captain and Zhao like that." I shuddered at the thought. "I'm being completely truthful with you right now. This is the exact reason why I'm scared to go back to the Fire Nation when I catch the Avatar. My father takes what he wants, and I'm afraid he'll want you."

"But-"

"I've never said this before, but it's always been a thought when it comes down to these types of things..."

"What?"

"You're mine, Kiara. You belong to me. And I won't hesitate to take down anyone who tries to take you away." Zuko's gold eyes were no longer angry, but deathly serious when he said this.

I couldn't help the fact that my eyes filled with tears, making my sight of him go blurry until I finally closed them and felt the tears roll down my cheeks. Another thing I couldn't help was hugging him. I think he was startled, but I couldn't see him to know. After a second of shock, Zuko finally wrapped his arms around me, resting his chin on my head, one hand stroking my hair.

"Thank you," I whispered.