I felt the hot sun on my face as I woke, the cold bed sheets snug against my body as I lifted my head.

The groggy groan from beside me made me turn my head, my eyes landing on Kye's closed ones, his mouth slightly parted.

His hair was tasseled around his face, the slight fluff grazing his forehead.

One hand was right around my waist, while the other gripped underneath the pillow, showing me the tattoo scattered along his forearm.

I removed my eyes from him and looked around, the unfamiliar room being foreign to my eyes as I glanced at the bedroom.

The dark black dresser blended into the deep black walls, the wooden edge catching my eye as I scanned the rest of the room.

I then focused on the window, the still blazing sun on my face as I removed the bedsheets from my body, my bare feet hitting the cold wood as I walked towards it.

I winced as the balcony door creaked, and when I glanced back at Kye, he hadn't moved in inch.

I let out a breath of relief as I shut the door behind me, my body erupting in goosebumps as I stepped into the morning air.

I instantly felt my body relax as I gripped onto the railing, my mind focusing on the view ahead of me.

A dark forest.

A light layer of fog was stretched upon it, shielding the forest floor from the hot sun.

The air felt cold, a contrast to the ray of heat that was on my skin.

It could be from the sun, or the forever feeling of tight stress in my chest.

I couldn't tell the difference, for they both felt the same; hot and sickening.

No matter how many breaths I took, —no matter how much air I consumed— I felt the same.

I wanted it to be gone, I wanted peace, I needed rest.

I wanted to feel safe for once, I wanted to feel at home with Kye, I wanted to be free.

Maybe that's what I needed.

Another breath after another, the cold breath filling my lungs as I continued to stare out into the dark trees, the fog starting to clear as each moment passed.

So many thoughts...

But the disappeared when I felt a set of warm hands on my waist, his strong fingers tight against my body, his lips making my skin tingle as he brushed against my ear.

"Good morning," he whispered, his voice hoarse.

I laid my head back against his chest, closing my eyes as I let a smile stretch on my face.

"Good morning," I replied, basking in the feeling of his fingers slowly moving around my waist.

"You okay?"

I nodded, turning my body around to face him.

"Perfect," I smiled, taking both hands to either side of his face and pressing my lips to his as his hands remained on my waist.

"Good," he smiled against my mouth.

We both stayed there, our bodies pressed together as we watched the sun rise higher and higher into the sky, the air becoming warmer and warmer as it reached its peak.

I felt Kye's head turn towards me, giving me a quick kiss on the top of my head.

"Hungry?" He asked, and I nodded, allowing him to lead me back into the room and down the stairs.

"Do you like it?" He asked me as we walked around the house.

"I do," I said as I touched the dark wood walls, and then brushing my finger against the black decorations.

"Fits you well," I continued, and he chuckled.

"You're right," he said to me as he poured us a cup of coffee, "it does fit me doesn't it?"

"Mhm," I responded, smiling as I put the mug to my mouth, groaning as the warm coffee hit my throat.

"Good?" He said and I nodded.

We ate in silence, a nice silence.

I could tell there was something on his mind, or he was thinking too much.

I hate seeing him like this, all because of me.

The stress, the work, he was doing this because of me.

I watched as he grabbed our plates and put them in the sink, his hands gripping onto the sinks edge as he turned back to me

"Aliyah-" he started, his throat tightening as he looked back at me.

I took a deep breath.

This wasn't going to be good.

When he started to speak again, a knock on the door stopped him, and his eyes saddened; defeated even.

He walked up to me and hugged me close, so tight I couldn't breathe.

"I love you," he said to me as he pulled away, and I didn't get to say anything back as he walked to the front door, opening it up.

I watched as a group of people entered the room, armed guns in their hand as they stepped closer.

"Kye?" I asked, backing up until my back hit the table.

"I'm sorry Aliyah," he said quietly, his body standing a few feet away, his eyes still sad as he watched the people come closer.

"What are you doing?" I asked the man that grabbed me by the arm, and I quickly flung his body over my shoulder, trying to get free.

But there was too many of them, and they pinned me down, grabbing my body harshly.

"Watch it," Kye hissed out, "I told you not to hurt her."

"Sorry," the man said, relaxing his hands against my body.

I turned my dark gaze towards Kye, my body lurching with confusion and hatred.

"What are you doing?" I asked him as he stepped closer, and I watched as he wiped the sadness from his face.

"What I was meant to do all along," he said, tracing his finger along my jaw.

"I don't understand," I said, clenching my jaw as the man behind me pushed me closer to Kye.

"There was no ally between us Aliyah," he replied, "there was no joint marriage, no joint mafia."

"Yes there is, we joined when we married."

"A ploy to get the Americans on our side, a ploy to gain your power."

I shook my head, my brain refusing the accept what was happening in front of me.

"This was real, don't lie to me!"

He shook his head as he chuckled, crouching down to meet me on my knees.

"Oh-" he smiled. "Are you sad Aliyah?"

I clenched my jaw harder.

"Did you actually feel something? For us?" He chuckled.

I narrowed my eyes, my heart thumping so hard in my chest I couldn't breathe.

"You felt the same way," I said, my eyes sending daggers his way. "You felt the same way!"

He stood back up, his jaw tightening as he stared down at me.

"Take her to James," he said to the men, "he's been waiting long enough."