Kaya stared at him, feeling her patience snap like a brittle twig. That was the third ti he’d said the sa thing—each word a weight pressing down on her resolve.
Without warning, she pulled out her small gun, the tal cool and unforgiving in her hand. She raised it slowly, carefully aiming it at his temple.
She didn’t like using it. Bullets were scarce—too precious to waste on empty threats. But honestly, if firing one bullet ant making this man shut up and disappear, it felt worth it.
"I don’t care," she said, her tone clipped and cold. "I don’t care what your story is. Just get lost. If you cause any trouble, I’ll shoot. No second chances."
She turned away, the gravel crunching sharply under her boots as she walked back toward the dark mouth of the cave.
Then—
"The vultures," Vayu said quietly behind her. "They’re looking for you."
Her steps faltered. Her whole body tensed like a coiled spring.
That na—Vultures. The monstrous birds. The nightmare from that terrible day.
A cold knot tightened in her stomach. The mory refused to let go—the shriek of wings in the sky, the flash of razor claws, the impossible weight of fear.
Slowly, she turned her head, voice taut. "What did you just say?"
Vayu didn’t flinch. "The vultures. They’re after you."
Like he was comnting on the weather. Calm. Detached.
Her eyes narrowed. "And why the hell would they be after ?"
He tilted his head, as if surprised she didn’t know.
"Because you killed the prince."
Hearing that, Kaya blinked.
"Huh? Prince?" she asked, staring at him like he’d grown a second head.
This was the first ti she’d heard anything about a prince.
She couldn’t even wrap her head around it.
For a second, she just stood there in stunned silence, her arms dropping to her sides, the gun hanging loosely from her hand.
She was tired. So tired. Not the kind of tired that sleep could fix—this was the deep, bone-heavy kind.
She wasn’t even this exhausted when she cramd for her high school exams back ho, running on energy drinks and instant noodles.
Not even when she first learned how to use a gun—fumbling with the parts, hands shaking, trying to rember which piece went where, all while soone barked instructions over her shoulder.
But this?
Just a single sentence in this strange world—you killed the prince—and it felt like it drained the last bit of energy she had left.
"What the hell is wrong with this place..." she muttered under her breath, running a hand down her face.
Looking at Kaya, Vayu noticed the stunned expression frozen on her face. He tilted his head slightly, curious.
"Do you not rember?" he asked quietly.
Kaya slowly turned her eyes to him, lips pressing into a thin line. She bit down on her lower lip hard, just to stop herself from snapping.
"The prince... I an the vulture—whatever," she muttered. "The one I killed. You’re telling that thing was a prince? A beastman? And now his whole tribe wants to hunt down for it, is that what you’re saying?"
Vayu nodded... and then shook his head.
Kaya stared. Her eyes twitched.
"Oh, hell no."
She stepped forward, grabbed his collar, and yanked him close. Her brows were furrowed, eyes sharp.
"Either yes or no. What the hell does nodding and then shaking your head even an?!"
Vayu blinked but didn’t resist. His voice was calm—too calm for Kaya’s liking.
"You’re right. They are looking for him. But you’re wrong about them wanting to kill you. He doesn’t want that from you."
Kaya narrowed her eyes. "He? The dead prince?"
Vayu didn’t answer.
Kaya let out a frustrated breath and threw her hands up. "Okay, what the hell. If I killed their royal prince, then obviously they want revenge, right? I an, they’re not expecting to mourn for that bird and write him a poem."
She stared at him, daring him to answer.
Vayu shook his head again.
Kaya clenched her fists. Her patience snapped. She raised one fist and stopped it just a centiter from his face, trembling from restraint.
"Listen," she growled. "My patience is done. Either start explaining properly, or I swear, next ti I won’t stop at one centiter."
Hearing that, Vayu looked at her for a mont—almost like he was checking if she was really ready to hear it.
Then he opened his mouth and—just like that—words started spilling out like rapid fire.
"The one you killed... he was the twin brother of the tribe’s current leader. So yeah, technically, he was a prince. But—before you react—listen. You killed him while he was trying to murder his own brother. Like, mid-attack. So when you killed him, you actually saved the current leader’s life."
He paused only long enough to take a breath before continuing.
"That brother—the one who lived—he’s apparently very fond of you now. Wants to et you. And by et, I an... uh, kidnap you. And make you his mate. Like, life-partner mate."
Kaya’s face was frozen in place.
Vayu held up his hand like that would soften the next blow. "Also, their father—the king—he kinda... well, he sort of hates you. Not fully, just... slightly. A mild hatred. Like a low simring hate. He’s also looking for you. And—"
"Stop. Just. Stop," Kaya interrupted, eyes wide and filled with disbelief.
Vayu blinked. "There’s more."
"I said stop," she snapped, holding up her palm like she was blocking all this insanity from physically hitting her in the face.
She looked away for a second, exhaled slowly, then turned back to him. Her voice was dangerously calm.
"So, let get this straight. I killed one twin while he was trying to kill the other. That surviving twin has a royal crush on , wants to kidnap , and turn into his personal forest bride or sothing. His dad hates —just a little bit—but still wants to find ."
Vayu gave a hesitant nod. "That’s the short version, yes."
Kaya ran both hands down her face and muttered, "I want to wake up. I want my bed. I want noodles and noise pollution and people who don’t turn murder into a marriage proposal."
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