Vengeance of The Broken Lycan Prince [BL]-Chapter 487: We Were Always A Losing Game

*slightly long chap

[KOSTA]

"What do you want this time, nana? You said you can’t undo it. No one can. Have you come to laugh in my face?" Kosta asked, as he lifted his head to look at her.

To let her see what this was doing to him.

To let her know, she forced him to endure. When she did, Yilena faltered. She had expected a rebellious kid, not one so broken and ruined by love. She had not expected to see her Kosta like this.

Not this defeated.

"I come in peace, Konstantin," Yilena began.

Kosta scoffed at her.

Ever since the ultimatum, Kosta had never had a moment of peace. He was always fighting for his life and his love in one way or the other. That was never what peace was supposed to look like.

If his Nana was thinking that this was the way out, then she had to be mistaken.

"Kid... someone has to give up their life for Tamiko to live," Yilena added, and that had lost stiffening.

He had suspected that was the trade that the fates would demand.

Frankly, he didn’t care if it was him or anyone else.

What he wanted was for Tamiko to come back. Even if it were for life without him.

"Well then, my life is pointless without him anyway. When do we start the spell that trades my life for him?" Kosta asked not to bother to look at Yilena.

Yet there was conviction in his voice, and that didn’t seem to surprise Yilena or even Lord Sadako, Danny, and Zaffuto, who were right outside the door. Konstantin was trying to save a life that he knew.

He knew Tamiko would definitely be angry with him if he did this, but then it was to save the life of the one he loved; if the positions were witches, Kosta knew Tamiko would give up his life for Kosta without question.

Such were the great depictions of their love; maybe that was why it was so easy for them to be attacked by the enemies of the crowd. Because their love had been one of a kind, then again, what would that be now that Tamiko was fading?

"No," Yilena said.

Kosta grunted.

"Don’t even think of stopping me. I am Erasthai. If there is someone to give up living for this, it should be me, besides the kids who can’t ski. And if Tamiko dies, there will never be a sane king, you know it too.

"At least with his father, they will both be able to work through their grief together. You should know a thing or two about grief, nana," Kosta said blandly, like he was not going to get into an argument with his guardian.

He was exhausted, and there was nothing that changed his mind.

"My life, Konstantin. That’s what I bargained."

Kosta could swear the world went quiet again.

He was starting to hate how things just slimmed down and how his life was a circus that only ever consisted of conflicting losses and gains and things that never made sense. What was he to make of that?

How the hell was he to endure whatever it was that Yilena was planning this time?

"So, you’re leaving me, too," Kosta breathed like the world was fucked up and he wasn’t ready to take anything more here.

This was madness.

What the heck was he to say or do with this?

"I love you, son. No guardian wants to see their kid suffer. And just so you know, nothing you say is going to make me change my mind about this," Yilena said, like that was the fact that Kosta needed to understand already.

He was tired of the way things had turned out, and frankly, he wasn’t sure if he had the strength to deal with this.

Then again, Yilena had been his guardian.

Maybe she had been too strict with him, and he didn’t know if she was playing games with him or if she was boisterous. But surely, she couldn’t walk in here and try to play him again after the kind of day that Kosta had had, right?

Besides, the rain had stopped, and the moon was high up in the sky now.

"But nana—"

"It’s okay, my little boy. I wanted you to find love. To find a family with your Erasthai. And Tamiko did more than just prove that he loved and loves you, he took everything, waged wars for you.

"He did everything that any lover would do. He treated you like his lifeline, and that was what I always wanted for you. Now I am sure you will be with him, because Tamiko would literally choose death over life without you.

"I may be strict, and it may have taken so long to get to this point, but you deserve happiness, son. And you won’t be able to talk me out of this," Yilena said, and Kosta felt his heart clean differently this time.

There was no rage.

No guilt.

Just a kid who was staring at his guardian.

Just an omega who was staring at his protector, who had kept him safe for everything, everyone.

Granted, Yilena was a bit too cruel to protect Konstantin, but it had all been for Kosta’s safety and happiness.

She had brought him up to be a good kid, a strong warrior, and a standout citizen. She has done a great job with him, and she would stand by and watch him suffer just because of a choice she had made that had been sabotaged.

"I can’t lose you too, nana," Kosta pleaded, but Yilena just held his hand, and Tamiko forced them together and had Kosta almost jumping out of the room.

His nana’s words yesterday still rang in his mind, so there was no way that she was the one who was keeping their hands together, right?

It made no sense.

"It’s alright. He will wake up once I leave. I have no worries this time, Konstantin. It was my greatest honor to be your guardian. Promise me you won’t focus on loss, and instead, focus on love and being happy.

"Promise me you will let yourself live and not wallow in the injured. Promise me, son," Yilena breathed like her lifeline was really the one binding them together.

She was doing a good job holding on, but Kosta could see the light, and her veins slowly faded.

He could see the way she was hiring and yet refused to let them both go.

"You’re absorbing the curse and the ultimatum, aren’t you?" Kosta said as he struggled to free himself from Yilena’s hold.

"My sweet little boy. You always were a smart kid," Yilena laughed weakly.

Kosta could help the tears that were free falling.

He knew he had to choose before, but now his nana had chosen for both of them. Was he expected to be okay with this sacrifice? Was he supposed to be the understanding kid who let everyone go because it was better for him that way?

"You weren’t supposed to go like this, nana... not like—" Kosta hiccupped as he sobbed for the love that he would still want to build with a banana.

He wanted them to have a better life. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

To have the chance to make their lives better.

He wanted them to be happy and free, but now, there wasn’t much he could do.

Kosta hated this.

"Oh, my dear Konstantin. Nana is sorry. I should have loved you better. Protected you and kept you safer. I should not have relaxed too much, I promise you will be happy," Yilena said, and Kosta felt like his heart was getting ripped out of his chest.

How was he supposed to be happy when he was losing the one person he and grown up knowing? What the hell was he supposed to do, and why the heck did he have to always lose before we got anything?

Couldn’t he just be a happy warrior who’d have to lose everything?

"Please... don’t go..." Kosta begged even as the light dimmed in Yilena’s eyes.

And he watched in defeat, too ached to even get out a word. It was like the universe was really playing the worst of games with him. What was he going to do now that Yilena was gone?

Was he supposed to be glad that Tamiko was going to be back, or would he forever see his dead guardian each time he professed his love for Tamiko or even became affectionate with the prince?

This was too much.

Kosta, not willing to wait for the cruel consequences of a life that he was not ready for, didn’t even opt for the front door. Instead, he created a portal that led away from the place and Kawai as a whole.

He then changed not his official barbarian attire, masked his caramel omega scent after taking one last look at Tamiko. He loved Tamiko too much to blame him for the loss he had incurred, and honestly, he needed time to process all of this.

Time to understand what the heck he was to do because that had happened wasn’t Tamiko’s fault, and he needed to process it.

Maybe it would take him a thousand years to get over his pain, maybe it would never pass. But what he knew was that he could stay.

Not at the palace.

Not in Kawai.

Not even close to his Erasthai, because everything hurt.

And so, with an aching heart, the barbarian went through the portal.

However, before the portal closed, Kosta heard Tamiko’s voice.

But he didn’t look back.

He couldn’t.

And the portal closed behind him...

Right as the door to Tamiko’s chambers opened and familiar scents hit Kosta’s nose.

At least he was sure Tamiko would be fine.