"But he almost killed you, Sisi!" Jojo said angrily. "I-I thought I’d lose you! I-I don’t know what I’d do if that happened... wuu... waaaaaah!"
Despite not trusting Kael completely, Sisi also didn’t want Jojo to be at odds with his own father. After all, Kael was far too powerful for anyone to handle. She couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t snap and hurt his own son if Jojo angered him enough.
To be hurt by one’s own father would be the worst kind of scar on a boy’s heart, and Sisi didn’t want that.
"There, there, don’t cry," Sisi said as she hugged him and patted his back. "It was just a misunderstanding. Your Dad had every right to be suspicious of , since I was close to Uncle Marik before. But the misunderstanding has been resolved, right? I’m doing just fine now."
Jojo said nothing and continued sobbing in Sisi’s embrace.
Sisi looked at Kael and offered him a sincere smile this ti. She was genuinely grateful to be spared, because she still wanted to stay by Jojo’s side.
Despite having shown the bravery of soone ready to die, Sisi still preferred to live—at least until Jojo was old enough to let go of her. Even better if she could stay alive until Jojo found his own mate; that would an her role as a mother figure was complete.
Kael didn’t know what to make of this woman. She could switch between mocking him and smiling at him with genuine gratitude.
She was devious, yet sincere.
But one thing was certain, she could rattle his hardened bones, make a fool of him, and still co out alive.
"Hmph, you two certainly know how to anger ," Kael scoffed. "Now get up. We’re returning to the kingdom—right now!"
Kael turned around and walked away from Jojo and Sisi.
"Let help you, Sisi. Um... I think I’m strong enough to carry you!" Jojo said as he tried to lift her, though it proved difficult given his small body.
Sisi giggled and stood up on her own. Then she picked Jojo up and carried him in her arms.
"We’re done here, Jojo. Let’s go back to your father’s kingdom," she said. "I’m sure you will be safer there than just going around Roc Forest living in a cave, especially now that Uncle Marik is gone."
Jojo still looked worried. After making sure the crimson-eyed demon was far enough away, he cupped his hands near Sisi’s ear and whispered, "Sisi, I think he’s not Daddy."
Sisi raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think that?"
"Um... he has red eyes, unlike Daddy. Daddy’s eyes are black," Jojo recalled. "And he’s not gentle. Daddy is very gentle and never gets angry at ."
"Mmm, I think he’s still your father," Sisi said with a smile.
After spending a night with Kael, she realized that he wore his heart on his sleeve. Unlike herself, who often hid her true feelings, Kael’s emotions were plainly visible.
She could tell when he was angry, disappointed, sad, hurt—even when he was deep in thought.
So she knew that despite his foul temper and occasional unreasonable actions, he was still Jojo’s father. His love for the boy was unmistakable in his eyes.
Those crimson eyes softened only when they looked at Jojo.
Perhaps the curse had changed him for the worse, but even at his lowest, he was still cautious around his son.
Sisi was only unsure how long that restraint would last, especially since Jojo constantly provoked him.
"But..." Jojo still refused to believe the crimson-eyed demon was his Daddy. Daddy was supposed to be gentler and kinder!
"No ’buts.’ He is your Daddy. Maybe he’s changed, but he still loves you very much," Sisi said as she patted Jojo’s back. "Don’t be so an to your Daddy, alright?"
"I won’t be an if he’s not an to you, Sisi," Jojo replied honestly. He looked at the obvious hand marks on her neck and gently rubbed them. "Daddy went too far..."
"Sshh, just between you and ..." Sisi whispered, pressing a finger to her lips. "I was the one who helped Uncle Marik escape."
Jojo’s eyes widened, then he grinned mischievously. "Hehe, it’s okay, Sisi. This is our secret now. Daddy won’t know."
Of course, Kael heard everything.
His hearing was sharp, made even keener after accepting the curse of the Dusk Star. And he wasn’t that far away.
He heard Jojo doubt his legitimacy as a father because of his eyes and temper.
There was nothing Kael could do about his crimson eyes, he’d been born with these eyes. They had turned black only because he had suppressed the curse, crippling his own power until he accepted the Dusk Star again.
But he didn’t think his temper was that bad. He was gentle with Jojo, normally. The situation had simply been too complicated, especially with that witch involved.
What surprised him was that Sisi defended him instead of agreeing with the boy.
She told Jojo that Daddy still loved him, despite everything.
’I really don’t understand that woman,’ Kael thought. ’She makes lose all patience with her provocations, then takes my side the very next mont. What is her true intention?’
Then he overheard Sisi admit to Jojo that she was the one who freed the damned tiger.
It wasn’t surprising. Kael had known it couldn’t have been anyone else.
But since he hadn’t killed her for it, there was nothing he could do now, even with her open admission.
’What a dangerous woman,’ he thought. ’I can’t let her go, nor can I let her out of my sight. I fear she’ll do sothing even more reckless.’
Thus, Kael made a decision.
’She has to stay by my side with Jojo. That way, I can be assured everything will remain under control.’
He turned around and yelled, "What are you waiting for?! Co here before I seize you again!"
"Wuu... are you sure that’s Daddy? Maybe he’s a demon wearing Daddy’s face," Jojo muttered.
Sisi chuckled as she walked toward Kael.
"I’m sure that’s still your Daddy."
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