"I have a duty," Kai looked down at you. Feeling the dagger press into his throat, but he didn't move. "And you have to come back to Ilya to pay for your crimes."

So, why did he hesitate? He was more than capable of bringing you back to Kitt. You were his duty and he would not fail. But in that duty, he needed the courage to do it. Which he still didn't have after letting you run so long ago.

Kai swallowed, leaning closer much to his skin's complaint. Feeling the hot blood beginning to drip down his throat. "And yet... I do not want to pretend with you. I do not want to give you up. I want to be selfish and keep you here, make sure you don't run from me. Because I don't want to hurt you." He paused, studying your eyes. Before quietly murmuring, "You are my undoing."

His hand lifts, pushing the dagger away from his throat. If you wanted to kill him, you already would have. And he might've let you. "For this second, we pretend. I'm just Kai, no fancy titles. And you are mine. We don't hate each other. We just... exist." Kai's lips hovered over yours, waiting. Needing your response, needing your taste. He knew from the first trial that he saw you that he was a dead man.