In the games, she had seemed larger than life—indestructible—but it was clear the acid had changed her, understandably so.
Matty reached up, tapping her hand. “Amelia.” The name was sharp.
She jumped, facing me and offering a lop-sided smile, half her face still hidden underneath bandages. The long sleeves she wore spilling well past her fingertips as she offered me a half-bow in greeting.
“I saw you tried to tell Levi to run. I wanted to thank you. I know there wasn’t much else you could do to help, but it means a lot.” My words were sincere. I had seen her attempt to warn Levi. Had immediately known it was too late.
But that didn’t change the fact that she cared.
Amelia inclined her head. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but shut it again in frustration. When she met my eyes, her expression was sad, unspeakably so.
It was clear she carried an insurmountable amount of pain. And I could understand why. Losing her voice, half her face, being injured so grievously to only then escape?
It was infuriating.
If only they could have come before the acid game.
If only…
“Look, Raven, I am actually here this time on a bit less fun business.” Matty pulled an item from his thick wool coat.
It was a black bag, just about the size of a book.
“What is it?” Oleks was standing behind me now, his hands landing on my shoulders.
“Drago thought you would prefer he sent me to collect it. But…” Matty appeared sheepish, his entire face-tinged pink as he unclasped the bag, revealing a syringe.
I flinched at the sight, my eyes flicking up to Oleks.
“He wants your blood,” Oleks addressed me without taking his eyes off Matty.
Matty coughed in discomfort. “He does. I apologize, Raven. I tried to turn him down, but he said he would just come here himself if I didn’t.”
“He’s going to send you here every day until the wedding,” Oleks continued, his hands squeezing me tightly. Bending down he whispered in my ear. “I can kill him, but I fear it will cause more harm than good.”
I wasn’t sure if Oleks meant Matty or Drago, but I didn’t especially want to find out. Instead I laid my arm out for him, pulling back my sleeve to the elbow.
“Take it. Is he right, will it be every day?”
Amelia nodded on Matty’s behalf as the latter made quick work of readying my arm.
He met my eyes as he poised the syringe above it.
“Go ahead.”
He did so, the prick a slight annoyance as he completed the task.
“Why is he taking my blood?” I asked.
Matty packed the syringe away, now filled with crimson, but he didn’t answer me. Amelia opened her mouth but shut it in frustration again.
“I will explain,” Oleks murmured, before straightening back up. “I think it’s time you both left. Raven needs to get rest, as her wedding will be in a few day’s time.”
Matty’s face twitched at the words, but I wasn’t surewhatI was witnessing.
Annoyance?
Frustration?
