This time, she was able to obey the command. She could feel Rhay’s concern before even looking at him. “I guess I failed.”
Relief appeared on Rhay’s face. He even gave her a half-smile. “Not exactly. You succeeded at first. But you let your counter emotion take over.”
“It’s hopeless, isn’t it?”I’m hopeless.
“No, I don’t think so. We just have to take it easy for now. You can start by practicing every day. Each time you start to feel a strong emotion, try to balance it out. Like you’re disinterested in your own emotions. As for thoughts, try to imagine that they are in a jar whose glass has been darkened. Only you can see them. If you focus, you can sense when Karwyn tries to get inside your head. Then, plunge your thoughts into darkness.”
Once again, he pressed her hands and she felt her anxiety vanish. To try out Rhay’s advice, she fought back a bit. Rhay’s lips stretched into a proud smile. “I see you’re learning fast after all. Come on, let’s get a drink to celebrate.”
An ice-cold voice interrupted them. “To celebrate what, precisely?” Rhay looked guilty as he faced Karwyn. But the king wasn’t focused on his friend. Instead, he was angrily staring at Amira, who quickly let go of Rhay’s hands.
“I cannot believe you had the nerve to lie to my face,” Karwyn hissed. Even if she wasn’t an empath, Amira could sense Karwyn’s overwhelming rage. He grabbed her by the arm. “Come with me.”
“Karwyn, it’s not what you think,” Rhay tried to intervene.
“Do not tell me what to think.” Karwyn whirled around to stare at his friend. Betrayal laced his voice with ice, making Rhay lower his head.
Karwyn dragged Amira away from the bar. She didn’t want to cause a scene, it always made things worse. She’d had time to learn that with her brother. Yet she couldn’t help but whimper at Karwyn’s strong grip on her wrist.
He opened the door to the terrace and pushed her outside. In a threatening motion, he marched towards her, forcing her to come closer and closer to the ledge.
“How dare you pretend that you did not learn how to block my powers. Pretend that you do not care for Rhay,” Karwyn said, piercing her with his furious gaze.
Amira felt the railing pressing on her back. “I didn’t lie. Rhay didn’t teach me how to block his powers until tonight. I didn’t know how to do it before. I’m completely untrained. And nothingeverhappened with Rhay.”
“Lies!” Karwyn screamed, inches from Amira’s face. “You know I could crush you in an instant.”
Fear rushed through her, but then another feeling took over. All these threats, Amira had already heard them a thousand times from Wryen. She had accepted them, letting her half-brother dash out his threats knowing he’d act on them. But unlike Wryen, Karwyn was all talk, nothing more.
“Reading minds is hardly lethal,” she said, surprised by her own strength. “And I’ve never even seen you use your air powers. It’s almost like you’re not that powerful after all.”
She gasped for air as Karwyn’s hand squeezed her throat. “I do not like what you are trying to imply, dear fiancée,” he said in a derogatory tone. Her breathing became erratic. Karwyn’s fingers dug deeper into her flesh. The sounds of the nearby party were starting to fade.
“Do not ever try to deny my superiority over you. I can crush you whenever I want. To me, you arenothing.Your only use is to provide an heir to Turosian. Do not challenge me, or I will have toforceyou to behave.”
Amira’s head was buzzing from the lack of air. With the last of her strength, she tried to use her arms to push Karwyn away, but he just laughed at her pathetic attempt.
He leaned in, his breath tickling her ear. “Do you understand your place now?”
With tears in her eyes, she tried to articulate, “Yes. Please, let me go.”
“Louder,” he asked with an insane look in his eyes. Instead of mercy, he squeezed her throat even harder. Her head was pulsating and darkness appeared at the corner of her eyes.
“Please,Karwyn. I’m sorry,” she screamed hoarsely. She could feel the cold night air brushing past her.
He let go of her and she had to grab onto the railing to not fall over it. She tried to catch her breath as Karwyn towered over her. “Pathetic little doll, do not make me ask for another toy.”
He left her on the empty terrace. Amira stood up to try and leave. Her feet would take her to her room. She trusted them. But they suddenly stopped. Amira tried to take another step but they wouldn’t move, completely stuck to the floor. She felt herself slowly sinking; her body felt as if it was absorbed by the stone floor. Gasping for air, she desperately tried to put her body in motion. One little move, just one little move, something to prove that she was stillreal.
Her body was so heavy, heavier than it had ever been. She had to battle against her own self to even breathe. A thought crossed her mind, how easy it would be to just give up. To let herself be swallowed completely by the palace. To just fuse with the stones. Amira closed her eyes and let herself drown.
As she was about to lose herself completely, a hand brushed against her skin, bringing her back to reality.
Amira opened her eyes and was met with Rhay’s worried face. Her lips trembled as she spoke. “Please, take me out of here.”
Chapter42
Amira
