Chapter44
Amira
Amira thought that Karwyn was going to crush Mylner’s head with his boot. But instead, he ordered his guards to take him and the fae woman back to the palace.
The sun was already starting to rise when Amira found herself in a carriage with Karwyn and Rhay. The silence was deafening. The injured fae was lying on his back with his head on the king’s knees. The bleeding had stopped, but Rhay was holding his hand to his heart, in a very dramatic gesture. Amira was more than glad that the blade had avoided Rhay’s heart. It could have been much worse.
A rock on the road shook the carriage and Rhay yelped.
Karwyn banged on the wall behind the driver. “You better be more careful,” he roared. His usually smooth forehead now showcased a deep crease.
Rhay opened his eyes with difficulty. “Please, Karwyn, don’t scream.”
“I am sorry, Rhay.” It was probably the first time she had ever heard her fiancé apologise to anyone.
She didn’t know he was capable of such a thing, but as she watched Karwyn softly caress his friend’s forehead, she realised something. Rhay was his soft spot and probably the only person that could stop him from his madness. It was now clear to Amira that Karwyn saw Rhay as more than a friend. The question was, did Rhay reciprocate the feeling?
She carefully examined the pair during the rest of the journey. The more she watched them, the more her heart ached. She longed to have the same closeness with someone that Rhay and Karwyn shared. The injured fae kept trying to lighten the mood by making stupid jokes about his wounds. He even managed to make Karwyn crack a smile.
Rhay painfully turned his head to face Amira. “Am I that unfunny? Don’t you have enough pity to laugh at the terrible jokes of an injured man?”
She extended her hand but immediately put it back on her knee when Karwyn’s eyes burned into her flesh. “I’m sorry. I’m still in shock.” She dared to look at Karwyn when she spoke.
He scoffed at her comment. “Like you should be the one in shock,” he sneered.
Furrowing his eyebrows, Rhay tried to rise on his elbows but failed. “Amira was assaulted tonight. That was the reason for the duel. I had to defend her.”
Karwyn gave her a death stare. “Then you are the one to blame for Rhay’s injury.”
“Actually, I think the other guy is to blame for that,” Amira replied, holding Karwyn’s stare.
“Well, everyone who is responsible, directly or indirectly, for Rhay’s injury will be punished.” His ice-cold voice sent a shiver down her spine.
Rhay averted his tired eyes, apparently unable to defend Amira any longer. Just as she was going to talk back, the carriage stopped and a couple of guards opened the door to take Rhay away.
Karwyn got out of the carriage and turned to Amira. “Go to your room and stay there. We do not need Rhay to go on another rescue mission.”
“I can’t check on him?” she asked even though she knew the answer.
“Are you a healer?” Karwyn snapped back.
“You know I’m not.”
“Yes, right, you areuseless.I do not see why Rhay would need you, then. I told you to stay away from him. I am at the end of my patience.” Karwyn slammed the carriage’s door in her face.
On her way to her room, Amira couldn’t hold back her tears. And once she opened the door to her bedroom, the cries only intensified. Tears hurtled down her red cheeks, staining Rhay’s jacket. She hadn’t even noticed that she was still wearing it. Thinking she could use it as an excuse, Amira took off the jacket and went to open the door again.
Her feet crossed the threshold, but a gust of wind pushed her back inside. She tried again, but an invisible wall prevented her from leaving her bedroom. At the end of the hallway, she noticed Karwyn’s right hand raised in front of him.
Maintaining his control, he walked towards Amira. With a single motion, he pushed her further into her room.
“You may have learnt to block my mind power, but there is nothing you can do against air magic,” Karwyn said.
She wanted to slam her door in Karwyn’s face, much like he had done earlier, but his magic air kept her body completely still. It was infuriating.
“Have I not made myself clear?” Karwyn’s lips twisted into a cruel smile. “Should we find another terrace for round two?”
“I wanted to give Rhay his jacket back,” Amira stuttered. Karwyn’s eyes noticed the shiny apparel in Amira’s hand. The sight troubled him enough for his power to stop working. Free from the wind, Amira fell to the ground.
