The youngest burst into tears as Karwyn stood up. “Your father and your aunt made their choice when they decided to attack members ofmycourt. They did not consider you then. It is too late now. The king’s word is law, remember that as you grow older if you wish to avoid the same fate as your father.”
Amira saw the light leaving the two boys’ eyes. The youngest started crying uncontrollably. His older brother gave Karwyn a hateful look before taking his sibling’s hand, pulling him out of the room.
Tears invaded Amira’s eyes. She turned to Karwyn, wanting to scream her hatred at him, but he started for the door, turning his back to her. Nouis and the other members of the court trailed behind him.
Amira and Rhay looked at each other and she was relieved to see that her friend was also upset by the events of the trial.
Before she could say anything, Karwyn’s commanding voice halted her. “Princess Amira, please return to your room before I am forced to have you escorted,” he said.
Amira’s furious eyes met Karwyn’s. The king stood by the door, guards on either side, ready to intervene. With one last look at Rhay, she got up and moved to the door.
She intended to walk right past the king but something made her stop next to him. “You know you’re taking this too far,” she said, searching his eyes.
Karwyn leaned closer. “You have not seen how far I am willing to go, Amira. Pray you do not find out the hard way.” His voice turned dead quiet. “Again.”
* * *
Amira had been mulling over the sentencing for hours now. Nalani had stayed with her, trying to distract her with a card game, when a knock on the door stopped their conversation.
Nalani got up from the chair, smoothed her uniform, and opened the door.
Rhay peeked his head inside, his gaze landing on Amira before returning to Nalani. “May I talk to the princess? Alone?”
Amira stood up to stand beside her maid.
“I don’t think that is wise,” Nalani said, turning to Amira. “His Majesty has ordered me to keep you company and not let anyone else in.”
“Please, Nalani,” Amira pleaded, “it will only take a few minutes. We haven’t had a chance to talk after the fight.”
Nalani must have seen the urgency in Amira’s eyes because she nodded slowly, stepping aside to let Rhay into the room. She stepped into the hallway and closed the door.
“What can we do?” Amira whispered, dragging Rhay further into the room, away from the door.
“I don’t know.” Even in his hushed tone, she could hear his distress.
She grabbed his uninjured hand. “Can you convince Karwyn to change his mind?”
Rhay avoided looking at her when he replied. “Karwyn is quite…stubborn. I’ve tried in the past to persuade him to be more lenient. It has never worked, not even once.”
Amira’s face dropped. She’d had the tiniest hope that Rhay’s friendship with Karwyn would prove useful.
“I can always try,” Rhay said with doubt in his voice.
Amira put her head in her hands as she tried to trigger ideas to save Sydna and Mylner. There was one lurking in her mind. She feared the consequences of acting on it, but she was out of options.
“We should help them escape.” The words barely left her lips, but to Amira it sounded as if she had shouted them.
Clearly shocked, Rhay grabbed her shoulders. “Are you out of your mind, Amira? We could get in serious trouble.Youcould get in serious trouble.”
Amira knew that Karwyn would never hurt Rhay, his love for him was too deep. On the other hand, she would face a darker fate. But her whole life seemed terrible, doomed, so if risking it meant saving the life of two fae and protecting two innocent children, it was a risk she was willing to take. She couldn’t live with herself knowing she might have been able to save them.
Pacing in her room, she explained her idea to Rhay, “You showed me the tunnels last night. We could use them to take Sydna and Mylner out of the palace. Then they will have to get the children and fend for themselves. We could give them some silver to help them start over. I’m sure you have more than enough stashed away.”
Amira’s idea seemed to make its way to Rhay’s brain, yet he remained defiant. “What if they catch us? What if they link the silver back to me? And what about the guard down in the prison cell? How are you suggesting we deal with him?”
She stopped pacing around and turned to her friend. “Fine, I’ll take care of the silver. We’ll be careful. We won’t get caught.” Her voice was strong, unwavering. She almost convinced herself of her confidence. “How strong are your powers?”
“Very strong,” Rhay boasted.
