“It’ll teach him a much-needed lesson,” Elyssa said, grinning. Somehow, Lora found herself smiling as well. “It’s settled, then.” She pivoted and opened her closet, pulling out a bow and arrows. “This works better for stakeouts. And sadly, most of my throwing stars are lost in Rubien. RIP.”
Lora took in her weapons. “A truly tragic loss.”
“It’s pretty damn hard getting your hands on almandine weapons. So in that regard, it is.” Elyssa reached for a dark cloak, wrapping it around her, hood up. It reminded Lora of her first day in Liraen when she’d exited the market completely draped in black. Elyssa’s cloak was similar, but much more worn out judging by the rips in the fabric. “I don’t know how Eyden has managed to get as much as he did. No one really knows where almandine is being grown, but somehow small amounts find themselves at the black market, much to my joy. Best birthday present ever.” Elyssa’s teeth flashed as she gave her a vicious smile.
Weapons for birthday gifts. A strange concept, but so fitting when it came to Elyssa.
Lora stored the silver in her pocket, buttoning it up before she moved to the door.
Elyssa followed her lead, stepping forward.
Just as Lora was about to lift the flap, Elyssa’s voice drew her attention back to her. “Before we go, I need to ask. Leaving Eyden behind, is it really to keep him safe, or are you punishing him?”
“Why would I punish him?” She hadn’t expected the question and wasn’t sure what prompted it.
“He did lie, didn’t he? You can’t be thrilled he never told you about his power,” Elyssa reasoned.
Could there be another reason hidden behind her motive? A nagging feeling was clawing at her heart. Was this a selfless act or revenge? A mix of both? She wondered how Elyssa could read her better than she could read herself.
“I’m not sure,” Lora admitted, conflicting thoughts racing in her mind. “I just know I need to do this by myself.”
Elyssa’s gaze softened. “I’m the first person to tell you that Eyden can be a tight-lipped fool, but he has his reasons. He always does. Sometimes they’re more justifiable than others. But it’s never to hurt the people he cares about. If someone saw his power and told even one guard, he’d be hunted. That’s why he never drifts if anyone’s even looking in his direction unless he absolutely has to. If anyone saw, they can’t be left alive to tell the tale.”
Lora sucked in a breath. “What if someone survived?” Farren had said they couldn’t be sure who lived on to haunt them.
“Let’s hope they all get crispy in hell. But even if they survived, I have a feeling they’d be hunting us down to kill us, not to rat us out to the guards.”
“They do seem like the vengeful type.”
“Aren’t they all.” She said it like a fact, not a question.
“The fae?” Lora asked. She had definitely met more than one fae who had murder written all over them. Her gaze connected with Elyssa’s and Lora thought she caught a hint of sadness in those fierce hazel eyes.
“People.Everyone,” Elyssa said before stepping past Lora and disappearing through the door.
Chapter56
Amira
The execution was still playing through Amira’s head two days later. On a loop, one scream after another echoed through her, each more desperate than the last. Day and night, a guard was standing in front of her door, preventing her from escaping her golden cage. She had spent her time stuck in her room trying to come up with ideas on how to talk with the royal advisors of the other kingdoms. She wasn’t convinced the advisors of the Turosian court would go against Karwyn.
Asking Rhay was impossible; he had made his choice. She hadn’t heard from him since their failed attempt at liberating the prisoners. Of course, she wasn’t expecting him to waltz into her guarded room, yet she couldn’t help the sour taste in her mouth when she thought back on the last time she had seen him, refusing to fight. Choosing to stand by once again.
Sending a letter was also out of the question; no one would allow her to contact the advisors. Maybe if Nalani hadn’t left, she could have smuggled Amira’s letter out of the palace. But the maid hadn’t returned.
Her door opened and a guard walked in, carrying a tray with some food. Not just any guard, Amira noted.
“It’syou,” she said, the accusation in her voice clearly audible. Layken dropped the tray on her desk and turned back towards her door. “You have nothing to say now? Seems to me you had a lot to say a few days ago.”
If it hadn’t been for Layken, they could have escaped. Her plan could have worked. It was supposed to have worked.
“Seems to me,princess,I was the one who got knocked out that day, so you really shouldn’t be accusing me of anything.” Layken met her eyes and there was something in his gaze that made her feel unsettled.
Before she could swing another verbal attack at him, he stepped outside her room. It was just as well. She wanted to blame him but really, she only had herself to blame.
* * *
A few hours later, Amira’s bedroom door swung open just as she considered finally taking a bite of the food. Annoyed at another reminder of her mistake, she turned around expecting Layken. Instead, her brother stood in the doorway. She’d feared his return, dreading what cruel punishments he had come up with.
