Yet this time, Rhay wanted to know. After all the things Amira had said, heneededto know, to show that he was capable of facing the truth for once in his life.
“Tell me, Karwyn,” he said with conviction while fearing the worst.
Karwyn opened his mouth and then closed it immediately. Rhay could see that under his bubbling anger, his friend was hurt by his doubts. Rhay wondered if Nalani was really dead and if so, would his friend tell him the truth? They stayed in a silent staring contest for a few seconds.
Karwyn broke their eye contact. “I do not have time for your mistrust, Rhay. Some of us actually have things to do other than drink themselves to sleep. Time is ticking for the ones in charge.” His shoulder brushed against Rhay’s as he made his way towards the entrance.
“Who’s the one turning away now?” Rhay shouted. His own hypocrisy jumped at him, but he managed to keep a straight face when Karwyn turned back around.
He fished something out of his pocket. “You see this?” Karwyn said as he showed him the vial in his hand. “It is a cure for the human virus. I made Saydren and Cirny work day and night on it. I am going to have an emissary distribute it to the human government. Guess I am not so evil after all, am I?”
Rhay’s mouth fell open from the shock of such an uncharacteristic revelation.
“You look like a dying fish, Rhay.” Karwyn was clearly enjoying his friend’s surprise.
“It’s just…you never…I thought you had completely forgotten about the virus on Earth,” Rhay replied.
“Well, if you actually cared to be my advisor, you would know I prefer to do my good deeds in secret.”
Rhay was completely puzzled by the turn of events. “I guess I don’t know everything about you.” He didn’t like the rift he had created by throwing buried doubts at his friend. Maybe the things he thought he remembered about Karwyn’s darkness weren’t all true. Was his imagination playing tricks on him?
Rhay opened his arms and stepped forward. Karwyn stared at him for a beat too long, making the gesture awkward. Still, the two men shared a friendly embrace, Rhay showing more enthusiasm than Karwyn. Under the padding of Karwyn’s jacket, Rhay could sense his friend’s frail frame. Few fae knew what Karwyn actually looked like without his padded and carefully selected clothes. Rhay had always felt that knowing this secret had strengthened his connection with his friend.
He squeezed his friend tighter to avoid the terrible guilt that was slowly overwhelming him. He’d been wrong to let doubt cloud his judgment. Nalani was probably just visiting her sisters.
“Careful now,” Karwyn said. “You do know you are stronger than me.”
Rhay knew that Karwyn would have never admitted such a thing in public. He loosened his grip and moved away from the king. “Sorry.”
Karwyn patted his friend’s shoulder. “Let us forget all about this. You are good at that after all.” Rhay thought Karwyn might have meant that as a compliment, but it didn’t feel like one. “I will see you at your party tomorrow.”
“Wait,” Rhay said, grabbing Karwyn’s arm. His best friend flinched at the touch. “Can I request something, but you promise to not get mad?”
Karwyn nodded.
“I think you should stop guarding Amira’s room.”
Karwyn furrowed his brows, obviously annoyed at the mention of his fiancée.
“It’s unnecessary and it sends the wrong message to the foreign advisors.”
Karwyn sighed. “The guards have more crucial tasks anyway. I will ask her brother to keep an eye on her. I am sure she will be delighted.” Karwyn didn’t wait for a reply before he went outside while Rhay remained rooted in place.
The guilt was starting to eat him up. He sighed, wishing he could return to the easy and carefree life he had been leading up until Amira’s arrival.
If he wanted to preserve his friendship with Karwyn, and Amira’s life, he needed to make sure that Karwyn would never find out about Amira’s powers.
“Great, super easy,” he berated himself.
He had apparently been the trigger to the princess’s outburst. His kiss had led her to expose her powers, so it was obvious to him that they needed to stop seeing each other. For Amira’s sake and Karwyn’s.
That decided it. He would cut off all contact with Amira. And if she tried to reach out, he would have to push her away by any means necessary.
Chapter62
Amira
Amira’s eyes fluttered, trying to adjust to the darkness surrounding her. Everything was so quiet and cold. She moved her hands a bit to try to regain the feeling in them. Pain had taken over her whole body. Flashes of memories were coming back to her, but it was only when she truly opened her eyes that she realised the mess she had created. The room was turned inside out, dresses scattered on the floor, candles broken on her desk. The bed sheets were torn in half and the windows were wide open.
