For a second Amira thought that she had broken the glass, but when she stood up to touch it, she noted that it was still intact. The dresses she’d tied together weren’t hanging outside her window anymore. Did Rhay pull them back in or did she do it herself?
Shivering, she struggled to light the only candle that hadn’t broken. The small flame didn’t bring any clarity to her mind. How could she have not remembered that she was awitch?Who did she inherit her powers from? Her father had been a high-level fae.
Her mother was a low-level fae and Amira was sure she wasn’t a witch. But that didn’t mean that someone from her mother’s bloodline couldn’t have been a witch. They might have not even realised. Amira hadn’t unleashed her powers until that unfortunate day when Wryen had provoked her.
And since then, she had repressed a huge part of herself for years to protect herself and now her brother’s actions towards her made more sense. He was trying to protect her from the rest of the fae to make sure she wouldn’t show her powers. He wouldn’t let anyone see them. Was that why he’d removed everyone from her life? Was it the reason he’d banished her mother and rarely let Amira see her? Wryen would assume her witch power came from her mother’s side, the side he wasn’t related to.
Amira knew what kind of life witches led. They were either hunted down by common fae who feared them or under the orders of a royal. She thought her life couldn’t get worse than being married to Karwyn or being controlled by Wryen. Turns out, she was dead wrong. Being a witch was definitely worse.
What if Karwyn found out and forced her into a blood contract? Would she end up like Cirny? Trapped, her mind in shambles, violating the dead on Karwyn’s orders?
Maybe she still stood a chance. If she could convince Rhay to not say a word about her true nature and if her half-brother could help her repress her powers like he had done in the past, she might be able to live a somewhat normal life. She could forget about her curse. It wouldn’t be a happy life, of course—she would still have to marry Karwyn. But a life, at least. Would she have to learn to look away as Rhay had?
She needed to find Rhay. Her heart beat faster as she remembered their fight. The usually friendly fae might not be in the best disposition to do her a favour. But it was her last chance and she needed it to work. If he cared about her at all, he had to agree.
A vision stopped her in her tracks. It was Nalani’s lifeless body, but with the strange girl’s eyes from the bar in Chrysa. The fae was probably already dead too. She couldn’t have saved her. She couldn’t even save herself. But maybe she could at least prevent an even darker fate for herself if she convinced Rhay to lie.
As she was about to leave the room in a hurry, Amira caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. The torn-up dress and her sickly pale face made her look completely out of her mind. If she wanted to push Rhay to help her, she should pay a little more attention to her appearance.
On the floor, she found the tight-fitting dress Rhay had gifted her for her first party with him. Going with her instinct, she put it on and tried to make herself look more alive with the few makeup items Nalani had left behind. Just thinking of the maid made her want to cry, but she anchored her sadness deep inside her. She needed to focus. There would be time for mourning later.
When she tried to open the door, she found it locked. Amira felt tears threatening to take over. Anger bubbled up inside her. With force, she pushed the door handle down again. With a cracking noise, the door sprung open. Shocked, Amira stared at her hand as if it was someone else’s.
Before her mind could spiral into darkness, she made a fist and focused her eyes on the path in front of her. No breakdowns. Not now.
* * *
Thank Caelo, she encountered no guards in her corridor. Yet every time she crossed paths with someone, she feared that they could somehow sense her secret. In her head, her true nature was now clearly visible to everyone else, like a big red light flashing above her head. Yet she reached Rhay’s door without anyone stopping her.
Amira was about to knock when she realised that she had no idea how she was going to convince Rhay to lie to his best friend. What could she offer him in exchange for his silence?
Her thoughts ran wild. Should she lie to him about her feelings? Pretend that she cared about him more than friends did? No, that would be terrible. She didn’t want to play with the truth.You do want him to lie for you,said a little voice in her head.
Wrestling with her thoughts, Amira didn’t immediately notice that someone was standing behind her. It was only when a hand touched her shoulder that she registered the presence.
Amira was surprised to see Varsha in a silver jumpsuit. “Rhay’s already at the party, I think,” the painter said with a smile.
“What party?” Amira replied while trying to remain calm. If Rhay was drinking somewhere, her secret could come out any time. She hadn’t realised that she had been out cold for that long.
Varsha looked puzzled by her question. “Rhay’s usual after-party. I thought you were going there too, given your outfit.”
Amira looked down at her tight sparkly dress. “Oh yes, I’m going.” She had no choice, she had to find him before he revealed her secret.
“Come on, then,” Varsha said while offering Amira her arm. She took it with a bit of hesitation. Perched on high heels, the painter was towering over her, yet in a strange way, her presence was reassuring to Amira.
“I’ve heard that Karwyn has pulled back his guards from your room,” Varsha said.
He had? That was a surprising move from her fiancé. What was he planning? She wanted to reply that he had still locked her in, but decided to stay quiet.
“And I’m guessing things are better with Rhay now too,” Varsha guessed. Amira looked at her, puzzled. “Since you’re going to his party.”
“Things are…”Terrible? Catastrophic?Ruined?“...fine between us,” Amira lied.
Varsha gave her a warm smile. “Good. I told you everything was going to get better.”
They reached the party just as Amira was about to break down and confess. She immediately closed her mouth when she witnessed the party room.
“Rhay went all out, I see.” Varsha laughed.
