Amira hadn’t forgotten about the two other pills she had hidden in her bedroom. The one Saydren had tried to force her to take and the one the dealer had gifted her in the corridors only a few days ago. They were her beacons of hope now. Hope of surviving another day.
At the bottom of the stairs, she stumbled over her own feet and had to use the wall to steady herself, hitting her hand in the process. But the drug was too potent for Amira to feel any pain.
A strange rush of joy filled her heart. For once, she felt in control of her emotions. It was as if she could see the mechanics inside of her that made her feel, that made herhurt.
In her heart, she knew that as long as she kept taking the pills, she would not feel pain or fear ever again.
Chapter63
Lora
Lora felt as if forever and no time at all had passed. There was no window or clock in her cell to tell her the time. She had written the note soon after Karwyn had left. Keeping it short, she gave Marcel only as much information as necessary. Layken had taken the note, and since then she had been alone with her tumbling thoughts.
Lora had spent most of her sleepless night rehearsing what she would tell her family when the time came. How could she explain why she hadn’t brought the cure herself? She was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Lora stood up fast, willing her tired legs to wake up. She faintly felt the stab wound on her stomach straining as she moved.
Karwyn strode in, a rolled-up paper in hand. The sight made her stomach turn. He was planning on having her sign right away. He wasn’t wasting any time.
“It is done,” he said as he stopped in front of the bars. His free hand moved to his pocket and he pulled out two familiar objects. Her phone and the WiFi cube. “You get five minutes.”
Lora grabbed the devices through the bars before he could change his mind. The familiar weight in her hand was a much-needed relief. She looked up at Karwyn. “Some privacy?”
“Are we forgetting I make the rules here? Make your call before I change my mind.”
With a withering stare, Lora stepped next to the wall. She didn’t know if she would ever get the chance to see her family again. This could very well be her last opportunity. She craved to see their faces one last time, so she decided to start a video call, as risky as it was.
Making sure the bars wouldn’t be in the picture, Lora held her phone in front of her as she slipped the cube into her jacket pocket. She needed to make sure her family wouldn’t suspect her current dire situation. She tried to ignore Karwyn’s presence as she smoothed down her hair and buttoned her jacket all the way, covering the spot where her necklace usually sat. With shaking hands, she pressed call.
She could see herself on the video screen. The exhaustion was etched in her face. Frustrated, Lora forced a smile on her face before her mum accepted the video call.
“Lora,” her mother exclaimed through the screen. Seeing her mum’s face after the last couple of weeks almost brought tears to her eyes that she quickly shut down.
“Hi, Mum,” Lora said, the fake smile still plastered on her face.
Her mum rattled off too many things at once and before she could decipher anything, there was commotion in the background and then her brother and father appeared on screen, squeezing into the frame.
“Oh, my God, Lora, you did it,” her brother almost shouted at the same time as her father said, “This stuff is miraculous, honey.” Her smile became real as she beheld her family, talking over each other, asking her multiple questions at once.
“Slow down, everyone. First, please tell me you’re fine, Mum,” Lora said as an attempt to silence the overwhelming chatter.
Her mother squeezed herself to the front of the screen. “I am, honey. The cure you found worked. Within an hour, all my symptoms were gone. I was scared something happened to you when you didn’t come back. You look tired. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I just had a busy few days getting the cure ready. More will come soon. Who took the second one?”
“I gave it to Marcel. He wouldn’t take it at first, he’s a stubborn one, but he needed it sooner rather than later.” Her father nodded in the background.
“That’s what I thought. I’m glad he’s okay. Dad, you’ll get a cure soon too, I promise. It’s taking some time—”
“When are you coming home?” Oscar interrupted, peeking over her mum’s shoulder.
This was the feared question she had no good answer for. Lora’s gaze drifted up, finding Karwyn. The king. Her cousin in nothing more than blood. He was still standing in the same spot, regarding her with bored interest. How he could be both at the same time was beyond her. Meeting her gaze, he tapped his wrist as his blonde eyebrows drew up.
Her eyes travelled back to the video chat. “I’m not sure yet. I have to help make more of the cure.”
“So a few more days?” Oscar asked.
“I…I’ve met some people. People who helped me and who I promised to help in return.”
“People? You meanfae?” her mother asked, her forehead wrinkling.
