“So you’re saying you were never curious about me?”
“Yes.” A hurt look crossed her face. Eyden seemed to sense the implication she had conjured up. “No. No, that’s not what I meant.”
It didn’t matter anyway if he wanted to get to know her. All that mattered was if she could trust him to actually fuckingtry.To see that she needed the cure as soon as possible and tocare.“How do I know anything you tell me is the truth, Eyden? How do I know you’re not wasting my time, thinking I’ll give up my secret sooner or later?”
“By Caelo, can we stop this pointless argument and move on?” His tone was sharp, digging into her soul.
Lora couldn’t let it go. Not with everything on the line. Anger and desperation was building up in her. “No, we can’t. I don’t bloody care if you think it’s pointless. I need that cure, Eyden. I can’t risk wasting my time, assuming you’re actually trying your best.”
Eyden searched her gaze. “Ididtry. This was me trying. You’re worrying for nothing.”
Nothing.Nothing.That’s what the cure was to him, wasn’t it? Nothing of importance. Just another trade that could take its time. “Right, how silly of me to worry. Such an unfortunate, human thing to do,” Lora replied, venom in her voice.
“Has worrying done you any good ever?” His voice turned toxic in her ears. “It won’t help you get that cure any faster either.”
“Fuck you, Eyden.”
His face relaxed as if he considered he might have gone too far. “Lora—”
Eyden’s words were cut off as a force of air came out of nowhere, roughly throwing him to the ground some distance away. The wind went past her. Lora felt it lift her hair, partly obscuring her vision. Turning her head, she noticed two dark figures had appeared in the alley, coming into view in the moonlight. She could make out their menacing stares in the low light and her heart threatened to give out.
She could kick herself. They had been so lost in their argument, they hadn’t kept their guard up. And worst of all, she’d basically announced that she was human. Her heart beat faster as her anger quickly washed away, replaced by panic once again.
Lora turned on her heel and tried to run to Eyden, but one of the fae ran forward and grabbed her arm faster than she expected. He drew her back harshly. She yelped in pain and it seemed to evoke Eyden’s attention, who was still on the ground.
A knife left his hand so quickly, Lora barely caught the flash of silver and red. But instead of hitting its target, a gust of wind rerouted the knife’s path, returning it to Eyden. It hit his chest and Lora saw red.
Blood was pouring from Eyden’s wound, but somehow, he got up and immediately tried to remove the knife. The fae, who must have air magic, forced Eyden’s arms to his sides with another storm of air, stopping his movement, leaving the knife firmly in place.
Seeing Eyden’s pained face, Lora kicked the fae holding her in a sensitive spot, unleashing her newfound anger. The fae yelled and dropped her arm but before she could take a step, he grabbed a fistful of hair and threw her against the wall. Her head hit stone and she immediately slumped to the ground.
Ignoring the pain as best as she could, Lora forced her eyes to remain open as she tried to look in Eyden’s direction. But Lora couldn’t make out anything, as if a heavy veil was draped over her face.
Her head felt funny. She distantly realised it was another good reason to panic, but all her thoughts turned to mush.
“Careful, now. We don’t want her dead,” a menacing voice said.
It was the last thing she heard before her vision turned completely black, drowning her in darkness.
Chapter30
Amira
Wryen was lounging on Amira’s bed, drink in hand, when she returned from dinner after catching up with Tarnan. As she closed the door behind her, he raised his glass.
“To the sky, sister! We must celebrate tonight.” He stared at her, waiting for her to take the bait.
Amira’s frozen lips were unable to utter the question her half-brother was dying for her to ask. Growing more impatient, he downed his drink and rose from the bed.
He took her hand. “Let’s dance. I haven’t seen you dance in a long time.” Wryen grabbed her by the waist and forced her to move.
Completely baffled by the situation, Amira followed his lead. They swayed in silence for a bit. Amira’s distracted mind made her lose the rhythm a few times but Wryen didn’t say anything. She tried to keep a clear head to be ready for when he would eventually attack. Like a predator trying to lure its prey under a false sense of safety, he made her twirl a few times, her long dress flaring out in a perfect circle.
The music seemed to come to an end in his head and he tilted her, holding her back with one hand. Looking deep into his eyes, she saw the fiery insanity that he kept hidden from everyone but her. He smiled slowly, his lips curling. And then he spat in her face and dropped her.
The fall lasted only a second but her heart dropped in her chest. Wryen turned his back to her. “I didn’t think you were capable of failing at the only thing you’re supposed to do, seduce a man.” He stroked her silky bed sheets with one hand. “Actually, no, you’re perfectly capable of seducing a man. Your stupid little brain just can’t comprehend simple instructions.”
He turned to her. An invisible hand grabbed her throat and squeezed so hard that she couldn’t breathe. Wryen’s face was completely distorted by disgust and hate. He lowered himself to her level and grabbed her hair to make her stand up. The sharp pain made her close her eyes. Tears were trying to escape but she forced them back.
