Wryen drew his face close to hers. “This marriage will only happen on two conditions: Karwyn being selected for the contest and him still wanting to marry you. There are other princesses in Liraen he could select. If he doesn’t marryyou,I’ll be very disappointed. And you know what happens when I’m not satisfied, don’t you?” Amira nodded while avoiding his stormy lilac eyes. “So instead of trying to seduce a lowlife like Rhay, I want you to do whatever it takes to make Karwyn fall in love with you. You wouldn’t want to bring further shame to our family by being rejected, would you?”
She nodded again, her head buzzing with pain. So Karwyn had talked with her brother, after all. Or maybe Wryen had informants of his own, secretly following Amira around.
He finally let go of her hair and started pacing around the room. “You’d be wise to remember that you’re not the only one I can hurt. I haven’t had a good opportunity to let my fire shine in quite some time. Far too few executions. Have you heard from your mother recently, by chance?”
The thinly veiled threat made her want to beg on her knees and rip his throat out, but she knew she was only capable of the first one.
“Please,” she said with a hoarse voice. Images of flames clawing at skin quickly flashed through her mind before she could banish them.
A twisted smile appeared on Wryen’s lips. Once again, he had aimed right where it hurt.
“I may be persuaded to let her be if I’m under the impression Karwyn is smitten by you. I’ve heard he’s gone to Rhay’s after-party.” He moved closer to whisper in her ear, “A smart girl would follow him there.”
When Amira silently nodded, he finally left.
The minute he closed the door, Amira ripped out a strand of hair. Refraining from screaming, she undressed and threw away her dress. Digging her fingernails into her arms, she wondered what it would feel like if she tore the skin to her bones. She just wanted out, out of Wryen’s control, out of her life.
Amira closed her eyes, letting a lonely tear drop from her cheek. And then she chose an outfit.
* * *
Restricting her movements, the dress lifted up as she climbed the stairs leading to Rhay’s party. In the distance, she heard the murmurs of the seductive music. If she had been in a different mood, she would have been tempted to let her body follow the rhythm. Instead, her mind was ice cold and focused on her impossible task.
Bracing herself, Amira entered the room. She arrived later than last time and the guests were already intertwined with each other. Her instinct told her to run away, but the grip of her brother on her mind wouldn’t let her.
She tried to find Karwyn in the depraved crowd. The more she looked, the more she was convinced that Karwyn wasn’t there. The party was overwhelming to her every sense and it was all about losing control, something Karwyn never seemed inclined to do. Loud music, heavy drinking, bodies pressed against bodies, the sound of dozens of laughs in cacophony—it was all too much for Karwyn. And for someone like her, she thought.
But to Amira’s surprise, her eyes fell on Karwyn coming out of one of the secret alcoves with Rhay. And the most surprising part was his joyful attitude.Smiling.Amira would have never guessed that the King of Turosian was capable of such a trivial thing.
As she approached them, another woman took her spot. A beautiful woman with striking golden eyes and short blonde hair whose presence Karwyn seemed to tolerate, if not enjoy. The blonde woman moved with the confidence of a powerful fae but it was the first time that Amira had seen her. She was sure that she would have remembered her if she had been at the court. Maybe she was from another kingdom? Her light hair could indicate an Obliveryn origin. But the golden eyes were surprising. They looked around, filled with secret intentions. Was she one of Karwyn’s rumoured spies or the reason her fiancé didn’t seem to care for Amira’s affection?
Shaking her head, she came back to her senses when she realised that Karwyn was missing. “By Caelo,” she hissed, turning multiple heads in her direction. But everyone quickly lost interest and went back to their respective lovers.
Rhay had disappeared too and the young woman strolled around the party with a drink in hand, smiling at the busy couples. Intrigued by her, Amira decided to follow the fae, trying to be discreet. To blend in, she grabbed a glass of iridos from a silver platter.
Even if she seemed to know everyone there, the woman didn’t engage with anyone. Instead, she looked like she was taking mental notes of everything that was happening. All the affinities that were created, all the shyly exchanged whispers, all the embarrassments.
Amira realised she had downed her drink. A floating sensation took over her mind.Focus,she admonished herself.
Suddenly, the fae disappeared into one of the alcoves. Amira hesitated for a couple seconds before deciding to follow her. Maybe she knew where Karwyn had gone?
When Amira entered the room, the woman turned to her and handed her another glass of iridos. “My, my, I seem to have caught your eye. Lucky me,” she said with a deep and sensual voice. Amira blushed. Completely caught off guard, she accepted the drink and let the iridos coat her tongue.
“Gathering courage to declare your feelings?” the fae joked before teasingly playing with a strand of Amira’s hair.
Amira’s face was burning. But she mustered her last strength to reply. “I think you already have enough attention from someone much more powerful.”
The woman laughed and let go of Amira’s hair. She sat on the velvety couch pressed against the back of the alcove. “You don’t have to be jealous, princess. My interest in your fiancé is strictly professional.”
“What do you mean?”
The woman pressed a finger against her painted lips. “I’m afraid that’s something you’ll have to find out later. But I’m sure we can find other things to talk about if you don’t miss your fiancé too much.” She laid an inviting hand on the couch and bit her lip.
Amira wasn’t sure if she should try to get something out of the woman. At least learn of her connection to Karwyn. She caught the stranger staring at her, eyes travelling up and down her body. Wryen’s orders lingered in her thoughts.
Amira fumbled with her words as she tried to back out. “I’m sorry, I have to go.”
She bolted out of the alcove, the final words of the woman ringing in her ears, “Leaving so soon? How sad, we were just starting the real fun.”
