“Karwyn has always been very private about his feelings. I’ve known him for over twenty years and I’ve never seen anyone pierce his heart. It will take time,” declared Rhay.
“Can I ask you something?” Amira started. Rhay gave her an encouraging nod. “Can you teach me how to block Karwyn’s powers?”
Rhay froze. She could read his internal struggle on his beautiful face. “I could, but I don’t think it’d be a smart move.” He stopped for a second as a thought seemed to cross his mind. “Would be fun to piss off Karwyn, though. I like to keep him on his toes.”
Amira thought back on Karwyn piercing through the veil of her mind, seemingly awakening something she wanted to forget. “Please, don’t you think I’m entitled to some privacy?” It was her only shot at levelling the playing field with Karwyn. She shuddered, imagining a future in which even her most private thoughts were laid bare.
“I’m not sure...” He slurred his words.
Of course, he was drunk. It was a given after all the drinks he had downed tonight. Maybe she should try another way—a more honest one.
“I’m sure you know, as everyone else probably does in this palace, that I’m a level one. This relationship is completely unbalanced. After the wedding, I’ll be completely powerless. Help me bring some balance to this. Help me show him I can be useful,” Amira pleaded.
Rhay shifted on his chair, almost hitting the ground. “All right, I guess I can teach you some techniques.” He fell off his chair, making Amira laugh.
“You’re very drunk right now, so don’t forget your promise tomorrow.”
Rhay chuckled and came to sit next to Amira on the sofa. He was so close that their thighs almost touched. The sweetness of his breath was caressing her cheek. A shiver ran down her back. He looked completely out of it. A faint voice in her head told her she should move, but her drunken voice won.
“You know love can be many things, Amira. For some, it’s lightning hitting you right in the heart but leaving you quickly. For others, it’s a quiet storm, slowly building its strength. I’ve always been more of a lightning type of guy.” He whispered the last part as he looked straight in her eyes, “And look where it got me…”
Amira’s chest tightened. “Have you ever considered getting married?”
Rhay’s eyes glazed over. “I...” He shook his head. “No, it’s stupid.” He looked straight at Amira. “You know I’m a free spirit. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to commit.” Amira wasn’t sure if it was disappointment or relief she felt in her heart. Rhay lowered his voice without noticing, probably too intoxicated to care. “What about you, Amira? Have you ever been in love?”
The question lingered in her mind. She knew the answer, but was she ready to share it? A pair of emerald eyes stared at her with such joy and childlike wonder. In her chest, her heart started pounding again. Her lips parted and her answer quickly made its escape, facilitated by her drunken state. “Once. It was such a wonderful feeling. So pure, so full of hope. And then it was ruined.”
She only felt her tears when Rhay wiped them with his soft hand. His eyes were full of tenderness. Lost in the ocean, she gasped for air. A burning sensation took over her lips and she noticed that Rhay was staring at them with a determined look. His face inched toward hers.
Everything slowed down, but Amira’s thoughts were going at the speed of light. Was he really going to do that? Would he dare? Did she want him to? Would it help her forget? He was her only friend here, refusing him could make her current situation even harder. But the only person she truly wanted to kiss was long gone, merely ashes in the wind. She searched Rhay’s eyes, trying to find the hint of emerald green she still longed for. As blue as the ocean, Rhay’s eyes were not the ones she wished to encounter.
His warm breath caressed her face. She closed her eyes, immobile. He kissed her on the forehead. A sweet and gentle kiss.
“You’ll find love again, princess. With Karwyn. And this time it will last,” Rhay said.
She held her eyes closed, furious at what he had said. Deep in her heart, she knew that her feelings towards Karwyn would never evolve to real love. Not that her fiancé would mind; he had made it clear that he had no interest in her.
She heard the door open and close. When Amira opened her eyes, Rhay was gone and there were only a couple of empty glasses left to prove that he had been there. A fleeting thought passed through her mind. Would Karwyn ask her if she’d spent any time with Rhay? Would he read her mind?
Amira shook her head as she stood up, chasing away the worries. She quickly downed the last full cup. Soon after, a headache took over her mind. Her whole body was shaking and she could feel pins and needles in her arms and legs. Amira stumbled back to her room.
She fell on her bed. In her head, she saw strange figures with changing faces, sometimes familiar, sometimes unknown, all too painful to look at. Her body spontaneously started to convulse. She opened her mouth to scream but she was unable to make any sound. She tried to conjure a happy memory. Her mother smiling at her during her first official event. Walking in the streets of Amryne with her father disguised as a commoner.
Her breathing returned to normal and Amira quickly fell into a drunken slumber, populated with strange nightmares and even stranger memories.
Chapter34
Lora
The fae stumbled to the side of the carriage, giving Lora a better view of the attacker. The girl looked young, maybe late teens. Her eyes were determined, loose red curls coming out of her high ponytail, framing her face. Her fist was raised for another hit. She was so small compared to the fae. But she didn’t back down, brass knuckles digging into the fae’s face.
The fae seemed to snap out of the girl’s surprise appearance. He caught her fist mid-swing before it connected with his cheek again. His face twisted in a cruel smile. The girl spun and kicked him between his legs, grabbing the throwing star from his shoulder as he doubled down. The movement slowed her down and he reached out, landing a punch to her stomach that seemed to knock the wind out of her. He swept her feet from under her and she fell.
Lora tried to get up from her position in the carriage, but the smallest movement induced a pounding pain in her ankle. Her hands were still bound, which made it hard for her to shift her weight off her feet. She watched in horror as the girl hit the ground.
The fae leaned over her and just when Lora thought she’d be lost, the throwing star struck the fae’s forehead. The attacker kicked at his legs and swiftly rolled to the side as the fae lost his balance and dropped to the ground.
The girl sprang to her feet, another throwing star in her hand. She pushed him onto his back with her leg and placed one foot on the fae’s upper body as she pressed her weapon into the left side of his chest. The fae snarled in pain but barely moved against her hold.
