He shifted, probably trying to find the words. Lora could relate, her own unspoken words were burning in her mind. “That they took you. I said I’d help you and I failed,” Eyden said, voice low.
His words hit her like a wave of pleasantly warm water. She hadn’t even considered that he felt guilty. “You didn’t fail. It was my fault. I was shouting, practically announcing to everyone in Chrysa that I was human.”
“Yes, but I should have known better and found a way to—”
“Shut me up?” Lora amended. “I was on a roll, Eyden. You couldn’t have stopped me.”
He grinned, a lopsided grin that did weird things to Lora’s stomach. “True. But I still wish it didn’t happen.”
“Me too.” The memory of that cell froze over the feeling of warmth she’d felt only moments ago. “But you came back. You saved me. You don’t have to be sorry. Forthat,” she added with emphasis.
“So I have to be sorry for something else?” Amusement sparked in his eyes. “I’m not excused since I saved you? Your words, not mine.”
“Too easy.” Lora held back a smile.
Eyden shifted again, leaning in closer. “I never told you about Elyssa because I didn’t think it’d be necessary. I don’t tell anyone about her. Keeping her safe has always been my first priority.”
It wasn’t what was bothering her. She could understand protecting family and not trusting her with this specific piece of information. Lora was aware she only knew about Elyssa now because Eyden must have needed the humans’ help to free her. It was a matter of life and death, not of trust.
“I was surprised to find out you have a human sister, but I understand why you put her above everyone else.”
“It doesn’t mean I don’t care for other humans too. I do.” Pale eyes travelled over her face before meeting her eyes. “For some.”
The air seemed to charge between them. Lora felt the need to diffuse it even though her body told her something else. “Not Jaspen, I’m guessing?”
Eyden let out a curt laugh. “No, we’ve never gotten along. He’s made up his mind that all fae are the villains in his story.”
Something Lora had been led to believe as well. Her fingers stilled in her hair. It hit her then that she didn’t think that anymore. Eyden was many things, but evil was not one of them. Neither was Ilario or his parents. Even Sahalie, though very unpleasant, didn’t fall into that category. The realisation took her breath away for a second. Her carefully crafted image of fae was starting to crack.
“And Elyssa is still friends with him?” she asked, placing her hands in her lap, trying not to fall into a spiral as she pushed her realisation away.
“I wouldn’t say friends. He’s the leader. She sees his flaws, but she’s all for the mission, and being part of his group is her way of making a difference. I have to admit, the risks she takes fucking scare me. Yet I also find it admirable.”
“It is.” She cursed herself for her next words but they wouldn’t stay in. “You do know Elyssa has no intention of crossing, right?”
Eyden’s gaze snapped to her. “She figured it out, didn’t she?” He didn’t wait for her to confirm. “She might not consider it now, but what if things got worse? What if their camp got discovered? It happened before, you know. It was a bloodbath. I want her to have the option to leave, to get the fuck out of there if worse comes to worst.”
Her heart squeezed tightly. Elyssa would never be able to cross. An apology was lying on her tongue, but she couldn’t say it. Couldn’t admit the lie she had carried for so long. She pushed it down, drowning the lie so deep it was as if it never existed.
“I didn’t know about fortae. I’ve heard rumours of humans being mistreated here. Fae looking down on them. But I didn’t know they were used for their blood. Or that there was a whole camp of…rebels.”
“I think your government doesn’t care. There are so few humans here compared to Earth. They have their treaty meetings with the high king, pretend everything’s fine, and turn a blind eye to everything else. It’s easier that way, isn’t it?”
She had turned a blind eye. Was she part of the problem? Elyssa wanted to change Liraen for the good of all humans. Lora was only thinking of herself and her family. But wasn’t that survival instinct? Wouldn’t most people do the same thing if they were in her shoes? “It shouldn’t be this way,” she said aloud.
“With a new high king or queen, maybe it won’t have to be this way.”
Lora went over what she knew about the other royals. Karwyn was the only one left from the Adelway bloodline, as far as she knew. If he wasn’t king, who would be? Were the rulers of the other six kingdoms more suited for the responsibilities of the high king or queen? There wasn’t enough information available in her world to properly judge them.
“Do you have anyone specific in mind?” she asked.
“No, but I’m trying to gather more intel. Elyssa and the others are too, for their own reasons. If Karwyn wins the contest and becomes high king…either nothing will change or it’ll get worse.”
“You’re worried,” Lora observed.
“I worry all the time.” Reading her thoughts, he added, “I shouldn’t have told you not to worry. You can’t help it. Neither can I.”
Hearing him say it melted the last bit of ice that barricaded her heart. Their fight seemed senseless now, words said out of anger and uncertainty. “I shouldn’t have started a fight in the middle of the street in the first place. I guess we’re even,” Lora offered, the start of a smile playing on her lips.
