Amira obeyed the command, feeling the old wooden frame move under her touch. “Now focus on the image of the window before it was broken. Feel it under your hands. You are touching the fixed window. Pull from the energy around you and command it to do your will.”
Amira felt the broken glass rise around her, clinking as it moved. She focused her own energy, feeling her life source spark inside her. Her power was calling to her, moving inside her and coursing through her hands. The cold feeling of glass made her open her eyes. The window looked untouched.
She couldn’t help the incredulous joy she felt. Instead of hurting or breaking, she had used her powers to fix her mistake. And then she stumbled, feeling the lack of energy pulling her under.
“Careful.” Elyssa steadied her. “You did good. But you’re gonna have to stop using your life force as your energy source. Otherwise, you’ll be drained and your powers will be harder to control.”
Amira pressed her cold hand to her forehead. A strong headache was starting to wreak havoc on her mind. Her hand twitched—she had to stop herself from scratching at her skin. “What else can I do?”
“Witches draw their magic from the elements or other sources of power like crystals. My friend could show you,” Elyssa explained.
Amira was hardly listening, not when Elyssa’s skin was brushing against hers, provoking a delightful sensation. Their eyes met. Amira’s breathing slowed down. Elyssa’s gaze wandered to her lips.
Amira was going to go mad. Elyssa…shewas breathtaking.
“You have something on your lips,” Elyssa said as her hand gently wiped away blood staining Amira’s lips. Elyssa’s hand stilled. Time ceased to exist. Amira held her breath, a flutter in her stomach driving her crazy.
Breaking away abruptly, Elyssa’s eyes were clouded. “I have to tell you something.”
“I’m listening.” Amira tried to control her voice, but it still sounded weak.
“I haven’t been completely honest with you. I came to Carnylen hoping to find information about Karwyn, hoping to turn you against him.”
So Amira wasn’t wrong, Elyssa had an agenda. All the time they had spent together, Elyssa had been trying to gather intel, had been trying to use her. How could she have been so blind to believe someone didn’t want to use her?Well played.Amira had almost bought her friendliness.
Yet she couldn’t deny that Elyssa wasn’t the same as everyone else who had used her. There were good intentions behind Elyssa’s goal, and it actually sort of aligned with Amira’s. Still, knowing she had been used hurt all the same.
“I knew you had an agenda, but I didn’t think it was all lies.” Amira couldn’t help the pain lacing her words. Was any of it real?
Elyssa grabbed her hands, her touch fierce, determined. Amira wanted to tell her heart to stop skipping. “It’s not like that. I—”
Amira moved away to sit on her bed. She couldn’t focus with Elyssa’s hands on her skin. “You’re right, you know. Karwyn shouldn’t be the next high king, not when he’s following in the Dark King’s footsteps.”
“What do you mean?”
“I saw Karwyn using his witch to experiment on dead fae, probably trying to harness their power. He has a whole experimentation room.” She shuddered, remembering what she had seen in the underground. “He’s ruthless, power hungry, and violent.”
Elyssa joined Amira on the side of the bed. Her voice turned low. “Did he ever get violent with you?”
Amira let her eyes answer for her. She still had nightmares about that night on the terrace.
“That fucking bastard,” Elyssa cursed loudly, her head dropping.
Amira took a deep breath before anchoring her gaze on Elyssa’s face. “Do you still only care about defeating Karwyn?” She didn’t even know what she wanted Elyssa to say. Wouldn’t it be easier if Elyssa didn’t care?
There was something in Elyssa’s gaze that made Amira lose all coherent thoughts. “It’s what drove me here at first. But from the moment you looked at me in the carriage, I got sidetracked,” Elyssa admitted. “You have always…intriguedme. Even that day I first saw you, with your torn dress, hiding from guards. You looked so utterly out of place, yet exactly where you should be. What the hell were you really doing that day?”
Amira couldn’t help the smile sneaking up on her, but then she sobered. “I was following Saydren. I thought he was up to something. And he always made me uncomfortable. He once tried to give me fortae before I got addicted.”
Elyssa closed her eyes for a second, breathing out slowly. “For fuck’s sake. And here I thought the royal healer could beuseful.”
Amira watched her expression closely, stopping herself from caressing a loose curl falling into Elyssa’s face. “What did you need from Saydren?”
“Me? Nothing.”
Amira went over that day in her mind and asked, “Is it about Loraine?”
“It’s not my story to tell,” Elyssa replied. “I don’t mean to be secretive. I need you to know that I care about you.”
