Amira’s breath caught. Her hand, lying between them on the bed, clutched the duvet as if to ground her to reality. “You don’t have to say that,” Amira said. “I’ll help you even if you don’t care about me. Karwyn needs to be stopped.”
Elyssa reached out, her fingers tracing circles on Amira’s skin. Shivering, Amira breathed in Elyssa’s pine scent.
“Let me make one thing crystal clear, sunshine,” Elyssa said, not lowering her gaze, her breath hitching. “I like you.” Amira could barely breathe. “A lot, to be precise. Goddamn, I can’t stop thinking about you.” Laughing lightly, she shook head. “I can’t stop searching for your attention. For one more look from you, one more rare smile. You care so much about others when you’re suffering more than most. Iseeyour pain, Amira. I see your fear. And it’s all goddamn valid. I wish I could take it all away from you. I wish I could erase all your troubles, and Iamtrying—”
Amira couldn’t control herself anymore. Her lips met Elyssa’s, shushing her beautiful words. It felt like her heart was exploding from a fire overriding her every thought. Elyssa returned her kiss, deepening it with fiery passion, caressing Amira’s tongue with hers. Elyssa’s lips were soft, melding with Amira’s so perfectly. It was almost painful how much she wanted this.
She tangled her hands in Elyssa’s soft hair and lost herself in the kiss. Elyssa’s hand travelled up her arm, cupping her face, her tongue running along her bottom lip, drawing a sigh from Amira.
She was kissing Elyssa. She was letting herself befree.
But it would never last. Her mind caught up with her heart, and Amira pulled away. What was she thinking? She was adding Elyssa’s name to the list of people who would die because of her.
Elyssa stared at her, her red curls dishevelled. Amira couldn’t face her, couldn’t be near her. She had to leave.
Rising from the bed, Amira remembered they were in her room. Elyssa seemed to follow her intention. She got up and walked to the door, a sigh on her lips.
Before leaving Amira’s room, Elyssa peeked over her shoulder. “I meant what I said. I see your fear, Amira. I see it holding you back, and I can’t wait for the day you break free from the chains you’ve set on yourself.”
Chapter38
Lora
Lora suspected Rhay was throwing court events for her sake. Since Karwyn had remained stubborn about letting Lora attend Rhay’s casual parties, he was throwing one for the court instead. He’d called it the “last hurrah” before the final royal gathering in Carnylen leading up to the contest.
Whatever the reason, Lora was glad for the opportunity to get on with the plan she, Eyden, and Varsha had come up with. Time was running out for her and she needed to accomplish something.
A part of her also craved seeing Eyden again. For as long as she could, she wanted to see him. She’d been denied seeing anyone else close to her. It was a heavy weight on her heart, making her sink further and further the closer she got to the end.
But there was still time to succeed. She’d found a cure in two weeks. Maybe she could find a solution for her looming demise in a month.
Lora had braided her hair on one side as she’d done in the past. Her eyes were lined with silver. The grey hair tie matched her short dress. It had a sweetheart neckline and thin cut-outs on her waist. She couldn’t help but think Eyden would approve.
Smoothing down her straight hair, Lora left her room. Layken wasn’t there. After consistently asking, she’d been told he was on a mission for a few days. Perfect timing.
Strolling down the hall in her knee-high boots, her head was filled with the paths this night could take. Would their plan go smoothly? What exactly was Karwyn hiding in the underground? Had he captured more fae even though he had Lora?
Lora climbed up the stairs to the top floor. This time, Rhay wanted to switch it up. They weren’t in the ballroom, but somewhere Lora hadn’t yet been. It was further away from the mysterious door to the underground. More distance could be a good thing; it gave them more time should Karwyn or Saydren leave the party earlier than planned.
The double doors were wide open. Two guards stood before them and watched her enter. It was magnificent. The roof was open, letting in the sparkling starlight. Rhay had strung fairy lights all around the room, making it the definition of a starry night.
“Are you enjoying your last party, little cousin?” Karwyn asked as he sneaked up on her. His midnight blue suit flattered his frailer build.
Lora narrowed her eyes at him. His blond hair appeared darker in the dim light. “You really think Rhay won’t throw another one before the contest?”
“Perhaps he will.” Karwyn’s eyes sparked the kind of mischief no one would want to encounter. “But I will make sure there will not be another one in the week to come. Except for Caelo Night, of course, but even then, you will not be attending Rhay’s after-party.”
Lora’s heart dropped. The blood in her veins iced over. Caelo Night was on the first day of December, six days from now. “Why a week?” She could already hear his answer.
The grin on his face was devious. She imagined stabbing him in the face.
“Oh, dear cousin, what do you think?” When she didn’t answer, Karwyn drew closer. His breath felt ice-cold against her cheek. “I am giving you one more week to train and then our ritual shall begin. Soon, it willallbe mine.”
Standing upright was suddenly the hardest thing to do, but somehow, she stayed put. Lora gritted her teeth. Her eyes burned with contained rage fighting against hopelessness.
“Doesallinclude Rhay? Because I can tell you right now, Rhay will never see you as more than a friend. Deep down, he must know you’re a psychopath,” Lora snapped.
Karwyn grabbed her wrist, the grip feeling like tiny shards of ice digging into her skin. “I might be an abomination, butIwill be high king. I will haveeverything,and you will be left with nothing but your own ashes.”
