Amira shook her head. “I won’t let him ruin my life any longer, or yours. I want you safe. I want…you.”
Elyssa’s grin was brilliant.Breathtaking.“I can take care of myself,” Elyssa said with the confidence of a woman who had fought many fights and won every single one of them.
“I know you can, but I want to help you in this fight. You don’t have to save me, El. We can save each other.You’reworth saving.” Elyssa’s golden eyes held a well of emotion. “But we can’t rush to take them out. There are complex politics involved in dethroning a king, let alone two. We need to think things through, starting with removing Karwyn’s power.” Amira stopped to take a deep breath. “Karwyn and my brother, they can be so…cruel.” A sour taste spread in her mouth, her heart beating faster, yet Elyssa seemed perfectly calm. She was always so fearless. Amira only wished her fearlessness didn’t stem from the guilt of surviving.
“I can imagine,” Elyssa replied, her eyes both dangerous and sympathetic.
All the memories of the abuse Wryen had inflicted on her rushed to her mind. Amira was grateful to still be alive, to have hope. She wouldn’t let Wryen take that away from her ever again.
Elyssa’s grin melted Amira’s last fearful memory. Her eyes drifted to Amira’s lips. “Are you sure you want to do this?” Amira’s lips parted, but no sound escaped her. With flushed cheeks, Amira avoided looking at Elyssa.
A soft chuckle travelled through the carriage. “I meant using your powers to fight Karwyn,” Elyssa explained, laughter in her voice. “I’d understand if you prefer not to.”
Amira let out a sigh—of relief or disappointment, she wasn’t sure. “I don’t want to watch and do nothing. I thought I was powerless, but I’m not.”
Elyssa kissed her hand, sending a wave of pleasure to Amira’s heart. “We’ll end his reign of terror and free you from him. Together.” They stared at each other for what seemed like an endless second. Elyssa leaned back in her seat. “I’m still wondering what made you follow Saydren that day. Was it purely suspicion?”
“I was hoping to find proof of Karwyn’s experimentation on fae so I could convince Wryen to end my engagement.”
“Instead, you found Lora and I,” Elyssa said with a sad chuckle.
“Who is she to you? How did you meet?” Amira wanted her to trust her with the truth.
Elyssa seemed to consider how to answer her question. “She’s my brother’sfriend.They had a rocky start, but I guess we did too.” She smirked.
Friend.Was that what Elyssa was to her? She wanted so much more. “And how is it going between them now?” Amira asked, her gaze drifting to Elyssa’s lips, remembering the taste of her, the feeling it provoked in her.
Elyssa’s eyes flared dangerously as she leaned in. “I bet it’s going likethis,” Elyssa said as her lips met Amira’s.
The kiss took Amira by surprise, but she had no hesitation in responding. The softness of Elyssa’s lips sent a delightful tingle to her core. Deepening the kiss, her hands naturally found their place, cupping Elyssa’s face. Amira removed the tie binding Elyssa’s hair in a sleek ponytail, letting her auburn locks fall to her shoulders. Her fingers tangled up in them just as Elyssa’s hand slid down her back, caressing the natural curve.
Pulling Amira to her side of the carriage, Elyssa pressed her body forward so they both sat on the same bench. They moved closer, in sync with their desire. Yet Amira couldn’t completely remove the little terrified voice in her head even as Elyssa bit her upper lip, making her quiver.
Elyssa’s hand ran down her spine, sending special thoughts into her head. The silk material of her blouse felt like almost no barrier, yet too much of one at the same time.
Elyssa’s warm fingers toyed with the hem of Amira’s blouse as her hand travelled to her waist. Moving under the silk material, Elyssa’s touch scorched Amira’s skin just above her waist before moving up to her ribs. Shivers raced over Amira’s skin, an intense want rushing through her. She moved her hands to Elyssa’s shoulder, driving her closer still. Her body felt warm against hers as their chests touched, and heat shot down Amira’s body, her skin tingling all over.
Breaking their kiss, Elyssa caressed her neck, her tongue flicking over Amira’s pulse before her lips moved to Amira’s ear. “How far do you want me to go?” Elyssa’s husky voice whispered in her ear, her hand still resting on her ribs, drawing circles.
Amira hesitated. She had never been this close with anyone. She and Quynn hadn’t strayed much away from kissing. Elyssa was offering more and Amira’s body ached for it, yet she couldn’t tune out the anxiety from her lack of experience.
Elyssa pulled back enough to seek her gaze.
“I haven’t…I haven’t been intimate like this before,” Amira admitted, biting her lip. “I don’t really know what I’m doing.”
The smile on Elyssa’s face was full of understanding. “We can go at your own pace. I’m here to stay.” Elyssa’s words melted Amira’s heart. She really,reallyliked this girl. And she wanted…she wasn’t sure what she wanted.
Elyssa moved her hand to play with a lock of Amira’s dark hair that had fallen into her face. The gesture was so simple, so caring; it was everything Amira needed in this moment. Just having Elyssa close to her was more than Amira had ever thought possible.
“Can you hold me?” Amira asked, staring into her intense golden eyes, tinted with hazel, and committing the colour to memory. She wondered what they looked like without the contact lenses she knew Elyssa was wearing. Every trait, every quirk, every imperfection—Amira wanted to know everything about her.
Elyssa pushed on her shoulder lightly, a grin pulling at her lips as she made Amira turn her back to her. Leading her head to her lap, Elyssa’s fingers brushed through Amira’s hair in a comforting, familiar gesture.
“You should rest,” Elyssa said, leaning over her, auburn curls framing her face, every bit as fiery as her spirit. Amira’s eyes fell shut. She felt utterly safe for the first time in as long as she could remember.
“We have a long night ahead of us once we get to Chrysa,” Elyssa added, her voice sounding further away.
“Why Chrysa?” Amira asked, half of her mind already drifting to sleep.
