Amira found a nasty surprise when she opened the door to her quarters. “Wryen…” she started, coldly. Her brother pivoted to face her, a devious smile carved on his lips as he took her in, not moving from his spot in the middle of the antechamber.
“Dearest sister, you didn’t think I wouldn’t come to you, did you?” Wryen asked as he took slow, predatory steps towards her. Of course he would seek her out. It had just been a matter of time.
Amira felt the handle of the door behind her. She didn’t have to stay; she didn’t have to face him. Tarnan was in the palace, she could seek haven with him. Or run straight to Elyssa’s.
“It took you some time,” Amira said, trying to keep her voice even. It took him one day longer than he had initially planned to get to Turosian.
“I had to take a little detour.” He was now only a few steps away from her. “For you.”
“For me?” she asked without dropping her gaze. His eyes radiated sick joy, twisting her stomach.
Wryen’s face was an inch from hers when he spoke, “I’m going to warn you one last time. Play your part as Karwyn’s bride and stop whatever nonsense Tarnan and you are up to.”
Amira wished to spit in his face, but she felt it would only escalate the situation, and she needed to keep her energy for tomorrow. She channelled Elyssa’s attitude. “More empty threats?”
Letting out a dark laugh, Wryen caressed her hair. “You know, your dear mother has lovely hair, just a touch lighter than yours.” He moved even closer, his face hovering over hers. “Of course, when I burnt it, it turned as black as coal.” Slowly, he took out a strand of singed hair from his shiny grey coat. The tips of the once chocolate brown hair had turned to ashes.
Everything around her seemed to still. Amira wasn’t sure her heart was still beating. Her eyes turned glossy from fresh tears, the burned hair in Wryen’s hand blurring. She could almost smell the putrid scent of burnt flesh.
It couldn’t be true. Her mother couldn’t be dead. Yet seeing the burnt strand of hair, Amira couldn’t stop herself from picturing her mother engulfed in flames, desperately calling out for her daughter.
Amira caught herself on the wall. Her body was giving out, dragged down by a heavy weight of sorrow and guilt. Wryen grabbed her arm, squeezing it so tight that Amira let out a sharp yelp.
“Come on, sister, pull it together,” he hissed, forcing her upright. “Who do you think I am? I would have invited you to your mother’s execution. This is the final warning. Do not challenge my reputation.”
Her heart beat again, faster than ever. She was used to threats, but Wryen had taken it to another level this time.
“If you leave Turosian, if you don’t marry Karwyn, then you shall receive an invitation to a joyous bonfire honouring your dear mother. Have I made myself clear this time?”
Amira nodded, her head clouded with dread. Yanking at her hair, Wryen pulled a strand out. Amira barely felt the pain, numbed by overwhelming fear. Wryen caressed the strand of dark brown hair before putting it in his pocket.
“A little souvenir,” he said with a psychotic smile. He pushed Amira away from the door, letting her fall against the wall before she slid down to the wooden floor. “Begone in fortune, as they say here.” He let out a dark chuckle. “As if fortune would ever be on your side.”
As soon as the door closed behind her brother, Amira rose to her feet, her legs barely working. Where was her mother now? Did Wryen keep her at the palace in Amryne? Was she in a cell, fearing for her life? If Wryen used a skyaelo, it would take him half a day to reach his palace.
Amira had to do something to protect her mother, to save her before Wryen could execute her on a whim.
Her unsteady feet led her to Tarnan’s room. She hoped he had come back from the party. Breathing in and out to calm herself, Amira knocked on the door twice. When she heard no noise coming from inside, she thought about going back before the door swung open.
“Amira? What happened?” Tarnan whispered loud enough for her to hear as he looked her over.
Amira fought her instinct to embrace Tarnan, fearing someone would see them. She craved the comfort her brother would never give to her.
“My mother, she’s in danger. Wryen has her. He has threatened her before, but I fear he will actually go through with it this time.” Amira couldn’t stop the tears from falling. Her hands shook, twisting the fabric of her dress.
Tarnan took her hands and squeezed them tightly. “I promise that once we’ve dealt with Karwyn, we will take care of your mother. Right now, Wryen is in Turosian and he’s staying for Caelo Night, he can’t do anything to her. After tomorrow, everything will be different. You won’t have to marry Karwyn, and Wryen will learn his place soon enough. Everything will bebetter.”
Freedom was so close. For Amira and her mother. Once Karwyn was thrown off the Turosian throne, Wryen would think twice about threatening his sister.
* * *
Amira glanced at the clock on her wall, illuminated by moonlight. Eyden was supposed to get her at midnight. Elyssa had sent her a fire message earlier, asking her to come to the human camp. It seemed risky, especially with Wryen’s threat hanging over her, but she doubted Wryen would seek her out again tonight, and she could hardly wait to see Elyssa again.
Tossing and turning in her bed, Amira thought about everything that could go wrong tomorrow. If a single thing went astray, their whole plan would fall apart. Karwyn’s vengeance would be their ruin. And Wryen would have no issue killing her mother as payback.
Amira buried her fists in her sheets, feeling her power course through her, but then a figure appeared next to her bathroom door. Her scream died in her throat when she recognised Eyden.
“Hi,” Amira said, pushing back her comforter. She had gone to bed fully dressed, knowing she’d be going to the camp where Elyssa used to live. The thought sent nervous shivers down her back.
