What else was she supposed to think? She knew Loraine had been dragged to the palace against her will. The scene was still etched into her mind. That day, over a week ago, Amira had hoped to find something to incriminate Karwyn by following Saydren. She had seen Loraine being taken by guards, yet had done nothing to save her. She could never save anyone, least of all herself.
Almost against her will, Amira searched for Rhay. He was walking up to King Tarnan of Carnylen. Amira hadn’t seen Tarnan since Rhay’s after-party weeks ago when she had first been offered fortae by the mysterious dealer. As expected, Tarnan was one of the three contestants for the High King Contest.
A part of her had wanted to reach out to congratulate him, to say that he would make a much better high king than Karwyn. She wanted to repay the care he had always extended to her during her childhood when he would visit her late father, or the sympathy he had shown Amira at her father’s funeral. But the shame of their last encounter when she’d gotten drunk and the knowledge that her correspondence would be read had stopped Amira from reaching out.
Rhay and Tarnan turned in her direction. Amira immediately pretended to look at her empty crystal glass. She was not going to give Rhay the satisfaction of knowing she was watching him. She let herself be distracted by the fae talking next to her, but her ears only heard an annoying buzzing. Her skin turned hot then cold, the numbness she craved leaving her.
Discreetly, Amira pulled the fortae bag from her dress’ pocket. After this dreadful dinner and watching Wryen and Loraine’s fire, fortae had to work overtime.
Amira carefully took out a pill and brought her hand to her mouth in a gesture she hoped looked innocent. She swallowed the pill without any liquid to coat her throat, her eyes darting around her, but no one seemed to care.
The buzzing in her ears softened. Her skin turned numb, her emotions balancing out into nothingness. Slowly, the only fear remaining was the fact that she was already almost out of pills.
Amira felt the chair next to her move. Tarnan had joined her. A twinge of panic laced her heart, but the pill forced her worry away. Tarnan was one of the rare fae she didn’t want to disappoint. In spite of her high, she remembered his stance on fortae. It would be a shame if he had seen her with the pill, yet she couldn’t get herself toreallycare.
“Princess Amira, I’m delighted to see you again. In much better condition, might I add,” the King of Carnylen said with a warm smile. His short jet-black hair had grown a bit since the last time Amira had seen him.
“Have you come to remind me of the past again?” Drunkenness laced Amira’s reply with a new coldness.
Tarnan didn’t seem to mind her sharp tone. “I come as a friend.”
“Friends don’t always have the best intentions.”
Tarnan shifted in his seat, looking at her more closely. “I know that as Karwyn’s fiancée, you shouldn’t entertain a friendship with his rival. But I’ve known your family for decades. I held you when you were just an infant. I know your father would want me to make sure you’re all right.”
Amira knew she should let this go, but she couldn’t find the will to hold back. “Yet you never came to visit after my father’s funeral.”
“I went to Amryne multiple times. Your brother told me you didn’t wish to see anyone.” Tarnan’s gaze travelled across the room to where Wryen was busy talking someone’s ear off.
Amira laughed dryly. A classic Wryen move, keeping everyone from her. “A friend would have tried harder,” Amira replied, and Tarnan’s gaze snapped back to hers. He stared at her for a moment, forcing Amira to lower her gaze, aware that her makeup could only hide so much.
Tarnan took her hand. “You have to know that I tried. It was helpless then. But now, I’m sure I can prove my friendship to you. It’s what your father would have wanted. Come to Pyria with me. Until the wedding takes place, Karwyn has no need for you here.”
Amira furrowed her brows. She remembered him inviting her to his palace at an event a few weeks ago, but why was he bringing this up now? Was it a test from Karwyn? Or her brother?
“I doubt I’d be allowed to visit,” Amira replied. Her throat was dry from fortae, forcing her to cough. She grabbed another glass of iridos on instinct. Her discussion with Tarnan was preventing her from enjoying her buzz. She felt fortae trying to pull her to a cloud of nothingness, but Tarnan was pulling her the other way.
“It can be a diplomatic visit. I’ll even allow you tospyfor your future husband if you want,” Tarnan said with a little laugh, squeezing her hand gently.
“Why do you want me to come to Pyria so badly?”
Tarnan lost his smile as he dropped her hand. He sighed before finally admitting, “I know that you have been feeling down lately and we—I—thought that getting away would help you find your balance again.”
Amira narrowed her eyes. “Who’swe?” She thought of Wryen, but it didn’t make sense. Her brother was counting on her to be a constant presence in Karwyn’s life.
Tarnan imperceptibly turned his head to the left, and Amira followed his gaze.Rhay.He was the one trying to get rid of her. Of course, why not make her Tarnan’s burden instead?
“He’s concerned,” Tarnan reasoned. “And I’ve heard about the turmoil you caused last night. I can help you with yourissue.” He gestured towards Amira’s empty glass.
Realisation washed over her. Tarnan was solely concerned about her alcohol intake. Rhay wouldn’t have brought up fortae. He could be ignorant, but he wasn’t stupid.
“I don’t need anyone’s help or concern,” Amira lashed out at him as she forced herself not to signal for another glass.
Tarnan stood up and bowed his head. “My offer has no time limit. There might come a day you wish to accept it.”
Damn him,Amira thought, offering kindness when he really shouldn’t bother with her at all. If he knew what she was, he wouldn’t look at her with concern. There would only becontempt.And she deserved it.
She asked for another glass of iridos, her gaze holding Tarnan’s. He was silent as he left, the disappointment clear. Amira took a long sip of her drink. It gave her the strength to go looking for Rhay. He wasn’t going to get rid of her that easily.
