His sister stepped closer as if to threaten him with words. “You’ve crossed lines to get here, Eyden. And if that’s what it takes, you have to let me cross them too.” When he didn’t reply right away, she asked, “How do you know the ingredients to fortae? Why did you have any at all?”
Eyden lost control of the façade he always put on. He wasn’t used to putting it on in front of Elyssa. She was the exception. They had always been honest with each other… except he had lied about this and he knew she wouldn’t be able to look past it.
Reading his face, Elyssa grabbed his shoulders. “What did you do? What the fuck did youdo?” she asked harshly. He couldn’t say it; it would doom their relationship. He tried to pull back, but Elyssa’s fierce grip tightened. “Eyden, I swear to whatever god, if you don’t tell me now, I will kick your ass. I don’t fucking care—”
“I used to sell it.” The words left his mouth in a rush of air. He knew if she wasn’t standing so close to him, her bad hearing would not have been able to make sense of it.
“No.” Elyssa shook her head wildly, her arms dropping to her side. She stepped back, looking at him like he was another person altogether. “No,” she repeated as if it could undo his confession.
“I told myself I wasn’t, but I did.”
“What theactual fuckdoes that even mean?” Elyssa yelled, moving forward in a flash, her fist connecting with his shoulder.
“I fucked up,” Eyden replied, raising his voice, desperate to explain. To make it right somehow even though he knew he couldn’t. “You got that fever, remember? And I needed to get medicine. I didn’t know if it would get as bad as it did when you were younger. Ineededmore silver to trade. A lot more. I got too ambitious. I played against Rahmur Piers, who I thought was just a regular trader. I didn’t have enough silver, so when I lost, he told me I could dig my own grave or make good on my promise and work for him.”
Eyden took a step forward, his eyes never leaving Elyssa as her fist clenched at her side. “Youdepended on me, El. I know you would’ve never asked me to, but I did what I had to do. I didn’t ask questions about what I was selling, what I was giving to traders who took it to the Void. But I knew. Deep down, Iknew.And I fucking hate myself for it.”
Elyssa remained eerily calm. “I don’t remember us being that bad off. Before I got sick, you got me my first sword. You said you’d had a lucky streak and we’d be fine for a long time.”
“Luck wasn’t always on my side.”
A flicker of red flashed in her gaze. “But the silver you had saved up didn’t just disappear, did it?Yougoddamn lost that silver. You couldn’t stop gambling, could you?” she hissed through her teeth. She had him there. It’s why today would have been a regret.
Farren looked between them, uncomfortable.
“Does it matter why?” Eyden asked. He ran both hands through his hair as he looked for a glimmer of forgiveness in his sister’s eyes. His past had finally caught up to him, and he knew he deserved the look of betrayal and disappointment in Elyssa’s eyes, but it broke him just the same. “It was the wrong decision, but the only one I could see at the time. It was a necessary mistake.”
“And lying to me, was that a necessary mistake too? We only had each other back then. I thought I could count on you to trust me.” Elyssa clenched and unclenched her fists. “You didn’t do it because of me. Not entirely. You did it toyourself.It’s time you admitted as much.” Elyssa picked up her bag and turned her back to him as she went to the door. Farren shrugged apologetically at Eyden before following Elyssa.
Was Elyssa right? Had he ever been able to trust anyone? He only had himself to blame for his actions.
“Where are you going?” Eyden asked, losing hope for the forgiveness he was seeking. “The camp isn’t an option anymore.”
Elyssa didn’t turn around, barely halting for a second before she disappeared through the front door. “I can’t stay here either.”
Chapter13
Lora
Lora traced the rim of her glass as she watched the fae around her. This dinner had dragged on and on. Her cheeks ached from keeping up her forced smile.
The only good thing about tonight was that she was getting a close look at the most powerful fae. She was sure no other human had been this close to the politics happening in Liraen. Lora tried hard to commit every detail to memory. Maybe if she got her phone back, she could send the information she’d gathered to Maja. Lora tried to imagine a future where she was no longer alive but her intel lived on in the Museum of Human and Fae History in Bournchester. Knowing Maja, she would demand the museum add a dedication to Lora’s findings, calling her a badass for getting the cure to Earth.
Turning her gaze to the sparkly liquid in her glass, she frowned. The sweet taste lingered on her tongue. She shouldn’t think that. Not yet. There was still time to find a loophole out of this. If only she knew how to save herself. Her eyes drifted to hercousin.She cringed every time the word crossed her mind. She couldn’t possibly be related to such a psychopath.
Karwyn was talking to Wryen, the fae she’d met earlier. Wryen’s sister was sitting by herself, downing more than a couple of drinks. A few times, Lora had caught the princess staring at her, but every time their eyes met, Amira looked away.
Lora had wanted to talk to Rhay, but he’d quickly invited her to his after-party before dismissing himself. Could she leave too? Now that Karwyn had introduced her, it would be weird if she didn’t have free reign of the palace, wouldn’t it? Maybe she could sneak around the palace while Karwyn was distracted.
Eyeing the door, Lora got up from her seat and swiftly moved forward. Before she could head out, a voice said, “Princess Loraine.”
Lora reluctantly turned around and found one of the kings in front of her. He was one of the contestants of the High King Contest.
“Apologies, princess, I didn’t have the chance to introduce myself to you earlier. I’m King Tarnan Ellevarn.” The fae smiled at her warmly. His skin was pale, a striking contrast to his midnight black hair.
Calling on her practised smile, Lora replied, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, my king. I was actually about to leave. It has been a tiring evening.”
“Of course, I won’t keep you. I hope you’ve enjoyed this evening. I know politics can be draining. It must have been an exciting yet overwhelming time for you to join the Turosian court.”
