“Let her have some fun. She’s an overthinker, like you.” She was stubborn, but Rhay had faith in himself that he could break through to her.
Karwyn looked utterly displeased at the comparison. “Loraine isnothinglike me.”
Rising from Karwyn’s armchair, Rhay turned to the door, deciding not to put too much thought into Karwyn’s words as he reached for the comfort of his flask. The walls inside his mind felt as thin as ice, and he had no clue what lay beyond the surface threatening to break in.
Chapter15
Elyssa
Elyssa knew Eyden would be furious, but for once, she didn’t give a damn. Taking a short-cut through Chrysa, Farren a silent shadow next to her, Elyssa neared the meeting spot where Eyden was supposed to meet Ilario this afternoon to discuss his bargain with the fae from the palace. The alley blocked out the sun as Elyssa rounded a corner on the narrow path, the duffle bag swung over her shoulder weighing her down.
She needed to give this her all. There was no way Eyden would leave her out of this. This revolution Elyssa had been fantasising about for years was the spark in her heart filling the emptiness her past had left behind.
With too much distance between them, Elyssa couldn’t read Eyden’s lips as she walked up to them in broad daylight, but she was sure he was telling the fae next to him in the alleyway that they couldn’t go along with Nix’s plan.
Was Eyden against the idea because he wanted to show Elyssa he had detached himself from anything related to fortae, or because he knew Elyssa wouldn’t back down from going to Carnylen? She guessed the latter, and she wasn’t goddamn having it.
Increasing her pace, Elyssa walked straight up to them, Farren hurrying after her. He had tried to talk her out of this, but she had lost too much to be deterred. Her family. The camp. Iris. Even her relationship with Eyden, the one she could always rely on, was crumbling around her. The only way to overcome crippling grief was to cling to a purpose and never back down.
Panic shone on Eyden’s face as he took in her hazel eyes that now looked more golden with her spelled contact lenses. Then his eyes moved to the duffle bag hanging from her shoulder. Since she was basically homeless, she’d been carrying it around everywhere. Last night, she’d slept in an old tree house where she and Eyden used to hang out when they were kids, not yet plagued by tragedy.
Or at least Elyssa hadn’t been. Eyden had lost his mother even sooner than Elyssa had lost hers. After her parents had died trying to cross the border, Eyden had given his best to take care of her like a brother. But it didn’t excuse his behaviour. She wasn’t an excuse he could use to defend his mistakes.
“Eyden,” Elyssa said, crossing her arms as she stopped in front of him. Before he could come up with a lie, she turned to his friend. “And you must be Ilario. I’m Elyssa. Eyden’s—”
“Acquaintance,” Eyden quickly threw in. His mouth was set in a straight line. She could sense the tension, the fear, taking over his entire being.
“Acquaintance, sure, let’s go with that,” Elyssa replied, a sickly sweet smile on her face.
“All right. Well, it’s nice to meet you, Elyssa,” Ilario said, his confusion visible. “And you are?” he asked Farren, who was moving to stand beside her.
“Farren. I’m just here to see Elyssa off.”
“Off to where?” Ilario asked at the same time as Eyden sighed loudly.
Elyssa waited for Eyden’s outburst, but his lips were pressed together tightly. Irritated, she met Ilario’s gaze. “What do you think of my eyes?”
Eyden remained stoic while Ilario glanced between them, uncertain. “Uhm, is that a real question?” Ilario asked. “I’m most confused about all of this, to be honest.”
Elyssa stepped closer to Ilario, flipping off Eyden, thinking he would pull her back, yet he didn’t. “What level am I?”
“Oh, all right. Let me see.” Ilario tilted his head as he took her in. “I’m not sure. I don’t want to offend you, but I think level one?”
“But I’m definitely fae, right?” Elyssa asked, her stare boring into Ilario. She cut Eyden a deadly glance, but he still didn’t react. What the hell was wrong with him? Why wasn’t he trying to stop her?
“I’m sorry, what are you asking, exactly?” Ilario replied, fidgeting with the button on his cream-colored sweater. “Are younotfae?”
Elyssa grinned. “For now, I sure am.” Seeing his lost expression, she continued, “I’m going withwhat’s-his-nameto make as much fortae as he needs. With my blood.”
Eyden ran a hand through his messy dark hair, ignoring her, which only made her blood run hotter. Ilario looked shell-shocked. “You’re human?” He turned to Eyden. “You know a human?” His eyes focused on Farren. “Two humans? Can someone explain what in Caelo’s name is going on here?”
Farren lifted his hand, a smile tugging at his lips. “To avoid another argument,” he said, looking between Eyden and Elyssa, “let me do the honours. El is wearing spelled contact lenses so she can go with the fae to Carnylen as our spy.”
“How long will the spell last?” Eyden asked.
Farren stared at his feet. “I’ve never tried it before, so I really can’t say.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Elyssa interrupted, fixing Eyden with a glare. “I’ll make it work.” She dared him to react, to blow up, but he shrugged.Shrugged.What the fuck? Was it because he could read her expression well enough to know this was one of those times he wasn’t going to stop her? Or a weak attempt to earn her forgiveness?
