Sneaking along one winding corridor after another, the two went up a flight of stairs and then they were outside, trees covering them. A courtyard stretched out before them. The massive stone walls behind her kept everything out—or in, depending on how one looked at it. Her heart sparked as she realised she’d made it inside the palace walls—a one-time opportunity. There was no way Elyssa could make it back on her own, even if she retraced her steps, not with the protection spell placed around the palace walls.
Taking cover behind a tree, Rhay tugged on her sleeve to get her attention, gaze set on a carriage waiting close to the massive silver gate.
“That’s your ride,” he pointed out. “Amira is saying goodbye to her brother. You should go in before her, avoid her brother.”
There weren’t many fae waiting for the carriage to take off. Elyssa had never seen the King of Turosian, but she was sure Karwyn wasn’t present. How strange that the king didn’t deem it important to say goodbye to his fiancée.
“Go on,” Rhay urged, his eyes troubled. Elyssa only saw the back of the princess’ head, a wave of dark brown locks flowing down her back.
Taking a step, Elyssa meant to leave their hiding spot when the princess turned her head.
Fuck.Although Amira wasn’t directly looking at her, Elyssa immediately recognised her face. Shedidknow the fiancée.And worst of all, the princess knew her. She had seen Elyssa ashuman.Her cover was blown already. How in the hell would she pull this off?
“What are you waiting for?” Rhay whispered, moving closer to her. “You’re gonna miss your window.”
Fuck it.She wouldn’t let the princess mess with her plan before it even started. Pulling her hood—now a black and turquoise one fit for a royal servant—over her head, Elyssa quickly sneaked towards the carriage. The beautiful fae Elyssa had met the day Lora was captured was none the wiser as Elyssa quickly got into the princess’ carriage and pulled the door shut tight.
Chapter16
Amira
A sickening heat took over Amira’s body as Wryen’s hands pressed against her back. Under the warm sun, Amira couldn’t breathe in the tight hug her brother had forced her into.
Besides the few servants, there was no one else there to see her off except Nouis and Wryen. She wasn’t surprised Karwyn wasn’t interested in saying farewell, but Rhay? He had given her a few pills last night and promised to send more, then left her alone without so much as asafe travels.Despite everything that had happened between them, Amira had still hoped he would say goodbye. Shaking the thought, Amira focused on her goal: exploring Pyria’s library and getting rid of her powers.
Wryen’s nails dug into the flesh of her neck. “Remember, I have eyes in Pyria too. And the minute Karwyn requests your presence in Turosian, you will leave Carnylen. Don’t get too comfortable there.” He didn’t seem pleased about Karwyn agreeing to send her away, but Wryen knew Karwyn held all the power here.
Clearing her throat, Amira clenched her fingers into fists by her sides. “I promise I’ll behave,dearbrother.”
Wryen forced her face towards his and planted a painful kiss on her cheek. “Come on, don’t make Tarnan wait.” Removing his hand from her neck, he pushed her towards the carriage waiting by the silver gates.
Opening the carriage door, Amira turned around. While Nouis gave her a little wave, Wryen’s face remained stoic. Amira’s eyes darted around the space, but she saw no one else.
Turning her back on the palace that had brought her nothing but pain, Amira pulled the door shut. As soon as she sat down, the carriage started moving. She clasped her hands in front of herself, feeling fortae coursing through her. It wasn’t strong enough. Her vision felt blurry as if the pill was pulling more than her emotions underwater.
Her breathing quickened as her lungs struggled for air. Tears pierced her eyelids. Looking out the glass door, she watched the gate disappear in the distance. Closing the curtain, she cut off the afternoon sun and darkened her surroundings.
Was she really leaving this damned place? Her brother would never let her get away from her impending marriage. The thought made her head pound as her fingers scratched at her skin.
Amira dug out her little bag of pills and took one out eagerly. Swallowing it without water, she almost choked, a tear escaping her eye.
“You sure you don’t want some water with that?” a snarky voice asked her.
Amira jumped in her seat, her eyes searching the obscurity. A face moved out of the shadows on the far end of the carriage. A strangely familiar face framed by a dark cloak. Bright golden eyes searched hers.
Amira opened her mouth to scream, but the young redhead put her hand on Amira’s mouth.
She’d seen the girl before, a few weeks back, the day Loraine had been taken captive. A sense of deja-vu flashed through her mind. She was human. How could she be here, in this carriage with her? Was Amira hallucinating the girl like she had the first time she had taken fortae, back at Rhay’s party?
But the hand on her lips felt real, soft, warm… Now that she was looking more closely, Amira noticed the girl’s eyes looked strange, more fae than human. Was she remembering her correctly? Was the girl fae after all, a low level? But Amira was sure her memory wasn’t false.
The girl flashed her a savage smile. “No need to scream. I’m here to be yourmaid.At your service, Your Highness.” Her hand lifted in a mocking salute, leaving Amira’s lips. It was somehow both amusing and tantalising.
“What in Caelo’s name are you doing? You have no place here.”
“That’s no way for a princess to speak,” the girl stated, her smile widening. Amira found her gaze drawn to her smile. “And I just told you, I’m your killer maid.”
“You’rehuman,aren’t you?” Amira replied. “You can’t be my maid. Tell me what you want before I scream for the guards.”
