Lora noticed Karwyn's outfit for the first time. It definitely wasn’t fitting for Rhay’s parties. If he wasn’t planning to attend, why was he walking around the palace this late?
“Well, lucky for him, he has enough company,” Lora said, planting a falsely sweet smile on her face. “Much better company than you.” She noted Karwyn’s reaction carefully. His expression remained intact, but she saw that flicker of darkness in his gaze as his eye twitched.
Then he snapped. One moment he was staring at her, the next, Karwyn crushed her against the stone wall in the hallway, his hand firmly on her throat.
Struggling to breathe, Lora’s hands clawed at his.
“You better watch it, little cousin,” Karwyn said. His face was so close to hers that she could feel his revolting breath on her skin. “You do not have power here. You have everything to lose and nothing to gain. If I wanted to, I could make anyone you merelysmileat disappear into thin air. Do you want that on your poor little conscience?” Lora gritted her teeth, wanting to respond, but he wasn’t done. And she couldn’t breathe. “Maybe I should use that phone of yours and call your family myself. I may not be able to physically hurt them, but I am sure they would love to hear how much youlovebeing apart from them. How much better it is to be fae.”
Her heart raced as cold sweat dampened her forehead. He’d regret threatening her family. Lora didn’t know how, but he would. He was wrong, it wasn’t better to be fae. But he was right about one thing, she undoubtedlywas.
Centering her anger, Lora’s hands turned scorching hot, sending her white-hot fury to her fingertips.
Karwyn released his hold with a yelp as blisters covered the spots on his skin where Lora had clawed at him. The look in his eyes was uncontrolled madness.
For a moment, Lora was unsure how this would play out. Had she gone too far by fighting back? Not even ten minutes ago, she’d been thinking she’d made a mistake by keeping Eyden at arm’s length, but if Karwyn knew she cared about Eyden, he would be number one on Karwyn’s revenge list.
Karwyn stared at his burns, his face ashen. His hands shook.
Looking at her, he took a predatory step forward. Lora instinctively backed away. Her heart was beating as fast as the anxiety flowing through her. Her breathing quickened, preparing for his next strike. She didn’t like to admit it, but she was scared shitless. Karwyn did have power over her and she didn’t know how to change that—yet.
Before Karwyn could reach her, someone cleared their throat behind them. Lora spotted Layken walking towards them. Was he here to help Karwyn with his sick punishment?
“My king, I’d be happy to walk the princess back to her room now,” Layken said.
Her eyes danced between Karwyn and Layken as her heart jumped in her chest. Would Karwyn let her go? She had put herself in a dangerous situation. Carelessly provoking a king who was basically a mass murderer and felt no remorse about it was not the most brilliant plan she’d ever had.
Karwyn seemed to be wrestling with a decision, but then he said, “Take her.”
Layken nodded, and Lora started in the direction of her room as fast as she could without running. She didn’t get far before Karwyn’s voice froze her breath again, “And make sure Loraine stays in her room for the rest of the night. She will not be attending any parties in the foreseeable future.”
Chapter21
Elyssa
While Amira was having dinner with Tarnan, Elyssa decided it was high time she learned more about the princess. So far, she knew Amira had a pill problem, had some weird history with Rhay, and was really beautiful. The last part was irrelevant, but hard to overlook.
Elyssa was getting very tired of being locked in the quarters they shared. It had been three days. What was the point of coming to Carnylen when she couldn’t do anything but be Amira’s fortae supplier? Bending her morals couldn’t be for nothing.
Crossing the short hallway inside their quarters, Elyssa opened Amira’s bedroom door. Her room was a mess. Dirty clothes covered the chair and the wooden floor. There was an empty wine bottle next to her bed. Drops of red wine covered the bedside table.
Elyssa’s gaze swept over the room until she spotted an open drawer by Amira’s sandy brown desk. Heading forward, she pulled it completely open. Folded pieces of paper littered the small space. Looking over her shoulder at the door, Elyssa fought against her curiosity. Amira hadn’t talked to her much over the few days they’d been here.
The question Elyssa had asked her—if she really wanted fortae—still felt as if it was following them around, turning the air heavy. Why did the princess choose drugs? Was it just for fun, a selfish shortcut to happiness?
Fuck it,Elyssa thought. Grabbing the closest paper, she quickly realised it was a letter addressed to Amira’s mother. Elyssa bit her lip as she considered putting it back in the drawer. But how else could she learn more?
Sighing, she started to read.
Dear Mother,
I hope you’re all right. I have no way of knowing for sure since Wryen has burned all your letters. I know my letters will never reach you either, so I’ve decided to be honest for once. I won’t tell you any more pretty lies about how my life has been so much better now that I’m the future Queen of Turosian. Now that I’m away from Wryen. The truth is, no matter how far away I am, he still finds ways to torment me, to threaten me into submission. This letter never reaching you is just one of his little punishments. I know we were both hoping my marriage to Karwyn would let me live a free, happier life, but Karwyn is every bit of a monster. If you knew the things he’s done… There is no way out of this doomed life. I know that now. I fear I’ve doomed us both. I’m sorry to have let you down.
Yours always,
Amira
Elyssa blinked as she fought tears. She hadn’t expected this. What had Karwyn done to her? No one was safe from him, not even his stunning fiancée. There was so much pain in Amira’s words. Elyssa had her all wrong. Amira wasn’t a spoiled, selfish princess. She was a broken one.
