Amira’s lips twitched, but the hint of a smile was gone as fast as it had appeared. “Why are you helping me? Why aren’t you furious with me?”
“I know you don’t have an easy life,” Elyssa confessed, thinking back on the letter she had read. Elyssa hated lying. Life was too short for deceit. No relationship could start off right that way.
Before she could think better of it, she said, “I know it was wrong, but I read one of your letters to your mother when we first got here.” Amira’s gaze hardened, chilling Elyssa’s bones. “I didn’t know what your deal was, and I needed to knowsomething.”
“So that’s it, you pity me?” Amira bit out. “Did my tragic life amuse you? Is that why you’re helping me, because you think I’m pathetic and weak?”
“What?No.” Elyssa felt like she’d been punched in the stomach. “Do you think you’re the only one with a tragic past?”
Amira’s eyes held a newfound curiosity even though her anger still shone bright within them. “I wouldn’t know, would I?”
Elyssa leaned in further, so close there was almost no space between them, the air between them growing warm. “You want to get even, princess? Fine, here we fucking go. Both my parents are dead. All my blood relatives are. I’ve seen more people die than you can probably imagine. I lost a friend of mine recently—a senseless death, killed by blood traffickers.” Amira sat unmoving, seemingly trapped by Elyssa’s words.
“The very community I’ve fought side by side with, I’vebledfor, I’vekilledfor—their jackass of a leader basically kicked me out. And when I thought things couldn’t get any fucking worse, my brother—” She cut herself off, clenching her teeth, biting back frustrated tears.
Exhaling slowly, Elyssa stared into Amira’s bloodshot amethyst eyes, beauty and pain all mixed into one. “Are we even?”
“I’m sorry,” Amira said. Her mouth opened then closed, as if struggling to find any other word.
“For the record, I don’t think you’reweak.I think life dealt you a rotten card, and the fact that you’re sitting here, still going, stillcaring,means you’re much stronger than you give yourself credit for.”
Amira’s breath hitched as she stared at Elyssa. Tears glistened in the princess’ eyes. “I wish you were right.”
“Iam.One day, you’ll be free of all this sorrow you carry around and you’ll realise you’re not cursed, you never have been.”
The corner of Amira’s mouth pulled up. “I…I like that about you.”
“What?” Elyssa thought she might have misheard her. Her stomach fluttered as Amira tucked her long hair behind her ear.
“I like that you can look past my mistakes,” Amira replied. “That you see…layers, that you see hope for me. You don’t give up on people, do you?”
Elyssa opened her mouth to agree when a thought hit her. Wasn’t that exactly what she had failed to do with Eyden? She hadn’t been able to look past it. What was it about Eyden’s mistake, clearly stemming from desperation, that made Elyssa judge him so harshly? Did she see herself in him? Someone who was willing to sacrifice everything for the people they loved?
“I’m not perfect,” Elyssa finally replied. “Far from it.”
Amira smiled at her then. “You saved me today. You took out that fae, no hesitation, even though it left you vulnerable.”
“You saved me too.” Amira’s eyes sparked at her words. “I want to help you. And not out of pity,” Elyssa reassured her, moving her hand to grasp Amira’s again. “I’ll get you off fortae for real this time, and we’ll get your powers under control one way or another.”
“Why? Why do you care so much?” Tilting her head, Amira moved closer to Elyssa. Amira’s eyes were wide, honest, something likewantflickering in her gaze.
Elyssa shrugged subtly, but her heart betrayed her. “You’re not bad company.” Leaning forward, her eyes drifted to Amira’s lips. What if she closed the distance between them? Was she reading this right? Was Amira in the right headspace? Usually, Elyssa didn’t hesitate, but Amira was different, she wasmore.
Amira inched forward. The air between them sparked, as scorching as delightful fire. Lips tingling, Elyssa felt Amira’s breath mixing with hers.
Amira straightened herself, pulling back abruptly. Conflicted emotions flickered over her face. “I should let you sleep,” Amira said, getting out of Elyssa’s bed. Elyssa fought the urge to ask her to stay.
As Amira reached her door, she paused, her back to Elyssa. “Thank you,” Amira said, barely loud enough for Elyssa to hear, her voice torn.
“For what?”Watching over you? Almost kissing you?
Amira looked over her shoulder briefly, her eyes more clear, less haunted than earlier. “For reminding me that I’m not a lost cause. Yet.”
Chapter34
Rhay
The heavy sound of the music increased Rhay’s heartbeat. Caligo was dark, allowing his sparkly jumpsuit to shine in the spotlight. Dancing carelessly, Rhay chased away the events of the masquerade ball with a spicy shot of vodka. In his head, a sword pierced through a masked fae’s flesh. Rhay closed his eyes. He didn’t want to think back on the attack or who might be responsible for it.
