Sweeping her hair behind her ear, Amira turned to her. “When I was a kid, I wanted to learn how to use colours in a way to capture a mood with a brush. Wryen used to make fun of me for it. He called it pointless. I wasn’t very good.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t that bad. Your brother doesn’t exactly have an eye for beauty.” Wryen had earned himself a spot on Elyssa’sneeds-a-slap-in-the-facelist.
“Do you?” Amira asked, her tone had dropped low as if muddled by thoughts she was unable to vocalise.
I’m looking right at you, aren’t I?“You tell me, princess,” Elyssa replied, the start of a grin pulling at her lips.
Breaking her stare, Amira’s eyes travelled to a music box set up on a round glass table. When Amira opened it, a soft and euphoric melody echoed through the room, enveloping them and reaching out to the high ceiling.
Carefully, as if the music could escape her, Amira closed her eyes, swaying to the rhythm, her movements precise and skilled. There was a determination to her dancing that Elyssa hadn’t expected. Her posture was relaxed, yet her muscles tensed in just the right way.
Abruptly, Amira halted, her eyes snapping open. A shy flush painted her cheeks. “I…I used to dance. Back in Allamyst.”
“Don’t stop on my account.” A smirk sprang free. Seeing Amira dance was like seeing that version of the princess she’d longed to encounter every day. The version that was strikingly good, yet had a bite to her that couldn’t be ignored. The version that could easily sneak into Elyssa’s heart and plant roots.
Fidgeting with her sleeve, Amira replied, “I’m out of practice.”
“It’s not about your moves—though I can tell you have skill—it’s about the freedom of it. You seemed more relaxed than I’ve ever seen you. It was…”
“Strange?”
“Breathtaking.” Amira regarded her closely, her gaze as sharp as ice yet as warm as fire. “And so are your powers,” Elyssa added.
“I know you think so, but I can’t take the risk. You can’t understand what it’s like to be…cursed.”
“You’renot cursed,” Elyssa insisted, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’ll keep telling you that until you get it into that pretty head of yours one day.”
A sad smile graced Amira’s lips. “There’s noone day.”
“What do you mean?”
“We can’t stay here forever. It’s taken me two weeks to get out of bed. I’ve wasted our time. The closer we get to the contest, to my wedding, the less time we—I—have left.”
Elyssa uncrossed her arms, her hands itching to comfort Amira, to tell her it wasn’t true. But she was right. There was a ticking clock hanging over their heads. They would split paths once they were back in Turosian. Unless Elyssa could get Amira on their side. But how could she convince the princess when Amira didn’t even believe in herself?
Stuck in her thoughts, Elyssa didn’t immediately notice Amira’s body shaking. Her eyes were closed. Her breathing had quickened. Her right hand scratched at her arm as she pushed her long sleeve up to her elbow.
“Amira,” Elyssa said, trying to get her attention, to pull her back from her craving. Withdrawal was a bitch.
Shielding her eyes, the golden reflection of the walls seemed to bother her. “I’m sorry, I keep doing this. These flashes won’t go away.” Her eyes met Elyssa’s. “I hate that I’m wasting your time.” Her tone was desperate as if wanting to cling to hope, but having been burned too many times.
Would they be forced to go their separate ways before Amira could see which side she should goddamn be on?
“You’re not wasting my time, sunshine,” Elyssa assured her, trying not to think about whether she had made the most of her time here in Carnylen.
A few times, Elyssa had managed to sneak out of the palace. She knew it was a risky plan, but those were her favourite kind. She had been careful, knowing Rahmur and his people could be lingering about, but Elyssa hadn’t seen them again, or anything fortae or dark magic related.
What more could she do? How could she saveeveryone?
“We both know Iam,” Amira insisted, her eyes bleak with exhaustion.
Elyssa moved closer, her hand lingering near Amira’s. An indescribable energy moved between them. “Maybe you’re worth wasting my time for. Did you think about that? It’s my goddamn time to waste, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Amira was quiet, her lips parted in shock. Did she still not get it?
“You should be,” Amira said quietly, her lips quivering. “You should be anywhere else. None of my…friendships have worked out in the past. I doom everyone. Wasting your time is the least awful outcome for you here.”
“So we’re friends?” Elyssa’s mouth quirked up.
