Love from a lover was a foreign concept to me. Even though my parents had shown it, I’d never really felt it. It had been centuries, decades, years since everyone had left me.
I never thought I’d be able to handle it. It was all so new to me, but for her, I was willing to change.
I watched her as she slept, her face etched with stress. Amari’s lips were slightly parted as she breathed softly. I was in awe of her. She had changed so much that it felt like I was seeing her for the first time.
Her long hair was gone, and her body had changed. But her scars remained—something that would never disappear, no matter what.
I shifted to the side, and Amari groaned, reaching for my chest. Her small hand rested gently on my pectoral.
I smiled as I watched her sleep. I never thought there would come a time when I could hold her like this.
I reached out to touch her face, caressing it softly. She smiled faintly as my rough fingers grazed her right cheek. Stirring in my arms, Amari opened her eyes.
She yawned lazily and looked up at me. I returned her gaze with a soft smile.
“Did I sleep long?” she asked, closing her eyes again.
“No, you’ve only been asleep for an hour,” I said, chuckling. Amari stretched and turned over, her back to me. “Are you feeling better?” I asked, watching her.
“Yes, I guess so,” she whispered, shrugging her shoulders.
I reached out to touch her, but stopped. I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do. Sitting up, I cracked my neck. I felt Amari shift behind me.
“Are you going somewhere?” she asked, her voice tinged with nervousness.
“I’m getting you something to eat,” I said, glancing at her over my shoulder. She was covered with gray silk sheets, her freckled face flushed as she nodded.
I stood and walked to the door. I called for a servant, asking him to bring several things for Amari and me. I could feel her watching me the entire time.
I closed the door and turned to find her sitting on the edge of the bed, her legs dangling from the enormous bed.
“Is there anything I could wear?” Amari asked shyly, avoiding my gaze.
“Yes, maybe one of my long-sleeve shirts,” I said, heading to the walk-in closet. After searching for something that could fit Amari’s small frame, I returned. “Here, try this,” I suggested.
Amari looked at the white long-sleeve shirt. She thanked me and asked me to turn around. Was she self-conscious now, even though I had seen her before?
I waited for her, looking out the window. The night Amari was visited by the Daeva, I was the only one who felt it. Alastair thought it was because we were mates.
But Lorcan, as king, should have sensed it. Every palace had a unique barrier. He and Azriel should have felt it, but neither of them did. It was strange.
According to his investigations, the Daeva didn’t break the protective barrier. It was as if someone had let it in.
I knew none of them would hurt Amari, but having a Daeva nearby meant someone had broken a taboo. The question was, who?
“MAXIMUS!” Amari yelled. I jumped and turned around. “I’ve been calling your name. Is everything all right?”
“Yes, sorry.” I sighed, feeling a minor headache. “Does the shirt fit?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Yes, it’s big, but that’s understandable,” Amari said, pulling up her sleeves. I smirked as I looked her over. The white shirt reached her knees, completely hiding her small frame.
I cleared my throat, trying to suppress my desire. “Let’s sit and wait for the food.”
Amari nodded and walked over to the enormous sofa. She sat in the corner, pulling her knees up to her chest. She seemed nervous. Was she worried about the witch?
She rested her head on her knees, hugging herself.
“I asked the men to have everything ready. We’re leaving tomorrow,” I said.
Amari looked at me, surprised. She opened her mouth to say something, but a knock on the door interrupted her.
“Come in,” I said, looking toward the door. A servant entered with a tray of food, excused himself, and left. “Eat, you must be hungry.”
“A bit,” Amari whispered, taking a sip of tea. I watched her in silence.
After we had eaten, we both fell quiet. I picked up a book and started reading. Ever since I learned about Amari’s curse, I’d been reading more. I needed to help her.
Every now and then, I glanced at her. She was staring at the fireplace, her blue eyes following the flames. I sighed and closed my book.
“Amari, what’s wrong?” I asked, my frustration evident.
“Nothing, don’t worry,” Amari mumbled.
“But it’s bothering you. Can’t you tell me?” I asked. Amari just glanced sideways, her hair falling over her face, hiding it.
“I just need to get out of here,” Amari murmured, her gaze returning to the flickering flames of the fireplace. Seeing her distress, I moved to sit beside her.
“Is it the witch that’s bothering you?” I asked, watching her reaction closely. Her eyes widened in surprise before she turned to look at me, her lips trembling slightly.
“Why is she here?” Amari questioned, her voice shaky.
“She’s here to see you,” I explained. “She wants to talk to you about the curse.”
“What does she know about it?” Amari asked, her legs dropping from their curled position. “How did she find out? Did Lorcan tell her?”
“Easy, Amari,” I said, raising my hands in a calming gesture. I could see her frustration mounting. “She’s not going to hurt you.”
“Not going to hurt me?” Amari spat out, her voice laced with anger. “How the hell do you know that, Maximus? Are you sure about her?”
By the time she finished speaking, she was panting heavily. A small vein throbbed on her forehead and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She looked away, her hands clenched into fists.
“Where’s Lorcan?” Amari suddenly demanded. “Where is he?” she repeated, her gaze burning into me.
“He’s probably in his room. It’s still the middle of the night,” I said, trailing after her as she stormed out of the room.
She pounded on Lorcan’s door, calling out his name. I rubbed my forehead as I heard other doors opening in response to the noise. Lorcan opened his door, looking down at Amari with a puzzled expression.
“What’s going on, Amari?” Lorcan asked, stifling a yawn.
“Why is that witch here?” Amari demanded. I noticed Lilith and Alastair heading our way.
“Amari, you need to calm down,” I tried to intervene.
“Screw you, Maximus,” Amari shot back, her eyes blazing with anger and hurt.
“Amari, please,” Lorcan pleaded, “just calm down and we can talk about this.”
“No, you tell me. How could you let her in?” Amari challenged. Lorcan frowned at her.
“I have every right to let her in, Amari. She’s not just a member of the royal family, she’s here for you. She knows about your curse. Of course, I would let her in and question her,” Lorcan explained.
“Remember, this is my home.”
Amari’s face twisted in pain as she slammed her fist against Lorcan’s chest.
“I hate you!” she cried, her voice choked with tears. “You know why I’m afraid of them and you…” She leaned against his chest, her body shaking. Lorcan sighed and wrapped his arms around her.
“I know, but just because you’re scared doesn’t mean I won’t let her into my palace. She might be able to help,” Lorcan murmured.
“I don’t need her fucking help, Lorcan,” Amari retorted, pushing him away. “I just want her to leave.”
“But, Amari,” Lorcan tried to reason.
“No, Lorcan,” Amari interrupted, lifting her tear-streaked face to look at him. “If I were your queen, would you still let me suffer just because you’re a king? Knowing how much I fear and worry about their kind?”
Lorcan flinched at her words. I watched him silently, knowing that he still harbored hopes of making Amari his queen.
“Forget it,” Amari said, stepping back. Her body sagged with defeat. “No one understands me. I hate them, I hate all those damn witches.”
“Amari,” Lilith whispered, her face filled with concern for Amari.
“I’m sorry you have to suffer because of us,” a voice said suddenly. We all turned to see the witch looking at Amari. A flicker of worry crossed her face before she quickly masked it. “Listen.”
“SHUT UP!” Amari screamed. “I-I don’t want to hear you.”
“But, princess,” the witch began.
“Amari, please listen,” Devika pleaded. She looked just as worried as the rest of us. “You need to hear what my sister has to say.”
“I don’t need to hear anything from you. Do you understand? Nothing. Because there’s nothing to be said,” Amari said, her voice breaking.
“Yes, there is,” the witch insisted, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Especially when it’s about your curse.”
“My curse?” Amari laughed bitterly. “What the hell did you tell her, Lorcan?”
Lorcan frowned at her.
“I didn’t tell her anything. She knows about it,” Lorcan clarified.
“Yes, he’s telling the truth,” Devika confirmed. “My sister knows… because…” Devika trailed off, lowering her gaze to look at her sister. The two of them locked eyes, a silent conversation passing between them.
I could tell this was tough on everyone. We all knew the witches had shown up because of the curse. But they didn’t give us any details. They just said they needed to talk to Amari.
Lorcan tried to get answers out of them, and Azriel even attempted to grill them, but they kept their lips sealed. Yet, something inside me was screaming that things were about to go south the moment she spoke.
“YOU BITCH!” Alastair suddenly exploded. Everyone turned to him, taken aback. Then, with a loud hiss, he seized the witch and slammed her against the wall. “You fucking bitch, how dare you.”
“Alastair!” Lilith tried to intervene, but he was having none of it.
“Stay out of it, Lilith,” Alastair hissed back, his teeth bared. “I don’t give a fuck who she is. This bitch is the root of all our problems,” he spat.
I was confused. What was he talking about? “What do you mean?” I asked him.
Alastair shot me a glare. Laughing, he tightened his grip on her neck. The witch clawed at his arm, trying to loosen his hold.
“Alastair, release Calandra!” Azriel commanded. He walked over to us, stopped, and gave Amari a wry smile. “Alastair, that was an order.”
“Don’t fucking order me. I’m not letting her go,” Alastair hissed. “I think I might just kill her!”
“STOP, ALASTAIR,” Lilith shouted, her anger boiling over. “What’s your problem?”
“My problem?” Alastair chuckled. “My problem is that this bitch is the one who cursed Amari. She’s the one who put the curse on her!”
“WHAT?” Lorcan and I exclaimed in unison. Azriel hissed at her, his anger palpable.
“What is my brother saying, witch?” Azriel demanded.
“What you heard, seeker,” Calandra, the witch, spat back, a smile playing on her lips. “I’m the one who cursed your precious princess.”
With a roar, Alastair slammed her against the wall again. He was livid. As we all stared at her in shock, a thud echoed through the room.
“AMARI!” Lilith cried, rushing towards Amari’s limp body. Startled, I moved to join her. Amari had fainted from the shock.
“You better start explaining, witch!” Azriel growled, his voice icy. His pitch-black eyes bore into the witch’s. She gasped, trembling.
I never thought she would be the one to curse Amari. Looking down at Amari’s unconscious body in my arms, I lifted her up.
“Fix this,” I whispered to Lorcan, who was still staring at Amari. With a nod, I walked away, Lilith trailing behind me.
