Wings, Beasts and Claws: Amethyst Flame

Ch. 24 : I will wait

After crying in front of Arden and finally calming myself, I left the Palace Prison and made my way back to my room, my mind and body numb to the world around me. As I neared the Queeness Palace, I ran into Prince Dorian who seemed to be upset about something. When he spotted me he stopped, turning his body towards me before walking up to me.

“Amara.” He breathed, his eyes filled with worry as they searched my face. “Did you go see your brother?”

I nodded, still feeling numb and overwhelmed with everything.

“I’m sorry Amara.” He muttered, surprising me as I looked at his crestfallen face. “If I could have done anything to help Arden and you, I would have… but my father is watching everything that the Commander does with this investigation… it could make things more complicated if I did anything to pull Arden out of there when they found that vial in his room.”

I nodded again, knowing he was right. As a Royal he couldn't just side with us because we were friendly. It’s corrupt and an abuse of his power as Prince to do it, even if my brother really is innocent. But knowing that it’s the right thing to do and accepting it were two very different things. And right now I felt like I was drowning in fear, worry and darkness.

I wanted my brother out of there. I wanted these poisonings to stop. I wanted to get away from all of the damned Noble Ladies and Knights that were staring at me because of this mess. I wanted to pack up and leave this place, forget everything about it as I ran.

No, I want to forget it all.

Every waking second that has passed within this blasted Palace.

Yet, as I looked into the deep crimson eyes of the man in front of me… as I saw the mass of worry and concern that darkened his gaze… I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t make myself forget the days that I had spent in this Palace, because deep down, I didn’t want to. Because I knew that forgetting this place meant forgetting him, and I couldn’t do it.

Tears, hot rushing rivers of tears spilled from my eyes as I came undone, my body trembling as I pressed my hands to my mouth to stop my sobs. The weight of every emotion that I had been fighting, the pain that I relived in the presence of Kaliden and Rosanna, and now the bone breaking worry I felt for my brother all came shattering around me. I couldn’t stop it, couldn’t slow it down or calm it. Instead I just let it pass through me, my lungs struggling to take in enough air as my muffled sobs leaked through my hands.

I suddenly felt arms pulling me into a hard chest, my face buried in soft fabric as I continued to cry. A hand soothingly combed through my hair as the hold on my body tightened, the feeling of someone’s breath fanning over my ear making me realize what was happening.

Prince Dorian was holding me, his body warm and calming against mine as I instinctively clung to him, my hands balling up the front of his shirt. He didn’t say anything as I cried, and he didn’t try to move me either. He just held me, his long fingers combing through my hair gently while his other arm held me securely against his chest. It was all I needed and I soon managed to calm my tears and my hiccupy breath after a few moments in his arms.

A part of me knew that this was a bad idea, that letting him console me would only strengthen that damned half of me that wanted to give in to his romantic advances. That I was making myself weak to his touch after that one night he had spent with me. But at that moment I didn’t care. I just wanted… no, needed to be close to him, needed to to be in his arms to know that everything would be alright. That everything I was feeling would soon be over and I would be ok.

“May I escort you to your room?” He asked softly, smiling a little when I nodded and hid my face behind my hair after seeing the tears stains I had left on his shirt.

We walked in silence as I processed what had just happened to me, the guilt and regret at having clung to him making me even more embarrassed than I thought possible. And when we finally reached my room I felt the embarrassment rise to new heights, seeing Ivy and Lady Spornette in my sitting room. They were both stunned to find His Highness next to me and my face covered in pink splotches, but a knowing look gleamed in both of their eyes, making me feel even worse.

Prince Dorian and I sat across from them and I quickly composed myself, slowly asking them to tell me what they knew about the investigation and my brother's arrest. Ivy explained how most all the Knights and servants were shocked that Arden had been arrested, telling me that a lot of them liked my brother because he had always taken the time to help out. There were those that didn't like his quiet and stoic personality, thinking him a snob, but those that he silently helped out refused to believe that he was behind the poisonings.

Lady Spornette, who asked me to address her by her first name, told me that the other Queeness' had been recently targeted, myself included. She said that a batch of tea leaves had been coated with the powdered poison on the day that Prince Dorian and Rosanna were attacked. And that it was the Commander and my brother, along with a handful of other Knights that discovered the tainted leaves and discarded them before any maid used them for their Mistress. This had been what she was shouting at the Knights outside the Palace Prison.

After a long conversation, Lady Spornette, or rather, Morina, got up and left, hugging me tightly as she told me that she would help in any way she could to free my brother. I sent Ivy with her, wanting to make sure that she got to her room OK. Once they were gone I turned to the Prince, having decided to listen to my brother and tell him what the Commander asked of me.

"He asked you to help?" He ground out, his eyes unfocused as a scowl took over. "He asked you to sneak around the Palace looking for evidence without handing you a weapon or assigning a Knight to you?" A growl started in his chest as he spoke the last few words, his hands clenched tightly on his lap. "No, Amara that's too dangerous. And if he's right and Knights are behind this, you'll get attacked if you're spotted."

"Then I won't let them see me." I told him simply, gripping the side of my dress as I fought against the urge to reach out to him and calm his growing anger. "And I have my flames, so I won't be unarmed."

"That's not the point." He sighed, turning to face me with a pleading look in his eyes. "You could still get hurt."

I shook my head, looking away from him and staring blankly at the coffee table in front of us while saying, "I want to do this Dorian… I want to help my brother in any way I can."

"Let me do it then." I looked back at him to find a determined shine in those garnet eyes of his. "I know the Palace like the back of my hand, I can search for anything and anyone that could lead to proof of your brother's innocence." I opened my mouth to protest, but he stopped me, placing his large warm hand over mine. "Please, I don't want to see you hurt… or worse."

I searched his eyes, wanting to understand why this man made me feel so weak yet somehow as though I could take on an army. His concern and worry for me leaking into my chest as I fought against the deep craving to taste his lips again. Pieces of what had happened between us flashed through my mind and a shiver traveled throughout my body, settling in my stomach and between my clenched thighs.

“We can do it together.” I finally answered, leaning away from him as a hunger began to grow in his eyes. “Doing it alone is not only dangerous, but could make us look like guilty culprits… especially me since my brother was already framed.” As I watched him turn away and clear his throat, working through the desire he seemed to be feeling, I wondered if he believed my brother was guilty.

He had said he would have helped if he could, but hadn’t said anything that would point to his opinion. And I suddenly realized that I needed to hear it. I needed to know that he truly thought my brother was innocent. Needed to hear him say it.

“Dorian…” He turned back to look at me, his brows pulled together in confusion at the tone of my voice. “Do you believe that my brother would do this?” I searched his eyes as shock registered on his face, his eyes growing tender with a small spark of hurt that made my chest tighten. “I know you’re willing to help us… but I want to understand why you want to… It could affect how others look at you if more proof shows that Arden is guilty.” I flinched as the words left my mouth, my gaze dropping to my fidgeting hands on my lap. “It’s too big of a gamble for you to help us out of the kindness of your heart… so why?”

A second of silence felt like an hour as I sat there staring at my twisting fingers. And when that second passed I couldn’t take it anymore and turned to look at him, a stunned gasp leaving my lips as I realized that he had moved closer to me.

“I know that it's hard for you to understand right now.” He started, taking my hands in his as his thumb softly ran over my knuckles. “And I will explain everything to you when the moment is right, but you are the main reason why I want to help.” My heart sped up at his words, thumping loudly in my ears. “Even though I know that Arden is not the type of man that would endanger his sister, or hurt innocent people, you are my reason.” He smiled as he leaned in closer, his crimson eyes glancing at my lips before returning to my eyes. “You can’t pretend not to know how I feel about you… not after the night we spent together.” I tried to look away from him, but he released one of my hands and turned my head back, smiling a little more as he caressed my cheek. “Please don’t be nervous around me, I won’t force you into anything… and I won’t do anything without your consent… just like that night... I can be a patient man.”

My breathing quickly became shallow as he leaned in more, his focus on my lips silently asking for permission. I didn’t move, I couldn’t, my body and mind for once agreeing to what was about to happen. I leaned in just as he reached me, my eyes fluttering closed as his hand on my cheek slowly moved to the nape of my neck. His fingers nestling into my hair as he gently pressed against me, holding me to him. His lips were still so soft, moving against mine in a gentle and passionate kiss that made my stomach flutter. The clenching at my core tightened even more and I couldn’t stop the faint moan that escaped me as his free arm pulled our bodies closer. I willingly deepened the kiss, feeling his surprise against my lips as it grew more hungry and eager.

Too soon, he pulled away, his forehead pressing into mine while I opened my eyes and tried to calm my rapid breathing.

“I will wait as long as you need Amara.” He murmured, pulling away from me. “I will wait until you are ready to open up to me… until you are ready to accept what you feel.”