Chapter 10 From Frying Pan to Fire.
Amarien's POV
“Your highness! Your highness!” I called, racing after him, but he walked away, never looking back.
Why won't he respond?!
I just want to save him!
My eyes blurred with tears as the breeze partially blinded me. But I kept racing. The faster I ran, the farther he seemed to be, unreachable to me.
But I will save Daevir if I die trying. I quickened my steps, racing as my silk gown flowed in the breeze. My wounded leg burned with exhaustion and pain, my skin scarred by the thorns of the rose, but the fire in my heart didn't stop me.
“Your Highness!” I called out for the last time. “You need the roses!”
It happened fast. One moment, I was sprinting through the evening breeze. The next, someone stepped into my path, shoving me so hard that I stumbled, hit the ground, and rolled in the dirt.
My body twitched in pain, the roses crumbled to the floor, and my head burned with intense ache.
Yet, I pulled myself up. My eyes caught sight of the last of Daevir walking off without looking back. He was out of sight again.
“Look what we have here. A little rat scampering around the palace, screaming like a banshee.”
I didn't need to look at her eyes to see it was Velmira. Her harsh voice was sufficient for me. What is she doing here?!
“I heard the emperor finally came to your station last night.” She said, her voice dripping with venom.
It's one thing to escape Corvin, it's another to fall into the hands of Velmira!
I tried to push myself up and crawl toward my scattered roses, but Velmira, seeing what I was doing, snatched them from the ground before I could reach them.
“What are these for? A new lover of yours?” she taunted. “You know how jealous the emperor is of his little concubines. Carrying things like this could get you in trouble.”
“Give it back!” I screeched, lunging at Velmira.
Shocked by my fervour, Velmira pushed me back to the ground.
“Wow! Look who's desperate. Who knew you had some feistiness in you?”
I tried to get up again. I didn't want to fight. I just wanted to pick off what's left of my crumbled roses.
“Give me back my rose!” I lunged at Velmira, but I was too weak. She shoved me harder this time, and I hit the floor, my body going numb from pain.
“Give me back my rose.” I managed a whisper. And then my eyes caught it. A single rose was lying next to me. It wasn't crushed like the others.
My eyes lit with joy.
I still had a chance!
I stretched out my hands to grab the roses, but Velmira reached them first. She quickly kicked the bouquet, sending it tumbling several feet away from me.
“You must be desperately in love, cursed concubine. Aren't you scared you'd curse your lover with your curse?” Velmira kicked me hard in the stomach.
I groaned in pain, but my eyes were set on the rose. I clenched my jaw, tightened my fist, and pressed my body against the floor, inching myself forward toward the rose.
Angered by my attempts, Velmira drew back and kicked me, then stepped closer and kicked me again, each time harder than the last.
“You dumb little rat!” She cursed as she kicked.
“Foul beast!” Kicked
“Desperate whore!” Kicked harder.
I groaned but kept moving.
“You'll kill the emperor. You cursed wrenched!” Kick!
Blood spilt out of my mouth. I gritted my teeth and, despite the pain, dragged myself inch by inch closer to the rose.
Maybe Velmira was right. Maybe I am desperate.
I'm desperate to save the Prince!
How could I not be desperate to save the only man who treats me right in the realm?! The only one who stood up for me against my bullies. The one who feels just as cursed as I am. He might be a werewolf, but he is the only one who has shown me kindness.
My shaking hands reached for the single rose and grabbed it.
“You stupid bitch!” Velmira screeched with rage. She tried to snatch the roses from my hands, but I wrapped myself around them.
“Give it back!” she demanded, kicking me again, hard, striking my back, my ribs, my head.
“Die, you monster! Die!”
My head burned with aching heat, my eyes blurry.
I clutched the roses tighter in my palm as Velmira kicked harder and harder with each kick.
I felt myself drifting off. My eyes are shutting.
If I died saving my friend, so be it.
With everything in me, I squeezed my fist tight and screamed one last time, “Your Highness!!!”
Everything went blurry.
Everything but a dark boot that stepped in front of me.
Suddenly, the kicking stopped.
My eyes found strength, and I looked up.
It was Prince Daevir!