Chapter 37 We got caught in the corner.
Amarien’s POV
“I love you,” I whimpered.
Daevir held my chin. Finally, after all these days, I saw those emotions, I saw that pain in his eyes, I saw that longing.
“Amarien…” he muttered. “I told you to stay away…” tears simmered in his eyes.
“But I can't…” I wiped the tears from my eyes. “I tried…but I can't….”
“You can't possibly love a monster like me…” Daevir muttered, and suddenly a trumpet blazed in the air, startling us. With the trumpet came a voice that unsettled us more than anything else.
“Where is she?!”
It was the emperor’s voice blasting through the palace walls, waking every single person up.
How is he not asleep?!
How could a pot of the herbal sleeping potion not work on him?!
I gripped Daevir, terrified. “They are going to find us?!” I whispered, trying not to screech in fear.
“Ssshhh!” Daevir hushed me. His eyes assured me not to panic.
But I couldn't help myself. All the torches in the outer courts are suddenly lit up. Guards were everywhere, running from passage to rooms to the corners.
“She's escaped!”
“Concubine Amarien!”
“Where could she go!”
“The emperor is looking for her.”
Concubines all got lined up outside as guards searched their room; everyone looked confused and apprehensive.
I wanted to run into the chaos and screech for it all to stop, but Daevir still held me to himself. The sound of his beating her thumbed rhythmically in my ears. I felt his warmth even in the midst of this chaos.
It's only a matter of seconds before a guard will stumble right into the corner we were in and announce to the Emperor that I had been found.
But I was not alone.
I was with a man, alone in the dark. I was with his son while he was knocked off my bed. I picked his son over him, and I did it so openly, in the most treasonous way that would cost me the head of all of my lineage.
For the first time, I suddenly wanted Daevir to let me go. I wanted to face the consequences of drugging the emperor with my herbal tea all alone.
I didn't want them to find me like this.
“Bring her to me now, or else watch the heads of your wife and children roll by sunset!” The emperor screeched in the distance.
I could tell he was frantic and erratic. Like he lost his delicate toy, and now everyone must suffer for it.
“Let me go, your highness.” I pleaded with Daevir.
He didn't look at me anymore. His eyes were set on something, someone else.
I trailed Daevir’s eyes to see what it was he was looking at, and lo and behold, it was the Emperor.
He was standing right in front of us, looking at both of us, confusion in his eyes.
HE FOUND US!
I froze!
He must have been running around so fast, checking from corner to corner, and finally, he stumbled right into this corner. Our hiding spot.
My skin pricked. Tears streamed down my face.
I looked up at Daevir. His eyes gave away his determination. He seemed ready for action, prepared to hold on to me until the very end and fight off whoever tried to tear us apart.
Yes, even his father. It was as if he was ready to face the Emperor of the realm in a duel just to keep me in his arms.
Daevir…. Tears rolled down.
Please let me go…
We can't fight this.
“Amarien…” the emperor called out, but I refused to meet his eyes.
“You found her…” he muttered. “My son found my concubine!” the Emperor suddenly squeaked with excitement.
What?!
He is not…upset. I looked up at Daevir, who seemed even more confused than I was.
Before we could process what was happening. Half of the palace was gathered around us with their torch, weapons, and excitement.
“The Concubine has been found by the prince again!”
Even Daevir was bewildered by how this turned out. Just moments ago, he looked ready to burn everything to the ground. Now, the excitement of the crowd around us weakened his grip.
I saw Princess Catherine was right there. She fought her way to the front, wondering what was going on. When she saw I and Daevir together. There was a wicked fickle in her eyes. She was the only one in the crowd who knew what had happened before the emperor walked in.
Daevir slowly and almost unwillingly let me go. And without hesitation, the Emperor stroked forward and held me in an embrace. The crowd cheered as if congratulating the Emperor for finally finding his lost trinket.
“She's whole! She's fine!” The emperor screeched with joy. I've never seen him this energetic before. Was it the herbal sleep-inducing tea? Or was this just pure excitement born from pure concern?
It was hard to tell. I was as confused as it gets.
“Amarien,” he placed his hands on my shoulder. “The moment I woke up and didn't see you on the bed, I thought that wolf had come for you again. I feared he might have hurt you…or worse…touch you. What wolf would resist your scent?”
My eyes narrowed. What did he just mean by that? How did he know wolves like Daevir and Theron are drawn to my scent?
The emperor whipped his gaze to Daevir.
“Tell me, son, how did you find her?”
Daevir stood speechless.
Through the crowd, I could see Catherine's gaze fixed on me.
It was knowing…
But I refused to match her gaze. I felt like she would read my mind if I met her eyes.
She had every right to be mad, considering David held on to me the way he did
Oh, the gods. What have I done?
What has my thirst for pleasure gotten me into?
Daevir muttered something that drew cheers from the crowd. I didn't hear it, not when my mind was clumped with thoughts of survival.
The Emperor whipped around to me, pulling me closer to himself. “This calls for a party. A party in honour of Amarien! And from now on, she will be known as the emperor who conquered the wolf!”
The crowd cheered. Catherine ran forward, clinging to Daevir’s arms like it was a stamp of ownership.
The emperor pulled me to himself and planted a kiss on my cheek.
Daevir watched us through the crowd. His jaw locked, his eyes bitter.