Page 79 of The Curse of Golden Blood
Narietta's voice shook, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. The weight of it all was too much. The guilt of leaving her mate to the Rot, the grief and fear that consumed every moment. The knowledge that each day could be the one that took Silvyr from her forever.
“Narietta…”
She shook her head, silencing me. “There is no more time. There is only this, and I will do anything to give her one more day. One more hour. One more breath.” Her eyes burned, fierce and bright. “You must let Miralyte continue. You must let her try to heal my mate. She is the only one who can.”
My gaze flicked to Miralyte, her eyes wide and wary. She stood in the center of the room, her back stiff, her chin lifted. Defiant. She was always so goddamn defiant, even when she didn’t know what she was fighting. It was like she was born to challenge me.
“Miralyte, leave us.”
She didn’t move. “No. I’m not a dog you can just dismiss when you’re tired of me. If this is about the bloodletting, then I have a right to be here. I have a right to know.”
I sighed. “This isn’t the time for a fight.”
Mira’s jaw clenched. “Then don’t start one. Just let me stay. This is my decision.”
The tension in the room thickened, a cord strung taut. Narietta stared at me, her gaze unwavering. Her face, so lovely, so like the porcelain dolls we'd played with as children, was now a mask of pain.
I took a deep breath, my chest tight. “Fine.”
Mira blinked, her expression wary. “Fine?”
I nodded. "It is Miralyte's decision. If she chooses to continue, then she is free to do so. Just know that I don’t support it, and if I see even a hint that she cannot continue, that her life is at risk, I will end it immediately. Do you understand?”
Mira nodded, her brow furrowing. She glanced at Narietta. “I’ll do everything I can to help your mate.”
Narietta smiled, the expression small, fragile. Like a snowflake that would melt with the slightest touch. “Thank you, Mira. You have no idea how grateful I am.” Her eyes turned back to me. “And I thank you too, brother.”
I sighed. “Don’t thank me. Just make sure you’re ready for the consequences of this. Whatever they may be.”
Narietta’s eyes met mine, a spark of something fierce and determined flashing in their depths. “I am.”
I nodded, then watched as she turned on her heel and strode out, her gown trailing behind her, a ghostly whisper in the air.
The door clicked shut. Mira and I were alone.
I turned to face her. Her expression was a mix of apprehension, confusion, and concern. I could see the questions swimming in her eyes, but I didn't want to answer them. Not now.
“What are you not telling me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She took a step towards me. “What is the truth you're hiding?”
I shook my head. "It doesn't matter."
She frowned. “It matters to me. You say it's my choice, but how can I make a choice when I don't know the whole truth?”
I looked away, my jaw clenched. “You're not ready to know. And I'm not ready to tell you.”
“Why?” she demanded, her eyes flashing. “Why are you keeping secrets from me?”
“I'm not keeping secrets from you,” I said. “I'm protecting you.”
Her eyes narrowed. “From what?”
From the truth. From the reality of what she truly was and the danger she was in. From the truth of what the other courts would do to her if they found out. From the horrors they'd subject her to, not just to torture her, but to get at me, to break her, to break me.
"Trust me, Mira. "
Her lips curled, the smile bitter. “You're asking me to trust a fae, a high prince, a warlord who keeps secrets and controls every part of my life. Everyone has tried to keep me broken and beaten and I'm finally on the road to finding outwho I am, Zydar. Don't take that from me. Don't stand in my way."
My hand reached out, brushing her cheek before I could stop myself. "It's not that easy. The answers aren't that simple. And I think you know that, deep down."
