Chapter 16 #2
A figure moves and blocks my view, making me lose sight of my friend.
Frustration makes me forget myself, anger pulsing through me.
If only I was a mythical fire breathing creature, I would burn the male to a pile of ash for daring to step in front of my.
Baring my teeth, I look up into the face of the person.
Prince Amir.
“Kiara, how are you feeling? Are you excited?”
My anger fades as I look into his smiling face.
Genuine happiness exudes from him, yet it is not for himself, but aimed toward me.
He is pleased for me. It must be to do with the ceremony that I have been brought here for, but as I still do not know the purpose of it, I find it difficult to return his excitement.
Attempting a rueful expression, I smile faintly. “I would be more excited if I knew why I was here.”
“No one’s told you?” He seems shocked, no, it is deeper than that, anger flashes in his eyes as he shoots a look over his shoulder at his father.
I almost missed it, as he’s smiling at me now, but I know what I saw.
I have noticed the tension between the prince and his father, yet this seemed more than that. What is happening here?
“Never mind, this just means that I get to be the one to tell you.” He practically beams, his smile infectious. “You are being redesignated.”
Everything stops. In this one moment, the world is still, even the sound of the water in the fountain has ceased.
Of course, I know this is not truly possible, yet what he is telling me is also something I had once thought impossible.
The sullied cannot be redeemed, a life sentence.
It is why we are rebranded and excluded from society, as even being locked in the cells is too good for the likes of us.
Dropping his gaze, I turn my face away, staring at the mosaic floor although not truly seeing it, bringing my hand to my mouth.
There’s a part of me that refuses to believe this is real, my mistrust insisting this is a cruel joke.
Not to mention I am pretty skeptical behind the reasons of this.
I still don’t know what crime I committed to become Sullied, and now they are simply taking it away?
Does the King think this wipes the slate clean?
If he thinks giving me a fancy title and clothing is enough to take away the pain from a decade of living in squalor then he needs a reality check.
I carry many scars from this life, both physically and mentally, and they will not magically vanish when my rank is changed.
Where are your survival skills? My own voice snaps me out of those dark thoughts.
They are offering you a fresh start, a new life.
I have lived so long by surviving one day at a time and not allowing myself to imagine a future that all of this seems so impossible.
I would be stupid to refuse this, both for myself and Ella.
This all seems too good to be true. Can I truly let myself believe that this is actually happening?
“I’ll no longer be sullied?” I whisper, breaking the spell over me, slowly lifting my gaze to meet his, half expecting him to say he was wrong.
His expression softens, picking up on my fear and disbelief. “You are being given a new life, Kiara.”
“The king didn’t give me much of a choice.” I should be grateful, or at least try to sound it, but that little niggle in the back of my mind will not let this drop.
Amir winces and nods slowly. “I know, I am sorry about that, my father can be brutal in his methods, but there is more going on here than it appears. We need you, Kiara.” Earnestly, he steps closer and places his hand on my arm. “I will do everything I can to make your life comfortable here.”
Glancing down at his tanned hand on my arm, I find myself once more with a vortex of contradicting feelings. He is so genuine, but he is also his father’s son, the man that has threatened me and bullied me into a life I never asked for.
“I don’t want you to make me comfortable, your highness,” I explain softly, placing my hand on top of his and staring up into his blue eyes. “I want to be free.”
“Kiara…” His voice is heavy with the weight of emotion and he trails off, not saying what is truly on his mind.
“Lady Kiara, are you ready for the ceremony?”
Caleb’s voice catches me by surprise and I jerk away from the prince as though his touch burns.
Glancing over Amir’s shoulder, I see my friend dressed in his full ceremonial robes.
With his hood up you can barely make out any of his features but I would know him anywhere.
In these clothes, all of the Chosen are look the same, united in their mission to serve the gods, hiding their identity to all except the gods.
“Your highness,” Caleb lowers his head slightly in a show of respect, only his mouth showing as he smile. “I apologise, I did not see you there.” He gestures loosely toward his hood as an excuse but we all know that he saw the prince and this is a slight.
However, the prince simply raises a brow and dips his head in greeting. He glances at me and turns away, joining the others around the fountain. I can feel the eyes of the group on me, expectant and impatient, but my full attention is on the imposing figure before me.