CHAPTER 49: LOOKING FOR THIS?

Iris’s POV

A long, tense pause stretched between them and I could practically imagine how speechless Amelia looked.

And she finally spoke.

"She’s...," Amelia stuttered as Lucas’s voice came again. "Tell her I know she’s angry with me. Tell her... tell her I was just trying to do what was right. I’m sorry if my actions really hurt her.Tell her I want to see her."

I closed my eyes for a moment, a wave of conflicting emotions washing over me. Frustrated that he was asking for me. His actions shouldn’t make a mess right now.

Saying he was sorry? I’d seen the look in his eyes when he’d faced off with Zane. He was just doing what he thought was right.

Apologizing was not really necessary. It was the closest I was going to get, he tried to defend me and I am grateful now.

"Okay," Amelia said, her voice sounding a little steadier. "I’ll tell her." She paused again, and then spoke. "You should eat your food," she said. "And take some water, too. You need it. If you need anything, anything at all, just... just call to my attention."

But Lucas wasn’t listening. His voice came again. "Is Iris okay? Does she know why I did it? Did they hurt her again? Please, just tell her to come see me. Just for a minute."

Amelia didn’t respond to his questions, instead just whispering a soft "Okay, I’ll tell her," before she turned and walked away.

She approached me with a sudden chill running through me. Her face was different now, the excited look from before had vanished, replaced by a strange, unreadable expression. I didn’t know where to start, so I just said, "Are you okay?"

She nodded as her lips curved out into a slight smile as we headed out. Then she made her way straight to her room. When she reached her door, she paused, glancing back at me. "We’ll be heading out tonight at 11," she said. "To go see my mother."

Instantly, I remembered we’d actually agreed to go see her this weekend. I hadn’t seen ma’am Elara for a while now and I’m glad I’ll get to see her soon.

A smile curved out my lips as I simply nodded, my heart still aching from what had happened. Though I wanted to ask what’s wrong, but the look on her face told me she wasn’t in the mood to talk. So I just watched as she turned and headed into her room, the door clicking shut behind her. And I made my way to my room too.

The rest of the day was a blur of unease and boredom. None of the triplets or Liora came to taunt me as usual. Amelia on the other hand didn’t come to check on me either, and every passing hour I thought of going to check on her but I felt reluctant to do so.

Maybe she just needs to be alone for now. She needs her moment and I understand. Or perhaps she was busy, maybe Scarlett had given her a mountain of work to do as usual. So as I tried to push the boredom away, I left my room, my mind replaying the scene at the dungeon over and over.

Finally, seeking a distraction, I made my way to the training field. The evening wind was cool against my skin, sending goosebumps all over my skin at the sound of the rustling of leaves on the trees. I walked to the spot where I had thrown that book days ago. The grass was a little trampled, due to the recent training and the book wasn’t there as I searched. My eyes searching over every corner. I searched and searched, but I still couldn’t find it. Suddenly, a voice startled me.

"Looking for this?"

I turned to the voice as I saw Kael standing there, a smirk playing on his lips. The book was in his hands, its book cover covered with dirts. He took a step toward me, his eyes glinting with mischief. I glared at him, a knot of anger tightening in my stomach.

The urge to ignore him intensified. If I gave him the satisfaction of a response, he’d just end up annoying me. I wasn’t in the mood for it.

"Mind your own business, Kael," I said, turning on my heel and taking a step away. But he was faster. He blocked my path, his arm shooting out to rest against a tree trunk, trapping me between him. "Hold on," he said, the smirk on his face widening. "I have to say, the rate at which you’re acting fearless is actually brave. So brave, you even sent Lucas to attack Zane."

I snapped. "I didn’t do any such thing," I shot back with rage. I tried to sidestep him again to walk away, but he just moved with me, not giving me the chance to leave as he spoke again. "Oh, really? Anyways, It’s a good thing you’re so skinny and useless. No one would ever want a skinny thing like you and if having lucas is on your mind, then sorry to disappoint you. He won’t live to give you that love you long for."

He was pushing every single button to get to me but I continued to stay calm. I took another step, my hands clenching into fists, but he was suddenly in front of me again, blocking my path. He pinned me to the tree, his face inches from mine, his cold and mischievous eyes not leaning mine. He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low, mocking tone. "It’s actually a good thing Cade rejected you. And you know what? I can’t wait to see the pain in you when you watch us claim Liora in front of everyone and publicly reject you. It’s going to be a masterpiece I can’t wait to witness.

My breath hitched. His words were like a physical blow, a cruel jab that hit me right in the gut. I swallowed hard, trying to push past the suffocating rage that was building inside me. I tried to leave, to shove him out of the way, but he still didn’t give me the chance. He just stood there, smirking wickedly.

Unexpectedly, a sudden, hot strength coursed through me as it was like a jolt of electricity. Without thinking, I just shoved him aside. It wasn’t a hard push, just a slight push to get him out of my way but the moment my hands reached with his chest, it was as if an invisible force, a gust of wind pushed him with force as he finally flew back, his body hitting a nearby tree with a sickening thud before he collapsed to the ground.

Startled, the scene left shivers running down my spine. I stared at Kael and then down at my own hands, which were trembling in fear now. How did that happen? I’d only pushed him slightly. How had he ended up flying to the ground?

Without processing the scene any further, my instincts took over as I sprinted. Running away, at least now I got the chance to.