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Amaro looks to Ryuu, a flicker in his eyes that quickly turns threatening before it is masked behind one of mock remorse. “I am sure you would not want any repercussions to befall your family should you not follow our rules. Would you, Seren?”
Although his tone is sincere, the final threat is unmistakable. The cruelty in his eyes reveals everything I need to know about what kind of man he is. He will get his way, one way or another. Now, it is down to me whether it happens quietly or not.
The look Ryuu gives me tells me not to trust him, nor even dare think to go with him, but if there were even a little truth to his words, attempting to prolong this would mean putting him and those I care about in harm’s way.
It is a risk I would never be willing to take.
Seeing the decision on my face, Ryuu gives me a disappointed look.
“Seren—” Ryuu’s tone holds nothing but fury.
Abruptly, the front door opens, revealing my mother. Upon seeing our guests, her calm face morphs into a controlled fury only years of training could display.
“Lieutenant Amaro.” She speaks but two words. Two simple words, and I can already tell how much she despises this man. “What is it you need?” Her words are sharp and harsh even to my own ears.
“As sharp as a blade and straight to the point, Aloisia.” Amaro dips his head to her in greeting, one my mother does not return. She merely raises a brow, waiting for a response.
Amaro smirks. “On to more urgent matters, I see. You’ll be delighted to know that Seren has been chosen to compete in the guard’s competition and will be coming to stay with us in the palace. As a special guest, of course, until it is finished.”
My mother’s body turns stiff, her expression blank. “May I have a moment with my daughter?Alone,” she says, her voice just as devoid of emotion.
“Of course.” Amaro gives me a look of warning. “I’ll be waiting outside. Do not be long.” Amaro gives Ryuu a sharp look before heading outside, his guards following him closely behind.
Once they are gone, my mother rushes over to me, her masked fury no longer contained, bleeding out around her. “You arenotgoing with that man!”
I swallow back the bile and pull on years of training to push away any emotions I feel right now. It would do me no good to regret what I cannot change. “I have to,” I tell her.
“No, you don’t.” My mother looks to Ryuu for an answer. “We will come up with a plan.”
Together, they start thinking of people they can contact to get me somewhere hidden and safe. But I know what I must do. No plan they will come up with will get me out of this. It would only make things worse. Amaro already holds a considerable amountof hostility toward Ryuu. It will not take much for him to turn on him and then my mother.
My stomach churns at the thought of what Amaro has planned for me, but I need to follow through with this. There is no other way.
“No.” My voice cuts through their discussion, silencing them.
They both turn to look at me.
“It’s too late. I have to go with him.” I plead with my eyes, begging them to trust me with this, to understand.
“I will not allow you to leave with that… man! I’d trust a serpent quicker than I’d trust him.”
I’d have to agree with my mother; there was something Amaro was hiding, something I know I will discover soon. But it might be better to be inside the nest of snakes than waiting on the edges for them to strike.
“Neither do I, but you know I need to go with him.”
“I know no such thing,” she says, her voice like a whip. Her stubborn nature is legendary. Her anger, a violent storm ready to be unleashed. But I was raised among her whirlwind of fury. Never fearing the raging turmoil, only feeling the strength beneath it. I will not yield on this. I can’t, not with their lives at stake.
“Amaro has made it very clear how he expects this to go should we not agree to his terms,” I tell her.
“He’s going to make you pay, Seren. Formymistakes,” Ryuu hisses, the fear in his eyes seeping onto his face.
“What mistakes?” I ask him. “All you did was try to make them listen.”
Maybe revealing the dark creature to the lower guardswasa mistake, but one that also ended up revealing their part in whatever they are hiding. It is time to find out if the royals are also a part of this.
“And because of it, you will pay for it.”
I look to both of them. “You’ve both taught me how to fight. Taught me well. You know I can take care of myself. Besides, you said it yourself, the dark creatures are growing in numbers and strength. Apart from trying to keep them at bay, there is nothing more anyone else can do. I can enter the competition and try to meet with the royals to ask them to see reason.”
