Page 77 of A Whisper of Cinders

It takes everything in me not to stagger back. “Amira.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Heat seems to roll off Conláed in waves, his rage palpable by the heat in the room somehow. “The fuck are you doing here?”

I was about to ask the same, maybe a little politer. Amira gets up from my bed, her hands on her hips. The internal fight I have when I see her is going on in full force. Of course I am happy she is alive and well, but she and her brother did break my trust, and with it my heart.

“What are you doing here?”

“You two know each other?”

Conláed immediately responds no, while Amira simultaneously confirms with a yes. Which is great. Perfect. Exactly what I need right now, more lies.

“Cut the crap, Conláed, you shouldn’t lie to her.”

“I don’t make the rules and neither do you.”

“Fuck the rules, she deserves to know the truth. All of it.”

Truth. Such a funny little word, especially hearing it out of her mouth. The one who made me believe so convincingly that she was dead. “I’m glad you realise that.”

She flinches. I know it’s a jab under water, but currently, I couldn’t care less. She hurt me too. But when I take in my best friend, her eyes are full of sorrow, and deep down I know she didn’t want this either.

“Please Mai, listen to me. I came here to explain. I’ve been —” she notices my bandaged hands and quickly steps closer. “What happened to you?”

“She is fine, not thanks to you though. You can’t tell her and you know it. It is not your choice to make.”

“You should leave, Con. This is between Mai and me.”

“Is it though? I think it affects more people than just the two of you.”

“What are you talking about?”

Waves of sharp pain in my temples come and go, intensifying with every passing minute. It’s hard to keep up with the conversation, but I’m not even sure if they notice me. They keep bickering, not hearing a word I say. It only adds heat to the burning feeling inside of me.

“Let’s go to Mrs Delalune then, shall we? I’m sure she’ll be delighted by your early arrival. She will decide what to do.”

“Yes, we will go, but only after I have explained everything.”

A knock sounds at my door and since I am the only one who notices, I open the door, seeing Aramis standing in the hallway.

“Great, really freaking great,” I murmur.

His smile falters, even more so as he takes in my room. He walks past me.

“Sure, come on in. Don’t be shy, it’s not like this is my room, right?”

I close the door a little harder than necessary and the scent of burned wood stings my nose, but it’s gone within seconds. I try to refocus on the discussion that is currently happening, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t get a word between them.

“...has the right to know.” That’s Amira.

“Now…not…right time. Look…her.” Conláed’s voice is coated in anger.

Three heads turn to me, but it’s Aramis who breaks the silence. “It will never be the right time…figure it out…close to the truth…don’t want…lie.”

Their voices mingle into one and I shut them out again. I would love to know what more secrets they are keeping from me, but the throbbing in my temples is constant now. I don’t think I have ever had a migraine attack like this before. I beg them to leave my room, take their conversations elsewhere, but it’s no use. They aren’t listening.

I can’t take it anymore, I slowly lower myself to the ground, my hands covering my ears, and my eyes shut. My temperature is skyrocketing. Something is not right.