A voice sounds from behind me. Startled, I spin and find not the demon I was talking to, but Prince Amir. A dozen contradicting emotions flash through me, with the strongest being both fear and relief. There is no time for me to examine them though as the prince is waiting for my response. Pressing my hand to my chest I release a startled laugh, my cheeks flushing. “Your highness, you startled me.”
“I apologise.” His smile is apologetic and he watches me closely as I get to my feet. “Are you okay? This must all be such a shock to you.”
The urge to laugh at his understatement is fierce, but I manage to wrangle it back under control. I am still trying to calm my racing heart from the near miss that just happened. If Amir had been just a few moments later, he might have heard enough to incriminate me. They might accept magic, but a female who consorts with demons? They would execute me before I could even scream for Kit.
“You could say that,” I reply wryly. “I don’t know who I am any more, or what I am supposed to be doing here.” Frustrated, I gesture widely, being far more open with the prince than I should be. Speaking to him so casually and without deference could land me in the stocks, yet somehow I know he would not do that to me. There is something different about him thatmakes it easy for me to pour my heart out. “Why is everyone acting like I’m something special?” My voice breaks and I cut myself off. Most people would want to be special, to be seen, but I have spent most of my life trying to avoid notice.
“Because you are special, Kiara.” Stepping forward, he reaches out to touch me. Realising what he’s about to do, he hesitates. It is only for a second, and then his fingers brush against the skin of my arm.
My breath comes out in a rush and I only just now realise that I was holding my breath. Both of our gazes are locked on the point where we touch, neither of us saying anything. Should I be speaking? Should I pull away? Do I wantto break the contact between us? Shockingly, the answer is no. Iwanthis touch, his skin against mine.
His eyes track down my arm and he notices the stone in my hand. Gaze turning thoughtful, he lifts his head to smile at me. “Gems shine brighter in the darkest places, Kiara. You have had many dark moments and you made it out the other side, strong, beautiful, and the key to helping us survive.”
His words shifting something within my, breaking the stone barrier around my heart. What is wrong with me? Someone says something nice and my hard-wrought barriers are brought to the ground. This isn’t just anyone though, but the prince of Rune, one of the most powerful men alive. However, he is nothing like I would have expected the crown prince to be like, and I find myself wanting to get to know him better. Against my better judgement, I actuallylikehim. Somehow, he has managed to remain kind and strong in a palace of lies and greed.
However, I have more questions for him and I am determined to get answers. “That doesn’t explain what I am doing here. What have you told the court? The way they watch me is…” Trailing off with a shudder, I notice the shift in his expression. He seems disapproving, a slight frown pulling at hisbrow, yet I get the feeling it is not aimed at me, but the subject of the conversation.
“Only a select few know that you possess magic. The Chosen are telling the Gutter that you are a goddess reincarnated. Most of the nobility believe that you are a royal from a distant land and you are here to help us prosper.”
I think back to the group of people who gathered to watch my walk to the temple this morning, remembering the rich clothing they wore. They were acting like divine followers and they certainly were not from the Gutter. Which means that it is more than a ‘select few’ that have been told about the magic, or that the nobility are also believing the story told to the Gutter.
A Goddess reincarnated. They wouldn’t say that if they knew the truth of my power. In fact, it is so far from the truth that it makes me want to laugh aloud. However, I manage to wrestle my emotions into check as I see that the prince is not done with his explanation.
“Rune was never meant to exist,” Amir begins, but quickly pauses to gather his thoughts. “One of my distant ancestors, King Rune, came here and positioned the gods to create him a city. They listened and agreed, but there were conditions that we had to meet. They would create the city and provide what was needed for us to survive, but in return, we had to worship the gods and provide magic and riches to sustain the city.” Eyes darkening, the prince’s gaze becomes heavy. “Over the centuries, magic has begun to fade. We were almost fully out of magic when you were discovered.”
Slow, horrified realisation slides over me as I realise the implications of what he’s saying. Swallowing against the dry lump at the back of my throat, I couch to clear it. “So, without my magic…”
“The gods would destroy the city.” He confirms, our eyes locking.
His words are a punch to the gut. So that is why they are so desperate for my magic; to please the gods. Without me, everything would be destroyed. At least, that’s what they think. I am a fake, a fraud. None of this is to do with me, but the demon’s magic that I bargained my life for.
“Why does no one know this?” My breath is stolen from my throat, making my whispered question shaky. The city too close to the brink of destruction, yet none of the citizens know, blindly carrying on with their lives.
“It would create panic.” He watches me closely as he speaks, scanning my face for my emotions. “The reason we ban magic is that it’s easier for us to find magic users, as their own neighbours will turn them in, thinking them evil.”
A sour taste fills my mouth. All of those accused over the years who didn’t have that magic, what happened to them? They were never seen again and they couldn’t be released as it would go against the story the king feeds us all. So many victims, all to fuel their lie.
“You cannot really think that is a good idea? It is completely immoral. What about the innocents that were accused and killed by their own people before the guards could get to them?”
“No, I disagree with my father, but this is something passed down from king to king over the centuries and royalty are notoriously reluctant to change traditions. I have spoken with him about this, petitioning him to change the system, but there is no changing his mind.” Amir sighs, his entire stance changing as though he is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and I see something in him that I’ve only seen glimpses of previously. Kindness and the desperate desire for change.
Tilting my head to one side, I watch him closely, seeing him in a new light. Perhaps not all of the royalty are as corrupt as I once believed. He genuinely seems to want to make a difference.
“When you are king, will you change things?”
I could be executed for asking something like this. The question is too probing, too personal, especially with the slight challenge that I pitch in my voice. However, I am quickly learning the Prince Amir is not like the rest of the nobility.
Gazes locked, I see the moment that he decides to speak candidly. “There are many things I want to change when I rule. Our city needs to be better for everyone, not just the select few. Why should the bronze bands in the Gutter have to live by a different set of rules to the rest of the city? It isn’t fair, not to mention how the sullied are treated…” Realising what he’s saying he snaps out of his passionate speech, glancing around as though to make sure no one else was around to hear him. The gods assign the designations and his words are dangerously close to sounding sacrilegious. Huffing a frustrated sigh, he runs his fingers through his hair, messing up the neat strands. “I want to leave a positive mark on this city; I just don’t know how to do it.”
Seeing him like this, raw, frustrated, it’s letting me see him in a new light. Seeing his compassion makes me realise that he is human just like the rest of us. He has wishes and desires, and is bound by the same rules despite his position of power. Nobility often seem to be in entirely differently realm to the rest of us, not only separated by walls and distance, but metaphysically too. As though their status makes them untouchable, almost god-like, and the royalty are no different. Their lives are far beyond our reach.
In this moment though, talking about his wishes to help his people, he’s stopped being Prince Amir to me, and become areal,tangible person.
“I am sure you will rule the city admirably, with your queen at your side.” Smiling warmly, I hope that he can see that I’m genuine with my praise.
Crossing over to the bench, he sits and rests his elbows on his knees. “I am not married, nor am I promised to anyone.”
My ears perk at the off note in his voice. Scanning his face, I see a frown pulling at his brow. There is something going on here, I just don’t know what. Clearing my throat, I walk over to the bench and sit beside him, angling myself so I can continue studying his expression.
