19. Amaya

Iwake up to screams and shouts and the sound of metal clashing. Are we under attack? But from whom? I knew Siderus had enemies but which of them would dare attack him as a guest in his uncle's home?

After everything that's happened in the last few days, all I want is to hide under the bed and cover my ears until it all goes away. I grip the blankets tightly to my chest, paralyzed.

What if Siderus is in danger right now? My heart clenches inside my chest. Even with everything he's done, he's still watched over me. He tried to protect me and my brother.

The gentle look on his face comes to mind from our first night together. The night he lavished me with such love as though I were something magnificent. As if I were everything.

And then he betrayed me.

I know I should hate him like I said I did. The thought of him being injured shouldn't turn my stomach. Most of all, I shouldn't want to run to him and make sure he's okay. And yet I want to.

I know now that all the terrible things about Siderus are just his uncle. Underneath all the anger and roughness is a gentle elf who loves me. Who, against all odds, I've fallen in love with. And I know that if something happens to him and I don't try to go find him, I will never forgive myself.

Not giving myself time to reconsider, I throw on some boots and quickly go out the door. I race through the halls and try to follow the noise. A voice in the back of my head screams that I am absolutely crazy. I remind the voice that I've been crazy ever since I went to Siderus's door.

The noise grows closer, and I quicken my pace. Down in the foyer, the great doors are smashed open and hang ajar. Bodies are strewn everywhere, and the pungent smell of blood hits me. I cover my nose and mouth quickly and try not to gag.

Every fiber of my being tells me to run away from this now. But I still need to find Siderus. Steeling myself, I press on. For Siderus, I must.

I run out from the broken doors and gasp at the scene in front of me. Outside rages a battle like nothing I could have ever imagined. Elves are everywhere at each other's throats. Magic flies through the air.

And at the center of it all is an inferno.

Siderus clashes with his uncle, fiery sword against burning magic.

Pride and elation swell through me. He's doing it. He's standing up to his uncle! More than that, he's fighting him!

I start to run out to him and immediately think better of it. Even from here, it feels like I'm standing next to the hearth of a roaring fire. Not to mention the still warring elves between me and him. Oh, how I wish…

Huddled against a wall, I watch as Siderus battles his uncle. Siderus's men seem to have the advantage. Elves under an unfamiliar banner also appear to be aiding them.

But my focus remains on Siderus and the Grand Duke. The two elves battle more fiercely than anyone else. Even the warriors give them a wide berth. I hardly dare to breathe as the two clash. The very earth seems to shake as the two titans battle for dominance.

Siderus is younger and quicker, but the Grand Duke is the more experienced of the two. It's evident in every movement, every swing and dodge. Then my worst fear happens. The Grand Duke's sword makes contact with Siderus's side.

I slap a hand over my mouth to cover up the scream that escapes me. Siderus snarls, and his uncle smirks. He says something I cannot hear, but whatever it was instills pure rage on Siderus's face.

There's a guttural roar from Siderus, and his fire blazes around him brightly. All I can do is gasp. I forgot how truly powerful he really is. Though I don't think anyone could mistake him for anything but power at this moment.

He looks like fire itself, his flames engulfing his body. His skin looks molten and his eyes shine brighter than ever. Even from here, I can see the Grand Duke pale.

With another great bellowing cry, Siderus unleashes his flames. His uncle doesn't even have time to scream before he is turned to ash.

The rest of the fighting seems to blur as all my focus centers on Siderus. His flames die away until only smoke remains.

He blinks for a moment and stares at the place where his uncle just was. It's almost as if he's waiting for him to reappear. Like he doesn't quite believe it.

Then when he doesn't, it's as though all the harshness and severity slowly wash away from him. The utter relief on his face almost makes me want to cry. He's no longer chained by the cruelty and fear his uncle instilled in him. He isn't a puppet any longer.

He's free.

Free to be his own man. Free to be the man I know he is. As I watch him, I realize I truly will never know the depths of the horrors he went through.

The heat recedes, and the battle seems to die down. With their leader burned to a crisp, the Grand Duke's men lose their fighting spirit.

He's done it! He's won! I can't keep down my excitement any longer.

"Siderus!" I cry out. His head whips around, and his gaze meets mine. The relief on his face morphs to joy, and he runs towards me. And before I know it, I begin to run towards him. too. We meet in the middle, and he sweeps me up into a searing kiss.

I try to convey all the love and happiness I'm feeling right now as I kiss him back. My hands tangle in his hair, and he pulls me closer. When he finally releases me, I feel breathless and light as a feather. He smiles down at me, and I grin back up at him stupidly.

"Amaya," he whispers gently as his thumb caresses my cheek with such love and care. I whisper his name again, and he pulls me close up against his chest. He holds me as though I'll disappear into thin air any second.

I stroke his back gingerly, and he shudders and pulls me closer. I could never imagine having such an effect on a person. And yet here I am, with one of the most feared Dukes in Orthani seeking comfort in me.

For a long while we stay like that, drawing comfort from one another. Then he pulls back just far enough to look at me. His expression becomes serious, almost regretful. A knot of dread forms in the pit of my stomach.

"Amaya, I love you."

My eyes go wide in surprise, my fears beginning to ebb. I open my mouth to speak but he holds out a hand.

"Please let me speak first."

I can only nod, and he continues. "Amaya, I have loved you from the first moment I saw you, I just didn't know it. Everything about you contradicted me, challenged me, and made me question everything about myself. Your beauty enchanted me, and I knew when I made love to you that we belonged to one another. And then I hurt you."

It's an effort not to avert my gaze at that. But I make myself look him in the eye and bid him to continue.

"You saw the monster inside me, and rightfully, you hated him. I would have given anything to keep you away from that monster, but I had no choice. I did everything in my power to protect you, to save you and your family from my grandparents. I wish so desperately that I didn't have to hurt and humiliate you the way that I did. I'll confess though that I'd do it all again if it meant you were safe beside me."

"And you." He laughs ruefully and stares at me with such adoration that I felt heat rising to my cheeks. "You persevered through all of it on the chance there was still hope. You, a small na?ve human girl. I realized then that you were braver than me."

I startle at that. I can't fathom a universe where I am braver than Siderus. He laughs at my expression and grips my hands tightly. "I have never been strong enough to stand up to my family." He smirks. "Not until I had a good reason."

At that, I do duck my head, but he lifts my chin to look at him. "You, Amaya Liaric, are my reason. My love. My everything. I would lay down my life for you a thousand times over if it meant it would preserve your happiness."

Tears gather in the corners of my eyes, and I smile sadly at the man I love so dearly. "But I'm just a human," I remind him, and I just barely choke back a sob.

He takes my face in his hands and holds me close. "Then you are a most extraordinary human."

A sob does escape me then, and he kisses me fiercely. As we kiss, I start to believe him.