Chapter 146

[ 1,034 words ]

Arabella:

Amy froze. For a second, she just stared at me. Her lips parted to utter some bullshit, but nothing came out.

She blinked quickly and took a step back. “How do you…?” She stopped herself, and something close to panic crossed her face. “What do you mean?”

I smiled because now it was too late for her to back off. “I mean exactly what I said, Amy. Ask your mother stop torturing people in their dreams.”

“No.” She shook her head quickly, but her eyes had already betrayed her. “No witch can do that. And don’t forget. My mother is the queen of…”

“Yes. Your mother is a queen and that’s why she has been taking advantage. And you know that.” I spoke through my teeth. “So, stop playing these silly games with me.”

Amy’s eyes darted toward Jasmine before returning to me. “I don’t know what nonsense you’re talking about.”

I folded my arms. “Wipe the sweat off your face, Amy. I didn’t come here to make enemies. Stop provoking me.”

“And why would I provoke someone like you ?” she snapped, much louder than she needed to.

That made Jasmine turn fully toward her. She held Amy’s arm a little too tightly, maybe to give her a silent warning. She had stayed unusually quiet until now, but the look she gave Amy made her stiffen.

Amy seemed to realize her mistake too. She drew herself up, trying to recover some of her earlier confidence.

“You have no proof, slave,” she said, lifting her chin. “Go ahead and tell Lucien whatever story you’ve made up. Let’s see if he believes you.”

That almost made me laugh. “Who said I was going to tell Lucien?”

Her expression seemed to falter a bit. I stepped closer, keeping my eyes on hers. “But since you brought him up, maybe I should ask him why his mother visits Victor while he sleeps.”

Amy’s face lost its color. Even Jasmine’s jaw hung open at my open threat.

I let the silence sit between us for a moment, “Or maybe I should ask Victor what else she’s been doing to him all these years.”

“Arabella…” Jasmine finally cut in. “I know you’re worried about your friend, but this is getting too far. Her Highness would never try to harm anyone.”

I turned my head toward her. “Oh!” I raised a brow. “Scared you might lose your crown if you make her mad?”

Neither of them answered. I picked up the coffee cups from the ledge and gave them one last look.

“You started this conversation by blaming me for something you can’t prove.” I stepped farther away. “And this is the second time you’ve insulted me since I came back. I ignored it the first time and I’m letting this one go too.” I paused, holding her gaze. “But there won’t be a third time, Amy. Make sure you remember that.”

With that I turned away without waiting for her answer. I had wasted enough time on them.

***

“You should’ve slapped Amy,” Toby whispered after a sip from his coffee cup. “She needs a tight slap on each cheek.”

I stared at him. “Seriously?”

Back in Maya’s room, I was sitting beside Toby, telling him what had happened in the corridor, keeping my voice low so we wouldn’t wake her.

“What?” He leaned closer. “You already gave her a warning. Might as well give her something to remember it by.” He shrugged. “She doesn’t have balls, or I could have told you to kick her there.”

I covered my mouth before my laugh could escape.

“What are you two talking about?” Maya mumbled from the bed. We both got quiet. Toby glanced at her. “Nothing. Go back to sleep. We were discussing your hospital bill. This room is hell expensive.”

A smile slowly appeared on Maya’s face, even though her eyes remained closed. “I heard every word, idiot.”

Toby leaned back in his chair. “Then why did you ask?”

Maya finally opened her sleepy eyes and blinked at me. “Arabella, Toby is right. Slap her next time.”

“Maya!”

“What?” She sighed. “You’ve spent enough years letting these palace bitches treat you like their personal punching bag. It’s about time one of them found out your hands work too.”

I stared at her. Toby nodded thoughtfully. “Maya almost died last night. We should respect her wisdom.”

“Shut up,” Maya muttered and I couldn’t help laughing. But Toby was no more smiling.

“Jokes aside, Ara, you need to be careful now.”

I frowned. “Because of Amy?”

“Because of all of them.” He put his coffee down. “Royals can hate each other all they want behind closed doors, but the moment someone from outside comes at one of them, suddenly they remember they’re family.”

Maya gave a sleepy hum. “He has a point.”

Toby leaned forward. “Amy will probably go straight to her mother and ask what you were talking about. The Queen will deny everything, obviously.”

“And Amy will believe her because she is her mother?”

“Doesn’t matter.” Toby shook his head. “Even if she doesn’t, she’ll still tell her mother that you know a secret.”

That made me quiet.

“The Queen starts wondering exactly how much you know.” His face turned serious. “And if what you said about her entering Victor’s dreams is true, do you really think she’ll sit quietly after finding out you know?”

No. The answer came too quickly in my head. Maya reached over and touched my arm. “You poked the snake, Ara.”

I covered her hand with mine, “I know.”

“No, I don’t think you do,” Toby muttered. “You basically walked up to her daughter and announced it. Amy might hate her mother tomorrow. Jasmine might hate Amy the day after. It doesn’t mean any of them will choose you over each other when things get ugly. So from now on, don’t show them all your cards just because they make you angry.”

I looked toward Maya who nodded slowly. “Fight with them all you want. Just don’t tell them what you know.”

I nodded, but it was a little too late for that advice. I wondered if I had just made things worse.

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