Between the Veil and Crown

Amelia

Amelia watched her brother head over to the bonfire, a lump stuck somewhere in her throat. She wanted to say more to him, to ask him more about Selim's desire about being a Ranger, but she couldn't find the words, and she couldn't hold him up from his work.

She blinked rapidly. She could not cry when there was still so much work to be done. Doses to give out, wounds to check, bandages to change . . . There was so much for her to keep busy and not think about what just happened.

But instead of getting herself back into the tent and assisting Morganne and her healers, Amelia stumbled her way over to a tree and sunk to the ground, laying her head on her forearms.

Oh, sure. She might dodge Selim this time. But if he was going to return to beg for a position among the Rangers, what then? She certainly did not want to sever ties with the Rangers. But it would be near impossible to guarantee that Selim would not come across her path if she continued to aid them. How could she be expected to come face to face with the man, the prince, that she had wronged? Somehow, a simple apology didn't seem to cut it.

On top of that, she could barely admit to herself how much she had enjoyed Selim's company.

Beyond the labor he had done.

She couldn't explain to Kylin the combined feeling of happiness and despair knowing that the time she had been spending with Selim was only a result of the obsession potion, and then to find out that it wasn't?

She had been played, and yet, she knew she deserved it.

She took a deep breath to steady herself. She stood back up, fully intending to head back into the tent and bury herself in her work. It took a few more breaths to stave off the tears. She squared her shoulders and marched herself to the tent.

Fate had different plans for her, however, and they were not kind plans. Before she reached the opening of the tent, she heard her name called by a familiar voice.

She jumped, whirling around to see Selim there, holding one of the Rangers' horses. A hand flew to her chest, as though it would stop the rapid beating of her heart. The blood drained from her face. She knew she was breathing, but she wasn't getting any air.

"I was hoping to speak with you at some point," Selim said.

Amelia could only give him a wide-eyed expression, hand still on chest. No words came to her mind. Not a single thought. She couldn't even determine whether or not Selim was upset, neutral, or happy. Things were getting a little fuzzy.

Selim noticed color had not returned to her cheeks. Holding up a hand, he said, "I did not mean to scare you."

As if that was the issue.

An awkward silence followed. Selim hoping that she would speak and Amelia still unable to even recall the first letter of the alphabet.

"Ah, well . . ." Selim shifted uncomfortably. "I thought that maybe . . . we could . . . clear up what . . . happened."

"I didn't mean to kidnap you," Amelia said in a rush. Her hand slipped up from her chest to her mouth, surprised that she had said anything.

"For not meaning to, it was a good kidnapping," Selim said.

Both of them paused to work that one out.

"Anyways, I suppose that I . . . kind of wanted to thank you," he said.

"I kidnapped you," Amelia said incredulously.

"Yes, we've established that."

"You shouldn't be thanking me."