The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness - Chapter 116: Chapter 116

~ LIAM ~
“Nothing…” Raihana sighs as the crawler simply hisses at her again.
“Well, seems we won’t be getting answers from him. So shall we talk now?”
“What is it? I told you I had something to do. That’s why I left.”
“Yeah, but we were meant to stay together, especially at such a moment. Kat is…” I sigh, I don’t want to blame her, this isn’t on her, but maybe things could have gone better and no one might have died if we had them both here too.
“Are you accusing me of Kat’s state? Couldn’t you guys handle it?” Raihana asks sharply, her eyes flashing with hurt. “I wanted to help her; we needed answers.”
“No, I am not, Raihana. I’m just saying-”
“I’m done with this conversation. I don’t answer to you.”
“You kinda do. I was put in charge,” I say, blocking her path, my eyes glimmering. “We all know I was sent to make sure everything went smoothly. Do you want me to report your actions to Alejandro?”
Her eyes flash as she steps closer, glaring up at me. “Don’t threaten me.”
“I’m not. I’m simply saying you went off.”
“To find answers and we got some!” she hisses, glancing around as she steps closer, her foot hitting mine as she stands her ground, but I’m not going to back down either. She creates a barrier around us so no one can overhear.
“We learned that the Ash Stone isn’t needed to control the guardsmen. I guess we were just late, and this could have gone differently, but we also learned-”
“Wait, how did you find that out?” I ask quietly.
She crosses her arms and looks away, clenching her jaw.
“Raihana…”
“I asked a witch.”
“What witch?” I push. Something tells me it’s not Haala or she wouldn’t have asked Enrique’s permission to question her. “A dead one, ok. Happy?”
My eyes widen as I stare at her.
I’m trying to keep myself calm when I am anything but. The irresponsibility and recklessness of her actions are not those of the Raihana I know. One would expect that from one of our kids, not a woman who is not only an adult, but a mother and a High Witch.
“You disturbed the dead,” I state as I try to wrap my head around it.
“Yeah, and we got answers, so-”
“Are you listening to yourself?” I ask quietly, taking hold of her arms, concern flooding me.
“What? I know it was wrong, but sometimes we have to do what we need to do.”
“No, we don’t. Not when it means you have broken the very rules of the council you head. You are in a position of power, Raihana. You can’t be doing this.”
“Don’t preach. We aren’t all saints like you. You will learn there’s more of us treading the line of right and wrong far more often than you think.”
“I know, but it doesn’t mean it’s right. There’s a difference between right and wrong in comparison to light and dark. Some magic is evil,” I answer quietly. Why is she not seeing this?
“So, you’re saying what I did was evil?” Her eyes glow challengingly.
“I have worked alongside you countless times. I know you, Raihana, and I’m worried about you. It’s almost as if you don’t care how reckless you’re being because there is nothing left for you!” The moment the words leave my lips, I realise I shouldn’t have said them when she freezes, her heart thudding as she looks livid.
“You don’t know anything about me! I am not reckless!” she snarls back as she tries to wrench free from my grasp.
“I know you, Raihana. I have for years. I might be a little late to catch onto the way a female’s mind works, but I am not blind. I can see what is right in front of me.”
“You see and know nothing!”
“Oh yeah? I see how you don’t sleep, you don’t eat, you’ve lost so much weight, you smoke, you drink, and you drown yourself in work so you don’t have to face the pain of losing him. Tell me I’m wrong?” I end in a soft whisper, knowing I’m hurting her, but I just want to get through to her. “You are losing yourself, and I think maybe you need to face that.” 1 She looks away, as if unable to look me in the eye any longer. “You don’t know how I feel,” she says, her voice shaking. “No, I don’t. I can’t even imagine losing Raven. In fact, the very thought of it makes me terrified. You are stronger than I am, Raihana, but don’t use your willpower to hurt yourself,” I whisper, wishing I could help her.
She simply pulls away and this time I allow her to. “I know what I was doing,” she says quietly, but she doesn’t sound so convincing.
“Don’t lose what makes you, you. You know he wouldn’t want that.”
She scoffs. “Don’t pretend you understood him. You’re annoying as hell,” she snarls.
I smile faintly. “Because I called you out?”
“Urgh, I need to tell Azura to sort you out,” she mutters.
Why Azura?
She’s about to turn away when she pauses. “I know you think I’m selfish, but I do regret one thing.”
“And what is that?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “Ahren was there.”
I frown as she lowers the barrier. “You know I have to report this, right?”
“Yeah, whatever.” She’s about to walk off when I take hold of her elbow.
“You aren’t selfish. You bend over backwards for others. This was just a dangerous move.”
She doesn’t reply and I let go, sighing as she walks away, and I take out my phone and message Delsanra. She’s at fault here, too.
I step into the hall just as Delsanra is coming down the hall. “What’s wrong?” she asks me.
I jerk my head towards an empty room, and she glances around the hall before she follows me and I close the door behind us. Leaning against it and crossing my arms.
“You were with Raihana when she… or you, called upon a dead witch.”
She nods. “Yes, and it was me. I agreed willingly.” Her voice is almost defensive. I know she and Raihana are close, and that is the problem.
“You didn’t once think to advise her against it or refuse?” I ask.
She sighs. “We didn’t call on a dark witch.”
“But you used dark magic, in a place we already know is tainted with darkness. I don’t think Rayhan would approve,” I say quietly.
She purses her lips. “Maybe not, but I agreed willingly.”
“So that’s on you. You know her more than me. You know what she’s going through. Maybe you thought if she found answers, it might make her feel better or keep her mind off things, but it’s a temporary solution. I will be reporting this once we’re back.”
She frowns at that. “I think we can do that ourselves. I’ll take the blame. I’m the one who performed the spell. In fact, I’m the one who gave her the idea.”
“Funny, she didn’t even mention you when I spoke to her. It’s admirable you are both defending one another, but you both made a mistake. I don’t think hiding her mistake will benefit anyone. Her included,” I say, sighing.
I already feel dreadful for arguing with Raihana when I know she’s going through a lot, but I can’t turn a blind eye to it either.
“I know… I’m sorry on both of our behalf. We should have told you before leaving. We have made a mistake, but you can’t blame Raihana,” she says calmly.
I run my hand down my face. “Look… I’m just giving my point of view, but here’s food for thought; I am extremely calm in comparison to your mate and his uncle. They will be more pissed off than I am.”
Her face drops a little and I sigh, almost feeling bad for the fact I’ll be reporting it, but it’s more dangerous if I don’t. Raihana needs help to cope with her heartbreak and her family needs to help her.