Page 171 of Soulmateless
“She thought it was necessary when I first confessed. I've been resisting but she keeps choking me with the flowers. It's not right but she's just scared-”
“She’s done this multiple times?” My muscles tense as cold blood rushes through my veins. I’m going to beat the shit out of Amara next time I lay eyes on her.
If this is what Amara's idea of love is, I have to reconsider that idea about dreamscreechers.
Amias raises his hands up defensively. “It’s extreme, and fucked up, but she's clouded by judgement. She's the Gift of Love. She wouldn't-”
“If she's strangling over this, she's trying to control you.” I groan. “This isn't right. I don't care what excuse she makes.”
“Hey!” I look up to see Ivy with Dr.Kurt. “I got help.” I nod as he comes down and examines his neck. He touches two fingers around his neck, each time causing Amias to suck in air. He then uses an instrument to look inside Amias’ mouth before taking a shot from the briefcase he brought and injects him in the shoulder.
What in the name of love is this?
Amias shrieks as Dr.Kurt rests a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry,” the doctor whispers.
After Dr. Kurt examines him one last time, I ask, “How many times has this happened?”
He sighs, “I can't disclose that.”
“Because it's confidential?”
“I can't disclose that either.” He bows his head. “It's horrible, and I don't agree with anything going on, but I have a family to feed and I can't afford to be punished under Amara.”
“What even is that?” I gesture my hand towards the shot in his hand. “What kind of shit are you injecting him with?”
“Pain medication.” He furrows his brow before shoving past me. My teeth clench as the door shuts behind him. Fucking coward.
Amias pushes himself up against the wall and I sit beside him. Ivy takes a seat on the other side of him.
Amias closes his eyes, leaning his head into the wall. “I'm tired.” He sniffles. “She’s far away now, but what if I find her again? What if I kill her?”
My brows scrunch. He was much better when he was with her. Even with the crazy delusions, he seemed much more alive, and happier.
“Well, she's a dreamscreecher. Does that…” Ivy’s voice drifts. Her lips twitch as she looks at the floor. “Doesn't that scare you?”
Amias shakes his head, leaning a cheek against the wall beside her. “She saved my life. Three times. I’m not afraid of her.” He then turns over to me. “She loved me. The flower even glowed for us. She really loved me.”
He lets out a sob before stopping to wipe the tears from his cheeks. Meanwhile I'm silently churning out ideas. I don't think the cleansing ceremony will help him. It’ll only make his condition worse.
“We have to get you out of here,” I say firmly. “I'm not letting you go through this.”
“No! I can't!” He grabs my arm as I push myself off the floor. I stay still and meet his panicked eyes again. “Grandmother will come after me, and I'll be dragged back here. Worse yet, it will encourage her to hunt Ignatia down and kill her too! The only way I can escape this is by convincing Grandmother. I'm only lucky she isn't looking for Ignatia herself right now.” He glances towards Ivy. “And… I don't want you two to get punished.”
“I don't care about getting punished. I will do what I can to help my best friend.”
“If her punishment is anything like I've experienced, I don't want you to go through it. Besides, I'll be caught with all the guards around here and all of my efforts would be erased if I escape. I don't need Grandmother to follow Ignatia.”
My heart drops. “There's no way you're convincing her.”
“I know.” He smiles softly with tears coating his eyes. “I know. All I can do is try.”
I fall silent, before leaning back against the wall. He's right. If the key is to keep Ignatia safe, he's right.
“Can you promise me one thing?” he murmurs.
I nod quickly, realizing my lip is throbbing. Why? I don't know. I bite it to stop it.
“Don't let me kill Ignatia. Whatever you do.” He sucks air through his teeth. “Please. Kill me if you need to. Just don't let me kill Ignatia.”
