"Well you didn't. I encountered a dreamscreecher and I'm still in one piece. What need is there to cause more drama if everything is okay?"
"Because I don't want to lose my little brother, Amias!" he yells out, taking another step towards me so I’m forced to step back.
I glower. It doesn't change his expression as his pupils shrink. "I actually care about your ass, okay? We can laugh and joke all we want, and you can hate me for having a soulmate, but I'd never forgive myself if I knew you were doing crazy shit and they found you dead!”
He breathes rapidly as his curled fingers tremble. My heart stings with guilt. Not only for this, but the commentsI've made about him having a soulmate. "I'm sorry. About everything. I didn't mean to frighten you.”
"It's a little late for that…" Erasmus retorts. "When Glaide told me, I got worried. I wasn't sure if I was going to find you dead or alive. I've seen how violent they can get.”
I swallow back the wave of regret that throbs my throat. Of course. It’s not just the mall incident that's on his mind. He was a soldier that fought their invasions until Mother begged him to come home. No wonder he's so concerned. He's been through countless days witnessing the torturous deaths of people he cared about.
An arm wraps around my shoulders. My gaze darts to Glaide."I was concerned too. That's why I let him know." Glaide offers a gentle smile. "We care about you. We don't want to see you get torn up to shreds and there's so many other people that would worry too. I mean, imagine Sabina losing her adoptive father figure to a dreamscreecher after losing her biological family. Those monsters are vile."
The pain from guilt worsens. I could never imagine making Sabina lose another person at such a young age, let alone having people like Erasmus and Glaide mourn over me. It hurts to think about Mother and Grandmother in that situation too.
Still…the creature didn't hurt me. It proved what Clara said was true.
I wonder what made her believe that? Considering the whole kingdom seems to be so against them and much of the world as I know it. Come to think of it, I don't know much about the outside world, with coming in and out of Amara requiring a cleansing. Maybe Lluvia is more open to her ideas.
"I'll be more cautious next time…” I murmur to them.” I won't do these things anymore. I promise." It's not an accurate promise but I'd still be more cautious for their sake. "I just don't want to rattle anyone else tonight. Mother is just calming downfrom the mall incident, and so is Grandmother. I don't need them to lose their minds over this."
It falls silent between everyone as Erasmus’s shoulders seem to relax. He lets out a deep breath. "Fine. Just don't do that again."
"I won't."
He shakes his head before leading me back to the car my chauffeur drove me in. Oh great. They called him back. "Get home safe baby brother, okay?"
I nod and get into the backseat. Glaide follows me in as Erasmus tells our chauffeur to take Glaide home as well. When he walks away, Glaide turns to me. “Actually I have something to show you before we go home.”
I raise my brows. “You do?”
“For that evidence you wanted? I texted my professor and got a quick response.” He leans towards the front seat. “Bring us to the University of Amara, please?”
“This late at night?” My chauffeur raises a brow.
“Amias needs this,” he nods in my direction as I sink into myself.
What's he got to show me this time?
Chapter 24
Amias
“I thought you were a fashion major?” I cock a brow as a golden light scans us. A soft glow emanates from my body. It's a protection from magic and scientific experiments to make sure we don't mess with the environment inside the lab.
Why would any of his classes require him to go into the university lab?
“Every student is required to take a dreamscreecher safety class.” Glaide explains. “Something about younger people being easily swayed by dreamscreecher propaganda.”
I scoff. “Why?”
“Because of people like you.”
I shrug. Fair point.
White doors slide open before us to the labs. Bold pink lights make everything look the same color, including me and Glaide.
As we stroll through the hall, I gape at the laboratory and rows of experiments. A surprising smell of sweet flowers wafts into my nose as bubbles pop from vials. Amare flowers hanging over one wall with some put in jars with other substances in them. I even walk by jars of organs and cringe. Those eyeballs staring back at me make me shudder.
