Page 160 of Crown of Briars
But no. The bloodstone was still missing.
“Damn it,” I roared, slamming my fist on the table and making the gems scatter. I exhaled sharply through my teeth. My gaze flicked to the shadowstone.
Maybe I could use it to find the bloodstone. Perhaps it would show me in the mirror.
I reached for it, and as soon as my fingers closed around it, the sharp ringing noise assaulted me.
I cried out, falling to my knees, my eardrums throbbing. The stone dropped from my grasp, and the sound immediately stopped.
“Sybelle, what was that? Are you all right?”
I shook my head, gasping for breath. “I—I don’t know what happened. It was the ringing again. Why is it ringing? It didn’t do this before.” I stared at the shadowstone again, my mind working to connect the pieces. “Az. If the two are connected, maybe… maybe they arecallingto each other. Could that be the true reason behind that horrible sound?”
Azure didn’t respond.
“Az?”
“I don’t know, Sybelle.”Her voice was solemn.“You have to be careful with magic like this. Remember, you are not fully fae. You cannot heal like they can. If you endure this ringing sound for too long…”
“I’ll be fine,” I promised. “And I will be careful. But Azure, I have to try. The fate of this entire kingdom is at stake.” I thought of the crying child I had met in the hall. All those innocent fae without homes. “These aremy peoplenow.”
Azure hesitated for a long moment.“I understand. But keep your hand on the amber stone the entire time, understand?”
I unclasped the necklace from my throat, perhaps for the first time in years. I wrapped the chain several times around mywrist, tucking the stone in my palm and closing my fingers around it. “There,” I said. “Now you’ll always hear me. I won’t let go. I promise.”
“Good. Tread carefully, Sybelle.”
“I will.”
With a deep breath, I grasped the shadowstone again. This time, I was ready for the shrill sound as it seemed to pierce my very skull. My eyes crammed shut, and I gritted my teeth. How was I supposed to use this sound to locate the other stone?
“Show me!” I shouted, clutching the stone tighter. When I had touched the bloodstone, the ringing had stopped.
But this was the opposite.
I turned back to the desk, wondering if I could utilize another gemstone to help me.
But as soon as I moved, the ringing changed in pitch, going even higher. I cried out, ducking my head, my eyes watering from the severity of it.
That was certainly different. And more painful.
I set the stone down on the desk, then rushed into the bathing chamber. A stack of clean washcloths sat next to the hot springs hole. I grabbed one, then ripped it into small pieces. After balling up two strips of cloth, I shoved one in each of my ears, then hurried back into the bedchamber.
When I picked up the shadowstone this time, the sound was loud and blaring, but it didn’t sting nearly as much.
I exhaled in relief and turned in a slow circle, waiting for the pitch to change.
Only when I faced the door did the tone become shriller.
“You want me to go through the door?” I muttered. I stepped toward it, and the ringing intensified, causing me to wince.
“All right then,” I breathed before throwing open the door.
I was staring at the empty dining hall, which was set for breakfast. Trays of hot rolls, pastries, and fruit awaited me. Though my mouth watered and my stomach growled as thedelicious aromas filled my nose, I knew I was here for a different reason.
With cautious steps, I eased into the room. Again, the magic ringing pulsed louder. I strode deeper into the room, holding up the shadowstone and using the sounds to guide me. I had crossed the length of the room, reaching the end of the long table, when the ringing stopped abruptly.
I faltered, my mouth falling open. I glanced around, wondering what had changed. “Wha?—”
