Page 174 of Crown of Briars
“My lord?” A figure approached. Deep inside, I felt I should know him, but the beast had taken over.
All I saw was a threat.
A menacing growl rumbled up my throat, and the figure took an alarmed step back. Shouts rang out around me, and I hissed and spat at the commotion, the fresh fur on my body standing on end.
There were too many predators here. I either needed to escape or slaughter them all.
“My king!” Another figure drew closer, his face hovering near mine. I snarled and spat again, but he was undeterred. “King Varius, we need you!”
The note of panic in his voice only raised my hackles even more. I tried to back away from him, but there were more behind me, crowding me.
I was trapped.
Rage and bloodlust consumed me. I bared my teeth at the predator leering closest to me. I dug in my hind legs, my throat rumbling. My vision turned red, and I pounced.
I was still weepingfrom my conversation with Varius. I wasn’t sure if the amber stone would work, but I had to try. My heart yearned for him, to hear his voice one last time.
But Stones, it killed me to hear him beg. To hear his own voice breaking with sobs.
Tears streaked down my face, blurring my vision. I wiped them away impatiently. I had to keep moving forward.
I had a curse to break.
Clutching my amber stone, I opened a mental channel to Azure, wiping tears from my face. “Are you ready, Az?”
“Ready.”
“Good. Let’s?—”
A fierce pounding sounded at the door. I went rigid, my blood running cold.
Shit. Gerard was coming for me. And I hadn’t even found Ramia yet.
I hastily grabbed my cloak and fastened it around my shoulders.
More heavy knocking.
“Just a moment!” My voice was shrill and panicked.
“Sybelle, it’s me.”
I froze, alarm and confusion washing over me. The turmoilof emotions from the last hour was enough to drag me under for a full minute before I registered who was calling for me.
It was Tislora.
I opened the door, my pulse skittering at the sight of her. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes wide and slightly crazed.
“Tislora?” I asked uncertainly. I had never seen her look so… unhinged.
“I need to speak with you,” she said in a strained voice. “Urgently.”
I swallowed hard, uneasy with the idea of being alone in my room with her. But time was of the essence. I had to return to Gerard soon.
“Make it quick,” I said, stepping back to let her in.
She swept past me, one of her wings catching me in the shoulder and knocking me backward. I yelped, about to protest, when she spun to face me and held a jar up to my face.
“What does this smell like to you?”
