Page 176 of Crown of Briars
I explained about the two stones and how I needed the shadow storm to destroy them.
“Once they are destroyed, Varius will kill Gerard, and?—”
“Gerard?” Tislora said sharply.
“The captain of the Earthen Court armies. Well, he’s actually the Earthen King now, I suppose.” My stomach twisted at the thought. “But he’s Jessinda’s son, and?—”
Tislora’s face twisted with rage, her eyes going dark. She curled a hand into a shaking fist and bared her fangs with a feral hiss.
I staggered back a step, taken aback by this reaction.
“Gerard,” she seethed. “It washim. He must have tampered with my stores. Damn him!” She slashed her claws into the stone wall behind her, carving jagged grooves into the hard surface.
“How do you know him?” I demanded, my heartbeat quickening.
“We were raised together,” Tislora said. “I once considered him my brother. We came from the same witch clan.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, then pointed a trembling finger at her. “You—You are fromJessinda’sclan? You’re part of this?” I shook my head, gritting my teeth as rage blurred my vision. “Iknewit. You’re a traitor! You?—”
“Silence, feeble human,” Tislora barked. “I am no traitor. I already swore in blood my fealty to Varius. Gerard deceived me, too.” She shook her head so violently that her dark hair swung around her. “No more. He has crossed a line he cannot come back from.” Her sharp gaze slid to mine. “Can you take me to him?”
I hesitated. I still wasn’t sure I trusted her. If she grew up with Gerard, how did I know she wouldn’t betray me for him?
Tislora stepped toward me, then dragged a claw down her palm. Black blood welled from the wound. “I swear on my fae blood that I will end Gerard’s life if you take me to him, Sybelle. Take me to him, and I will get you that bloodstone.”
The air hummed with power that rattled my bones and made my blood sing. I knew she spoke true.
She was on my side.
I nodded once. “Fine. Here’s the plan…”
After detailing our plan together, Tislora and I opened several doors before we found Enzira and Ramia huddled in thekitchens with the other castle staff. I grabbed Ramia, promising I would keep her safe. Before we could leave, Enzira rushed forward, insisting on coming, too. Both maids were pale and panic-stricken, but the fire in their eyes told me they needed a purpose.
They needed to fight. Even if they couldn’t wield swords, they needed to retaliate somehow.
I understood that all too well.
So, I agreed.
The four of us headed down the spiral staircase that led to the dining hall. In an undertone, I told Ramia of our plan, while Tislora translated for Enzira. To her credit, Enzira only nodded, her mouth set in a grim line. But Ramia’s grip on my arm tightened with each word I uttered.
When I mentioned the role Azure would play, Ramia’s fingernails pinched my skin, making me wince. “Who is Azure?” she asked.
“Oh.” I cleared my throat. “She’s my dragon.”
The two maids stopped short, causing Tislora to bark at us to hurry up. She’d only blinked once at me, her face devoid of emotion, when I’d revealed I had a dragon lurking nearby.
“I knew it,” Ramia hissed, shaking her head at me as if I’d merely confessed to sneaking into her stash of sweets.
“You—You have a dragon?” Enzira whispered. “What is she like? Is she dangerous?”
“No. Well, not to me. She’s serpentine with blue scales. If you see her, keep in mind she’s on our side.”
Enzira’s mouth trembled, and she sucked in a shaky breath. I knew this was a lot for her to take in.
Her reaction reminded me of the awe and wonder on Varius’s face when I’d told him of Azure. My chestachedto be with him. To show him my magnificent dragon.
I would never get to see the look on his face when he finally met her.
