Page 177 of Crown of Briars
My amber stone was still clutched in my palm, and I ran my fingers over it before I reached out to him.
“Varius?”
No answer. Perhaps he’d lost the gem while fighting.
I didn’t want to consider the possibility that he had been killed. Or that the curse had already claimed his life. He was too strong for that. And my heart couldn’t bear it.
We reached the double doors to the dining hall, and I paused, wondering if the castle would take us to a different room.
It had to be on our side. If it understood what we were planning, it would know we were only trying to save the people of the Shadow Court.
“Please,” I whispered before turning the handle and stepping inside.
Gerard was pacing the length of the hall, hands curled into fists and his hair disheveled as if he’d run his fingers through it repeatedly.
“Finally,” he growled when I entered with Ramia. He faltered at the sight of Enzira behind me. As planned, Tislora waited in the hall behind the door, which had been left slightly ajar. “Who is this? I thought you just went to fetch Ramia.”
“This is Enzira,” I said, gesturing to her. “She was my hand maid during my stay here. I’d like to bring her, too. She doesn’t deserve to be left behind to die.”
I didn’t mention thatnoneof the unseelie fae deserved that fate. Such a statement would fall on deaf ears.
Gerard’s face twisted with disgust. “She isunseelie.”
I lifted my chin. “I possess fae blood. Technically, so do you. She is innocent and has nothing to do with the politics here. If you want the king dead, then letting her live will not change that.” It took every ounce of my strength to keep my voice level. “Bury your prejudice, Gerard. I’m not going with you unless you let me bring her, too.”
Gerard made a disgusted sound and rubbed his forehead. “Fine. We don’t have time for this. Come with me.”
He grabbed my arm and steered me toward an open window on the opposite wall. Only then did I notice the rope dangling over the edge.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“This is how I entered the castle. You were right about those enchanted doors. Every time I tried to open one, I found nothing but a stone wall.” He shot me a sly grin. “But apparently, whatever magic enchants these doors does not apply to windows.”
My heart sank with dread. I hadn’t expected to be hauled out the window. I thought he would take me through the hall, where Tislora was waiting.
Gerard noticed my hesitation. “What’s wrong?” He glanced around the room, eyes narrowing with suspicion.
“I just—how far down is it? Aren’t we on the third floor?” I said quickly, not wanting him to investigate.
“Yes, but the rope is secure. Trust me, darling.” He pulled on my arm, drawing me close and brushing his lips against my temple. I swallowed down bile and resisted the urge to recoil from his touch. His smell, his warmth—it was all so unfamiliar to me now.
And it only made me crave Varius’s touch even more.
“I’ll go down first, to ensure it’s safe,” he said. He shot an uncertain glance toward Enzira before climbing out the window and shimmying down the rope.
When he was out of earshot, I hissed to Enzira, “You’ll come out last. Quickly, tell Tislora we’ll be on the grounds by the western side of the castle.”
Enzira nodded and hurried to the hall to relay the message while I climbed out the window after Gerard.
Dusk had fallen, and the gleaming full moon filled the sky. The Umbra Mist swirled like smoke around the castle. Isuppressed a shiver from the cool night air. I slowly lowered myself down the rope, using my feet to propel my body against the stone wall of the palace.
When I finally reached the bottom, Gerard’s arms came around me. I jerked away without thinking, and something like anger flashed in his eyes.
“Oh—I—you startled me,” I said, pretending to be breathless from the climb. “Didn’t you say we were in a hurry?”
His brows knitted together, and a muscle flexed in his jaw. He could sense something was off about me.
Unfortunately, he knew me too well.
