Page 186 of Crown of Briars
My eyes met Azure’s. “What was that?”
“You know what it was,”she said.
Swallowing hard, I grasped the stone again. The air pulsed with energy, and power sizzled along my skin.
“Mother of Shade,” Tislora whispered, drawing closer. “Even I can sense it. What magic is this, Varius?”
My mouth went dry, and my stomach roiled with unease. I had never felt anything like this before. It was certainly notmymagic.
My gaze slid to Sybelle’s. “It’s hers. It’s her power.”
“That’s not possible.” Tislora’s voice was full of doubt.
“How else can I communicate through the amber stone? How do you explain the shadows she conjured?” I turned to look at Tislora, whose eyes were wide. “We are sharing magic, Lor. It’s the only explanation.”
Her brows knitted together as she considered this. “The marriage bond is strongest when consummated,” she mused. “I would also wager she is the only human bride who fell in love with her husband.”
“And whose husband fell in love with her in turn,” I whispered, gazing at Sybelle once more. “Azure, what do I do to heal her?”
“I have only seen her use it a handful of times,”said the dragon.“She held it in her hand, then pressed it to the one who was wounded. Then, somehow, their injuries were healed.”
I nodded. “All right.” I kept the amber stone clutched firmly in one hand, feeling a sense of comfort knowing Azure was nearby if anything went wrong. With my free hand, I clutched the moonstone tightly, then pressed it against Sybelle’s chest.
“Please,” I whispered, my eyes cramming shut. “Please, gods, bring her back to me. Do not take her from me.”
Power crackled in the air like lightning, and Tislora yelpedfrom behind me. I held perfectly still, keeping the stone against Sybelle’s body and trying not to think about how cold she felt.
“Come back to me, Sybelle,” I breathed, my voice ragged. “Be my wife. My queen. My everything.Please.”
My chest felt as if it were splitting in two, like a jagged blade had carved straight through my rib cage.
I could not lose her. To lose her would be to lose my very soul.
Heat blossomed from my hand, and the moonstone began to vibrate against my skin. From beneath me, Sybelle’s form trembled. Warmth spread from her chest, and I felt her start to move.
Holy gods. It was working. The stone was healing her.
My eyes flew open, my breaths sharp and painful as I dared to hope, dared to believe she had been healed.
“Sybelle?” My voice cracked, and a tear traced down my cheek.
She inhaled, a small wrinkle forming between her eyebrows. Her chest rose and fell, and then she coughed, the sound wet and hoarse. Blood dribbled from her lips, and I quickly leaned her forward so she wouldn’t choke on it. Her matted hair fell, shielding her face like a curtain. I carefully drew it back, tucking it behind her ears.
Her eyelids fluttered, and she squinted, her incoherent gaze taking in Azure, Tislora, and me as we crowded around her.
“What—What happened?” she rasped. She sounded as if she hadn’t spoken in days.
“By the gods,” I sobbed before crushing her against my chest. Her frail hands clutched at my arms, bringing me closer. Her shoulders shook, and I couldn’t tell if it was from laughter or tears. “You’re alive. You’re here. Mother of Shade, you’rehere.” Fresh tears flowed down my face, and I couldn’t will them to stop. The devastation of almost losing her was still so fresh, so potent, that it hung over me like a dark cloud. I buried my face in her shoulder, clinging to her, afraid if Ireleased her that the god of death would snatch her away from me.
“Varius,” she murmured, her fingers digging into my arm.
I sniffed, realizing I was soaking her bodice with my snot and tears, then drew back to offer her an apologetic smile. “Forgive me,dannahla. You scared me half to death.”
Her eyes warmed, and she pressed her palm to my cheek, catching my tears with her fingers. “It’s all right. I’m here.” Her mouth puckered in a slight frown. “But… I don’t know how. I thought the curse could only be broken by my death.”
“What were the exact words of the curse?” Tislora asked.
Sybelle’s eyes grew distant as she no doubt recalled the words from her notes. “Until one of my kind gives up her life for yours…”
