Page 22 of Crown of Briars
With a sigh, I climbed to my feet, my legs shaking slightly. I was covered in dried sweat, dirt, and blood. Aside from a pulsing headache, I felt fine, albeit drained and exhausted.
I emerged from the cave, then spread my wings, using them to glide downhill toward the rear of the castle. The wind carried me, and I landed on the second-floor balcony, gasping for breath. My wings were powerful, but they were only good for gliding. I couldn’t pump them or lift myself any higher.
But this was fine. I could make it to my chambers from here.
I gathered my shadows around me, shrouding myself from view. The interior of the castle was already so cloaked in darkness that it would be easy to blend in.
I skirted down the hall, dodging a few servants as they swept past me. My steps were careful and silent as I made my way up the stairs toward the king’s chambers.
Voices stopped me in my tracks, and I froze.
“Are you sure this is necessary?” asked a loud voice. It rang through the hall with shrill authority.
Mother of Shade. Was this my bride-to-be?
Revulsion stirred in my gut, and my curiosity got the best of me. I had to see her, even just to get a glimpse of my future wife.
More voices joined with the first, mingling so I couldn’tdistinguish one from the other. I inched closer, ensuring my shadows still concealed me from view. When I reached the end of the hall, I hovered by the open door where the voices were coming from.
“It—It’s too scandalous!” said the shrill voice. “Her breasts are practically spilling out of the dress.”
I nearly choked, giving myself away.
Whoever was speaking wasnotthe human princess. Her maid, perhaps?
But now, I simply had to see this supposedlyappallingdress that the human maid was griping about.
I drew closer to the cracked door, my shadows swirling as I peered inside.
Three figures stood in the room, one wearing the traditional black gown the unseelie females wore for wedding ceremonies. The female next to her was a servant I recognized—Enzira—and the other was a short human with graying hair and a severe scowl on her face.
“Ramia, it’s fine,” said the figure in the middle, smoothing her hands along the silk fabric of her skirt. “If this is their custom wedding gown, then I’ll wear it.”
My eyes fixed on the human princess. She stood before a mirror, gazing at her reflection with a pensive look in her warm brown eyes. Her full lips had been painted red, and her chestnut hair was loose down her back. Her skin was quite pale, but perhaps that was the standard complexion of human flesh. The black gown did indeed reveal a stark amount of her skin, barely concealing her breasts. But it certainly wasn’tscandalous. It was common for unseelie females to dress in such a way, especially for sacred ceremonies.
It only looked jarring on the human because her skin was sickly and wan.
As far as humans went, she wasn’t…unpleasantto look at.But she seemed so frail and feeble. My shadows alone could easily snap her in two.
I continued to gaze at her, wondering what she was thinking as she stared at her reflection. Her expression gave nothing away, save for the slight pull of her eyebrows indicating she was concentrating on something.
In a flash, her gaze snapped to mine, and I froze.
My shadows are hiding me,I reminded myself.She cannot see me.
Her mouth puckered into a slight frown, and she turned to face the door, her eyes flicking over my shadows.
Shit.Slowly and carefully, I withdrew from the door, sweeping my shadows away one tendril at a time.
I had lingered here for too long. The human princess’s voice murmured something, but I was already retreating down the hall, worried she might emerge and investigate. Regardless of how well my shadows concealed me, if the princess noticed a large mass of darkness creeping toward her, it would surely terrify her, perhaps send her running.
And I couldn’t afford to delay the wedding ceremony.
I edged down the hall to my own chambers, my stomach growling again. The smell of cooked fish wafted from my rooms, and I smiled. Clermont had sent for food.
Of course he had. My steward never failed to anticipate my needs.
Before I could step into my room, the door was thrown open, and Clermont appeared, his wide eyes taking in my shadows.
