Page 6 of Crown of Briars
“Of course not! Even if Icouldfind an unseelie to try it out on, I’m not so heartless as to take the life of an innocent stranger.”
“The unseelie aren’t innocent,” he said darkly. “Half a dozen of them were spotted attacking the village of Pruitt yesterday. They are a scourge that should be purged from the realm.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, even as my insides tightened at the thought of more unseelie creatures attacking my people. Gerard saidunseelie, but I knew he meantfae.Even though I was technically seelie, I knew my magic made him uncomfortable. His blatant distaste for all things fae often raised my hackles. The very magic he despised ran through my veins.
But it was also the key to saving our people. Even he couldn’t argue against that.
“I have more than just Wraith Killer,” I said, using my name for the diamond dagger. “There’s also the enchanted rose. If I find that, I can cut off the source of his power.”
Gerard gave me a flat look. “Stones, I still can’t believe you put your stockin that fable.”
“All fables came from somewhere. And all magic has a source.”
“I only trust what I can see. And I’ve seen what your dagger can do, so I’ll put my trust in that.”
I shook my head, unwilling to argue with him about this. I had studied the ways of the Shadow Fae much more than he had. My entire life had been spent preparing for the day the Wraith King would come for me, so my schedule was packed with combat training, history lessons, instruction in the ways of the unseelie fae, and linguistics studies. I had read every text available on the history of their people and how the poisonous shadows had come to fruition.
Father was hopeful it would prepare me to survive whatever brutal conditions the Wraith King had in store for me. But my studies had revealed the key to the Wraith King’s power: the enchanted rose. Legend told of a garden within the Shadow Court that had sprouted a lush rosebush. Within the rosebuds had blossomed a kernel of power. Once touched by the unseelie, shadows had erupted from it, coating the earth and spreading like wildfire. It had consumed the garden, causing it to decay and rot, leaving nothing but a lone rose in its wake. The stories claimed that one remaining rose was the source of the king’s shadows. As long as it lived, so did the magic that threatened my kingdom.
If I could cut off the source of his magic, not only could I destroy his shadows for good, but I could end his life, too. And then my people and my land would be free.
As unpleasant as it would be to live in the Shadow Court as the Wraith King’s bride, I would endure it to save my people. I would do anything to protect my home.
“You really should go,” I said as I removed my tunic. “They’ll be looking for you. At least until I face my father.”
Gerard’s hungry gaze roved over me once more. Despite my dirt-stained skin and the band over my breasts, I was revealingan awful lot of skin to him. His eyes darkened with lust, but he nodded before opening the door.
“Don’t forget our goal, love,” he said before shutting it.
I sighed as he left. How could I forget? My entire life had been devoted to this cause.
If I failed, my kingdom was doomed. I was our only chance of survival.
With that bleak thought, I removed the rest of my clothes and headed toward the bathing chamber, dreading the looming confrontation with my father.
Today,I encountered a dark one, similar to onyx. It was unfamiliar. Might be connected to the surly fellow we discussed previously.
A smile spread across my face, my quill poised in the air as I considered my next words to Eira. I had already bathed and dressed in my shift. I knew I should be continuing to get ready, but I wanted to write to my friend before I forgot. In our previous letters, we had joked about how the Wraith King was likely a surly old codger who liked to complain about everything.
Somehow, it made things easier, imagining him to be old and on the edge of death. Even if, deep down, I knew fae were immortal.
Blue wants to investigate right away. But I’m nervous. What do you think? I don’t want to dabble in anything related to the old codger.
Bluewas our nickname for Azure. Already, I could picture Eira writing me back, hastily listing out all manner of ridiculousideas for what the new stone could do. Once, she’d suggested a gem could grant me the power to squawk like a crow, realistic enough to fool even the smartest of birds.
I snorted at the memory. Eira never ceased to make me laugh.
I had barely finished my letter when Ramia, my maid, burst into my rooms carrying a bundle of crimson fabric. Her graying brown hair was unusually frazzled, and I assumed her haggard state had something to do with my father’s mood.
I straightened, setting down my quill. “Is it bad?”
Ramia pursed her lips, her eyes flashing with a warning. After she laid the red dress on my bed, she said, “It’s certainly not one of his finer days, my lady.”
“Does he—” I broke off with a hard swallow. Ramia had never outright asked me about my cavern exploits, but she was too shrewd not to notice my charcoal-stained skin and clothes.
“As far as I can tell, he only suspects insubordination and youthful recklessness,” Ramia said, her eyes softening just a fraction. “Nothing more.”
I nodded, and she fastened the corset around me. I sucked in a breath as she tightened the strings. The boning tugged against my chest and rib cage, and in her haste, Ramia’s efforts were enough to squeeze the air right out of me.
