Page 65 of Crown of Briars
I had no response to that. She was right, of course. And I felt like an idiot. My gaze dropped to the cauldron once more. The steam had now turned fuchsia.
“Willyoube attending the revel?” I asked her.
“I’ll make an appearance,” she said vaguely.
When I said nothing, she looked me over, her gaze calculating. “You should come.”
I blinked. “To the unseelie revel?”
“Yes. Consider this your formal invitation. Come and see what the unseelie do when we are…unrestrained.”
I resisted the urge to fidget. Her words sounded more like a threat than an invitation. “I—are you sure it would be appropriate for me to be there?”
She arched an eyebrow at me. “Aren’t you Varius’s wife? If he’s there, you should be, too.”
Varius.She was using his given name again. “The king will be in attendance?”
“Of course. He is unseelie, and he must make a point to show the people that even he will make time for them.”
My throat went dry as I considered her words. Should I really do it? Attend this unseelie revel? My efforts to explore the castle had been unfruitful. And if Varius was going to be there, I could speak with him and try to dig up some more answers.
My insides squirmed, but I forced myself to say, “Perhaps you’re right. If I’m the Queen of the Shadow Court, surely, I should make an appearance.”
Tislora laughed again, louder this time. “Queen of the Shadow Court.As if that actually means anything.”
My cheeks flamed. Who did this fae think she was, to scoff at me like that? “Well, Iammarried to the Shadow King, as you said.”
Tislora leveled a hard look at me. “Even if youhadconsummated the marriage, which I’m assuming you haven’t, there hasn’t been an official coronation. Not to mention the people of this court would never respect you as their queen. You are a stranger, and a feeble human. No one even knows who you are. You may be the Shadow King’s wife according to the law, but that doesnotmake you the queen of this people or this land. You aren’t even willing to give a few drops of your blood for thesake of protecting our people.” Now her tone was downright icy.
I went completely rigid, my heart stuttering in my chest. She knew about Varius’s need for my blood?
Of course she did. She was the court sorceress.
I swallowed thickly, unable to find my voice.
Tislora’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Yes, I know about your blood. And I know you have refused Varius’s request.”
“I did not refuse,” I said tightly. “I just… needed to consider it.”
“Yes, and while you are taking your precious time toconsider, those deadly shadows are killing innocent fae.” Her steely eyes drilled into me.
I gritted my teeth, trying to ignore the way my chest constricted at her words.
Stones, she was right. I was so selfish. I thought I could solve this myself, but people weredying.
I needed to speak with Varius. Sooner rather than later.
Which meant… I would be attending this revel. No matter how much the idea tied my stomach into knots.
I gestured to the cauldron, eager to change the subject. “What are you cooking in there?”
“An elixir,” she said shortly. She sniffed the contents again, then frowned. Clearly, something about this potion was bothering her.
I remembered Varius mentioning an elixir when he told me he needed my blood. “What is it for?”
“I’m quite certain that’s none of your business, human.”
“My name is Sybelle,” I snapped.
