Page 80 of Crown of Briars
Still, I held his throat, keeping him pinned to the wall. I wasn’t ready to release him. Not when he’d threatened Sybelle. This bastard had no ounce of remorse.
He would do it again. I was certain of it.
“You’re bluffing,” I hissed.
“I’m fae,” he said with another hoarse laugh. “Can’t lie.”
“Then say it,” I bit out.
“Loosen your grip,” he choked out, “and I will.”
A growl rumbled in my throat as I glared at him. He gazed calmly back, as if I weren’t about to crush his windpipe.
He knew he had the upper hand.
Whispers and murmurs rippled around me. The revel had officially halted, and I was aware of every pair of eyes watching us.
Slowly, I relaxed my hold on him, but I kept my fingers on his throat, just to be safe.
“Talk,” I said.
Warwick smirked, his mouth curling in smug satisfaction. “I swear on my life and the fae blood coursing through my veins that I know the key to ending your curse. Something you didn’t know about before.”
What the hell was he talking about? And how did he know this?
“Warwick!” Murvo barked. “That’s enough.”
I whirled, keeping a firm grip on the soldier while I glared at my captain of the guards. “Who are you to give him orders when his king holds him by the throat?” I roared.
“You are not his king,” Murvo said, his voice surprisingly bold. Not once had he ever spoken to me like that.
I froze, my blood chilling. If Warwick was not one of my subjects, then…
Slowly, I turned to look at the soldier, my nostrils flaring. “Who the hell are you? And why are you in my court?”
“Ah, well, those are questions that I can only answer when you aren’t threatening my life, good king.” Warwick offered a lopsided smile that only fueled my rage.
With my free hand, I rammed my fist into the wall just inches away from Warwick’s face. Fae screamed at the crash that echoed in the room. Stone crumbled, and my knuckles throbbed. But Warwick held my gaze, unperturbed.
“Murvo, who the hell is he?” I bellowed, my gaze never straying from Warwick’s.
“Remember your bargain, captain,” Warwick said loudly.
I scented Murvo’s fear, a putrid thing that swirled in the air next to me. “I—I cannot, Your Highness. I am bound by fae laws.”
I bit back a curse, resisting the urge to run my claws straight through Murvo’s chest.
“Varius,” said a soft voice to my right.
I didn’t need to look to know it was Clermont, trying to quiet my fury.
But it was far too late for that.
“Varius, you should let him go.” Clermont’s voice was stronger now. I wasn’t sure when he had appeared; perhaps someone had sent for him after Sybelle and I had made a scene.
Mother of Shade.Sybelle.Everything changed now that this soldier, thisintruderwas among us and knew about my curse. And with her here, it complicated things.
I couldn’t risk her safety.
