Page 84 of Crown of Briars
My gaze slid to hers. “You were here before—when the other human brides were here. Is what he said true? Did—Did the princesses getpassed aroundat these revels?” Just saying the words made me want to retch again.
Enzira took a shuddering breath, her eyes shining with tears. “My lady…”
I covered my face with my hands, choking on a sob. “Stones, please tell me it isn’t true,” I wailed. “Please,pleasesay it isn’t true.”
“My lady, please,” Enzira said, her voice thick. I felt her draw closer to me, but I held up a hand to stop her. “I was so young back then. I didn’t know… I had only heard stories. I—I’m so terribly sorry.”
Deep down, I knew it wasn’t her fault. And I knew she hadn’t directly been involved in such vile behavior.
But it had happened. My ancestors, mypeoplehad been tortured and assaulted and raped among these fae beasts. All for their own amusement.
“Leave me,” I whispered.
Enzira didn’t move.
“Enzira, please let me be alone,” I said, my voice firm and sharp. “I cannot look at you right now. Please.”
“Lady, it isn’t safe.”
“Get out!” I shouted, jabbing my finger toward the door. “Now!”
Tears streamed down her face, but she nodded. She pressed her fist to her chest before fleeing the room. The door snapped shut with her departure.
I sank to the cold stone floor of the balcony, curling my body into itself as I continued to weep. The tears would not stop. They flowed down my cheeks, sticky and salty. The cool breeze whipped around me, and the moisture on my face burned from the cold.
I hadn’t realized my fingers were touching the amber at my throat until Azure murmured,“Sybelle, what’s happened? Are you hurt?”
I couldn’t even find it in me to speak. I could only shut my eyes, letting the last of my tears trickle down my face.
“You found the stone, didn’t you? Please don’t be angry with me.”
My eyes snapped open at that, and I sat up so quickly that my head spun. “What stone?”
Azure was silent.
“Damn it, Az,what stone?”
“Look on your vanity.”Azure’s voice was dejected and full of an emotion I couldn’t place. I had never heard her sound like that before.
It almost felt like…shame.
Azure was never ashamed.
Alarm pulsed through me, swift and violent, as I scrambled to my feet. I darted into my room, then rushed over to the vanity. It didn’t take me long to find it.
It was the black stone we’d found in the caves just before Clermont had come to collect me. I remembered how Azure had claimed it smelled like the shadows. I had refused to touch it. Stones, it felt like ages ago. An entire lifetime.
I had completely forgotten about this gem.
“What is it doing here?” I asked slowly, drawing closer to inspect it. When Azure didn’t respond, I said, “Az! Answer me!”
“I was curious. And impatient. I am sorry, Sybelle.”
“What—What did you do?” Fear iced my bones.
“You know I cannot wield the stones as you do.”
“But this did not justappearon the vanity, Azure. What the hell did you do?”
