Page 85 of Crown of Briars
“There’s no need to be rude about it. I will tell you. The bag was open from the last time you sifted through the stones. You must have forgotten to close it.”
“That’s not true,” I snapped. “Ineverforget to close it.”
“I’m not lying to you, Sybelle. It was open.”
A chill skittered down my spine. Shit, shit, shit… Why had the bag been opened? Had someone been snooping? Enzira? Varius?
Shit!
“What did the bag smell like?” I demanded. “Did you recognize the magic surrounding it?”
“No magic was used to open the bag. And I did not recognize the scent.”
I wasn’t sure if that information comforted me or not. It meant it likely hadn’t been Varius; his shadows were always so potent around him.
“So, you took the black stone out?” I prompted. “Why? What did you learn about it?”
Azure hesitated for a moment.“There was something familiar about it. I wanted to find out more. When I used my talon to draw it out, I heard a ringing sound. It was shrill and high, and it echoed through my entire body.”
I frowned. “Did that happen before, in the cave?”
“No, it didn’t. But I realized I had heard that sound before. When I got the splinter in my claw.”
I blinked, remembering the sharp gem-like thorn I had removed. I looked up, then moved over to the armoire, digging underneath a thick red cloak before finding the gleaming thorn I’d hidden there. I lifted it, turning it over in my hands. It was thin and translucent, but it emitted a soft crimson glow.
“Sybelle, the black stone smelled of the same magic as that splinter,”Azure said.“They come from the same power.”
“Can you show me where you got the splinter?” I asked. “Do you remember the location exactly?”
She huffed in annoyance.“Of course. My memory is impeccable.”
“Save your arrogance for another time. I’m still angry with you.”
The fact that she fell silent instead of teasing me with a clever quip showed just how remorseful she was. It dulled the festering rage still simmering in my bones.
“Let me change, and then you can take me there.” I dug through the armoire, looking for trousers and boots.
“Sybelle, it’s the middle of the night. You need to rest, and I won’t be able to see it clearly anyway.”
“You got the damn splinter at night, didn’t you? You’ve bragged about your eyesight to me thousands of times. I know you can find it.”
“Butyouwon’t be able to see.”
I muttered a curse under my breath before stomping to the vanity again and pulling out the scaled pouch with my gems. I overturned it on the table, and the stones clattered loudly. My impatience grew as I scanned the jewels for what I was looking for.
There it was. A small, round opal. When I clasped it in my palm, it emitted a brilliant light that burned against my eyes. Squinting against the intensity of it, I dropped it into the pouch, then drew the strings closed.
“There,” I snapped at Azure. “I have a light now. Are you satisfied?”
Once more, Azure was silent. I let her stew over my words while I changed into a corseted blue tunic, leather trousers, and the red cloak I’d used to hide the splinter. I had just tucked Wraith Killer into my boot when a knock sounded at my door.
My gaze snapped up, my pulse thundering in my ears.Shit.Was that Varius? Or Enzira? Either way, it looked quitedamning for me to be in traveling clothes. And my gemstones were sprawled all over the vanity.
I thought about shouting for the intruder to go away. Or opening the door and pushing myself into the hall to hide the contents of my room.
The beating of wings outside the balcony drew my attention. There was Azure, her blue scales gleaming in the moonlight.
In that split second, I made a decision. I swept the rest of the gemstones in the scaled pouch, then tucked it into the pocket of my cloak. With hastened steps, I hurried to the balcony where Azure rested, already crouched low for me to ride. I didn’t often do this—her back was quite narrow and bony with her long spine jutting from her scaly body. And without a proper harness, it was quite unsettling. I never felt safe or secure.
