Page 91 of Crown of Briars
I frowned. That did not sound like Ramia.
I sent a tendril of my Lumen into the bedchamber to illuminate the space. The moon-like orb hovered high in the air, casting a soft glow on the room.
From the bed, Ramia was sitting up, clutching the sheets to her shoulders. Her face was paler than death.
And by the sofa, a figure lay sprawled on the floor, a blanket tangled around her legs. It only took me a moment to recognize her.
It was Sybelle.
She jumped to her feet, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders. Her eyes blazed as she stared at me, fury etched on her face.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
My heart careened violentlyin my chest at the sight of Varius standing in the doorway. Ramia quickly lit a lantern, illuminating his wild eyes and mussed hair. His wings were partially out, but he didn’t seem to notice. He only strode toward me, eyes wide as they roved over me, assessing.
“Sybelle,” he panted, his voice full of disbelief. “Are—Are you hurt?”
I blinked, some of my ire fading as I registered the panic in his eyes. “No,” I said slowly. “No, I’m fine.”
Clermont and Enzira appeared behind him. Enzira peered over Varius’s shoulder, and when her eyes met mine, she let out a yelp of alarm. Shoving Varius aside—shoving the damnkingout of her way—she stumbled toward me and squeezed me in a tight embrace.
“Mother bless me, I was so worried for you, my lady!” she sobbed. “I thought you had been abducted or killed, and it was all my fault! I’m so sorry, lady, so very sorry.”
I drew back and pressed my hand to her cheek, catching her tears. “Enzira, why would you say that? What’s wrong?” My gaze slid past her to meet Varius’s. In my language, I said, “What happened?” In this moment, I didn’t care that I’d just revealed to everyone that I could speak Agnarrish. It didn’t matter.
Varius took a step toward me, his eyebrows lowering. Hisexpression turned thunderous. “Someone broke into your rooms and ransacked them.”
My blood chilled. “What?”
Varius quickly filled me in on the state of my room. With each word he spoke, my insides turned hollow.
The mattress sliced in two.
Furniture splintered and broken.
Drawers overturned.
Everythingin my room had been searched.
I thought of the pouch of gemstones still tucked into my cloak pocket. I didn’t dare glance at them, worried someone might notice. At least I’d had the foresight to take the jewels with me before leaving with Azure.
I folded my arms over my chest, shuddering at the thought of how close I’d been to confronting the thief. It had to have been Warwick, or someone working for him. Who else could it have been?
“Do you have any way of discovering who did it?” I asked. “Some kind of magical means? Maybe whoever was in my rooms left some… trace or aura behind?” I was reaching; I had no idea if such a magical detection process existed.
“Perhaps,” said Varius. “I can have Tislora look over everything tomorrow.”
I pressed my lips together, saying nothing. Somehow I doubted Tislora would want to help me.
“Where did you go?” Varius asked. “You weren’t in your rooms, so we thought…” He ran a hand through his hair and heaved a breath. “If you weren’t in there when the intruder was going through your things, then where were you?”
I exchanged a quick glance with Ramia, whose face paled. She knew. She knew I’d been out with Azure. My eyes flared wide, and she nodded slightly, her gaze resolute and determined.
She would keep my secret. Her expression said as much.
Realizing Varius was waiting for an answer, I said quickly, “I came to stay here with Ramia. I didn’t feel safe in my rooms.”
This was all true. Although, if Varius asked me where I’d gone directly after the revel, I wouldn’t be able to lie to him.
