Page 94 of Crown of Briars
Varius’s eyebrows lowered. “Absolutely not. You will stay with Enzira and Ramia, and you will rest here. I will investigate on my own.”
I scoffed. “You will not. This concerns me as well as you. Warwick threatenedme. He ransackedmyroom. Besides, I am not helpless. I know my way around a blade.”
To my annoyance, Varius laughed. “Human training means nothing when you are faced with an unseelie fae.”
I scowled at him. “If you leave this room, I will only follow after you. I’ll open doors and go wherever the castle leads me.”
Varius’s eyes flashed with anger. “Sybelle.”
“Varius.”
He exhaled, uttering a low sound in his throat. “You are impossible.”
I smiled sweetly at him.
He rubbed his temples and said, “Fine. You will accompany me. But you must remain by my side at all times.”
My smile widened. “I can do that.”
Varius gaveme a moment to don my cloak and boots. I discreetly tucked Wraith Killer inside one boot for good measure.
Ramia was waiting for us in the hall. I quickly explained where the king and I were going, and she insisted on coming with us.
“It isn’t safe,” she hissed, her gaze darting to Varius and back to me. He stood a few paces away. He could most certainly hear our whispered conversation, but he was polite enough to pretend he couldn’t. “It’s still dark out, and I don’t feel comfortable with you being outside the castle. Not with those shadows nearby.”
“I’ll be safe,” I said quietly. “Varius won’t let anything happen to me.”
Her lips thinned as if she doubted this.
I wasn’t sure why I was so certain of this statement. But something about the manic fury I witnessed from him earlier—when he thought something had happened to me—told me he would do anything to keep me safe.
“We won’t be long,” I assured her.
Varius drew closer and glanced between us both. “Are you ready, Sybelle?”
I nodded. Ramia crossed her arms and gave the king a stern look.
“Your Highness, I trust you’ll make my lady’s safety your top priority?” she asked.
I raised my eyebrows at the demand in her tone. I had to admit, Ramia was bold. Though Varius towered over her like a giant, she didn’t even flinch. She met his steely gaze with her own, unafraid of the terrifying unseelie king.
Varius bared his teeth, revealing his lower set of fangs. Behind him, his wings twitched, flicking outward to cast a shadow along the hall. “There aren’t many creatures who are foolish enough to cross me. I will protect her with my life.”
Ramia nodded stiffly, and heat spread through me at the conviction in Varius’s voice. He couldn’t lie… so I knew he meant it.
A mixture of warmth and shock suddenly made it difficult to breathe. Over and over, those words repeated in my mind.
I will protect her with my life.
How had this happened? How had we reached the point where the Shadow King woulddiefor me?
And… would I do the same for him? If his life were on the line, would I risk mine to save him? I wasn’t so sure, and that knowledge filled me with a shame so potent that it blotted out any sign of warmth in my chest. All at once, I felt cold and hollow inside.
I felt like a monster.
He would die for me.
But I would not be so quick to do the same for him.
