Page 82 of Taste of Thorns
“I don’t know,” I say.
It’s a question I’ve asked myself numerous times. I used to believe it was for love. That she wanted us to be together for eternity.
I’m not that naïve anymore. There must have been another reason for it – there always is with Veronica – but I no longer understand what that reason was.
Briony searches my face for lies, clinging on to her hope as best she can.
“I’m sorry, Briony. But your sister is dead.” The hope withers in Briony’s green eyes and her gaze falls to the forest floor. For a moment, she’s silent, staring blankly, her breath hanging in a cloud in front of her face as she inhales and exhales.
Finally, she tips back her head and peers across at me, a wrinkle marking the skin between her brows and anger flashing in her eyes now.
“Fox,” she says, “you once told me that you don’t feed on humans anymore, but that once you did. How about Bardin? Does she feed on humans?”
“I have as little to do with the woman as I can these days.”
“Fox!”
“Yes,” I say, disgust filling my voice, “I believe she does.”
“And was it Bardin who killed my sister?!” she demands, as the wings of the dragon crack in the air behind me.
I spin and see the creature soaring towards me, fire shooting from its mouth.
“Briony!” I yell as the dragon swoops over our heads and then lands in the snow by her side.
“Fox!” she snaps, ignoring the dragon, “Was it Bardin that killed my sister? Did she kill Esme Jones as well? Has she been killing all the students that die in the academy?”
“I don’t know,” I mumble.
“Well, I’m going to find out. For once and for all, Fox, I’m going to find the truth.”
The next thing I know, she’s spinning on her toes and marching away through the forest, the dragon flapping along beside her.
“Briony, wait! Where are you going?”
“To confront Madame Bardin of course, where else?”
“Confront, Bardin,” I mumble, “are you out of your mind?”
“You confront her all the time.”
“I’m a vampire, Briony. I can match her strength for strength. You’re a human girl.”
“Who can wield light.”
“Who’s only just discovering and growing her powers.”
“Then come with me, Fox,” she says impatiently. “Help me confront her – or would that be too awkward,” she says with a hint of jealousy, “seeing as she’s your ex?”
“If you want, I will. I don’t give a shit about it being awkward. She knows how I feel about you, despite my best efforts to keep it hidden.” I squeeze my eyes shut. “But then what? We confront her. She denies it. We’re no further forward.”
“You torture her, like she tortured me,” she sneers through gritted teeth, “you squeeze the truth out of her.”
“Gladly,” I say, “if that’s what you want.”
“I’d have the truth.”
“And what will you do with the truth?”
