Chapter 39
As soon as Varius left, I pulled on a tunic and trousers, donned my boots, and grabbed my cloak. A sharp clinking sound alerted me to the gemstones that had spilled from my pouch.
It took me a moment to recall that Varius had been digging through them to locate the amber stone.
Because I had been calling to him.
No, moaning his name.
While I dreamt of him plunging his fingers inside me.
Horror and humiliation washed over me as my cheeks burned anew. “Not now, Sybelle,” I whispered to myself. Varius wasn’t even here, and I was still overcome with embarrassment.
I quickly thrust the gemstones back into the pouch, then paused when I reached the mysterious black stone. Frowning, I wrapped my fingers around it and looked up at the mirror. The contents swirled like smoke, and my heart seized in fear. For a moment, it looked like Necro Shadows.
But then the mist cleared to reveal Varius striding down the hall. He approached Clermont and asked, “Is everything ready?”
Clermont’s mouth formed a thin line. “Tavish has located Warwick. The plan is in place. He should be dead within the hour.”
Varius gave a curt nod. “Good. We can’t risk leaving him alive. This needs to be done quickly and quietly.”
“You know how efficient Tavish is. I’m certain the task will be fulfilled to your liking.”
Varius’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You disapprove.”
Clermont heaved a sigh. “I have always disapproved of Tavish’s methods, my lord. I find them to be barbaric.”
Varius spread his hands. “What would you have me do? Imprison him, only to let him escape once more? Kill him myself, and risk losing the loyalty of my soldiers? Let him roam free, so he can threaten my wife again?” The last words came out as a low growl.
Clermont said nothing, but a muscle worked in his jaw, betraying his discomfort.
Varius rubbed a hand down his face. “What news from the spy network?”
“No sight of any approaching army. All is quiet on Chesser Road.”
Varius nodded, his eyes distant. “They must be waiting on word from Warwick. If so, it means that, when he dies, the plan falls apart.”
“That is the hope, my lord.”
“Keep me apprised of any new information you hear.”
Clermont pressed a fist to his chest. “Of course, my lord.”
Varius strode away, and the glass in the mirror swirled with smoke once again.
My chest tightened with unease. This still didn’t feel right. Even if Warwick died and whoever his contact was decided not to advance, it didn’t explain why my father would be working alongside a fae like Warwick.
I rubbed my thumb over the smooth surface and murmured, “Show me my father. Show me King Maddox of the Earthen Court.”
I looked up at the mirror. The smoky contents continued churning. I waited for the image to clear, but it never did. Nothing but gray nothingness.
Frowning, I tried again. “Show me my sister, Orla, Princess of the Earthen Court.”
More churning smoke. Just when I was about to conclude that the stone was only connected to Varius, the mist faded to reveal my sister sitting in the dining hall, wearing a vibrant peach gown and a gaudy tiara with amethysts bigger than my fist. She was tucking into a plate of roast meat and seasoned potatoes.
But she was alone at the table. Father wasn’t with her.
Perhaps he was traveling. Or sleeping. Maybe that was why the mirror couldn’t show him to me.
I dropped the stone into the scaled pouch with the others. Immediately, the scene in the mirror vanished. I marveled at what this meant. If I could command the stone to show me anyone in the realm, the possibilities were endless.
After securing the pouch, I slid Wraith Killer in my hilt, donned my cloak, and stepped onto the balcony. A fierce wind rippled around my face, and I glanced up at the darkening sky. My hand went to my amber necklace.
“Azure?”
“I’m here, Sybelle.”
“I’m in Varius’s rooms. Can you meet me?”
“I’m on my way.”
While I waited, I quickly snatched Eira’s letter from underneath my pillow and tore open the seal. I scanned the contents, making sure Eira hadn’t written anything incriminating in case the intruder who had torn apart my rooms decided to snoop in here as well.
My dearest Sibby ,
What diverting and alarming news you provide! I have many questions… But first and foremost, I am desperate to know if a dutiful wife such as yourself will tend to the carnal needs of such a cranky curmudgeon. And, if so, I’m afraid I must beg you for details.
I suppressed a snort as the beating of Azure’s wings drew closer, drawing my attention to the window.
I stuffed the letter back under the pillow, vowing to read it thoroughly later.
A dark shape took form against the auburn sky, and I smiled at the sight of my dragon.
I drew back to the doors to give her enough room to land.
She gracefully planted herself in the middle of the balcony.
“What happened earlier?” she asked. “I heard you speaking to me. Something sounded… wrong.”
I quickly filled her in on everything she had missed: Warwick in the training yard, running through the Noxen Forest with Varius, him finding out about my fae abilities, and then the incident with the amber stone.
I told her everything except the sordid details of my scandalous dream. She didn’t need to know that.
Azure was silent for a long time. Then, she said, “Have you used the amber stones to communicate with anyone besides me?”
“No,” I admitted. As soon as I discovered this secret way to communicate with my dragon, it became something special that only we shared. To tell someone else about it, even Gerard, seemed like I was betraying that secret side of me that no one else knew about.
“Then, I suppose we don’t have a lot of information to go off of,” she said.
Silence fell between us as we both considered this. I wondered if I could use the amber stone on others, like Enzira or Ramia .
“For the record,” Azure said, startling me from my musings, “you can tell him about me. If you wish.”
My gaze snapped to hers. “Really? You are comfortable with that?”
“I trust you, Sybelle. And you clearly trust him, if you told him about your fae magic. If you believe he poses no threat to me, then I will believe it, too.”
A mixture of warmth and unease spread through my chest, making it hard to breathe. I swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond to this.
“There’s something else on your mind, isn’t there?”
Grateful for the subject change, I looked at Azure, who was still scrutinizing me. She could always read my emotions.
“I found out what the black stone can do.”
Her eyes sparked with interest. “Tell me.”
I explained how the mirror showed me things upon my request. Except, apparently, my father.
“Fascinating,” she said, her voice bright with excitement. “Can you show me?”
I swallowed hard. “I will. But right now, I need you to take me to see the rose jewel.”
A low growl rumbled in her throat. “You want to endure that agonizing pain again?”
“I think I know how to stop the ringing,” I said quickly. “But, if you prefer, you can drop me off at the edge of the woods so you don’t have to hear that again. I know your hearing is much sharper than mine. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
A thoughtful humming sound resonated in her chest. “It is true that my hearing is far superior to yours, small human.”
I snorted.
“But I can’t let you wander into those woods alone. If you believe you have a way to stop the sound from attacking us, then I will trust you. But if it doesn’t work, I reserve the right to grab you and flee as quickly as possible. ”
I nodded. “That’s fair.” I was painfully relieved at her insistence to stay with me. If she had decided to wait outside the forest, I would have respected that. But I didn’t realize until now how terrified I was of entering those woods alone.
“Why do you need to go back there? What is so important about that gem? Could you sense its magic?”
“No, but I think it’s connected to the Necro Shadows and how to stop them. If it is, it means I can put an end to this for good.”
Azure sank to her knees, allowing me to climb on her back. My legs tightened around her, and her sharp scales dug into my trousers.
Without warning, she leapt off the balcony ledge.
My scream died in my throat as my stomach bottomed out, making me feel weightless in the most terrifying way. Wind whipped at me, making my hair fly around me. My eyes burned and my cheeks stung.
Azure’s wings flared out, slowing our descent with a violent jerk that made me yelp. I lunged forward to wrap my arms around her neck as I slid precariously. Her scales shimmered as they shifted to match the same dark blue as the sky.
“Very funny,” I muttered. Even without touching the amber stone, I knew she could sense my ire. I felt her rumbling laugh underneath me.
As we arced over the training yard, I ducked down, keeping my body tucked close to Azure’s. She might be able to camouflage herself, but I didn’t have such an advantage.
I peered around her scales, trying to discern if there were soldiers below us—and if Warwick was there. Had Varius’s assassin taken care of him already? But with dusk’s approach, it was too dark for me to see.
Azure swooped low, keeping close to the tree line. She crossed to the other side of the Noxen Forest so we could avoid the training yard .
I couldn’t risk Warwick seeing me. Varius was right—he had already caught me near the training yard once.
Azure glided gracefully toward the earth, her claws landing in the soil with the barest of thuds. When she’d come to a halt, I slid off her back, then withdrew the opal stone for light. Before entering the woods, I turned to look at her and pressed a finger to my amber stone.
“You can still wait out here, if you prefer.”
Azure grumbled her displeasure. “I’m with you, Sybelle.”