Chapter 29
I was grateful I’d donned a cloak before taking off; the brisk wind nipped at my face and stung my cheeks. I clung as tightly as I could to Azure’s back, the terrifying weightlessness of the ride making me feel as if I could slide off at any second.
Her descent was smooth and graceful, as if she sensed my panic. She landed with such agility that I didn’t even feel a jolt or a bump when she hit the ground. In this moment, when my fear and adrenaline were so poignant, I appreciated that small act of consideration.
I held the opal stone in my freezing fingers, using it to cast a light around us.
With the midnight darkness and the Umbra Mist engulfing us, it was hard to make out our surroundings, even with the stone.
I squinted, shivering against the evening chill as I gazed up at the crooked trees towering above me.
“What is this place?” I whispered, pressing my free hand to my amber necklace.
“I’ve heard the fae refer to this as the Noxen Forest,” Azure said. “It’s located just behind the training yard of the castle.”
I slid off Azure’s back, keeping the opal stone gripped firmly in my hand. I lifted it and stared into the dark abyss of the forest before me.
Suppressing a shudder, I asked Azure, “Is it safe? What about the Necro Shadows? ”
“They were not around when I came here.”
I hesitated. Perhaps she was immune, but I certainly wasn’t.
“These shadows are different, Sybelle. They do not smell like the Necro Shadows.”
I frowned at that. “Is it Umbra Mist? Or the king’s magic?”
“It is not anything I have scented anywhere else before. This particular kind of shadow is unique to this forest alone, as far as I can tell.”
My eyebrows lifted. A new type of shadow that could only be found in this forest? My mind sparked with possibilities.
“Sybelle, no matter how angry you are with me, you must trust that I would never put your life in danger. I would never risk your safety if I did not know for sure.”
I nodded immediately. “I know that,” I said. Our connection was too strong to be broken over a single heated argument.
She would protect me with her life.
I took a deep breath and exchanged a glance with her. “Lead the way.”
She made a low grumbling sound in her throat, then faced the forest and lumbered forward.
Leaves and branches crunched under her feet, and I followed her dark shape.
The opal stone gleamed, illuminating the shadowed figures of the trees.
As we passed under the canopy, the stars and moon suddenly shrouded from view, I held my breath, waiting for the Necro Shadows to devour me.
But they didn’t.
It felt much cooler within the forest, and I tugged my cloak more securely around my shoulders. Ahead of me, Azure patiently waited for me to get my bearings before continuing onward.
Even with the opal, the trees still looked black in the dark of the night. They seemed to creep toward me, prepared to swallow me up .
My breath shuddered, and I hurried to Azure’s side, not wanting us to become separated.
“Is it much farther?” I whispered.
“We are close,” she said. “I can smell it.”
I nodded, clutching the opal so tightly that the edges dug small grooves into my palm.
A few minutes later, Azure came to a stop, then dragged one talon through the earth at her feet.
“Here,” she told me. “This is where I got the splinter. I was in so much pain that I wasn’t able to investigate where it came from. But the ringing started in this spot.”
I drew closer, holding up the opal to inspect the area. All I could see were piles of leaves and twigs. I swung the opal stone left and right, then froze as something glinted from underneath the brush.
Squatting, I held the opal stone closer to the ground. Once more, I swung it like a pendulum, pausing when that gleam caught the light once more. It was shiny like a gemstone, standing out among the foliage.
“What is that?” I hissed.
Azure groaned, her head shaking. “It’s making that sound again.” Her voice was strained.
“I’m sorry. Give me just a moment.” I sank to my knees, swiping away leaves and dirt to get a closer look at what was buried underneath.
I thought about drawing Wraith Killer to dig into the dirt, but then I noticed a long, narrow spike protruding from the leaves.
It was identical to what I had pulled out of Azure’s talon.
My pulse quickened as I brushed aside more leaves, careful not to skewer my finger on the barb.
A luminous red glow shone from underneath the pile of leaves. I dug deeper into the earth, and the light intensified, casting crimson shadows on Azure and me. With the strange light, I was able to set the opal down and dig with both hands, gathering piles of dirt and scooting it to the side .
At long last, a small hole rested before me, and inside was a gleaming red jewel the size of my head. Sharpened black spikes speared from underneath it, and the jewel was strangely lumpy in shape, like it had multiple layers to it.
It was unlike anything I had ever seen. Bigger than any gemstone I’d found. The coloring was similar to that of a ruby, but a lighter, more vibrant red.
As I stared at it, my eyes wide and my heart thumping painfully in my chest, a searing ringing sound split the air.
I cried out, clapping my hands over my ears as it seemed to pierce through my very skull.
Beside me, Azure grumbled in frustration, as if irritated it had taken me this long to hear the sound. Perhaps, with my human blood, I wasn’t affected as easily as she was.
I hovered closer to the red jewel, squinting as I tried to make out the details. A gasp broke from my lips as I realized what it looked like.
It was a rose. The gem was carved into the exact shape of a rose, with layers of curved petals surrounding the bud.
Which meant the barbs were indeed thorns. Jeweled thorns.
“Stones, this is incredible,” I breathed, still covering my ears to block out the shrill sound. It intensified, growing louder and louder until my ears were throbbing. I had to shut my eyes against the agony pulsing through my brain.
Azure whined beside me, ducking her head, her back bowing. Her ears tucked back, and she shifted her hind legs restlessly.
She was in immense pain. I had to get her out of here.
Vowing to return to this exact place, I tucked the opal stone back in my pocket and climbed on her back. Together, we bounded out of the forest. Once we cleared the trees, she took off into the sky once again.
I was still breathless from my discovery when Azure arced around the castle, heading for my balcony .
I tugged on one of her scales to get her attention, then brought my hand to the amber stone. “Not my chambers. Can you take me to Ramia’s?” I still wasn’t sure who’d been pounding on my door earlier, but I didn’t want to find out. I felt safer staying with my maid.
“Of course,” was Azure’s response.
Her wings shifted, and I felt the strong muscles move on either side of me.
She veered to the left, circling around the other side of the castle and landing on a smaller balcony than the one outside my rooms. I didn’t ask how she knew where Ramia’s balcony was, but it didn’t surprise me that she did.
Azure was always prepared, and she always knew more than I gave her credit for.
I cast a nervous glance toward the closed balcony doors. The curtains were drawn, blocking Ramia’s room from view. She was likely sleeping.
With careful movements, I slid off Azure’s back, then turned to face her. Her wide blue eyes blinked at me, full of sorrow and anguish.
I sighed, drawing closer and pressing my head to hers. She was warm and safe. She was home to me.
I touched my necklace and murmured, “I’m not angry with you, Az. But if you want to study the gems, all you have to do is ask.”
“I know. I am sorry. My curiosity got the better of me.”
I chuckled. “We have that in common.”
She nuzzled my neck with her snout, and I laughed again, stroking her head affectionately.
“I’ll be sleeping a few levels down. There’s an empty guest suite with a big enough balcony for me to use.”
“All right. Please be careful.”
“I’m always careful, human.” Her voice was laced with that same amusement I knew so well. I smiled, grateful to have an echo of our usual banter .
I stood back to let her take off. She dove off the edge of the balcony, wings spread to slow her descent.
I peered over the edge, watching as she settled onto a large stone platform a few levels below me.
The sight of her so close to me, ready to come to my aid if needed, soothed some of the chaotic emotions roiling within me.
I took a deep breath and moved closer to the doors before tapping lightly on the glass. When Ramia didn’t respond, I knocked louder, the pane rattling. I flinched, hoping there were no fae nearby who would hear.
A muffled exclamation sounded from within the chamber. An orange light indicated Ramia had lit a lantern. Within seconds, she was fumbling with the balcony doors. When they flew open, I offered a hesitant smile.
Ramia’s graying hair was down, falling nearly halfway down her back. She wore a loose white sleeping gown and blinked blearily at me, as if she thought I was a specter come to visit in her dreams.
“I’m sorry for the intrusion,” I said quickly. “But I don’t feel safe in my rooms. Can I stay with you?”
Ramia uttered a soft gasp, then stepped forward to grab my elbow. “Of course, my lady.”
I exhaled, relieved she didn’t ask questions.
I would have to tell her what happened sooner or later.
But, as she guided me into her rooms and closed the balcony doors, I decided it could wait.
I felt too emotionally exhausted to sift through the memories of tonight—the diamond tiara, my bold behavior with the king, Warwick’s threats, the strange black stone, and my discovery with Azure in the Noxen Forest.
Not to mention whoever had been urgently trying to get into my rooms.
Ramia offered me her bed, but I immediately curled up on the sofa on the opposite end of her room, tucking my cloak around me. Wordlessly, she draped a large fur blanket over me and offered a gentle smile before she blew out the lantern and returned to bed.
When my eyes shut, I saw that same glowing red gem. It beckoned to me, as if calling me to return.
And I swore that I would. Soon.