Chapter 49
My body was still buzzing from my time in the library with Varius. I kept the jeweled dagger clutched in my palm, a lazy and contented smile on my face as I made my way back to our chambers. I found my pouch of gemstones in my cloak pocket and, one-handed, managed to wriggle out the moonstone.
Only then did I finally release Wraith Killer.
Exhaustion and throbbing agony coursed through my body, but it was quickly chased away by the heated warmth of the healing stone.
I groaned, hunching over as the intense sensations fired through my body with relentless intensity.
Flames boiled my blood and warmed my bones.
I clenched my teeth from the force of it.
A terrible ache pulsed between my legs, but the moonstone soothed the pain, healing every part of me.
When it was finished, I loosed a breath and gasped for air, dropping the moonstone back into the pouch. My head reeled from the overwhelming and nauseating array of magic that had crashed through me so violently.
As much as I longed to marinate in the hot springs for an hour or two, I only allowed myself a quick bath before hopping out and dressing in a simple aqua gown. I relished Varius’s reaction to the seductive dress I had worn earlier, but it hadn’t been entirely practical.
And, truth be told, I had worn it out of spite .
Another smile crept across my lips. Varius and I had consummated. Our marriage was real .
And he had promised to coronate me. I would officially become the queen of this court.
A giddy jolt of excitement rippled over me, and I could barely contain my squeal of glee.
I fastened the buttons of my dress, then made my way to Varius’s desk to write a letter to Eira.
If she wanted a detailed explanation of how I satisfied my husband’s carnal needs, I would have to find a clever way to convey them.
Dear RaRa,
Perhaps my husband is not as curmudgeonly as I had previously thought. In fact, I now see him in a new light. A light that makes him seem more like the fire dancer we encountered at the ball so many years ago.
I smirked at the memory of the muscular dancer Eira and I had fawned over at the ball in the Fire Court. As I paused to consider my next words, I absently tapped on my amber necklace.
“Sybelle!” My dragon’s alarmed voice filled my mind.
I stiffened. “Azure?”
“Stones! I have been trying to reach you for over an hour. I made it to Chesser Road.”
My blood chilled, and I set down my quill. “Did you find anything?”
“The road is covered in Necro Shadows. I couldn’t even get close to it because the shadows are so thick. ”
Horror numbed my bones. That meant the shadows were even thicker than when I’d viewed the road with the shadowstone.
“Are you all right?” I asked, unable to hide the panic in my voice. “Azure, are you hurt?”
“No. The shadows don’t affect me, remember?”
I closed my eyes, slumping against the back of the chair. My pulse quickened. “You didn’t come across that ringing sound, did you? The one from the bloodstone?”
“Bloodstone?”
Oh, right. Azure didn’t know. I quickly filled her in on what the bloodstone was and what Varius had told me about it.
“So, the bloodstone shows you memories?” she asked. “And the shadowstone shows you visions? Perhaps the two are connected.”
I froze, my body going rigid. “Say that again,” I said slowly.
“I said, perhaps the bloodstone and the shadowstone are connected. Are you a bit slow this morning, human? Should I speak in plainer words?”
I ignored her barb and scrambled for the wrinkled parchment tucked in a drawer in the desk. My heart slammed painfully against my chest as I read over the words of the witch’s curse.
By stone of shadow and blood…
“Stones,” I gasped. “Azure, I—I think this is it. I think I found it.”
“Found what?”
My words came out in an excited rush. “When the witch cast her spell, she said by stone of shadow and blood, I make this vow. The shadowstone vanished, and the bloodstone appeared in its place. That can’t be a coincidence. You’re right. They are connected.”
Azure was silent for a moment. “Are you saying…”
“I’m saying I think the two stones belong with each other.” I dug through my pouch of gemstones, then impatiently dumped the contents on the desk with a loud clatter. Even knowing it wasn’t there, I still had to check.
But no. The bloodstone was still missing.
“ Damn it ,” I roared, slamming my fist on the table and making the gems scatter. I exhaled sharply through my teeth. My gaze flicked to the shadowstone.
Maybe I could use it to find the bloodstone. Perhaps it would show me in the mirror.
I reached for it, and as soon as my fingers closed around it, the sharp ringing noise assaulted me.
I cried out, falling to my knees, my eardrums throbbing. The stone dropped from my grasp, and the sound immediately stopped.
“Sybelle, what was that? Are you all right?”
I shook my head, gasping for breath. “I—I don’t know what happened.
It was the ringing again. Why is it ringing?
It didn’t do this before.” I stared at the shadowstone again, my mind working to connect the pieces.
“Az. If the two are connected, maybe… maybe they are calling to each other. Could that be the true reason behind that horrible sound?”
Azure didn’t respond.
“Az?”
“I don’t know, Sybelle.” Her voice was solemn. “You have to be careful with magic like this. Remember, you are not fully fae. You cannot heal like they can. If you endure this ringing sound for too long…”
“I’ll be fine,” I promised. “And I will be careful. But Azure, I have to try. The fate of this entire kingdom is at stake.” I thought of the crying child I had met in the hall. All those innocent fae without homes. “These are my people now.”
Azure hesitated for a long moment. “I understand. But keep your hand on the amber stone the entire time, understand?”
I unclasped the necklace from my throat, perhaps for the first time in years. I wrapped the chain several times around my wrist, tucking the stone in my palm and closing my fingers around it. “There,” I said. “Now you’ll always hear me. I won’t let go. I promise.”
“Good. Tread carefully, Sybelle.”
“I will.”
With a deep breath, I grasped the shadowstone again. This time, I was ready for the shrill sound as it seemed to pierce my very skull. My eyes crammed shut, and I gritted my teeth. How was I supposed to use this sound to locate the other stone?
“Show me!” I shouted, clutching the stone tighter. When I had touched the bloodstone, the ringing had stopped.
But this was the opposite.
I turned back to the desk, wondering if I could utilize another gemstone to help me.
But as soon as I moved, the ringing changed in pitch, going even higher. I cried out, ducking my head, my eyes watering from the severity of it.
That was certainly different. And more painful.
I set the stone down on the desk, then rushed into the bathing chamber. A stack of clean washcloths sat next to the hot springs hole. I grabbed one, then ripped it into small pieces. After balling up two strips of cloth, I shoved one in each of my ears, then hurried back into the bedchamber.
When I picked up the shadowstone this time, the sound was loud and blaring, but it didn’t sting nearly as much.
I exhaled in relief and turned in a slow circle, waiting for the pitch to change.
Only when I faced the door did the tone become shriller.
“You want me to go through the door?” I muttered. I stepped toward it, and the ringing intensified, causing me to wince.
“All right then,” I breathed before throwing open the door.
I was staring at the empty dining hall, which was set for breakfast. Trays of hot rolls, pastries, and fruit awaited me. Though my mouth watered and my stomach growled as the delicious aromas filled my nose, I knew I was here for a different reason.
With cautious steps, I eased into the room. Again, the magic ringing pulsed louder. I strode deeper into the room, holding up the shadowstone and using the sounds to guide me. I had crossed the length of the room, reaching the end of the long table, when the ringing stopped abruptly.
I faltered, my mouth falling open. I glanced around, wondering what had changed. “Wha?—”
A shadow appeared from across the table, and I tensed in alarm.
A man clad in full armor materialized, and in his hands was the gleaming bloodstone.
My chest seized, and I took a step back, shock and horror coursing through me. “ Gerard ?”
Gerard smirked, his eyes full of admiration. “I knew you would figure it out, Sybelle.”