Page 27 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses

“Lilah,” I whispered, dropping to my knees beside the bed. I shook her gently, my voice thick with desperation. “Lilah, please, wake up.”

Nothing. She didn’t stir. Her chest rose and fell with steady, even breaths, but there was no response. No flicker of recognition. Just deep, unending slumber.

A sob caught in my throat, and I pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Footsteps sounded behind me. I turned to see Lesha andAmanti standing in the doorway, their faces pale and drawn. Their wings, usually stretched tall and gossamer, bore scratches and small tears in the webbed linings. They looked as weary as Sonoma, who lurked behind them like a ghost. At the sight of them all here, tears spilled over, running down my cheeks.

“Aurelia.” Lesha held open her arms, and I went to her, letting her pull me into a hug. I stepped away, too desperate for answers to accept comfort.

Amanti pressed her forehead to mine before quickly straightening. Relief flashed in her dark eyes, and then she was back to business. “How are you feeling?” she asked me.

“I’m fine,” I assured her. “Why?”

She and Lesha exchanged a look.

“What is it?” I asked, but they remained silent.

“Just tell her,” Sonoma said, resigned.

Lesha swallowed hard. “Come and see.” She tugged my hand, leading me to the mirror beside Lilah’s armoire. When she nudged me and I caught sight of my reflection, I gasped.

A symbol was inked into the side of my neck just below my ear. I pulled my hair out of the way, leaning in to see it better. A tiny black moon with three stars etched above it, painted in black ink so dark it seemed to suck the light from the space around it.

“How did I get it?” I asked, leaning in to get a better look.

I traced a finger over the symbol. At my touch, magic, strong enough to steal my breath, rippled inside me. I opened my hand, letting some of my power slip through my control. The sparks I’d managed to conjure before shot to life in my palm, along with a black flame that felt ready to ignite everything in this room at my command.

All three Aine gasped.

I glanced up to see them staring at the flame I’dmade, shock on all their faces. Sonoma was the first to recover. She blinked at me, something like awe shining in her eyes. It felt as if she were seeing me for the first time.

“Furyfire,” Lesha whispered.

Fury. Like the Furiosities of Hel and the demons they ruled. Like my death magic.

“Is it…bad?” I managed.

“It’s powerful,” Lesha said firmly.

“Powerful like demons of Hel or like a new kind of summer gift?” I asked with what I already knew was a naïve amount of hope for the latter.

Lesha started to answer, but Amanti nudged her. Hard. Lesha pressed her lips together and looked away.

“It’s rare,” Amanti told me.

I looked at Sonoma. “You said my magic comes from Hel,” I said, my voice wavering on the last word. I glanced at the stone-faced Aine, but she refused to meet my eyes. “Is that true?”

Again, it was Amanti who spoke. “Furyfire is a gift only the Furiosities have ever possessed, yes. But you’re not evil,” she added firmly.

Her certainty was the only thing that kept me from losing it.

“How is it possible that I would have it?” I asked.

Amanti cleared her throat. “The Fates imbue certain … gifts to all the fae.”

“But how would the Fates be able to offer something that wasn’t theirs to begin with?” I pressed.

Sonoma was frustratingly silent.

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