Page 74 of Claimed By Shadow and Blood
“If anything changes, you tell me.” I drew back and squeezed her hand. The fine bones shifted beneath my grip, and I let go at once, though she didn’t complain.
“I will. Don’t worry about me.” She peered at me with that stubborn look but also a little more of a smile. “You’ll have to endure my presence for centuries to come.”
I scowled at her, fighting my own smile. “Well, if there can be centuries, I suppose I can accept that. But know I will always worry for you.”
If Briar had been able to stay with us, they would have become fast friends. The urge to tell her about the plan to save Briar rose within me, but I held back. Letting Briar go would be hard enough. I didn’t want to ask that of Elara. Besides, I suspected she’d be angry that I’d vowed to let my beloved leave.
Kissing the top of her head, I took my leave. Now the real planning would begin.
Approximately 5 ½ hours later
It was remarkable how much had changed and yet how much looked the same. I strode onto the rail-less balcony of the black-and-gold Ascension Hall, leathery wings spread and shadows dark and heavy. The air was thick with tension, a palpable force that shortened my breaths. My shadows coiled restlessly around my ankles as I scanned the hall for any sign of Briar. She would be arriving soon if Bryn's plan had worked.
My stomach twisted. I hadn’t heard an update, and I hoped to Fate that Bryn was able to pull it off.
Time had passed swiftly and lagged all at once, each second tipping me closer to madness and doom as if I were a dead man walking. Without Briar, I might as well be.
A brief conversation with Vyraetos confirmed much of what I had discovered, as well as his reluctant agreement with Bryn. I retrieved the blade and took it to Physician Morlo, along with the hair sample.
Rhielle’s hair sample had swiftly proven she had not drained any magic, element, or blood from another. He assured me that if the venom was indeed a match, he could administer a direct antidote that would be even more powerful. Rhielle was both perturbed to hear the news of the third trial and relieved to hear of the antidote, but her focus also went to Briar, and she proposed a solution to one of our problems with the rescue.
Standing in the hall below me, Rhielle appeared unnaturally pale, even for her, with her arms folded tight over her chest. Velessa and Yuki stood beside her, neither attempting to talk. Based on the closeness, it looked as if they had chosen their positions so that, if Rhielle needed to lean on them, she could. Of course, she kept her back ramrod straight. The only sign of weakness was that she kept her gaze focused on the opposing wall, unblinking and barely acknowledging the others.
Thalira spoke in soft tones with Calla Lily, who looked like she was on the verge of tears, and Quen, who had an even more sour expression on her face than she had the last time I saw her. Siray, one of the other Ignis fae, stood in the corner with herarms crossed and her head down in an uncharacteristic fashion. Ceana was on the other side of the room, her hand to her head and knotted in her purple hair. Kaylen stood alone in the center of the room, shoulders back and posture immaculate.
All of the women wore simple but elegant long-sleeved gowns with thigh-high slits and slim-fitted trousers beneath them, as well as thick-soled boots.
To my right stood most members of the assembled councils, the Aureline council members in gray and the Shadow council members in black. The High Aureline Council had not yet joined us. As best I could tell, all of the Aurelines present were part of the joint council. They had their hoods up and their heads down, which made spotting the two who had stopped me in the garden at Father’s death far trickier. But we would soon find out exactly who they were. Thalen had particular skills in tracking people down. Soon enough, all would be unveiled.
But where was Thalen?
I glanced to my left again. Elara stood in her usual spot, hands loosely clasped and gaze soft but neutral as she peered down at the candidates. She had changed into a midnight blue gown with black embellishments and a lace neck. The sleeves reached to her elbows, and veils flowed from the rest.
Silus stood directly behind her, arms at his sides. His attention seemed focused on some general point below, but I knew full well he was watching her from his periphery.
I crossed my arms and surveyed the area below us again. The black winged guards stood at attention at regular intervals around the room. Golden torchlight flickered and danced across the sleek marble and made the shadows dance. Mine remained still.
The door behind me scraped open, causing me to turn.
Thalen entered, his stride unusually quick, his brow furrowed, and his smile forced. The left edge of his mouthtwitched as if he was struggling to hold his pleasant expression, and his gaze settled on the main entrance to the Hall as Thalira motioned to someone I hadn’t yet seen. Myantha slipped in and hurried over to Thalira. But then she looked up at Thalen.
Thalen’s shoulders tensed, and his smile wavered, but he mouthed a single word.
She rubbed her arms nervously, then ducked her head. A tremor shook her hands before she tucked them against herself.
A surge of realization cut through me. Myantha had barely survived the last two trials. I had no comfort to offer either. In this trial, the candidates would truly be alone against whatever elements were present in the testing chamber. Some part of me longed for my initial dull coldness of not giving a feck about what happened to any of them. But life was not easy.
Why did this scaffing abomination of a trial have to continue? I wanted to reject it entirely and announce that Briar was my queen, though just thinking of breaking the vow made my skin bristle and discomfort rise. But I could endure that. It was the knowledge that to keep Briar here was to doom her that gave me the strength to let her go.
No one was in a playful mood. Thalen didn’t even glance in my direction as he remained close to the edge, arms folded and gaze unabashedly fixed on Myantha.
Where was Briar? Bryn had mentioned that this trial was time sensitive, and it could not be delayed.
The heavy tramp of booted footsteps approached. A familiar aching tug sent me closer to the edge of the balcony. I wanted to crane my neck to see her, but instead, I straightened my shoulders.
The tug became a yank, intensifying a hundredfold.
Then she stepped into view.
