Page 25 of The Curse of Golden Blood
I could see the wheels turning in her mind, connecting dots she didn't want to acknowledge.
"We believe," Narietta said gently, "that studying this resistance might help us find a cure. You could save countless lives—both fae and mortal."
Silence stretched across the table like a drawn blade. Then Miralyte laughed—a harsh, bitter sound.
"Let me guess," the girl interjected, her voice thick with sarcasm. "I'm immune to your magical plague and somehow that makes me useful to you."
"Exactly," Gryven confirmed with a nod.
The girl scoffed. "Fantastic."
"We wish to study you. Maybe find a cure for the disease." Narietta beamed. She was obviously proud of the idea, but theway she said it I found it unsettling. Evidently Miralyte felt the same because she jerked back in shock, “You mean, experiment on me? Take me apart?”
"We want to study your resistance," I corrected. "Under controlled conditions, with proper safeguards—"
"Safeguards." Her voice dripped with contempt. "From the same creatures who murder mortals for sport? Who steal children from their families? Who destroyed everything I ever loved?" Outraged gasps and angry murmurs from the court made me glare at her in anger. She wasfantasticat making new enemies. Despite our desperate need to find a cure, she might not survive the night.
I felt my jaw clench, and saw Gryven's face darken with anger.
"You insult us." Gryven growled.
Miralyte rose from her chair, her composure cracking to reveal the fury beneath. "I've seen what your kind does. I've buried the bodies you leave behind."
"Don't you think that's a bit excessive?" Gryven snapped, his expression unreadable.
"No," she replied bluntly. "I have seen the fear and pain the fae bring wherever they go. There is no reason for me to help you. No reason to do anything except hurt you the same way you have hurt others."
"Let's calm down and talk about this rationally." Narietta interjected, her hands fluttering nervously in the air between them. “I never meant to imply that we would-
"There is nothing to discuss," Miralyte stated calmly, crossing her arms over her chest. "I will not help you."
A heavy silence fell over the table, and then Gryven sighed heavily. "We could always try the torture room."
I stifled a chuckle and folded my arms across my chest, letting the weight of the suggestion hang a beat longer thannecessary. Leave it to Gryven to default to barbarism before dessert was even served.
"Excuse me?" Miralyte choked on the words.
"Gryven!" Narietta gasped, aghast.
"Come on, Narie, why even bother with this attempt at politeness if she's not going to cooperate?"
The girl was watching us with horror and disgust. "Of course the first offer I get is torture. How stupid of me to believe otherwise. "
"That is not our intention, Miralyte. Please understand, we just need your help." Narietta stammered, but I could see the doubt creeping into her eyes.
"I don't give a damn what you want," the girl snarled, her voice filled with fury. "I will never aid you or your accursed court."
Narietta stared at her, mouth agape, before lifting her chin high and nodding. "If I wasn't so desperate, I'd almost admire your choice. " She looked down at the table, her face flushing. "My mate, Silvyr, caught the rot a few days ago."
"Narie. " I gave her a sympathetic look. She wasn't supposed to share that information.
"She is entitled to know the truth!" My sister yelled, and I could hear the pain in her voice, but it was gone when sheadded, "Everything."
Her eyes were filled with tears, and her hands were clenched in front of her. Narietta reached out to grasp the girl's hands. "You can't imagine what it's like watching someone you care for suffer."
Miralyte looked at Narie with a gaze that could shatter glass. "I assure you, you don't want to know what I've had to endure at the hands of your kind."
Narietta flinched and retreated into her chair. Her cheeks were wet, her eyes clouded with grief. Gryven was standing now, his face contorted into a look of utter disapproval, but he would not override Narie’s wishes and force Miralyte to obey.
