Page 54 of When Roses Burn

Ridge left the doorway to find clothes as I strode toward it. “She’ll need food too,” I told Bertie. “Leave us.”

The sprite floated back as I closed the door in her face. I turned to find Briar still standing by the windows. My coat hung loosely about her shoulders, and one of the sleeves had unrolled to dangle near her feet.

She looked small and fragile within my clothes; she wasn’t.

“They’ll bring you some food and clothes,” I stated.

She turned away from the windows to look at me. The broken look on her face was a punch to my gut before I managed to steel myself against her.

“How long am I supposed to remain locked in here?” she inquired.

“I’ll come back for you tomorrow.”

“For what? Why would you take me from here? Where will you take me?”

“I want to know how to break the curse.”

“I told you that I don’t know.”

“We’ll find that out for sure… soon.”

With that, I opened the door and left. I couldn’t stand to be near her anymore.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Briar

I remained by the windows overlooking a kingdom with rolling, mostly brown hills. Here and there, some patches of green grass still strove to survive. Rosebushes also peppered the landscape.

The sight of the bushes made my stomach turn, but I couldn’t look away. My mother had done this because of me; she all but eradicated the shifters because I fell in love with one, and he with me.

And now, there was no way he could experience anything other than hate for me. He’d been tortured for years because of me, cursed, and lost everything he’d ever known. All those he’d ever loved were nothing more than wilting rosebushes.

Yes, there were problems between him and his father because he expected more from Seth, but he still loved the man, and while he’d been willing to leave Wildwood behind for me, he’d never wanted this to happen. He must have been shattered when he finally escaped the harem only to return to this devastation.

The small creature in my pocket poked its head out before gripping the coat with its front paws and pulling itself free. “It looks like you’re locked in here with me,” I said as it scampered around the room, sniffing the air and exploring its surroundings. “I’m sorry about that. I’ll find a way to get you free.”

Its head turned in my direction before it darted into the bathroom. I focused on the scenery again, but the sound of running water pulled my attention away from the windows.

Frowning, I crept toward the bathroom. I was certain water wasn’t running a few seconds ago. Had the creature somehow turned on the water?

“Hello,” I called.

Gripping the door, I pushed it a little open and stopped short when I discovered the small creature peeing in the bathtub. I chuckled nervously and relaxed when I realized this was the sound of the running water.

“I appreciate your cleanliness and that you didn’t pee in my pocket,” I told him.

His nose twitched in response. I’d have to clean the tub before I showered, but I much preferred him peeing in there than all over the room. I could ask one of the sprites to take him outside and turn him free, but I was scared they might tell Knox, and I didn’t know how he’d react to it.

And if I was honest with myself, I didn’t want to be here alone. The creature wasn’t much company, but at least he was something.

“Let me show you how the toilet works,” I told him.

If he was smart enough to pee in the shower, then he should be smart enough to use the toilet, especially when he had to shit. I pointed to the toilet seat and explained what to do, then flushed the toilet afterward. That was probably hoping for too much, but I might as well give it a try.

Before leaving the bathroom, I turned on the sink, and the creature scrambled out of the tub and up to the sink. He drank some water before scampering down and dashing out of the room.

I turned the tap off, ran some water in the tub, and left the room. The tiny animal was already on a pillow, sleeping soundly.