Oh, right. Silas spelled this place with an imposing amount of wards to keep anyone except us from entering.
Come to think of it…how the fuck did Pia get in here earlier?
I see that same realization dawn on the others as Crypt tips his head curiously, Everett scowls, and Baelfire frowns.
"So much for reassuring," the dragon shifter huffs. "How the fuck did she get in here? I mean, she probably saved our livesand shit, but still. Maybe his old spells are weakening from his transition or something? Is that a thing with casters?"
I don't have answers, but I notice Luka checking over his shoulder at the hallway which is now filled with smoke and the distant echo of shouting from some faraway corridor. Clearly, Everbound University is in chaos after the Immortal Quintet ran off in the middle of a lethal test.
A chill runs down my spine, and my senses sharpen painfully. I look back at Kenzie. “There are shadow fiends in the castle."
She blinks. "Yeah, there are. How did you—oh, right! You can sense them, like that ugly-ass ghoul back in Halfton. That will be super useful getting out of here because when we finally escaped that stupid maze and made a run for the castle, a bunch of shadow fiends escaped, too. It's mayhem out there, and we were going to try to take cover in our apartment, but then Vivienne was swarmed by Undead and…"
Kenzie's voice breaks, and she takes a deep, shaky breath. Luka kisses the top of her head. I know she's trying to be strong for her quintet. At first glance, she seems bubbly and whimsical, which aren't traits that legacies see as ideal in a keeper. But I've observed her enough to recognize that she hides more of a backbone than most people might guess.
She lifts her chin. "Anyway, I know a good way of getting out of here. The catacombs."
What's this now?
"I mean, I thought I kneweverythingabout this castle," Kenzie says quickly when she sees that she has my full attention. "But while we were running from other legacies and some Undead, I saw Harlow Carter leading a bunch of asscasters into this secret entrance in one of the courtyards, so we followed. It turns out there are these ancient underground catacombs that connect this place to those old ruins out in Everbound Forest.Dirk and Viv are waiting there. I think that's the quickest way to escape the university right now, so I really think we should all just group together and?—"
I hold up a hand, my mind racing through the next steps to take to keep my quintet safe. "You had me at catacombs. Where exactly is this secret entrance?"
She rattles off a description of a tiny shed in the corner of the university's smallest courtyard that seems to hold garden supplies but hides a narrow stone staircase descending into the underground burial passageways. As she speaks, the hall fills with more smoke. More shouting and yelling echo throughout the castle.
I nod. "We'll go with you."
"Not to point out the obvious, but this could bewayeasier. Can't we just transport out of here with magic? Should be a fucking breeze for your magic prodigy boyfriend," Luka points out, glancing behind us like he's looking for Silas. "Huh. Unless he didn't survive the placement. Tough shit."
If hedoesn'tsurvive…
My stomach clenches with sharp dread. I'm positive I'm still controlling my expression to seem unbothered, but Crypt takes one look at me and fixes Luka with a stare that makes the vampire flinch.
"I distinctly recall promising to feed you your innards if you opened your idiotic mouth?—"
"Threaten him later when we have more time," I interrupt to get away from this touchy topic, glancing at Baelfire. "Can you carry Silas?"
"Baby, I'm twice the size of that fucker. Of course, I can carry him."
"Good. I'm trusting you to get him to the catacombs unscathed."
Everett starts to say something but cuts off when all of Crypt's paler markings light up brightly. The incubus hisses in pain, staggering back from the door. I'm instantly at his side to help support him—and to stand in front of him since he's still naked, and as much as I trust Kenzie, there's no denying the Nightmare Prince's body is pure eye candy.
"Those damned wisps," Crypt rasps. His silver-flecked violet gaze settles on me, his jaw clenching. "Things are worse than we realized. Get your fae to safety, darling. I can follow after you once I've ensured those little bastards aren't endangering you any further. I'll be quick."
I want to demand that we stick together, but seeing the pinch of pain on Crypt's face reminds me that I have no right to be a possessive brat. He's the steward of Limbo. If there's turbulence there, it affects him.
When it comes to this, my hands are tied. And not in the fun way.
"You'll besafe," I amend firmly.
Crypt leans to kiss just behind my ear. "I'll be anything you like, darling. Just get away safely for me."
I loathe the emotions crawling up my throat, but I can't help it. My quintet hasn't had any time to recover from First Placement. They're exhausted. The idea of them leaping back into trouble puts me on edge.
I can bounce back from a good fight. I was made to take hits and come back stronger.
But if they get hit hard, they won't come back. Then I'd have no choice but to lose myself in vengeful fury, raining down hell on whoever took them away from me—and as fun as that latter part may sound in theory, my schedule is just way too fucking busy for another vendetta.
