But he held up a hand. “If we get caught down there, the only thing keeping us out of our own godsdamned dungeon isme. I’m the only excuse they’ll accept. If you go in alone and get discovered, it’s treason.”
I clenched my jaw, frustrated but knowing he was right.
Remy, standing just off to the side, exhaled slowly. He looked like he hated it even more than I did.
But he nodded. “Fine. Then we do this right.”
Zander raised a brow. “What’s your idea?”
Remy smirked, already rolling his shoulders like he was warming up. “A fight. Between me and Tae.”
I blinked. “Wait… what?”
“Nobody’ll be surprised,” Remy said dryly. “We’ve had… differences. Mostly in front of people. It’ll look real enough.”
Zander’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “You think he’ll go for it?”
Remy gave a single, confident nod. “Oh, Tae will enjoy it.”
I made a mental note to ask my squad mate what that history was about later, but right now, I needed this distraction more than I needed answers.
We hashed out the timing, the signals, how long the chaos would need to last. Zander would accompany me into the catacombs while Remy and Tae drew attention away from the west wing.
Once the plan was set, Remy clapped Zander on the shoulder, shot me a knowing look, and disappeared into the halls to find Tae.
Zander and I made our way through the corridors, slipping down into the lower level where the castle turned cold and narrow.
We moved into position near the catacomb entrance, shadows curling along the ancient stones.
Waiting.
The silence stretched long between us.
Then, from somewhere above, acrash, followed by shouting.
Then anotherthud.
The unmistakable chaos of fists colliding and guards reacting.
Zander glanced at me once, his eyes focused, then motioned forward.
“Let’s move.”
And we vanished into the dark.
Chapter
Ten
The stone passage twisted sharply as we descended deeper into the castle’s underbelly, torches flickering low and casting our shadows in long, warped patterns across the walls.
The air was damp, laced with the heavy scent of old earth and colder secrets.
Above us, the sounds of chaos still echoed, shouting, boots, what sounded like furniture breaking. Remy and Tae were certainly committed to their roles.
Zander walked ahead of me, steps light, eyes sweeping corners before we passed.
The corridor opened into a rounded chamber with a thick iron door—unlocked.
