My hand automatically reached down to my side as if I was carrying a dagger. I frowned. Then I leaned close to the sharp obsidian rock of the wall and ran my hand down the stone.
Blood welled, and before I could talk myself out of it, I pressed my hand against the door. Grandfather’s blood flowed in my veins. But whether or not the door would allow me entrance…
It swung open, and I took a deep breath, stepping inside as the door closed behind me.
The stairway was so dim, it was difficult to see. There was one torch at the bottom of the stairs, and I picked up the hem of my robe, keeping my gaze on my feet. If I fell down these stairs, I’d never hear the end of it.
Blowing out a breath, I raised my head as I reached the bottom of the stairs. Cells stretched out before me, with a walkway on both my left and right sides, leading to yet more cells. From the moans, mutters, and screams I could hear in the distance, the dungeon must stretch the entire footprint of the palace.
Déjà vu hit me once more. Along with a deep-seated feeling of terror. I rolled my shoulders and stepped forward.
“Mercy,” a creature hissed as I walked past his cage. He had the eyes of a snake, his body covered in dark green scales. He leapt against his bars, and I jumped.
Another prisoner gave a low laugh from across the corridor. I ignored him, even as I picked up my pace.
I walked for what seemed like hours, growing increasingly despondent. Whatever I was hoping to find, it wasn’t here.
I needed to tell my grandfather about my… issues. If he sent me to Heretix and I failed him, his faith in me could be dealt a fatal blow.
“Danica?”
I turned. No other prisoner had dared speak my name. This man was… human?
“Oh God, you’ve come. Kyla’s a few cells down. Do you have the keys?”
I frowned at him. Then I turned to keep walking. He slammed his hand against the cell, and I glanced back at him, my gaze finding the thick metal ring around his wrist.
“It keeps us from our powers,” the man said. “You’re our only hope. There are others down here. Other mages. If you can get us free—”
“Why would I free my grandfather’s prisoners?”
And why did this man speak to me with such familiarity?
He gaped at me. “Are you… kidding?”
This wasn’t helping. I’d come down here tofixwhatever was wrong with my brain.
“Danica, it’s me. Keigan.”
“I don’t know anyone by that name. If you think to confuse me into letting you free, you should know there are guards on every exit,” I lied. “Besides, I don’t have the keys.”
His mouth fell open further. Then he cast me a look of such disappointment, my stomach churned. “Is this your tactic? Play nice with the underking and perhaps he will let you live?”
It was my turn to gape at him. “Let me live? My grandfatherlovesme.”
He rested his head against the bars. “So that’s how he did it. He took your memories. He tookyou.”
I shook my head and kept walking, ignoring him as he called my name. But disquiet filled me. Whatever game the stranger with the silver eyes was playing, he’d somehow managed to find others willing to play it with him.
Something slammed against the bars on my left and I jumped. A wolf, so white it almost glowed. The wolf also wore a metal ring, although unlike the human, it encircled its neck. I had a moment of sorrow for the creature, but pushed it away. If it was in my grandfather’s prison, it had likely attempted to harm us in some way.
The wolf slammed against the bars again, baring sharp teeth. I jolted back at its fury, and it let out a low growl. In spite of myself, I froze, staring.
Something about the wolf made me want to claw at my chest. She—and I wasn’t sure how, but Iknewthe wolf was female—stared back at me. She chuffed, clearly displeased with whatever she saw, and I swallowed around the lump in my throat.
This wild creature had judged me and found me wanting.
Her gaze stayed on my face as she slowly lowered her head. At first I thought she was bowing, but a clinking sounded as she nudged something with her nose.
