Kol studied him for a minute. “You don’t think that will alert him to something going on?”
Alaric shook his head. “No. I think it’s the only way to keep him from catching wind of Calytrix not in her rooms, and if he does have Faolan, it will buy you time to get him out.”
“He’s got to have him, right?” I said, wrapping my arms around myself. “It’s the only explanation, isn’t it?”
No one said anything, but we all knew.
“Please be safe,” Alaric said in the silence.
“You be careful too.” Kol grabbed his arm, and it felt like we were privy to a moment we shouldn’t be seeing.
“I will be,” Alaric whispered.
Zaria gave us some better-fitting clothes to disguise us, while Nyx woke Jaxus and Kiera. We figured we’d be less suspicious in numbers. Especially with the general and his next in command with us.
The palace was silent, and I hated it more every day. The Light Kingdom was never this way. Because of how many hours of light we got in a day, there was always activity. Rarely darkness. This place felt like the deep recesses of a dungeon. I needed to get Faolan out of here before we both died in the dark.
At least no one stopped us.
Not until we approached guards at the entrance to the vaults. Their presence alone seemed to confirm we were right to come here. Zaria had said they were abandoned. If so, why the need for guards?
Nyx stepped forward and waved them aside. “Stand aside.”
They exchanged a glance but didn’t move.
“We were told to let no one but the crown prince through.”
“How do you think disobeying an order from me will go over with the captain of the guard?” Nyx leaned down, looking each ofthem in the eyes. “And if you don’t move, you won’t still be alive to have anyone to complain to.”
They both moved.
“Don’t leave your post,” he growled at them before throwing open the door.
“Do you think that will work?” I looked behind us when we got some distance away.
“Does it matter? It at least bought us some time and made them think twice?” Nyx shrugged. “We’ve got to be close.”
But none of us were prepared for what we found.
We came to a staircase that spiraled down, housing locked door after locked door.
“What is he keeping in here?” Kol muttered.
“It was abandoned, but if he’s using it, I’m not sure we want to know.” Jaxus listened at one of them, but they were all deathly silent.
“Which means we should probably figure it out.” Nyx snarled. “But first we need Faolan out.”
I suddenly got an overwhelming feeling of being near to him. “He’s here,” I said to no one in particular and took off at a run.
I stopped at a door, and I didn’t know if I was right, but I had to be. I put my hand to it and begged the Sun God for him to be okay. “My love?”
“Tell me I’m not hallucinating.” Faolan’s voice nearly broke me.
“You’re not. I promise.” I turned to the males. “Get this door open.”
They tried. They really did, but there was no handle, no opening, no way to get in.
“Just use your magic,” Faolan said through the door.
