The inside of the passageway was dimly lit with another trail of softly glowing torches. I stepped through the doorway, landing my feet on a thick carpet that covered the stones of the floor. I hadn’t seen a carpet like this in any other part of Ravenswood. A small glimmer of hope blazed inside my chest—could this be a way upside?
My feet moved faster and I rushed through the tunnel. It descended like a ramp and spiraled like a corkscrew until I came to a small wooden door, hardly fit for a regular-sized person to walk through.
I pulled on the latch at its center and it opened with a small creak.
Through the threshold was a small room full of shadows, and in the center, standing as still as a statue, was Mathias.
I ran to him, but he held his arms outstretched to stop me.
My steps faltered and I froze in place, barely able to breathe.
His eyes traveled down my body, his expression a grim line of hate. “He did this to you so I would no longer be able to touch you.”
His face was a mess of fury and shame. I couldn’t stand to look at him while he stared at me that way. My heart ached, wrenched out with sharp claws. I couldn’t stop myself from crying and ash streaked down my cheeks.
“I didn’t know this would happen,” I cried, stepping closer to him. “I didn’t want him to hurt you. I-I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“He tricked you into it, he gave you what you thought was no choice.”
“Mathias, I don’t want to be his Queen. I don’t want him to touch me.”
“I know, Raine. I believe you.”
“What will happen to you? To us?”
He closed the distance between us until we were no more than an inch apart, electric sparks heated between us, but never meeting all the way. “You hear me, now and always. I don’t need to touch you to love you. I’ve learned to love you in places my hands could never touch.”
“Kinda still want you to touch me right now,” I sniffled.
“Raine, we haven’t much time. Listen and listen well,” he demanded.
Well, I guess getting a freaking hug was out of the question.
“Ravenswood is trying to help you. My father tricked the gods, trapping them all. You were right.”
“Where are they hidden? How do I help them? How do I get my soul back from your father? Fuck it all, Mathias, just tell me how to kill him and we’ll figure out the rest after that!”
His hand reached out to touch me and instantly pulled back. “You can’t kill gods, Raine, you can only imprison them. Play the music. Listen for Ravenswood. Find the gods my father has trapped. We have no more time. He’s looking for you.”
I spun around frantically, clawing my way back through the painting of the raven. I ran down the hallway and slipped back through the banquet hall doors where Hemlock was standing with his back facing me. “She couldn’t have gotten far,” he was telling Bain.
“Who are you looking for, my lord?” I said, entwining my fingers in his hand.
Hemlock whirled around, pulling both our hands up and staring at me from behind them. “Where have you been?” he demanded.
“Right behind you.” I batted my eyelashes and smiled.
“Why is your face streaked with tears?”
Damn it.
I had to think of something fast. “They are happy tears, My King.” Seriously, every time I called him something I threw up a little in my mouth. “And I wish to give you and the people of Ravenswood a gift.”
“A gift?” he said, stepping back surprised.
“If you bring in the piano, I would like to play for you.”
“We cannot hear music here, pet. We cannot hear or feel anything of life’s beauty.”
