What follows isa blur of cold stone corridors and identical lecture theatres, each one candle lit with the same orange glow. Each one just as grand, cold and clean to the point of sterile.
Beside me, Ezzy rattles off names, building wings, Realm sectors, Thread labs, but the words slide past me like water on glass.
She talks. I nod. But I barely hear her.
Ishouldbe listening.
I should care about tower wings and checkpoint names, about where I’m meant to sleep, eat, survive. But I can’t seem to hold on to anything she says. My mind keeps drifting—first to Bren.
God, what if he thinks I’m already dead? He’ll be out there, tearing himself apart with worry. Probably at his mum’s, trying to keep it together for his sisters,and failing. Picturing my body dumped somewhere outside the walls. And I can’t even send word.
The thought twists inside me, deep and biting, but I push it aside, no room for weakness here. Anyway, luckily for him, he’s got neither the magic nor the guts to even try looking for me, because if he did, this place would tear him apart. I hope he checks on Rhiann though, her son, they won’t have enough Spice to get through the week let alone a whole month…
Ezzy bumps my side and nods toward a statue, same creepy guy from earlier, the one in bone-white robes everyone seemed to adore. I nod back, polite smile, pretending to care, pretending to listen. But my mind’s still somewhere else, not Bren now,Talen.
Fuck, the look in his eyes, cold and sure. Like he’s already mapped out exactly how I’ll die. Like, killing me isn’t a question, it’s just a matter of timing. How the hell am I supposed to survive this? Survive him? I’ve never met anyone like Talen, so unnervingly composed, so violently calm.
And the worst part? I thought if I ever stood face to face with a Veirmont, I’d gut them without blinking. No hesitation. Just rage. And yeah, my Threads reacted—fury and fire clawing to the surface—but I wasn’t as angry as I should’ve been.
And that’s dangerous.
The thought makes something in me flinch, a stabbing twist low in my gut, like my body’s just catching up to the mistake. Ezzy’s right, there’s something about him that lures you in, makes you feel safe when you shouldn’t.Fucking Nightrose.
Beside me, Ezzy’s still chatting away while Rowan and Finn drift ahead, nudging each other, talking in bursts of low laughter. Finn occasionally spins around to walk backward,cracking his knuckles as he throws exaggerated impressions at Rowan, who, book in hand, just shakes his head like he’s already over it.
“—and over there, that’s Brian,” Ezzy gestures toward a lanky, awkward-looking guard posted at the mouth of a long, dark tunnel.
I blink.
Shit. She’s been talking this whole time, and I haven’t caught a single word. I try to play it off, nod like I’ve been listening all along.
“His family and my family are really tight,” she continues, like she hasn’t noticed at all that my mind’s been drifting miles from here. “He’s usually stationed here at the south wing pass. Don’t tell anyone, but sometimes he lets me sneak out to see my little sister on special occasions.”
I’m still barely listening, until I catch two words.Sneak out. I stop walking. That’s it. A crack in the wall.
“So you can get out of here?” I ask, too quick, aiming for casual and failing.
Ezzy blinks, surprised by the edge in my voice. “Well… not exactly.” Her eyes flick to the tunnel. “I mean, technically, yes. But only under really specific conditions. My parents are longtime scholars here, they’ve got clearance, connections.” She shrugs, a sheepish little laugh slipping out. “Perks of being an academic’s daughter, I guess.” Then she nods toward Brian, who spots her and waves, way too eagerly. “I mean, it also helps that he’s got a bit of a soft spot. For me. For, you know, any girl who pretends to care about his personal research on Thread Resonance Curves.”
Her gaze lingers on him, bright and amused as she lifts a small wave. Harmless. Cute.
“He’s sweet, though,” she adds, still watching Brian as he lights up like he’s just been knighted. “Just… hopeless. Neverhad a girlfriend.” She pauses, then glances back at the tunnel. “But, yeah, the tunnels are more about keeping peopleout. Most students spend their whole lives just trying to getinto the Citadel. Nobody really wants to escape once they’re here. Why would they? This place is… everything.”
I bite back a laugh. She’s delusional, they all are. Why would anyone want to stayhere?
But still, I smile, because there’s more to Ezzy than I thought. Soft, sure, but the way she plays Brian is impressive, she's sharper than she looks. Plus, she’s got access, connections, and doors that open for her just because of who her parents are.That mouth of hers, too? It runs fast, no filter. Sooner or later, more useful things will slip. If sticking close to her means information, protection, maybe even a way out, then that’s exactly what I’ll do.
“He’s not the only checkpoint, though”, she continues, naively unaware of my motives. “Once you’re past him... well, let's just say for most cadets? It’s basically impossible.”
I narrow my eyes. “Why? What else is down there?”
Ezzy hesitates, just for a second. Her easy smile slips, like she’s only now realising how much she’s said, but still she continues like she can't help it.
“Um… I don’t really know, it’s just always been open for me. Old Citadel blood, it opens doors. The protective Wards don’t react to me like they would with, well… anyone else.” Her gaze flickers down the tunnel. “I’ve heard stories, though. About what happens if anyone else tries to come through illegally. The magic in these tunnels… it gets them...” She shrugs, flashing that same bright, innocent smile. “But no one ever finds the bodies, so… no one ever really knows.”
All right. So maybe it’s a bit harder to escape than I hoped. But it’ssomething. A start. If Talen makes his move, if things go sideways, I know at least where to begin.
“Finn, stop, give it back.” Rowan huffs in front of us as Finn waves his book just out of reach.
