Storing the paper in his pocket, Eyden inclined his head, and Lora followed him out into the hallway.
As they re-entered the party room, Eyden counted the guards stationed around the room and the exits. There were no more than when he had arrived earlier; no one was suspecting anything. His gaze met Varsha’s across the dancefloor. She put two fingers behind her ear, a signal he had taught her. She would keep Karwyn and Saydren in her sight.
Ilario was to keep Rhay occupied, though Lora had insisted Rhay would never go to the underground. Eyden searched for Ilario’s face and found him by the bar. Rhay wasn’t with him. Lora followed his gaze and bit her lip. Should they wait? Karwyn never stayed long at these events, apparently. Waiting could be the bigger risk.
He could see Lora was thinking the same thing. Her gaze flickered to the exit.No holding back.
Lora walked towards the door, and he followed after her. When they reached the door, the guard let Lora through. Eyden dropped his gaze, but he could feel the guard’s eyes on him. With no hesitation, he walked past the guard as if he had every right. He was holding his breath until they crossed the threshold and walked around the nearest corner, away from the festivities.
“We made it,” Lora whispered next to him, still walking. She knew where to go. There was a hopeful spark in her eyes now that had been missing before. He was glad to see it.
Giving her a smile, Eyden brushed his hand against hers. Just briefly, but she caught his intention. He could get used to this.
Their joy was cut short as a fae rounded the corner ahead of them—a fae in extravagant clothes, an emerald flask in his hand.Rhay.
Spotting Lora, Rhay stopped in his tracks. “Little Adelaway,” he said. They were forced to stop as Rhay was blocking their way. His eyes moved from Lora to Eyden, travelling over his guard uniform with scepticism. “Huh, I see you two have found each other again.” His eyes narrowed at them.
Eyden’s hand twitched as he prepared to strike.
Lora moved in front of Eyden. “You never saw us,” she said, holding Rhay’s gaze. Rhay opened his mouth, seemingly about to object, but Lora held up her hand. “Remember when you said youseeme? This time, youreallyshouldn’t.” Her voice was firm, commanding.
Rhay glanced between them, questions written on his face. He took a big sip out of his flask, the smell of alcohol wafting through the air. Then he wordlessly stepped aside.
Giving him a slight nod, Lora walked past him, and Eyden was right on her heel.
Once they were out of earshot, Eyden leaned closer to Lora as they hurried down the stairs. “Can we trust him to keep quiet?” he asked. There was something about Rhay that had always irked him.
“Do we have a choice?”
“I could always sneak into Karwyn’s room, wait till he shows up, and take him out right there,” Eyden suggested. The thought had crossed his mind more than once. It was a big risk, the kind he always warned Elyssa about. It was a shortcut that would probably lead to Eyden’s own death.
Lora’s head snapped to him. “Youcan’t.” Her eyes spoke volumes even though no further explanation left her lips.Fuck.She had to be linked to his life, literally. Eyden needed to get his hands on that contract. Every agreement had its loopholes. Farren had to find a way to spell her out of this mess.
“I won’t,” Eyden assured her. “Yet.”
They reached the ground floor. Servants and guards walked around the halls, but none were surprised to see Lora with a guard. Putting on his mask of indifference, Eyden avoided eye contact.
They kept going until they reached the hall they had entered last time. This time, they took the path Saydren had disappeared into. In the abandoned, dimly lit hall, Lora stopped in front of a grey door.
“This should be it,” she said.
Eyden nodded, pushing down the handle until the door pulled open. Silently, they descended the stairs. They were greeted by an empty stone room and another hallway. Eyden turned to the hallway, but Lora put a hand on his arm.
“It’s hidden,” she said. She walked up to the far back wall of the room, her hand tracing the stone.
Eyden joined her, his eyes seeking any hint of a secret door. Gaze lingering on an uneven spot, Eyden pushed against the cold stone, and it opened with a creak. The two stepped into the new room, and the door closed behind them.
A heavy curtain hid whatever awaited them. Eyden was about to pull it back when a voice broke through the eerie silence. “My king, is that you?”
Eyden reached into his pocket, retrieving a spelled crystal Farren had given him. Farren had infused it with his magic, but it could only be used a handful of times. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lora pull her dagger from her boot. When had she become such a fighter?
“No, His Majesty has sent me,” Eyden said as he pulled back the curtain, making sure Lora was still hidden behind it.
A woman with grey hair stood in the middle of the room. Eyden briefly took in his surroundings. There was an empty table, big enough for a body, with instruments next to it. There were shelves filled with blood and other substances. The stone floor was covered in red.
“You are not supposed to be here,” the witch said, shock twisting her ancient features.
Eyden stepped towards her. “I mean no harm. The king has sent me to give you this.” He showed her the crystal in his hand. Sceptical, the witch didn’t pull back as Eyden approached.
