“I know about the hidden stairwell Dante has between the breeding floor and cages. I know about the fucking tunnels it leads to.” Adrian stopped in front of Hyperion, leaned down, and added, “I know about yoursuiteon the high council level. And I know enough about who is on said council.”
Hyperion shuddered. “You know nothing.”
“I know that you were replaced by Ivor, Dante’s cousin, as soon as you were captured,” Adrian murmured. “Dante knew you would hate that, too.”
Hyperion shouted something in the old Fae tongue. Adrian moved back a step with a smile, meeting my eye as he did. “It was easy rifling through some of his thoughts. I only know about Ivor because Hawk’s a wraith and stole his power.”
Hawk Nash was awraith?Incredibly rare, but now it made sense as to why Dante wanted him.
“I know Marion was sent to infiltrate us at the safe house, too.” Adrian crossed his arms, but a new level of rage was lit. A rage that would not be tampered down easily. “I know enough about everything, Hyperion. So, where do the tunnels lead? You know we’ll figure it out one way or another. But maybe we’ll protect you from him once he comes for you.”
The Fae High Lord panted, his heart racing from his own rage. “The shores of the old High Palace. That is where you will find her—if he doesn’t get to her first.”
“Where is Rowan? Elias? Rhadamanthus?”Adrian asked as he walked beside me out of the dungeon. “What happened while I was…out?”
I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, taking in the shallowness of his cheeks, the dull colour of his eye. His scent was stale, still reeking of the weakness he’d been struggling with the last couple of weeks. He should be going up to his room, showering, and having a hot meal. Not walking beside me towards what will most likely be a battle.
But he deserved to be part of this, as much as I or Elias did. Sighing, I guided us towards the ancient looking elevator shaft. It mimicked the ones from the early human invention, not nearly as new or sophisticated as the ones at the palace.
Normally, we took the stairs and avoided it. But Adrianlooked ready to drop, so I nodded to the demon manning the elevator and eyed him as he called it.
“Rowan has been researching Emris, Queen Titania’s brother, in hopes of understanding where Dante found his information,” I explained quietly. “Rhadamanthus has been helping him.”
Adrian visibly shuddered and folded his arms over his chest. “Emris?”
“Yes,” I replied, sighing when the elevator finally reached us. The demon attendant barely made a sound as he opened the gate for us. “The uncle of Eryx.”
“I pulled the name out of Dante’s mind. It was clearly important to him because he had blocks around it,” he said slowly, joining me in the creaky space. “And Elias? It sounds like he’s leaving?”
I stiffened, tucking that piece of information away. “He’s been working to unlock his memories of being in the compound. The scout alerted us to an earthquake within the mountain that?—”
“The Primal destroyed the Pit,” Adrian interrupted, eyes wide. “He also fucked with the foundations. We need to find Ivy before the mountain goes down—because it will.”
I drew in a sharp breath and released it slowly. “Elias, Rowan, and Rhadamanthus have been preparing to leave for it. But if what Hyperion said is right, then we need to make sure we get there before Dante does.”
Adrian was silent as we made our way up to the throne room. The elevator dinged at the ground floor of the palace, opening with a loud clang. Before I could rip the gate open myself, the attendant was there, head bowed.
There was more activity on this floor than I anticipated.Our own soldiers rushed throughout the palace, taking orders from the Wrath generals now gathered in the entryway. Weapons were being passed around, gear charmed with new protections. Witches formed groupings based on affinities that would aid in the coming mission, but we would need more.
Rhadamanthus turned when we appeared, a frown darkening his eyes as he eyed us.
Rowan, however, dropped his pack, eyes widening. “No more Dante? Or is this some kind of trick?”
“No Dante,” Adrian replied, sounding relieved. “But tell me you found something. We need a way to take the collar off Ivy.”
“Has there been a development?” The demon king stepped towards us, almost hesitant, but hope flared in his eyes. “Something happened if you are up here.”
I nodded once. “Not here. We need to find Elias.”
Rowan and the demon king shared a look, but the mage grabbed his pack, throwing it over his shoulder. As a group, we moved towards the throne room. Elias’s scent was thickest in there, where he was rallying his team for their mission.
What was meant to be a small operation was about to become something else.
The doors to the throne room opened without a sound, earning the attention of Elias and his chosen team, as well as the bear shifter who was going to confirm what Hyperion said.
Elias’s eyes flashed to Adrian, then met mine as we descended into the hall. “What the hell is going on?” he asked, meeting us halfway. “What do the witches mean I have to change my plan?”
“Ivy is escapingnowwith Hawk, the Primal, a couple of soldiers, and a bear shifter,” Adrian said, voice low. “They’re going to be with my dad, the rest of my mom’s mates, and likely a group of children.”
