I remembered the pebbles cutting my feet and the water. I remembered having to swim. I’d been a boy who knew no other life than the cage, being forced into water for the first time. That had given me a whole different fear.
I squeezed my eyes shut and forced the memory into my mind.Tunnel, where is the tunnel? I ignored the emotions thatarose at being forced back into this part of my life, the way it made my hands tremble, my heart race.
It must be somewhere by the beach,I thought.Somewhere on the rocks.
I opened my eyes, zeroing in on the other side of the cliff. Not the stairs, but the strange rocky path leading down. Stalking towards the water’s edge, I took in the uneven decline.
“It’s there,” I growled, pointing to that side of the cliff. “You can’t see the opening, but it’s hidden in the rocks. See how they form a barrier, like a wall?”
Grey moved to my side and cocked her head. “I believe you,” she murmured. “But that doesn’t answer how we get over there, or?—”
She stopped at the sight of a slinking, mottle-grey creature. The smell of sulphur tickled my nose as I watched the hellhound appear between the rocks and stop. Red eyes searched the beach before swivelling towards us.
Then it walked back into the tunnel where it came from.
My breaths came harder. “That’s how we get in. Stay as close to the rocks as possible. And then we should?—”
A fiery arrow landed on the ground beside me, the flames burning bright. I leapt away, cursing, as another came arcing towards us.
Kingsley shouted, but we knew this would happen. Knew the chances of being spotted would be high. We fell into a tight circle as the shadows became a protective barrier around us for a moment before transporting us into the ruins of the high palace.
“What the hell did you do?”I shouted, turning on the demon.
The bastard held up his hands, eyes burning with anger. “The shadows pulled us away, wolf. Not me. And although I tried to get us over there, I couldn’t.”
“And why the fuck is that?” I growled, starting for him.Before I could reach him, though, Grey stepped in front of me, her own eyes dark with fury.
“Stop it,” she snarled. “We do not have time to turn on one another. You know better than that.”
“That hellhound came out of the tunnel, looked at us, and turned around.” I tore my eyes off the demon to meet her stare. “The chances of Ivy and her group making it out of there are slim if there are more in there. You know that. And she?—”
“I know,” Grey hissed, shoving a hand down her face. “I know.”
Beside me, Archer cleared his throat. “Not to change the subject, because we sure as fuck don’t have time for this, but I just want to point out that we are not alone down here.”
I stiffened, breathing in deeply. The smell of brimstone and whiskey met my nose, the scent unfamiliar. It was only then that I took a chance to look around; we were underground, save for the single hole above us in the ceiling that let in moonlight. Otherwise, there were cells, mostly destroyed or in shambles.
Except one.
There was a young male standing at the door, hands gripping the metal bars. He had inky black hair that fell over his forehead, and tattoos that snaked up his neck. He didn’t look much older than Ivy, but when his eyes flickered between us, I didn’t get the impression he was young.
Instead, there was something about him that had the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.
“No one visits me anymore, other than that annoying mage—Rupert something.” The male cocked his head, lips pulling in a curious smile. “What a nice surprise.”
“Rupert Lockwood?” Kingsley asked, taking a step forward. “Red hair, moustache, Dream Court Fae?”
I had no idea who he was talking about, but the male seemed to recognise it immediately. “That one. Likes to talk.”
Kingsley nodded once before looking over his shoulder at us. “Friend of Dante.”
And maybe a potentialHigh Councilmember, he seemed to add with his eyes.
“Who are you?” I asked the male, crossing my arms.
“Don’t you have more pressing matters?” he replied, pushing away from the bars. “Come back when you have the girl. She and I need to make a deal.”
A chill rolled down my spine, but it was Rhadamanthus who stalked towards the bars with a growl. “You will make no deal with her.”
