‘Glesni!’ Skye squealed.
‘Follow me,’ she said, grumbling as she crouched and shimmied through the gap, cursing loudly.
We crawled through seemingly endless narrow spaces. Glesni at the lead, following Asher’s instructions, as Skye called back any warnings about sharp stones or tight corners. Behind me, Pablo scrabbled, snapping at the moths drawn to Glesni’s flickers.
‘Finally,’ Asher groaned, standing and rolling his shoulders as we slipped into a small cupboard piled high with buckets and stinking mops. Glesni cursed as she used the wall to prop herself up, brushing off Skye’s attempts to help.
My heart pounded a rhythm as Asher brought his finger to his lips, pressing himself against the wall. Sweat beaded on my brow, chilling against the frigid air.
The thought of this going wrong…of failing Matthias overwhelmed me. I closed my eyes, steadied my trembling muscles. My husband needed us. Evella had blessed us with a single chance to sway our fortune. One cough, one misplaced step, and we’d be lighting the execution pyre ourselves.
Asher’s braids were tied in a low knot at the nape of his neck. He drew a dagger from his bandolier, the glint of bronze Vyrium sparkling briefly in the gloom. His muscles strained as he peered around the corner, raising two fingers over his shoulder.
‘That means there’s two guards,’ Glesni whispered.
I bit my cheek, glaring at her, noting the wry grin on her thin lips. Damned old woman. Was this really the time to be a nuisance?
Asher readied himself, springing like a viper and dragging a guard back, slicing his throat before he’d time to register he’d been taken. Skye turned away as the guard’s thrashing lessened, and Asher slid his limp form to the floor.
My hands flew to my chest as though I could stifle the awakening strands of violet. Skye rubbed my arm as Glesni tipped her head, eyes narrowed.
Asher raised his fist and we stilled. After the space of a few moments, he flicked his hand and disappeared round the cornerinto the corridor beyond. I steadied my breath as Skye gripped me and we followed.
The stench of filth down there was cloying. I wished I had something other than my thin dress to hold over my nose and block the smell. Skye gagged, her boots splashing in a stagnant puddle.
The darkness of the corridor coated us in shadows. Skye’s breath hitched violently. I tugged on the sleeve of her top, grounding her. As we crept along, a glimmer of light emerged in the distance.
Asher halted, and I crashed into his broad back.
‘It’s too quiet,’ he whispered. ‘I don’t like it.’
Cocking my head, I listened. Water dripped an unsteady rhythm from a myriad of leaks, rats scratched the damp cobbles, searching for scraps, but where were the guards? The hairs on my nape prickled. Asher was right.
What choice did we have, though? Matthias was at the end of the corridor. I nodded, and Asher dipped his chin, before sliding along the wall.
An arched stone doorway sat before us. If anyone was there, my thundering heart would announce our presence. Asher held his hand up, warning us to halt, shuffling on silent feet to the entrance. With his dagger raised, he craned his neck around the side, obviously scoping out the room, when he released a guttural groan.
Skye shrieked as Asher slammed onto the floor.
‘Shit.’ I raced forward, hovering over the two writhing figures. I needed to stop the guard, but which one was which? A figure was kicked high in the air. Swearing, I dodged as Pablo leapt onto their backs, tearing and snarling. Something sharp glinted at their side, and Skye threw herself down, grabbing their necks and driving a dagger in with a grunt.
As Asher pushed himself up, Skye hovered, checking him over, concern written across her face.
I gazed around the dungeon. ‘Gods,’ I said, staring wide-eyed at the half circular chamber. I covered my nose against the stench of effluence and rot. A single lamp flickered erratically over a small table, illuminating ten maybe twelve heavy wooden doors.
‘That husband of yours is behind one of those.’
A tremor ran through me at Glesni’s words. I scratched the fucking itch refusing to leave me be.
‘Pab, find him.’ My voice shuddered as the wolf ran from door to door, sniffing great snorts, before stopping by the fourth door, scratching. He turned his head, his amber eyes telling me all I needed to know.
‘Matthias?’ Asher was at the door, rattling it, before placing his head next to it. ‘I can’t hear anything.’
Ice spooled through me.
‘Keys,’ I said, heading to the tiny table, laying my hands over the surface to find them. ‘We need the keys.’
Skye bent down to the now limp body on the floor and tapped his clothes gingerly, while Asher continued slamming his shoulder into the door.
