They say it’s for me, but I think they’re just as worried as I am. Zelos is coming for me, and I don’t know if I’ll survive.
Chapter
Thirty
KADEN
Sneaking through the forest, our small group stays away from the main road, taking refuge through the thick trees. It’s taken five days to get this far, when a simple two days’ ride is sufficient. But the roads are blocked, and the Humans are scared. We had to tread carefully.
This part of Neevea is always so cold, damp, compared to my home. A guard behind me trips on a wet leaf, the sound small but enough for us to pause, and wait to see if we’ve been detected.
I had rather leave Zeke behind to protect my family, but it was an order I couldn’t refuse. Together, with two more guards, we traipse through the darkness, eyesight keen without the moon overhead to light our way.
We narrowly avoid two scouts, and a group of soldiers relaxing by an open flame. They’re outside the walls, looking for oncoming attacks. He doesn’t even bother to hide those in the Crimson Army colors, blue and red uniforms meshing together.Despicable.
We end at the gates we rode through all those weeks ago, staring up at the barricaded walls.
I try to focus on the task at hand and not the niggling worry atthe back of my skull over Max’s safety. I have to hurry this and return to her.
“Mal’s intelligence was sound,” Zeke compliments, judging the height of the iron door. “They’ve hidden inside.”
“There must be a way in,” a guard calls behind me. Drayn, he’s been vetted by my uncle and one of the few guards I could trust with my life. Most were still loyal to Zelos.
“There is,” I agree, looking for another opening. “How else do the soldiers come back inside after their shifts?”
The last guard, Henrik, stands watch, looking out to the abandoned grounds. During our time here, this area was full of citizens, stalls and sellers. Now, it’s a barren patch of dirt, where not even the crows scavenge.
“Make it quick,” he warns. “Those guards are due for another walk about.”
Sliding my hand along the gate, it sizzles on contact from the iron. I ignore it, fingers pulling into any crack I can find.
It takes a few moments, following a crack in the wall, until I find an unseen door, cut into the stone. Only those who know where it is would be able to find it.
Holding the door open, my guards file in first, leaving me last. Not a moment too soon as we hear the stomps of boots coming around the corner.
Inside, the hall is dark, dank, smelling of old mold and mud. This is the barest level, right on top of the ground. It’s nothing more than a passageway and poorly tended.
“Our last visit here,” Zeke begins, “the throne room was directly in front of the gates. The halls on either side had many different routes.”
“Where was his office?” Drayn asks.
“Top floor,” I answer, remembering a certain blue-eyed kitten and her sharp words. “But he didn’t keep anything there. He only had maps and official correspondence.”
My siblings and I checked the entire castle for any informationon a weapon. He hid everything too well that had I not stumbled upon Max using her magic, we would have returned as failures.
“Where would he keep his personal notes?” Zeke looks to me, then the area. “I would assume his office but you’ve already searched there. Perhaps his bedchambers?”
“The dungeon,” Drayn responds. At all our curious looks, he shrugs. “No one goes into the dungeon unless needed. Guards are limited. He could easily hide notes there, in a spare room, or a moveable rock in the wall. Wherever it’ll fit. No one would know.”
“It’s not a bad idea.” I clamp a hand on the younger Fae’s shoulder. “You three head to his chambers. I’ll take the dungeon.”
“My heir,” Zeke cuts me off, two steps from exiting into the halls. “You should have someone with you.”
“Captain.” I sigh, stepping around him. “Where is the most danger? Infiltrating the king’s bedchambers in the middle of the night, where he is most likely asleep or in the dungeons, where no one goes but a few guards?” My magic can handle that.
Knowing he won’t win, Zeke nods at my logic. “Fine. But be careful. Half past the hour, we’ll regroup.” He glares at me and I can’t help but smirk. He’s always bossy when we’re on a mission. Comes from decades spent dealing with my antics on various missions. “Not a moment longer. If you’re not back here, I will come get you.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way, Zeke.” Of all the people, I trust Zeke with my life. We fought together, he trained me and when I needed to purge all those who had taken advantage of Fee, he helped me find them.
