“I don’t keep precious things in plain sight,” Nerian scolds her.
The king’s fangs pop, and he pierces his own finger, blood pooling on his skin. Nerian traces his blood along the goddess statue carved into the marble fountain.
I jerk to attention, Second tensing beside me as Nerian draws a swirling pattern.
My lip curls. It’s the same pattern Nerian absentmindedly drew on the tablecloth last night.
The spelled fountain unlocks under his blood.
The pattern is a key, and I play it over in my mind, memorizing it—just in case.
The marble splits down the center; a faint line I didn’t notice before pulls apart to reveal a wide stairwell, stone shining in the moonlight.
Underground we go again.
It’s intelligent, really. To hold so much where no one can see. Where no one knows to look. Much like the way I’ve done things.
King Nerian whisks himself down the steps, an eagerness moving his heels with purpose. His excitement spikes my unease.
The smell hits me first. The sharp tang of body odor and the metallic bite of blood.
Second stiffens beside me, Emmanuel curses, and Charlotte puffs her chest.
Del steps next to me, grabbing my arm with his gloved hand as Nerian hurries out of sight and earshot.
Emmanuel snaps, blade at Del’s throat, but his grip doesn’t loosen on my arm.
I wave my assassin off, and Em steps back as my gaze tracks from Del’s grip up to his eyes, which are now full of sorrow.
“Know that I don’t want this,” Del whispers harshly, our breath unfurling between us in the dreadful cold.
He spins before I can reply, cloak floating behind him, and I watch his tall, muscular form descend into nothingness.
“We can leavenow,” Second growls, boots crunching in the snow as he steps to my side.
“I agree. We regroup and attack,” Emmanuel says.
I turn to face my family and shake my head. “I’m not prepared to gamble the lives of our people yet. I need to know more. I need certainty we can’t deal with this from the inside. There’s still opportunity for us to take Nerian out during this visit.”
Emmanuel and Second nod at me, but I can see the hesitation in their gazes.
I will always value their counsel. But Iwilllisten to my gut first.
“Well, then, let’s get down there,” Charlotte says, voice sharp.
Second leads the way. My eyes adjust to the darkness as I clop down the steps.
At the bottom of the stairwell, Nerian and Del stand at another platform, their forms blocking whatever is below.
Del’s head shifts to the side, sensing our approach.
“Come, Veya!” Nerian invites excitedly.
I move to the ledge. Holding myself together, with all that I am, I stare out at thefarm.
My breath leaves me as tears prick my eyes.
From the platform above, my gaze sweeps over hundreds of humans chained and prostrate, with skin ports fixed into arms and ribcages, blood spilling down tubes. Iron stifles the air as humans slowly drip their life force into carafe after carafe.
