He swallowed, and Ethan and I shared a concerned glance. His words slightly trembled as he said, “I was abused by the cult, until I left. There are still children down here suffering at the whim of the acolytes, as I did.”
Kiara didn’t ask what kind of abuse he’d suffered, sensing that was a private conversation between them for another time. “Then we’ll get them out,” Kiara pledged. “I promise you.”
Alexei made a throaty noise of agreement— like he wanted to believe her, but didn’t dare to put much hope into the thought.
“One thing you need to know,” Alexei said. “The Black Claw doesn’t call itself a cult, or cultists. They call themselvesthe family. Make sure you don’t use the wordcultin public while we’re down here, or there will be serious consequences.”
I gave a shiver. When we got to the very bottom of the catacombs, Alexei led the way through a set of twisting hallways. The catacombs widened, until they were twenty feet across, but I still felt suffocated. That a whole group of people had managed to live their lives down here for the past year was unfathomable. There were sconces fitted to the wall that gave us light, and I was terrified at any second, they’d go out— even though I had magic to light the way. The floor was wet, and the sound of our shoes splashing through the water bounced off the walls of the chamber like eerie music.
We came to a curved entryway that led into another section of the catacombs. Mounted on the wall beside it was a plaque. I read the plaque quickly, a sense of impending doom looming in the back of my throat.
Living souls,beware,
For you have reached the city of the dead.
Foreboding.The warning made me want to turn back and run, but I took Ethan’s hand and forced myself to go forward through the entryway.
The catacombs changed, until we were no longer looking at bricks in the walls, but skulls and bone. The bones were arranged so they made up the walls, skulls stacked in the formation of hearts, square designs, and patterns— as if some artist had come down here to arrange these bones specifically for the catacombs’ maracabe beauty.
A hollow, crushing feeling came over me as I observed the bones, some organized neatly and others lying in piles against the walls. The fae had really packed these bodies in here. I couldn’t believe I was looking at real fae bones. I could see the crevices and shapes in them, identify each unique shape of what was left of the person who had lived and died. These bones were hundreds of years old— these people had mates, children, jobs and full lives underneath the sun, before their remains were brought down here to lie in the darkness forever. It was beyond gruesome.
I was wondering where Alexei was leading us, until I jumped. There was a figure blocking our path, standing in the shadows against the looming bones.
It was Callista Hemlock. Her accusatory stare landed on Alexei as she asked, “What are you doing down here?”
Fuck. We’ve been caught.I was about to panic, until I felt a wave of calm rush over me from Kiara’s empathy magic, telling me not to freak out. Ethan and I remained silent, and Alexei spoke for us.
“We’re looking for the Black Claw,” Alexei said. “We want to join.”
Callista threw back her head and laughed. “Join? I’ve heard all about your little escape, traitor. Why the hell would you ever want to come back?”
“You know my parents are involved,” Alexei said. “I’ve tried living life in the outside world, and it’s not working for me. You see how everyone treats me up there.”
Callista’s eyes narrowed. “True. You aren’t exactly beloved.”
“I’m an outsider. Let’s not mince words,” Alexei said. “I miss my family. I want to come back home.”
“Glad you’ve finally seen the error of your ways.” Callista crossed her arms, and glanced at Kiara. “And why areyouhere?”
“I’m interested in Unseelie magic. My parents have been studying it for years,” Kiara said.
“I know about your parents, and their reputation. But if that’s true, why aren’t they down here to join with you?” Callista asked.
“They’re not ready,” Kiara said, as if she’d already rehearsed this just in case someone asked. “But I am. My mate is a part of the Black Claw, and I must go where he is.”
Alexei flinched. Kiara had never publicly mentioned Alexei as her mate— as she shouldn’t, because he’d never made his declaration to her that’s what she was.
But Callista didn’t notice, and seemed to take this as a good enough answer. Her eyes flickered to Ethan and I. “Who are these two? I’ve never seen them around the school before.”
“They’re friends of mine. Alicorns, with Unseelie blood,” Alexei said. “They want to join, too.”
Callista eyed us suspiciously. “I don’t believe you. Show me what you can do.”
Ethan hesitated, but I cast an Unseelie spell without thinking about it. I pulled out one of the crystals from my pocket, and Callista observed as the color in the stone changed from pink to white as I sucked all the magical energy out of the source.
Callista was unmoved. She looked at Alexei and Kiara. “How can I trust you? I know you two like hanging around Ethan, and he’s got it in for the family.”
“Ethan is stubborn. He’s never going to see things my way,” Alexei said. “All he wants is for the Black Claw to be eliminated, and if it is, that means my parents die. I can’t choose a friend over my family.”
