Page 144 of The Lure of Wolves and Whispers

“I think you’d try to protect me,” I answer softly. “And I don’t need protecting.”

Talon shakes their head. “You’ve more than proved that. This isn’t me trying to hide you. I’m trying to get youout. How did you think Wolf makes it into the castle without getting caught?”

I follow. Our feet echo on the worn stone, winding down a tight staircase and past storerooms overflowing with baskets of flour and grains. Whatever shortages are hitting the rest of the isle, there’s still plenty here.

For now.

Talon shimmies open the hidden door they brought me through last time, when Wolf was waiting for me, and reaches for the hem of their shirt. A slim bronze key hangs there, a mirror to what Wolf used when he brought me to the forgotten room at the top of the staircase. My breath puffs on the chill inside the temple, the smell of earth and stone filling my lungs.

Talon pushes aside the navy cloak on the altar and fits the key beneath its stone lip.

The altar swings back on hidden hinges and my jaw drops.

Talon points down into the darkness. “You first.”

Old Ones, the tunnel smells horrible.

Like… bones, and a dampness that seeps into my skin. Our feet nearly squelch with every step we take, and a perpetual echo follows us, playing tricks on my mind.

I breathe through my mouth and keep moving.

After what feels like forever, Talon finally comes to a wooden door and presses their cheek up against it. Eyes closing, brow straining.

Listening.

Talon shifts and leans their weight against the door. It gives, opening enough for a sliver of purple light to spill through. They check past it, then wave me out into an angry dawn. Shouts ringin the distance, along with the sharp sounds of slamming doors and window shutters bolting. Faint screams rise and fall, and massive shadows sweep over the cobblestones from the clouds above, as if the city is just waking up to the horrors of this war.

We’re in the merchant quarter,I realize with a jolt.

And every person in this city can see the caoranachs attacking the castle.

Every person here will finally know the truth.

Thick mist twines through the streets. There are no dead bodies here yet, but chunks of rubble lie strewn on the road. Talon sticks to the shadows, leading me through the quarter until we stop in front of a familiar narrow lane.

The safe house glowers in the violet tinge of dawn.

Talon doesn’t knock at the door. They don’t try the key from around their neck. They simply place their palm against the curve of the knocker and the lock clicks open.

Every hair up the back of my neck tingles.

“Get in,” they say roughly. “Before anyone sees.”

“I told you before. I’m not cowering, especially not while my sister’s still out there.” I jerk a hand toward where I think Quay-side is. It’s hard to tell without being able to see the sea.

I have to get to Finn. We have to get her out of this city, before anyone comes for us.

She is the one thing I’m not willing to lose to this fight.

“I never said you had to cower.” The corner of Talon’s mouth crooks up, but their eyes darken. “Please, Maeve. I promised Wolf I’d keep you safe.”

Exhaustion weighs on me.

“Then promise me you’ll go find Finn.” The sky flashes above us, and I clasp their soaking hands in mine, squeezing. “Please. I need her to be safe too.”

Does she even know what’s happening right now?

“Promise,”I beg, and my voice cracks.