“Oh gods,” the soldier holding Ava cried.
Zara hadn’t seen the last trip wire right in the middle of the stone. As if the gods had wanted whoever completed the wooden walkway to feel as if they’d succeeded. And it worked.
Casimir joined Maeryn, the two of them taking over as they assessed the rest of the tunnel for any more trip wires, buttons or invisible dangers. But Ava could barely hear over the buzzing in her ears.
Zara…She’d been right there a few seconds ago. Perfectly fine. And now…now she wasn’t. One of Casimir’s best soldiers. One of his strongest. Killed in an instant. Sniffles and sobs went through the group, mourning their partner.
Ava blinked, holding back tears and forcing herself to keep it together. She tried not to look at Zara’s mutilated body, tried not to lose herself in the horror.
Because they had to finish this task. They had to get through it.
After ensuring there were no further dangers, Maeryn addressed the group. “We must move on and get out of here as quickly as possible.” Though she kept her voice steady, Ava could sense the strife in her tone and the grief on her face.
The remainder of the tunnel opened into another vast chamber, similar to the first. Thousands of the glowing crystal veins shimmered in the walls and ceiling, providing an abundance of ethereal light.
Though it was beautiful, Ava could feel something heavy. Somethingother, hovering in the air around them.
She scanned the room, her eyes catching on something on the opposite side. Another door. But this time it had five symbols on it, representing each of the kingdoms. A tree. A volcano. A snowflake. A flat-top mountain. And a star.
They’d arrived.
45
“It feels wrong in here,” Ava said. “Can anyone else sense that?”
“Yes.” Casimir replaced the soldier who’d been helping Ava.
He wrapped his arm around her waist, wishing he could carry her everywhere, but she’d been right earlier. It wouldn’t have been safe if his arms were occupied.
“Raine, can you use your magic to check for traps?” he asked.
Raine conjured a vine in his hand. Casimir sighed with relief that their magic worked in this room. It would have to since they likely needed it to unlock the door.
The vine was joined by several others, the soldiers helping. Ava raised her hand to assist, but Casimir stopped her. “Save your energy. You must portal us out of here, remember? You can’t be too drained.”
“Well, let me at least do this…” Ava grew a thick forest green vine in her hand, flowers growing along its length.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
It split into two, molding and intertwining until it formed aset of crutches. “Now your hands can be free if your help is needed,” she said.
Casimir blinked, releasing her so she could tuck them under her arms. “Brilliant.”
“No traps,” Raine announced. “Nothing we can sense. I think the door is the only puzzle in here.”
But no one moved, all of them too nervous to believe him.
Imsel stepped up beside Casimir. “We must do this and get it over with.”
They crossed the room and stopped before the door. No traps or hazards were set off and the tension in the air eased. The rest followed, stopping behind the stone fae captain.
“There are five small needles,” Imsel said. “One protruding from each symbol. I assume we must place our hand on our respective symbol and feed it our blood and magic.”
“I’m a hybrid,” Gisela said. “Does that matter?”
Imsel shrugged. “We’re about to find out.”
“Who is representing Monterre and Caelestia?” Maeryn asked.
