He kept surprising me, making me question everything I thought I knew about him.
And I think I… loved it.
Before I could spiral over that unclear statement, we arrived at the dungeon’s entrance, and Ronen released my hand.
Ichi approached us and bowed.
“I’m allowed to see my sister?”
“Yes,” I said, feeling an urge to hug her.
Ronen drew blood and wiped it on the door. Runes lit at the contact, glowing bright white and fading once he inserted the key.
Ichi pulled out a small knife, about to cut her finger, and Ronen placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Keep your power.” He glanced at me. “Both of you.”
Taking a deep breath, he opened the door.
I stepped forward, ready to follow him, but he didn’t move from the threshold, and his anxiety thrummed through me.
“Ronen?” I touched his arm.
He straightened and cracked a couple knuckles.
“Prepare yourself. You will no longer recognize Ni.”
Rune sat by the entryway while we descended into the gloomy, damp depths with that ominous statement. A sickly sweet, metallic smell cloyed the stairwell. My nose wrinkled, and by the time I hit the bottom stair, I had to hold my breath to keep the putrid scent out.
“Have you figured out what they leave behind, baby?” a muffled female voice called from a cell farther down the row.
Baby?
Ronen led us toward the female’s cell.
“Or is my sexy general here to bribe me for more information?”
My sexy general?
How did she even know it was him?
She couldn’t see us.
“We’ve figured out plenty, despite your wealth of information,” Ronen replied as we neared her cell.
“Oh, I’m hurt.” She didn’t sound hurt. “But I highly doubt you figured out everything they leave behind. Is someone else with…” She trailed off when the three of us paused in front of her cell.
Anya lounged on her cot—if that was what you called the small bed with a fluffy black comforter and pillows—wearing a thick green turtleneck and a pair of hip-hugging pants. Gold clasps pinned her blackmane atop her head in an artful design. Citrus permeated from her cell, cutting through the terrible stench and giving my nose sweet relief. She even had a small end table holding books, candles, paper, pens, and fancy vials.
What more could a prisoner ask for?
Seemedher sexy generalindulged her.
She looked nothing like what the doors had depicted.
“Lucille, Ichi, this is Anya. A spoiled human seer who would rather stay in this stench than be judged for her sins.”
Seer?
