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“I don’t, either. But if she tries anything, we’ll be ready for it.”

He nodded stiffly, and we both hurried after Geraldine. She led us in a circuitous route around the encampment, giving the candlelit tents a wide berth. I lengthened my stride to keep up with her brisk pace, grateful Alaric remained by my side.

It occurred to me how odd it felt to trust this Wolven Mage over one of my own kind. But I couldn’t deny that I felt safer with him than with Geraldine.

After half an hour of trudging through the forest, sweat coated my brow, and a stitch formed in my side. Thankfully, it wasn’t long before Geraldine called out, “It’s here!”

I slowed, frowning as I looked around in confusion. All I could see were trees and bushes, the moon casting a pearly glow on the foliage. The starry midnight sky was barely visible between the crisscrossing branches overhead. Metal creaked nearby as Geraldine pushed aside a large shrub.

With a gasp, I drew closer, realizing it wasn’t a shrub at all—just a metal hatch covered in thick vines.

Geraldine was gesturing urgently toward the dark opening as she held the hatch open, but I faltered.

“What’s in there?” I asked uncertainly.

“It was our lab,” Geraldine said. “Mine and Elvira’s.”

Alaric stiffened, and my heart jolted with unease. Gran’s lab? What the hell did that mean?

“It’s perfectly safe,” Geraldine said. “Completely cloaked. But if we don’t move now, the witches will find us. They probably already know you’re here and will be sending out a patrol any minute now. We need a place to hide.”

“You go in first,” Alaric said sharply.

Geraldine huffed in exasperation. “Fine. Hold the hatch open.”

Alaric strode forward and propped the metal door up with one arm. His other hand was curled into a fist at his side as he glared at Geraldine, as if expecting her to attack.

She ducked into the dark hole, her footsteps clanging against the metal floor. After a long moment, her voice echoed.

“Are you coming?”

Unease rippled over me, but shouts in the distance spurred me forward. The witches must have already sent out their patrol.

I was about to climb into the tunnel when Alaric stopped me with his free hand.

“Be careful,” he murmured. “I’ll leave the hatch unlocked so we can get out quickly if needed.”

I nodded as I clambered through the tunnel, having to hunch over to keep my head from hitting the metal ceiling. A loud creak filled the air, followed by a thud as the door shut, plunging me in darkness.

I stilled, my breath catching in my throat as I stared into the dark abyss before me. My hands spread on either side of me until they met cool metal. Slowly, my feet shuffled forward, my fingers staying in contact with the walls to keep my balance.

“I’m right behind you,” Alaric said, his voice closer than I’d expected. It was surprisingly reassuring to me as I continued forward, following the echoing sounds of Geraldine’s steps.

It didn’t take long before a faint light appeared, illuminating the metal floor at my feet. The tunnel opened up to a large room with lanterns along the walls. My mouth hung open in awe as I slid out of the tunnel. Shelves of books lined the walls, and a pair of cushioned chairs rested in the center of the room. Geraldine was already sinking into one of them with a heavy sigh. To the left was another short tunnel through which I could see a second room with white walls. A strange, sharp odor drifted in the air, making me wrinkle my nose.

Behind me, Alaric went rigid, his breath coming out in a low hiss. “What the hell is this place?” he demanded. “Why does it smell like Wolven magic?”

My blood chilled as I looked from him to Geraldine. She’d called this place a lab.

Geraldine shot me a wary look. “This was where Elvira and I worked.”

“Worked on… what?” I asked, dread curdling in my stomach. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer.

Geraldine sat up straighter in her chair and pointed to Alaric. “I’m not saying anything else until he swears he won’t hurt me.”

“I make no promises,” Alaric growled.

Geraldine’s cheeks turned pink, and she swallowed audibly. “Then I won’t tell you anything.” Her voice shook, but to her credit, she met Alaric’s gaze and held it.