Chapter 26
Istand, making the others around me jump.
“She wouldn’t just not show up,” I snap.
“Maybe she’s running late. We can wait a little longer.” Maines grabs my hand, trying to pull me back down. “Who knows what Malachi has her up to?”
I jerk my hand away. “No, she wouldn’t. You didn’t speak to her; none of you did.”
“Did she tell you what time she would be arriving?” Silas asks.
“No. Just that she would be with your father, and when he fell asleep, she’d be here.”
“Then we’re all set. It’s not even 10 P.M., so there’s no way he’s asleep right now,” Silas assures me. “We can wait a little longer."
He’s right. It’s still early, and I’m just rushing because I’m nervous. I sit back down and feel the others staring at me.
Oak clears his throat and strikes up a conversation with Silas. Maines settles closer to the fire, closing her eyes to prepare for the long night, while Larkin tips his head against the back of the couch next to me.
I continuously fidget in my chair, unable to sit still from the anxiety and adrenaline flickering through me like the roaring fire.
“Rest,” Larkin mutters, keeping his eyes closed.
“I can’t stand knowing that she is with him.”
“Yara is tough and has been with him for years. She can handle herself for another night.” He lifts his head off the back of the couch. “Gods, you are so much like Barlowe.”
I snap my head toward him. "No, I’m not.”
“Oh, yes, you are.” He laughs. “You look like him when you’re mad, too.”
Maines sits up at that. “Oh, my Gods. She does.”
Larkin gives her a soft look. He knows how close she was to Barlowe, so Maines has now become someone he cares about as well.
She settles onto the couch, getting comfortable again.
The fire continues to burn as the minutes go by, and a rising anxiety begins to consume me, and every snap of the wood makes me jolt.
Maines sleeps quietly to my left, Larkin rests to my right, Oak snores in the chair across from us, and Silas stands at the window.
I stand up, unable to sit any longer, and move next to Silas, to the large bay window that overlooks the kingdom and the vast sea surrounding Andorwood.
“Something isn’t right,” I whisper.
He looks at me, and from his gaze, I can tell he feels the same. He opens his mouth to speak, and a soft knock on the door echoes.
The sound awakens the others, and we all jump to attention. The large door slowly creaks open, and I inhale sharply, waiting for Yara to enter.
Fenmore pokes her head through the doorway, and dread floods my body. It’s still not Yara. Fen enters the room and sits next to Larkin and Maines on the couch.
Silas cuts his eyes to me, knowing the devastation I feel, and he grabs my hand, pulling me from the window to join the others.
“It’s nearly 1 A.M.,” Fen informs us, and my stomach drops. “Did I miss the meeting?”
I look at Silas, and his gaze burns into me. He knows something is seriously wrong.
“She should be here,” I say to him.
Silas responds, “I know.”
“I’m heading to Malachi’s office,” I say, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Larkin jumps to his feet. "No, you’re not!"
“He’s right,” Silas adds. “No fucking way are you storming into his office right now.”
The others watch us, aware that an argument is about to erupt. She wouldn’t be late. Yara was too serious about helping when we spoke for this to have slipped her mind. She was scared, and she needs us.
“You can both try to stop me, but I won’t hold back against either of you.” My eyes darken. “You can come with me or watch me walk out of that door. Alone.”
Larkin crosses his arms and cuts his eyes toward Silas.
“I’m going to check on her, and I’ll deal with the consequences once I know she’s alright,” I add. “I’m not afraid of Malachi.”
“Well, you should be,” Fen whispers.
Silas rolls his eyes, placing both hands on his temples. He begins to pace in front of the fire. The dancing flames bounce off his large silhouette, and the room goes silent—waiting for what’s to come out of this mouth.
“Fine,” Silas grumbles. “I’ll go.”
My brows shoot up.
“Oh, you have to be fucking joking,” Larkin barks.
Silas shakes his head. “I’m not, and neither is Briar. She would leave us all, so I’m going too.”
“Well, I’m not just sitting here,” Larkin chimes in.
“Then either stop bitching,” Silas says, “or come with us.”
I watch Fen, Oak, and Maines, waiting for them to try to join in so I can shut them down. Not everyone can come in case something goes wrong, and I need to keep them safe. They are too important for our future.
“I’m coming,” Maines whispers.
I jerk my head toward her. “No, you are not.”
“Yeah, you are not going,” Oak adds.
She nods her head. “Yes, I am. If something goes wrong, you will need me. After Larkin’s shit job at healing you, I’m not letting you do this without me.”
I let my thoughts swarm as I weigh the options. “Fine. You can come, but you are to stay outside the office door.”
Maines smiles, and Oak sighs heavily.
“Oak and Fen, please stay back and be ready for anything,” I instruct. “Hopefully, we will be back soon and can forge a plan to enter the Archives tomorrow night. If we aren’t back shortly, you both shift to Silas’s house and wait there.”
They nod, and Oak strides across the room toward Maines. She goes tense as he approaches, but immediately relaxes as he cradles her face. His expression turns so serious that for a moment, I don’t recognize him.
“Don’t you dare get hurt, Miss Madden.”
He gazes into her bright eyes, and for a minute, I watch Oak become completely lost in the blue sea they mirror. She smiles at him, and happiness fills her face as her cheeks turn a soft shade of pink. I turn my gaze away, feeling like I’m intruding on their moment.
“I won’t,” she says with a smile, leaning into his touch.
His large hand covers her entire cheek, and he hums as she closes her eyes against his touch.
“If you need me—” Oak begins to speak, but is cut off by her pouty lips crashing into his.
Her arms wrap around his neck as he dips her deeper into the kiss.
“—I’m here.” He finishes his sentence as they part.
“Get a room,” Fenmore laughs.
Her arms remain around his neck, and she takes her time dragging her gaze away, followed by her grip. Maines begins to walk toward the door. Just before she moves out of reach, Oak playfully slaps her ass, and she yelps playfully.
“See you soon,” he calls.
“In your dreams, Hombern,” she teases.
We all step into the dim hallway.
The silence of the castle surrounds us, and the flickering candles along the walls cast an eerie feeling through my veins. Our footsteps echo in perfect unison, and an unsettling chill rushes around us. The jeweled serpents on the door seem to watch us as we pass by.
Silas and I lead the way, with Larkin on my right and Maines slightly behind. Unintentionally, my shadows have already emerged, complementing the darkness around us. Faint whispers echo through the halls—barely audible—and they only add to my racing heart.
We round the corner and face the large staircase that leads us down toward the Great Hall and one step closer to the dark hallway to Malachi’s office.
With each step down, we descend further into darkness, and even though the room around us is expansive, the walls seem to close in around me.
The bottom of the stairs is black, as if we are about to sink into a pit of darkness and despair.
Silas’s fingers brush against mine, and I can feel the dread surrounding him as well.
We pause just before the hidden door that leads to the hallway, followed by his office.
“Maines, you will stay outside, but nearby should we need you,” Silas orders.
She agrees. “Got it.”
“Larkin and I will enter first, then you behind us, Briar. Whatever we find, we will prepare as best and quickly as we can. In the best-case scenario, they both fell asleep, and the office will be empty. In the worst-case scenario...” He hesitates. “Well, we will deal with that as well.”
“Yara is going to be fine.” I force a smile.
“She will be,” Silas reassures.
We turn and slip into the shadows.
The long stretch of hallway distorts as we move forward.
The flicker of lit torches casts unnerving shadows across the walls.
My senses are heightened and focused, yet I feel myself seconds away from breaking down.
The large stained-glass windows glow in the moonlight, and each step feels heavier, like I’m walking into something far more grim than I know.
I glance at Silas and Larkin, their faces expressionless.
Both of their eyes are sharp and intensely focused on the task ahead of us, and neither shows an ounce of fear.
As we near the end of the hallway, the large door in front of us remains closed. A crow, the darkest shade of black, stares at us with jeweled eyes that seem to draw in our souls. Larkin presses his ear against the door, leans back, and shakes his head.
“I don’t hear anything,” he mouths.
Silas reaches for the handle, and I fear my heart might break through my chest. I glance at the others, half-convinced they can hear my pounding heartbeat.
The latch clicks, and he gently pushes the wooden door.
Silas steps a foot inside the office and pushes against the door harder, revealing only darkness within. Relief rushes through me immediately.
They aren’t here.
Silas turns back, giving us an optimistic yet cautious look, and asks us to keep close.
Larkin trails behind him, glancing in all directions.
I look at Maines, who gives me a reassuring nod before positioning herself in the small corner, ready to jump in if needed.
We enter the dark office, and it’s silent.
The windows are all closed, and the fire was extinguished hours ago.
A musty smell fills the air, and we travel farther into the darkness.
“See?” Larkin whispers. “They aren’t here.”