Chapter 48
Chapter Forty-Eight
MAVERICK
I slipped down the hall, looking behind me to make sure no one had seen me. Aron had warned us not to wander, and El would likely be furious if she knew what I was up to, but there were secrets surrounding this castle, surrounding El, and I intended to find them.
Especially when they had to do with my sister. El had wanted to find Annalee, and my gut told me it wasn’t just about Annalee leading her out of the Wilds, that there was more to this story. I just didn’t know what. Yet.
The hallway split, one way leading to another hallway with more closed doors, the other leading to stairs that spiraled downward. I hesitated but took the stairs. Voices echoed above me, likely some of the residents, far enough away that I shouldn’t have to worry about them.
I’d studied the layout of the original star court castle over the years. We had them on display in our museum. I’d seen them enough times that I could picture it in my head. Not every hallway or room, but the more important ones: the prison cells underneath the castle, the throne room, the king’s and queen’s chambers .
History usually got buried, so I’d go to the bottom of the castle, see if I could do some unearthing. Honestly, I had no idea what I expected to find, but my instincts told me something was lurking down there. Maybe a secret. Maybe an artifact. Maybe a skeleton. Perhaps a key. Something that would give me answers about El and her motives.
I crept down the stairs, passing a level that led to the throne room. I kept going, the stairs growing steeper, the path growing darker. I tugged at the thread of magic inside of me. Fire burst to life in my palm. I held out my hand and the fireball floated before me, a guiding light as I descended into the belly of the castle.
I shook my head, questions rattling my mind. We’d gotten many of them answered, but so much still didn’t make sense. Why had Annalee dreamt of this place? Where had the lightning bolt gone? Who was El? She’d given very few details about herself over our time together.
I didn’t think I’d get all the answers today. But I had a feeling I could at least get some.
The fireball floated down and illuminated a dirt ground. An area spread out before me that I assumed was once the dungeons. Aron hadn’t mentioned keeping prisoners here, so it should be empty, but I’d be cautious all the same.
A body slammed into mine as soon as I stepped onto the flat ground, and we both went tumbling down. I hit the dirt with a resounding crash, pain splitting through my elbows and knees.
I groaned, still not sure what in the fuck had just happened, until I slowly rolled over to see Emory staring down at me with her wide blue eyes.
She gave a guilty shrug. “Well, I couldn’t let you have all the fun, could I?”
I sighed as she scrambled off of me. “I thought we weren’t playing any more of our games.”
She crossed her arms, and I came to a stand, wincing at the shocks of pain in my bones. Then I took in the sight before me: Emory in a dress. It cinched at the waist, highlighting her curves, the bodice was cut low, the skirt swishing just around her ankles. Fucking fuck. She was always gorgeous, but now, she was... something that I couldn’t even describe. Words wouldn’t do her justice .
“Your sister insisted I wear it,” she said, her cheeks flushing.
Ah. Of course she did. Annalee had plans of her own for Emory and me, no matter what either of us wanted. My sister didn’t understand my little rabbit, how timid and scared she could be when it came to relationships. If Annalee pushed Emory too hard, she might run for good.
“What are you looking for?” she asked.
I jolted, my gaze shooting up from her waist to her eyes. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “I just have a feeling that El isn’t telling us everything. That she has information we don’t. And I want to know what it is.”
Emory bit her lip, eyes shifting back and forth as she took in the space. Iron cells lined the walls next to us while tunnels burrowed deeper into the ground, cloaked by darkness. Emory marched to the wall, where a torch was mounted, covered in dust and cobwebs. She grabbed it, then held it right over my fire magic.
“Do you mind?” she asked as she was already lighting it.
I spread out a hand. “Go ahead.”
She held the torch to the flame, and it lit up, bright and crackling, providing extra light that Emory shone in all directions. “Well this place isn’t creepy at all,” she said as the light illuminated a pile of skulls stacked in one corner.
“Maybe that’s from Spirit Shadow?” I suggested. “Or the Shadow War.”
“Or something else,” Emory murmured as she brushed past me. She knelt to the ground, running a finger through the dirt, then lifting it.
Purple dust covered her finger, similar to the black dust coating everything in this land.
“What do you think this is?” She looked up at me from where she crouched. “Do you think it’s connected to some kind of ancient magic that no longer exists?”
“It must be something from the Old World,” I said. “Every time we’ve encountered this dust, it’s been through objects, artifacts, historical sites.”
She pinched the purple dust between her finger and thumb, studying it, brows furrowed, mouth pursed. So fucking adorable. I loved watching her think. I loved seeing the way her mind worked .
She dusted her hands, standing. “But why would it be in the dungeons? Maybe you’re right. Maybe there is something here that’s important.”
She swung her torchlight, then sniffed the air. “Do you smell that?”
I wrinkled my nose. All I could smell was the scent of fresh snowfall and pale blossoms. It smelled like Emory. It smelled like home. My heart clenched.
“Hello?” she asked, brows raised.
Right. I rubbed the back of my neck. “I don’t think so.”
“It smells like something burning.”
“Down here?” I asked, doubtful. “There’s nothing to burn.” I stalked to a wall and placed my hand against the damp stone. “It’s too wet, Emory.”
“I’ve smelled this before,” she said slowly. “It’s not like a burning fire. Or burning flesh.” She shuddered, tapping her chin. “It’s more like the smell of a lightning strike ...”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, we both stiffened, our gazes locking.
“A lightning strike,” I echoed.
She swung the torch again, and I shoved out my hand, forcing my fire magic forward as we followed the scent. Now that Emory described it, I recognized the smell of a sizzle permeating the air.
“You don’t think...” I couldn’t even finish the sentence.
“Why would the lightning bolt be down here?” Emory asked, following my train of thought as we walked in the dark space toward the tunnel, the smell becoming stronger.
“Well, what’s a reason to hide something?” I pushed out my hand, making my fire magic fly further along to illuminate our path while Emory’s torch lit the immediate area.
“What do you think these tunnels were used for?” Emory asked, raising her torch to light the stone ceiling.
I shrugged. “Well, tunnels like these are common in all the castles. They were built in the Old World as an escape should any attacks happen. They usually lead out of the castle to some undisclosed location. I’m guessing this one does the same.”
“I don’t want to be spit out somewhere in the Wilds.” She swallowed thickly. “Not when it finally feels like we’re safe. Even if it’s just temporary.”
And I had no desire to be separated from my sister once again. “That’s not going to happen,” I assured her. “We’ll see if our suspicions are right, if the bolt is this way, and if it is, then we’re going to have a lot to say to El.”
Emory shot me a look. “And Aron. He’s the one who took the damn thing.”
I rubbed my jaw. “You know, I’m starting to think Aron’s not capable of lying. He said he didn’t know anything about the bolt, and I believe him. He disappeared for hours with that bolt. He probably doesn’t remember any of it.”
The smell of burning grew stronger, and now it wasn’t just fire that lit our path. A bright yellow glow sparked ahead of us, a familiar glow.
Emory walked ahead of me, faster, and I grabbed her arm. Just that simple touch sent a jolt through me. Now that I’d gotten a taste of her, I craved more. Craved what she wasn’t ready to give. What she might not ever be ready to give.
She whirled, eyes flashing. “Worried I’ll get there first?”
“I’m worried about you.”
She faltered, then raised her chin. “I’ll be fine, Bone Collector.”
I winced at the use of my nickname. It felt like a step backward. Too anonymous. I sighed and let her go, and she turned, continuing down the dark path, the yellow glow growing brighter and bigger the closer we got.
Emory passed my fireball, still holding out her torch, but the light was limited.
“Stay close,” I barked.
“You really can’t stand me winning,” she said over her shoulder, the stubbornness in her voice loud and clear.
“What I can’t stand is seeing you hurt,” I said back. Spirits forbid something worse happened.
Silence followed, and I wondered if I’d said too much.
“Well, I guess I’ll just have to gloat when I win,” she said, ignoring my words.
“You really never stop.” I took a cautious step forward .
“Not when I’m having so much fun.” She raised her torch in the air.
I twisted my hand, making my fire magic twist downward, to light the ground better. “Glad you still have fun with me.”
“The bolt!” Emory gasped. It lay in an iron cage that hung from the ceiling of the tunnel.
My gaze followed the trail of the firelight.
“The lightning bolt is in an iron cage.” Emory pointed to it. “It’ll deflect our magic. El must’ve done this, right?”
“There’s only one way to find out.”
We needed to talk to El.