Chapter 63
Sixty-Three
Aureum Obsidian
Soren is incredible.
A creature of high intelligence with the uncanny ability to scare the shit out of these guards while also managing to piss them off. Frustrated and scared is good—it makes them sloppy.
Sloppy enough that when I whistle for Soren to follow me, they simply release a breath of relief and mutter their annoyance as we slip down the hall.
Either the beast and I make an incredible team, or these soldiers are idiots. Maybe both.
Soren and I don’t waste any time making our way to the library, moving quickly to the next floor.
I step into the narrow staircase, the icy draft slicing through my cotton tunic as I descend.
The only sounds are the soft patter of my shoes against the stone slabs and the click of Soren’s claws on each step.
The staircase stretches on forever, winding around and around as if I were going down seven levels instead of just one. In fact…I should’ve been on the next floor minutes ago.
I pause, my breath coming out in short pants as I spin around to check in with Soren.
A dark emptiness waits behind me.
Soren isn’t there.
Ice floods into my veins as I backtrack, ascending the stairs to see if Soren stayed behind for some reason.
I race up, once again going around and around the winding case without an end in sight. Soren is nowhere to be found.
My nostrils flare as I try to slow my heightened pulse. Panicking won’t get me out of whatever I’ve walked into, nor will it help Lunaria.
With one last try, I go back down the stairs, an endless path before me. I descend until my chest is heaving and my heart is pounding in my ears.
Reality sets in as I realize—
Something has trapped me here.