Page 112 of An Empress of Earth & Darkness

Emara shuddered as that question went unanswered.

“Are you sure this is the one?” Breighly asked, moving closer to the door to study it. “This is the Three-Faced God’s door?”

“It has to be; look at the rune,” Torin whispered. “It was said that after her mother was slaughtered by Veles, Rhiannon enchanted this door with magic from every element. Only those worthy of entering the tomb of the Mother God would be allowed to open it.”

“And you think I am going to be worthy of opening this thing?” Artem snorted.

“No, but I think Emara could be worthy of opening it.” Torin’s sapphire gaze landed on hers, stealing a few beats of her heart.

He thought she was worthy.

Without wasting any more sacred time in this temple, Emara closed her eyes and gathered all the strength in her heart. Her magic prickled as she called to it, spreading shivers all over her body. Summoning air, she pulled her hands back and threw them forward, casting a spell towards the door. Fire of vibrant red intertwined with the green of her earth magic and the silver of her air. The double doors flew open, and she stumbled back. A few gasps and whispers came from the men behind her, but she didn’t look around as a flush moved up her neck to her cheeks.

She had opened it.

“Damn.” Artem whistled. “I reckon we should have witches with us on every mission.”

“You’re welcome.” She grinned at him, a little breathless from how much her magic had pulled air from her lungs.

An impressed smile cut across Torin’s lips. “Don’t even think about trying to lure my wife into every dangerous mission you can think of, Stryker. I will have your balls on a stick.”

Emara cleared her throat. “Excuse me, your wife can speak for herself. I think we have established that.”

“I am telling you, Blacksteel”—Artem patted Torin’s shoulder, and a breathy chuckle escaped him—“you married the right girl.”

“You are all too distracted.” Breighly barged past them and into the room that was a little darker than where they stood now. Arlo followed close behind.

Emara hid a half smile as she followed them.

The only light in the room came from a few large lanterns in the far corner. However, her eyes went directly to a beam of light that shone from the floor to the left of her. A rug had been rolled back, exposing a secret hatch. Someone clearly hadn’t had the time to cover it back up.

“Well, I am not going to lie, I expected that to be a lot harder,” she heard the oldest Stryker say. “That looks like our secret passageway.” Artem pulled his favourite axe from his weapon belt.

“It does,” Emara agreed, taking a few more steps inside so that she was in front of everyone else as some of the clan spread out in the room. “But who could have been in here?”

She felt Breighly’s shoulder brush hers, and the wolf’s warm presence was a reminder that she always had her back. “Maybe the temple priests who look after the grounds lit the beacons. They could have access.”

“Or maybe the Dark Army did,” Artem countered.

“Only one way to find out,” Torin said casually, moving towards the trap door.

“Wait,” Emara called out, the words spilling from her mouth and echoing around the room. “Breighly and I should go down.”

“We should?” Breighly’s head turned so quickly it almost snapped.

Artem’s shapely eyebrow angled up.

“You should stand guard here.” Emara lifted her chin, and a breeze blew against the back of her hair, spilling it around her shoulders. Her element was awake and present with her in this decision. “The Dark Army couldn’t have gotten in here. Surely, Rhiannon wouldn’t have deemed them worthy? You should wait for any signals from the other men outside.”

“No,” Torin said.

Artem hit his elbow against Torin’s arm. “You were right. She is slightly crazy.”

Emara glared at him. “If I am wrong and there is something down there, if it is something dark, then I can match it,” Emara said. “Think about it. The Dark Army doesn’t want me dead; I am the best person to go down.” She looked between the few hunters she could see in the dim light. “I need you hunters to be able to protect me from up here. I don’t believe that this room has been infiltrated with demons, so I need you to keep them out. The Dark Army doesn’t stand a chance with you all protecting the entrance.”

Arlo glanced from Torin to Artem. “She has a point.”

“You can go down,” Torin agreed reluctantly. He knew when to bow out from an argument to save time. “But I am going with you. Breighly and Artem will stand guard up here at the foot of the passage. I know how well they work together. Arlo, I need you stationed outside the doors with the rest of the clan. Nothing comes in here.”

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