Page 76 of The Fate of Eternity

“Don’t apologize for something you didn’t do. What is meant to be will be, this is one of those things,” Adrianna states, interjecting with a hint of pride in her words, and it makes my cock twitch again.

Bozzelli nods, worry flashing across her eyes for a second before she pushes at the door and steps inside. The rest of us follow her. The hallway leads to a winding set of stairs that head underground.

“Are we actually willingly going to the dungeons? For them to do what? They’re not going to be painting our nails and shit, Adrianna. They’re going to want to kill us. The chance to control us has passed. Now, we’re too powerful, and they’re going to want to put a stop to us by any means necessary,” I state, raking my fingers through my hair as Adrianna looks back at me with a soft smile.

“They asked me to bring you to the dungeons, Mr. Holloway. They didn’t say anything about making sure you were detained,” Bozzelli states as she inserts a long golden key into the lock at the end of the hall to reveal a dark and dreary room on the other side.

I was hoping the dungeons would be a little more fanciful than what one would typically picture, but no. This is somehow worse.

“What are you saying?” I grumble, hating that she’s giving me hints instead of getting straight to the point.

She rolls her eyes at me, keeping her stare fixed on Adrianna instead. “If you want to save the kingdom, start with them.”

Adrianna nods, rolling her shoulders back before she steps into the dungeon.

“Adrianna,” I plead, hurrying in after her.

“It’s going to be okay, Raiden,” she states, a smile on her lips as she turns to Bozzelli. “Just the five of us. That’s who they want. Beau, take Flora and Arlo somewhere safe. I don’t want them to be used as pawns in someone else’s game again,” she orders, and both Beau and Bozzelli nod in agreement.

The door is closed without another word, trapping Cassian, Brody, Kryll, Adrianna, and me. Complete darkness engulfs usuntil Brody begins to chant under his breath, and a moment later, a soft glow flickers from the four corners of the room.

“What now?” Cassian asks, hands on his hips as he stares at the small confines we now find ourselves in. But Adrianna doesn’t falter; if anything, she stands taller.

“I have a plan.”

37

ADRIANNA

Aplan is a plan. Strong and decisive until you’re left to sit and rot away in it. I have no idea of the time. I foolishly chased after Bozzelli without considering my cell phone, but none of that really matters when there are bigger things at play. It’s not like I could call for help from down here. That’s the whole point: Shut us off from the rest of the world and take our lives in the darkness like we mean nothing.

It’s almost funny.Almost.

I spent hours upon hours losing myself to the actions I took. I killed her, and for a moment, I regretted it. But now that I know she’s alive, planning some cunning shit with that damn uncle of hers, I know I’ve wasted too much time churning over what I did.

It seems I’m all set to do it again.

Her words from the dining hall replay in my mind.You have no idea of the power.

Fuck her and fuck her uncle’s promise of power. The Council is corrupt beyond words and we need to put a stop to it. Killing Vallie so they don’t kill me is only fitting. Besides, it’s clear now that she was purposely goading me to attack her. Shit, they even had a mage on standby, ready to revive her.

Bozzelli was right. If I want to save the kingdom, we must first save it from them. No one else will, and I refuse to allow the kingdom to continue to crumble under the weight of their desire for more and more power. The Council has to be disbanded, even if it’s not me who replaces them. I know I will have done what I was meant to do if I focus all my efforts on stopping them.

That’s my core purpose.

I know it.

What’s not my core purpose is waiting. My patience is running thin.

All the rushing Bozzelli had getting us here, and now we’re waiting. Hours. My mind and body know it has at least been hours; I just don’t know how many exactly.

“Are we going to address the beacon in the room?” Raiden asks, cutting through the silence, and my gaze snaps to his. We’re each nestled against the wall. Kryll is beside the door, opposite me, Raiden along the left wall, while Brody and Cassian take up the right wall.

All perfectly in position for when the time comes.

Raiden cocks his brow at me and his comment finally registers in my brain, making me roll my eyes as a sarcastic laugh parts my lips.

“Ha ha, very funny,” I grumble, stretching my legs out in front of me, but when none of the others laugh along with me, I know it’s a topic that does actually need addressing. What better time than while sitting patiently, waiting to be attacked. “Fine,” I mutter, nervously rubbing my hands down my thighs.

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