Page 76 of Quarter Labyrinth

“No matter,” he went on. “Dimitri sends his regards, child of Dawson. Says he’s coming for you.”

“Stone Gods aren’t allowed to kill competitors,” I told the wolf, hoping I sounded braver than I felt. Clark shifted himself to stand before me as if he could stop the jaws of a wolf. If it hadn’t been for Delilah’s protection, the wolves’ teeth would be linedwith our blood by now. The group was shaking behind me, trying to make sense of this all.

The wolf chuckled. It was a horrid sound. “Dimitri can’t kill. But wolves can. We were human once—this labyrinth is as much ours as it is yours.”

I tried to see the human underneath, the one who had once entered the labyrinth just like us to seek his fortune before pledging himself to the King of the Labyrinth, but he was long gone. All that remained was beast. Malicious, cold beast.

Astrid’s breathing drew my attention. She huddled on the ground behind me, her breaths coming in raspy slips, arm clutched to her chest as Aiden and Gunnar knelt by her. They comforted her, but their eyes were wild too. Everyone’s were. And everyone looked at me.

The beast seemed pleased as it took Astrid in. It clicked his teeth together. The sound would haunt me tonight.

“Delilah was foolish in thinking she could keep you from me. No one can.”

Delilah chose that moment to let her light surge, singing the fur of the wolf.

It bit at the light, but retreated a step. “We will find you again,” the wolf said. “Consider this a warning of your coming death. Sleep well.” With a howl, it called the wolves off. They ran together, clashing their teeth and raking their claws against the ground as they dashed back down the path, until all that remained was the echo of their barks off the stone walls.

Delilah’s light died.

Clark twisted, his jaw sharp and eyes mad as he took in the group behind me, then the two wolves I’d turned to stone.

“Time for you to explain.”

THIRTY-FIVE

Clark’s and my food was delivered as we found a place to camp for the night, and we split it evenly with the group. Everyone devoured their portion in seconds except for Astrid, who picked at her meal before eventually handing it to Tove.

I appreciated that we all had a silent agreement to keep the youngest alive.

We heard wolves howl from where we’d turned them to stone. About two hours then. That’s how long I’d kept Leif at bay before he could follow. It’d been daysand I’d yet to see him. Perhaps Lady Luck chose to favor me as well, and he’d turned his attention to winning the labyrinth and he’d leave me alone.

Then I remembered Lady Luck had markedhim, and I doubted it.

Tove inspected everyone, wounded or not. Harald had cuts across his back, Gunnar a deep gash in his leg, and Clark’s arm had been torn, leaving the skin hanging in a way that twisted my stomach. He insisted it was fine, but Tove stitched him up regardless. I sat beside him as he tried not to scream.

When it was bandaged, he glanced at me. “Your turn.”

He wasn’t talking about being stitched.

And he didn’t mean to just tell him. I faced the group, where we sat against stone by the base of a lake, listening to wolves howl in the distance. The bower of trees protected us from sight, but it also made it difficult to see their expressions. “My real name is Serenity Montclair, the only daughter of Gerald Montclair, captain of the Silver Wings.”

“Gerald Montclair is your father?” Harald asked.

Instinctively, I reached for my mother’s necklace. “He is. I’ve been kept on an island far away from the heart of the Hundred Islands for my safety, but he always meant for me to take over control of his ships. I don’t know where he is now, but I’m in this labyrinth to fight for the future I’d prepared for, and to hopefully find my father along the way.”

Their silence stretched for a long while. It wasn’t the answer Clark waited for, but it was all I would give the group. Everything else I held too close to my chest.

Gunnar broke the quiet first. “I call first mate!”

“You can’t, Clark’s gonna be first mate. I call second!” Aiden said.

A laugh broke from me, releasing the tension I’d held. “What?”

“We will help you regain your father’s ships, then join your crew,” Gunnar explained.

I wasn’t prepared for the tears that clouded my vision. “I’ve brought danger to you,” I explained. “I’ve risked all your lives. More will come. Word of who I am is spreading through the labyrinth, and we aren’t safe.Youaren’t safe because of me.”

Harald straightened his back, looking over his sister. I wondered what he thought. He hadn’t come here for riches or glory—he’d come because his master forced him to. And now he might die because of it. But when he glanced at me, it was with nothing but respect. “Tove and I have been sailing our whole lives. We’d be honored to sail with someone like you. If it’s in our power to make this happen, I’ll do it.”

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