Page 164 of The Crown of Nyx

When the zombie-rats appeared in the distance, their deadly cries overwhelming the sound of gunfire and shouting, Adrian, Damon, and I started for the cottage. We kept our footsteps light, Adrian walking ahead just in case we came across a trap. The earth dipped beneath our feet, wet from recent rainfall, but I couldn’t remember if we’d had any rain in the forest. Something about it didn’t feel right.

I pushed those thoughts aside briefly, and kept moving, sticking close to Adrian. Damon remained close at my back, his looming presence weirdly comforting. The swords he wielded remained raised, one near me, a protective barrier between me and the rest of the world.

It didn’t matter, though. The enemy army fended off the rats well enough to keep them away from Dante’s tents. And the fire on our other side continued to lick the brightening sky, smoke curling like fingers towards dark clouds swarming the orange-blue sky.

This is too easy,Damon said, his voice startling me through our marks.We should have met resistance by now.

My stomach twisted as I glanced back at him with my brows furrowed.I know.

It didn’t sit right with me. Surely, we would have hit one of those traps by now. Something.

But we approached the ruins of the old orphanage, circling the outer walls of what remained. The once tall building looked skeletal against the brightening sky, casting eerie shadows over the tall grass. I walked beneath the side wall, which was the tallest of all, and half-expected something to jump out at us when we passed it.

Nothing happened, and yet my heart continued to race in my chest, leaping into my throat with each careful step we took.

There were remnants of a garden out here. Old stone planters, perfectly portioned out for growing different things. There were still aromatics, like mint and parsley, growing like weeds. Through the tall grass, I was pretty sure I spied an overgrown pumpkin. Things that weathered even the mass disaster that was war.

The muted scent tickled my nose, and I noticed several bunches of flowers in the tall grass that definitely shouldn’t have been there. But this wasn’t a garden anymore.

Maybe a thousand years ago, it would have been. But this place was trapped in a different time, and who knew how many people had survived here, even after the war and Queen Daphne moving everyone from the Old World to Avalon.

My heart leapt into my throat when we reached the cottage. Everything was quiet, the sounds of battle and gunfire subdued as we neared the cottage walls. Before, I’d thought it was more ruin than building, but up close, it became clear that the walls were still mostly intact. The roof was gone, having disappeared long ago, but a chimney reached for the sky without smoke leaving its mouth.

Pandora had lived here, before being found by her mates. And this was the place where she had chosen to hide the most dangerous weapon against us all.

I didn’t understand why she hid it from the Queens who came after her, why she hadn’t prepared us. It made no sense to me when Asael explained it, and it certainly didn’t now.

And hiding it here…I just didn’t know what to think about that.

Heart pounding, I stopped by the corner of the cottage. We had a clear view of the tents, which still hadn’t moved. By now, surely Dante would have come out to see what was going on. Unless he was more of a coward than anyone thought…or he had something to hide.

Please Nyx,I thought,let us find the skull. Don’t let this turn into a full out war.

But even as I thought the words, I had the sinking feeling that it wouldn’t even matter if I had the skull in my hands.

There would be war regardless.

I don’t feel anything inside,Adrian said, looking over his shoulder at me. Tension lined every movement, creasing the corners of his eyes.But this isn’t right.

I met his stare briefly before glancing back at Damon. He gave me a shallow shake of his head, indicating the same. I looked back at the cottage, at the cool stone-grey walls and the vines of ivy growing through the cracks. Small, purple flowers bloomed from the vines, though they didn’t smell of anything.

There should have been a scent. Even the vines should have given offsomething.

Unless there’s a charm or protection hiding something within. Hesitantly, I raised my hand to the stone, letting it hover over a large brick. Closing my eyes, I drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. The tips of my fingers tingled with the presence of magic, the feeling running up my hands. The presence wasn’t strong; under other circumstances, I would have thought it old, maybe faded with how weak it was.

But I knew better.

Dante was smart. He was covering his tracks.

I didn’t recognise the magical signature, but I knew I’d felt it before. From the false king himself.

Swallowing hard, I pulled my hand back, a shiver racing down my spine.

He’s been here, I said, directing that thought to both males.But I don’t think he’s here now.

I knew I couldn’t be certain of that, not with the magic still clearly here. But we were also too exposed out here.

Adrian and Damon shared a look over my head. There was a hint of respect through the bond, an acknowledgement that if anything happened, Damon would be the only one capable of getting us the hell out of here.

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