Page 26 of Conflicted Fate
Jurvin glowered, his hooves crushing tile into small bits, but he didn’t attack. “If we do it your way, the Alpha will run, and we will never kill him,” he rumbled.
It was actually a good point. Given how quickly we’d overrun the palace, Teagetes may choose to take what men he had left and leave, instead of trying to take us down. Stopping him would be necessary.
“Go get him,” I said to Jurvin. “Give us some men to ensure we can complete our task. Then we can kill an Alpha.”
The centaur nodded sharply and barked a command. A dozen men stayed behind, while he and the others went off in search of the Alpha.
“Come on,” Kiel growled impatiently, hurrying down the stairs. “We’ve wasted enough time as it is.”
Booted feet trampled down the stairs as the others followed us into the lower levels, overrunning several very confused guards who had no idea what was happening topside.
“Thanks,” Kiel said as we approached a thick door that had to be the vault.
“My pleasure,” I said with a smirk. “I know you don’t play well with others.”
Kiel huffed. “I do, too.”
I very clearly made my thoughts on that known without using words. All I got was a huffy “Whatever” accompanied by a roll of his eyes, but he never outright denied my claim. Because he knew better.
Any further remarks died on our lips.
“It’s open,” I said, stating the obvious. The vault door wasn’t locked. In fact, it wasn’t even completely closed. “Why is it open?”
“Good question.” Kiel reached forward and hauled it open, both of us bracing for the trap to be sprung.
But nothing happened other than the door swinging open to reveal the veryemptyvault.
Chapter Fourteen
“What the hell?”
I carefully leaned in through the door, ready to whip my head back at any moment if something nasty happened, but it never did. The vault was empty and devoid of any life whatsoever.
Glancing at Kiel, seeing similar unease reflected on his face, I slowly entered the vault. It was clear itwaswhere Teagetes stored his stone. The circular room had a black velvet-lined cradle in the very center perfectly suited for holding a Fate Stone. Only, the cradle was empty.
“Why isn’t it here?” I said, eyeing the other warriors standing out in the hallway.
“It’s a trap,” Kiel snarled worriedly. “Everyone spread out. Get ready for it. They knew we were coming somehow.”
We left the vault behind before the door could slam shut on us and started slowly working our way back toward the stairs, everyone waiting for the shoe to drop.
Noises from up ahead announced the guards’ approach. We steeled ourselves, everyone ready to fight like wild animals to free ourselves from the grip of the Wulfhere.
The thunder grew louder.
“That doesn’t sound like armored guards,” I said to nobody in particular. “And why would they come so noisily. It doesn’t make any—”
Jurvin came charging down the stairs, his big, four-legged centaur frame forced to move slightly sideways. Given how front-heavy he was, it must be a nightmare to navigate stairs designed for bipeds. The big half-horse skidded to a stop.
“So, it’s not a trap?” someone said.
“What’s going on here?” Jurvin asked, his jaw clenching. “You promised us the death of an Alpha. But the vermin is nowhere to be seen! His offices, his quarters, they’re empty. Nothing for us to kill!”
“The vault is empty, too,” Kiel snapped. “Something—”
“You are a liar!” Jurvin roared, rearing back on his hind hooves. “Why did you truly bring us here?”
“To kill an Alpha, you dumb draft mare!” Kiel bellowed and spread his arms wide. “But clearly, something else is going on here. Since neither of us is dead or surrounded by Wulfhere or Volk, it stands to reason thatsomethingis up. After all, we all noticed the lack of guards everywhere. Now, we know.”
