Page 65 of Death of the Glass Angel
Relieved, Talon handed her the lantern and grabbed his dagger.
This tunnel was ancient. Grooves and low-hanging rocks made the trek arduous. Once-smoothed walls had crumbled in places, collecting rocks across the path.
Their echoing footsteps set Des on edge, but she did not hear anyone else. Had their man not taken this path?
A fork in the road appeared, with one tunnel continuing straight and the other turning east. Pausing, Des glanced between the two. “Where to?”
“Keep south, I guess. We can always turn around.” Talon suggested.
Heeding his advice, Des continued, the path sloping upwards gradually until another ladder appeared at a dead end. She touched the first rung, only to hear Talon click his tongue behind her.
“Not going to slide up this one?”
“How would I do that, Talon?” Des said. “Be reasonable.” She climbed up, hearing him sigh aggrievedly behind her.
A latch awaited at the top, and it swung open easily. Des emerged into a rocky, cramped area amidst the mountains, two thin trails leading away. Talon appeared beside her, and the hatch swung closed.
He rotated, taking in their location. “If I’m right, the south road is right over there.” He pointed down one of the trails.
“Where did the other tunnel lead?”
“I’m not sure. I think we lost him, regardless.”
“Then we should go back.” She turned to open the hatch, but Talon grabbed her wrist, prying her hand away.
“It’s evening.” He gestured to the setting sun. “And I’m not letting you wander through the tunnel, potentially into a murderer’s lair, while assassins are after you. We’re getting you back to the suites and back under guard.”
Des scrunched her mouth, preparing to protest, but let the matter lie. “Fine.” She stood and brushed her pants off. “We can continue this another day.”
Walking quickly, Talon followed the thin trail, a nervous tick to his movements. “I don’t think this is connected to your assassins. I’m not sure it’s worth pursuing.”
“You don’t want to know what happened to all these people?”
“I guess I’m mildly curious, but finding them isn’t my job.”
“Right. Spying on me is.”
“I already admitted I was a songbird, didn’t I?”
There it was again, him admitting he was part of the world’s most secretive guild, all too casually. Doubt infected Des again.
“Okay.” She narrowed her eyes and walked closer. “What are you spying on me for? Secrets? Royal drama?”
He smirked at her, remaining silent.
“You have an irritating face.”
“Jabs like that won’t work, darling.” Talon teased. “I draw eyes everywhere I go, and even the tightest tongues come unwound with a bat of my eyes.”
Des wanted to tell him he was a vain idiot. A wrong, vain idiot. But he’d proven his boast earlier today.
In her silence, his smile widened.
“But,” He articulated, “I can’t slide down a ladder like that. Especially not when I’m trying to impress someone.”
Des’ mouth clicked open. Snickering, Talon quickened his pace. Chasing after him, Des protested. “I was not trying to impress you.”
Planting a boot on a rock, Talon sighed with relief. “There’s the main road.” A distant smudge, Des could see gates down the mountain pass.
