Page 38 of Forged By Heart and Claws
No one.
The silence crept under my skin like a sickness. The palace was massive, but it wasn’t big enough thateveryonecould have disappeared.
We’d reached the last cross corridor before the secret door when a sudden string of bloodcurdling screams pierced the air, echoing in every direction.
I froze, listening to the noise and determining its location. “Sounds like it’s coming from the halls that lead to the barracks.”
“Could it be from the battle in the Ceremonial Hall?” Thalen’s voice wavered.
“It doesn’t sound like a battle.” Briar’s nostrils flared as she scented the air and then frowned.
She was right. There was no clash of weapons, no shouts, and no commands. Just fear and pain...and then it ended. As if someone had just snapped a neck or crushed a windpipe.
Elias shuddered.
We wasted no more time.
Down we went into the passage, my head scraping the low ceiling more than once. Every six or so steps, I cast a look behind us. The walls felt like they were closing in on us, as if the stoneitself expected violence. Briar’s hand twitched in mine, her pulse quickening. Her unease filtered through our bond, confirming she felt the discomfort too.
Halfway down the first spiral, she stopped.
I halted, every sense on edge. Thalen and Elias paused behind us.
“What isthat?” Thalen whispered. His grip stayed firm around Elias’ waist. A faint golden glow pulsed from the vial in his other hand.
“What did you see?” I asked, voice low.
Briar shook her head, jaw clenched. “I thought I saw—” Her brow pinched. “Never mind.”
But itwasn’tnothing.
Fear spiked through our bond, sharp and fast, like glass buried in my ribs.
I scanned the darkness and, for a split second, I caught it. Red eyes watching from the curve of the stairwell. Gone before I could track them. A shadow beast?
I inhaled deeply, checking the air for blood, for rot, for anything familiar.
Nothing.
Just cold, humid air and the steady echo of my own pulse in my ears. “Come on. Let’s move.”
We needed to get back to the others,now.
The narrow passage spat us out into the onyx cellar. This was the worst of the corridors. Every footstep echoed off the arched ceiling, and the only light came from what we carried. I didn’t need to press a hand to the cold stone wall, but I did it anyway. My nerves remained on alert.
I motioned for everyone to halt, then pointed to the thin tripwire and the cup of ball bearings balanced on the lintel.
“Don’t break the wire.” I stepped over it and held out my hand to Briar. She didn’t need it, but I offered it anyway. Myblood thrummed as her fingers curled into mine. Her long, wild copper curls bounced as she hopped over the wire.
Thalen and Elias followed.
A few more seconds, and the door was locked behind us. We were safe…for now.
We made it back to the gathering room within minutes.
Silus was sitting against a wall, Elara’s head resting on his thigh, his arm curled protectively around her. Myantha and Rhielle were sorting bags, and Veralt was checking supplies. Vyraetos was crushing something bitter in a mortar, grinding it one-handed with a pestle clenched in the other.
Thalira looked half asleep, her posture drooping as Quen held a lamp over her to warm her hands.
