Page 44 of Their Mate
Ahead lay the unknown, dark tunnels twisting deeper into Dublin’s hidden underground, where a dangerous predator waited, and somewhere, hopefully still alive, was Declan.
“Stay alert,” I said, voice even despite the storm raging within me. “Eyes sharp. Let’s bring Declan home.”
With that, we pulled out our flashlights and plunged forward into the darkness.
CHAPTER 16
Edward
The deeper we descended into Dublin’s tangled underground, the colder and darker the tunnels became. The dull, rhythmic drip of water echoed like a ghostly metronome, sending a chill down my spine at the sound.
I took point, my grip tightening on the knife in my right hand, senses honed by years of military discipline alert to every shadow, every subtle flicker of movement, every sound. I’d spent enough time underground during covert operations to know this was dangerous territory, a chilling labyrinth of forgotten infrastructure filled with potential threats and that was before you factored in a cunning Elder Lycan into the mix.
Ahead, the maintenance tunnel opened up into a broader underground subway station, our flashlights casting the platform and abandoned train cars into eerie relief. Logan stepped up next to me, his gaze scanning the shadows warily. “Place looks clear,” he murmured, though his jaw tightened with tension. “But I don’t trust it.”
“Nor should you,” I replied grimly, stepping cautiously onto the tiled platform. “This place is old. It’s been here since before the Collapse. Lots of hidden dangers.”
Jamie snorted, glancing around warily. “Hidden dangers. Wonderful.”
Sera moved carefully behind us, her footsteps light. I watched her from the corner of my eye, noting the precise discipline in every movement, the lethal grace honed by years of training. She may be a stubborn, infuriating, defiant little mate, but I respected her skill and focus. She was a dangerous woman to underestimate.
Aidan limped slightly, clearly in pain, though his expression remained stoic and focused. “Declan’s scent is faint here,” he muttered, frustration clear in his voice. “But he’s definitely been through.”
I lifted my nose into the air and nodded. “Then we move forward, slow and careful.”
We stepped onto the subway tracks themselves, moving cautiously past rusted rails and derelict train cars, their windows cracked and grimy from a hundred years of neglect. Scattered debris littered the platform. There were rusted signs, faded maps, abandoned backpacks and shoes from a hurried evacuation over a century ago.
My gaze caught briefly on a familiar shape beneath a pile of debris. I stepped closer, nudging a dusty tarp aside with the toe of my boot.
“This was military,” I observed, recognizing the weathered metal casing and faded paint job immediately. “Old Irish Defense Forces equipment. Probably pre-Collapse.”
Logan crouched beside me, thoughtful. “The last human holdouts in the city must have made their final stand down here. Just trying to survive.”
Sera shifted closer, her wary gaze scanning the debris carefully. “It makes sense. Underground, defensible positions, plenty of places to retreat.”
Jamie exhaled sharply. “Then it’s probably a trap. The Elder Lycan could easily use what they left behind.”
Almost as if on cue, Logan froze, holding up a warning hand. I stilled instantly. “Pressure plate,” Logan said tersely, gesturing to a tile slightly raised from the rest. “Careful where you step.”
I stepped back carefully, studying the trap thoughtfully. “Classic military setup. Probably rigged explosives or shrapnel. Efficient, and likely deadly.”
“Can you disarm it?” Sera asked, voice calm despite the faint edge of fear beneath it.
I shook my head. “Risky, especially without knowing how degraded the mechanism might be. Best we just move around it carefully.”
We continued slowly, moving with exaggerated caution, each footfall carefully placed to avoid triggering more traps, but as we reached the edge of the abandoned platform, a sudden low hum vibrated faintly beneath my feet.
“Everyone stop,” I barked, my voice echoing in the tunnels. “Hear that?”
The others froze instantly, expressions wary and tense. Jamie listened carefully, brow furrowing. “That hum—it sounds electrical.”
Recognition slammed into me suddenly, dread pooling sharply in my gut. “Move! Now!” I snapped, lunging toward Sera and shoving her roughly out of the way just as electricity surged violently through the rails.
Sparks erupted in a bright, vicious arc, crackling loudly and filling the air with the pungent scent of ozone. Jamie cursed violently, barely dodging away as a brilliant current of electricity snapped mere inches from his boots.
Sera stumbled upright beside me, breathing raggedly, eyes wide. “Electrified rails. Military?” she guessed.
I nodded quickly, heart hammering. “Exactly. Set on a timed circuit, deadly efficient. Maybe the Elder found a way of generating electricity down here since he’s been here so long…”
