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The fear and the utter hopelessness I felt hanging in that dungeon. I was sure I would die there, sure that I would never see my family again. But then I had heard them and I willed every ounce of life I had left inside of me to the surface, praying to the Gods that I could hold on.

I pushed myself from the door and swallowed the sob racing toward the surface at the memory.

I would never speak of it.Not ever.

Chapter seven

HYACINTH

I’dbeenpacinginfront of the prison’s entrance since breakfast, my shadows flowing around me as the two guards stationed at the gates exchanged a nervous glance. I kicked a loose stone across the floor with the toe of my boot as I let out a long sigh, studying the dank stone space.

My guess was that I’d been here for at least four hours already, which meant Ata’s meeting with Dukovich was probably over. I desperately wished I could have been there with her. That she had wanted me to be there with her.

I groaned up at the ceiling as the same silent battle raged in my head as all the other mornings I’d come, only to leave with the promise that tomorrow I would do it.

I had never made it past this room.

It was time and I knew it. The time for me to come was months ago but if I was being honest with myself, I hadn’t been ready to face him. To face the man that had taken so much fromme out of blinded jealousy. I still wasn’t sure if I was ready, but it had to be done.

I tucked a curl behind my ear and turned to face the two men. Rolling my shoulders back, I cleared my throat and nodded. The guards bowed their heads to me in unison as they each pulled a key from around their necks. I watched as the gold stitching of their leathers shimmered off the dim light coming from the circular window inlaid in the ceiling.

It was the only natural light these dungeons would ever see.

I stepped up to the door as they pushed the keys into the locks then laid their palms on the golden door. Forcing my breath to steady, I brought my palm to the door’s surface. My skin heated as it connected with the prison gate and a white light ran underneath the three of our palms as the locks began to click underneath the surface. The sound of metal scraping against metal echoed through the small underground chamber until the final gear clicked into place and the door began to open. Watching as the guards grabbed the handles and pulled the doors fully open, I let out a sharp breath.

The gate was warded, and anyone who entered these prisons was documented when they laid their palms against the door. If your essence was not mixed into the magic used to ward them, the doors would not open for you. As far as I knew, only those closest to Landers and Elric and his captains had access to the inside of these doors.

I stood there for a moment, staring into the darkness that seemed to stare back at me.

I didn’t know what my plan was. Didn’t know what I would say, but I just had to get this over with. I couldn’t keep pushing it off. I took one step toward the stairs on the other side of the door, then another, then another.

My stomach lurched as anger rose to the surface at the mere thought of seeing his face again and when I took that first step down toward the cells, my veins filled with rage.

Every emotion ignited in the pit of my stomach like a bonfire and I pressed my hand against the damp stone wall to steady myself.

I had to do this.

Taking step after step down into the hole that was now Taft’s personal hell, I forced myself to breathe against the claustrophobia that was beginning to push against my skin.

Every level I descended was lined with golden cells.

The first few floors were reserved for those who had indulged in too much drink, causing trouble in Nethkar, or its neighboring towns and villages. They were only staying for the night to sober up. The next levels were occupied by thieves and swindlers.

As the stairs winded down, the severity of the crimes increased until they reached the bottom floor—where Taft was locked in one of two cells.

My boots hadn’t even connected to the floor of the prison when a soft chuckle echoed through the small candle-lit space.

I stilled. Listening as chains scraped across the stone floor.

“I was wondering when you would finally come to visit me,” Taft said, his voice rough and full of amusement. “Why are you hiding, Hyacinth?”

My skin crawled at the sound of my name falling off his lips and I clenched my fists, taking the last step onto the floor of the prison and rounded the corner.

“That’s not something I have to do anymore,” I said, willing my voice not to shake as I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the stone wall across from him.

He took another step toward me, slipping his hands through the gaps of his cell and resting his forearms on the gold bars. Themanacles around his wrists clanked loudly against the metal as he smiled over at me.

“You are a sight for sore eyes. Did you miss me?” His smile turned feral and I scoffed in response as I studied him.