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Just an owl.

The bird perches like a guard, its crimson eyes alarming as they survey the scene. The silent hunter observes us with curious detachment before blinking and, without a sound, taking off on silent wings.

“Hey, did you see that? Maybe the magical barrier lifted!” After a few unsuccessful flaps of my wings, the burst of excitement wanes. “So much for that idea. Do we even want to know why that owl can fly and we can’t?”

“Probably not.” Blair’s still panting after our short but intense battle. “The bigger question is, why did those cave cats retreat? There were more of them than us.”

“Nearly dawn.” Agnar glances at the sky before going back to searching the waning darkness. “Maybe that’s what chased them off. Or the fires. Wild animals aren’t fans of fire.”

Then why didn’t they run away as soon as I laid the first line of fire down?

No.

Reality in the Lost City is even stranger than that.

They retreated when my blood touched the one I was fighting. But why?

My fire dissipates, and I put my wings away. “I felt their emotions, like I can with the dragons. They were confused before they left. We might have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Once they realized they were fighting humans, maybe they decided to back off and find easier game.”

“Well, I’m glad they finally came to their senses before eating us.” Leesa’s attempt at humor falls flat, but I appreciate the effort. “I’m definitely not going to be able to sleep after that.”

“The sun will be up shortly. I say we make breakfast, pack up camp, and then head for the palace as soon as it’s light.” Bastian is already moving toward the edge of the road where we slept and fought. “This time, let’s build up a fire to go with it so no more predators mistake us for easy meals.”

Eating is a mechanical process, sustenance without taste. We’re going through the motions, keeping the machine of our bodies running, because stopping means thinking, and thinking means remembering how close we all came to dying.

And I still don’t understand why.

Why would a pack of wild cave cats be here? And why attack a group of humans?

Leesa cleans and dresses my cuts and then bandages my arm for me. Thankfully, the wound is a minor one and shouldn’t hinder me in any way.

Before long, we’re ready to depart. The castle beckons, a distant silhouette against the brightening sky. We leave behind the clearing, the blood, and the tufts of black fur.

Despite treading lightly, our steps echo off the stone, a rhythmic drumming that marks our passage through the city. The fog lifts, curling its ghostly fingers away from the cobblestone as we advance. The Lost City, once shrouded and menacing, now appears harmless in the dawn’s gentle embrace.

The castle looms ahead, its gates open, as if expecting us. And for a fleeting moment, I feel like I’m returning home.

This castle holds answers. I’m sure of it. “Let’s find what we came for.”

ChapterTen

Up close, the palace is much larger than I’d thought. The structure has seen better days. Tall towers shoot into the air every so often, several of them crumbling from age or neglect. Numerous windows appear broken, some lacking glass altogether.

Of the lower floors—the visible ones—most are covered in moss and vines. The front doors are tall and wide, bound in thick metal bands. Despite being reinforced, the doors sag mightily, the inner corners crumbled on the ground.

“We’re not getting through there.” Agnar grunts, his hands on his hips. Then his lips twist, and he claps Blair on the top of his head. “You’re always talking about how hard your head is. How about you just lower it and get a running start? All you have to do is knock a hole in it for us to walk through. That’s not too much to ask, right?”

“Pfft.” Blair rolls his eyes. “Do I look like a ram to you?” He snaps his mouth closed when Agnar drops his hand and pats Blair’s cheek.

“Give it another day or two without shaving.” Agnar smirks as Blair smacks his hand away.

“The ladies happen to like it when I grow a beard.” A wicked gleam enters Blair’s eyes. “It makes certain activities more pleasurable. You know, when I go?—”

“Okay.” Warmth rises to my cheeks at Blair’s admission. “I could have lived without knowing that.”

“Just trying to be helpful and informative.” Winking at me, Blair hooks his thumbs in his belt and walks off, inspecting the massive structure.

I chance a peek at my sister, who’s sharing some sort of private moment with Bastian. They both have silly grins on their faces, like they’re curious about Blair’s “helpful and informative” little announcement.