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Lips pinching together, I circled around, giving my back to him, heading down the tunnel.

“Kitten.”I swear I heard his cheeky voice slide over my skin and through me, but I shoved it back, putting up every fortification.

Sneaking down another couple of levels, voices buzzed in my ears, drawing me to the end of the hallway. Cooper and I glanced at each other, giving caution to everyone behind us. Slowly, we crept forward, hiding behind a wall and peering into a room. A cafeteria. Along the far wall was where they’d serve food, swinging doors behind, probably leading to the kitchen. Hundreds of bench-style seats and tables were bolted to the floor, filling the massive room.

A handful of fae gathered at one of the tables near the door, drinking and snacking, all wearing clothes with Killian’s crest on it.

“He wants this place fully running by next week. Our first group of inmates will be transferring here from the temporary location,” one spoke. He was tall and lean, his head and wide-set eyes reminding me of an insect. “So everyone here needs to step it up. Have the pit and the workrooms fully functioning.”

“Shut the hell up, Mantis,” another man sneered, his nasal voice sounding like the one yelling at the workers earlier. “Stop acting like you’re in charge. You’re not.”

“And you are?”

“Like I give a shit what this new leader says. He’s just one holding the seat warm until another privileged asshole comes along.” He stood up, his frame thick and strong, his brown hair short, but I could see nothing notable about him past that.

“That’s heresy,” Mantis hissed.

“No, it’s the truth. The only thing we should be loyal to is ourselves.”

“Funny,” a tall blonde woman spoke. “Because every time he comes around, all I see is your nose going farther up his ass, Boyd.”

“Fuck you.” He sneered at her, his shoulders rising, leaning toward her. “I know how to play the long game, while you worship the ground he walks on.”

“Back off, Boyd.” Mantis pointed at him to move away from her. “It’s time for your guard shift anyway.”

“Guard,” Boyd huffed. “What the hell are we protecting, anyway?”

Mantis shrugged. “Something very important that many of our brethren died for. That is all we need to know.”

Very important. It had to be the nectar.

My attention snapped to Croygen next to me, his head bobbing, coming to the same conclusion.

“Go, Boyd,” Mantis ordered. “Learn your place, or you won’t last long here.”

“You’re wrong.” Boyd glared at him, condescension dripping in his tone. “You will be the one who doesn’t last long here. I’ll be the onerulingthis place.” He curved for the doorway, scrambling us back into the dark corners, staying motionless as he stomped out of the cafeteria, heading down another passage.

Keeping our distance, we tracked slowly behind him, venturing once again deeper and deeper into the Earth’s core after this substance.

Chills prickled at my skin when we reached the last level, far below the prison. The dark passage was lined with metal doors, a brick-sized opening at eye level, only accessible to someone on the outside. One was open, and I spied chains hanging from the ceiling, collars with sharp rods, and whips with razors on them.

Dungeons.

Holes they would put prisoners into torture or die a horrible, painful death.

My past was shady; I had no real moral ground to stand on, but this had vomit pooling in the back of my throat.

Only a few pirates I knew had gotten off on torture and cruelty; most of us killed with efficiency. My boot blade in your gut, my dagger in your throat. Revenge was swift and humane.

This was designed to break every mental and physical fiber in a person.

“About time, Boyd.” A man’s voice coming from around the corner slowed us down. “I’m bored as fuck down here. Plus, this place creeps me out.”

“Really?” Boyd mused. “I like it down here.”

“You would, you sick fuck.”

“Give me the walkie-talkie,” Boyd grumbled.