Page 119 of The Spider Queen

“No, it’s fine.” I held it up to show him. “See? It’s already healing.”

His eyes widened. “How did you know—”

I shrugged and then turned my attention back to the opening in the ground. I peered into the bowels of the earth, but only the first few steps of the stone staircase were visible. They were shiny and black, like they were made of the same stone that Thane had been clutching while he’d been in the glass cube as a spider.

“How did you know? To cut your palm?” he asked.

“I just knew. I felt something I can’t describe.”

There was no movement to the air around us. It was stagnant, like the rocks were holding their collective breath.

I dragged my eyes back to the cavernous stairwell. “Down we go.”

Chapter 46

I descended into the earth. The temperature dropped at once and I felt the air around me turn from mild and breezy to cool and damp. It was dark, and I pressed my hand to the smooth stone wall to try and keep my bearing. It would be far too easy to tumble down the stairs…and who knew how far I’d fall?

“Do you have a light?” I called up to Hunter. The moment I saidlight, flames flared to life. Torches illuminated the stone staircase—the same kind that had been in Thane’s prison.

“Shit just got real!” I yelled, feeling adrenaline surge through my body.

“Right,” Hunter yelled, mirth in his voice. “Because life wasn’t real before now.”

Adventure and excitement had me fidgety. I called to Hunter, “Am I going to do this without you?”

“Right behind you, Poppy.”

I felt Hunter at my back and then I began my journey, shivering as I walked. “I’m glad Maggie gave me a lamb’s wool sweater.”

He made a noise of agreement. Down and down we went, deep into the ground. The stone staircase grew tighter, narrower as we descended. The torchlight seemed to go on forever, and I wondered how long it would take before we got to the cave.

After more than an hour of steady walking, I had to sit down and take a break. My head pounded and my eyes hurt with strain. Hunter didn’t complain. He perched on the step above me, pulled off the backpack, and took out a bottle of water.

“Thanks,” I said, taking it. The liquid was cool against my parched throat. I handed it back to him, and he drank a few gulps before putting it away.

“What do we do if one of us has to go to the bathroom?” I asked.

Hunter laughed, the torchlight caressing his jaw and turning his blue eyes dark. “You ask the weirdest questions.”

“I’m the practical one, remember?”

“I have no idea—maybe you should ask Thane.”

I snorted. “Spider dude probably has no idea, either.”

“You really should show him more respect.”

I stood up, ready to be on my way. “Don’t start that, Hunter.”

“I’m just saying—”

“I’ll respect him when he respects me.”

“He does respect you, Poppy.”

“Maybe,” I allowed. “All I know is that he and I will have it out when we’re face to face.” Hunter was silent a moment, and I turned my head to look at him. “What? You’re not going to protest—”

“Eyes forward,” he snapped. “What are you trying to do? Get yourself killed?”