That hot burning in my chest, throat, and eyes was back, but I managed to swallow it down, returning his hand squeeze. Blaine knew better than anyone how much Violet meant to me, how devastated I was inside when I thought about not reaching her in time. It was destroying me, and my stellar ability to compartmentalize things was starting to fail. It almost felt like being this close to her, I could actually feel her pain, and I was desperate to save her.
Kade took us in a loop away from what looked like the main gated entrance and to the eastern side of the wall. As we got closer to the stone barrier, everything was easier to see. Huge pyres were lit along the wall, throwing light across the landscape. Oh, and to highlight the fact that the wall looked utterly impenetrable, huge stone blocks, stacked on top of each other and towering into the air, were staggered with watch towers all around us. I counted at least three fae in each. Kade was keeping us under cover for the time being, sticking to the forest pockets, but we were still about forty yards from the wall, and there was no cover at all in that area. To get closer to the city, we would have to run across the open space and risk being spotted.
How the hell were we going to do that? A guard change could not take any longer than thirty seconds to a minute. If it was anything like ours back in the city, there would be a simple change of position and a brief update of last shift.
Instead of moving us closer, Kade veered off to the right, away from the fenced area. I lost sight of the stone structure as the forest closed in around us, cold air biting into any exposed skin. No one spoke for risk of being discovered, and I was seriously starting to worry about where he was leading us. We seemed to be getting further and further from the main fence. Further from Violet.
We couldn’t speak out loud. I could have used the bond, but it would have been distracting and we were in dangerous lands. I halted as Kade’s hand shot up into the air. The others stopped also, none of us moving as the bear shifter started creeping along again, making almost no sound. He waved us on then, and we all followed in his exact steps, using the moss and packed dirt to avoid any noisy branches or rocks.
When we were finally behind a large cluster of trees, Kade lifted his hand again and this time pointed to a small gap between two trees. I peered over his shoulder to see that beyond those thick trees was a bare bit of land. A single guard was sitting near a tiny, barred entrance.
Slave entrance, Finn told me. He must have gotten that from Nix. The thought of slaves infuriated me but I let it go, focusing on saving my best friend.
The guard was a tall and menacing looking man, as big as Kade, with two swords crossed over his lap. With his bushy, reddish beard, and heavily muscled arms, he looked like a Viking who could squash a man’s head with one hand. Before anyone could ask what the plan was, Kade bent and picked up a small rock. Nix was still on his shoulder and he placed the rock in her beak. Clutching it tightly, she took off, and with barely more than a whisper of wings she flew directly overhead, and I was glad to see that her wing seemed fully healed. Once she was on the opposite side of us, near the far thick wall of forest, she dropped the rock. It made a distinct, loud thump, and the guard was immediately alert, on his feet, both weapons in his hands. He surveyed the land, and we all ducked even lower as he scoped it out.
“Who wants to die today?” the guard called out as he moved further into the packed trees, away from us and toward the area Nix had dropped the stone. Nix kicked it up a notch then, rustling some branches, and the guard started running.
“Let’s go,” Kade whispered, and then we were sprinting out into the open field. Kade was the first to reach the gated entrance. He swung his head around, features already taking on some of his bear.
“There’s a lock!” he growled low.
Before I could even think of what to do next, I was gently pushed aside by Nikoli. The magic born held both hands on the lock and started whispering. A faint purple glow shot out of his hands and the lock clicked. Nikoli took a step back then to let Kade go through first, and I caught sight of his face. He looked worried. Crap! Something was bothering the magic born, but I didn’t have time to ask what it was. I sensed it was something to do with his powers … maybe they hadn’t worked the way he expected. The lock was open though, which was all that really mattered.
Kade had to hunch himself over to fit through the dark tunnel. There was no time to protest about him taking all the risks. Besides, I had to be fair. If he didn’t try to change me, I shouldn’t do it to him. Kade was a protector, he would always fight to go first. We all rushed in after him, Blaine bringing up the rear. We made it just in time, shutting the grate and relocking it right before the sound of the guard’s approach could be heard.
Nix was going to have to wait for us outside or fly over the top out in the open. I wasn’t too worried though, she really couldn’t have gone any further with us; she would stand out in the village. Kade could call for her if we needed help.
Cautiously, we crept forward in the darkness. I had one hand resting against Kade’s back, and I could feel someone holding my pack. We would not lose each other now, not when we were almost inside. Hopefully. The tunnel was narrow, each side of the walls brushing Kade’s shoulders, and he was crouched almost in half to fit.
Up ahead, a flickering of light came into view, and we were even more cautious until we realized it was some lit torches, sitting high in sconces on the wall. They burned with never-dying fire magic, and as we moved past I could see more in the distance. We had enough light now to see attackers if they came at us. Of course, fighting in a confined space like this was another story. Hopefully it wouldn’t be a problem.
Finn remained close to my legs. I was having difficulty not tripping over him, but I knew he was staying close for a reason. He was worried, and that worried me. Once we had walked a good distance into the tunnel, Kade stopped and turned around.
“Dalia believes we should be fine now until we reach the city. The tunnels are always empty except for once a month when they bring in new slaves. They just keep the one guard out there as precaution.
“What’s the plan?” I asked. My wolf was a bit upset about being underground like this. She was okay when we were walking, but now that we had stopped she wanted to break free. Finn pressed harder against my leg and a small sliver of calmness threaded through me, enough so I could easily push my wolf down again.