The sunlight isblinding, and I gasp for the fresh air like… well, like I’ve been underground for days.
I lean against a wall, sliding down to relax my legs and breathe in the cool ocean air.
The eerie grip of the Undercroft refuses to let go completely, even once sunlight washes over us, my body shivering from the way my sweat-infused clothes begin to dry.
Probably doesn’t help that I’m sitting underneath a red lantern like it’s a reminder of what’s fucking down there.Opening my eyes, my father is standing in front of me, and Donna is surveying the area, much like Basilisk.
“Your cat,” I say, noticing she’s gone.
“Shadow cat,” Basilisk corrects. “Can’t kill them in the shadows, but you can in the sun. She already took off as soon as we exited?—”
My dad and Basilisk both draw their blades at the same time, Donna and I scrambling to get our weapons out, searching for whatever set these men off.
“Matthias,” Father hisses, transforming into his actual self.
“This one is different from who I felt earlier,” Basilisk warns.
I take in the environment more, the space reminding me of a pier city with all the wood and netting, although I can’t see the ocean in any direction. Looking at my back, it’s a tall, natural stone wall of the cliffs with a small, wooden door covering the only entry.
It’s like we just emerged from a service door to the hellscape we fled from.
“This way,” Basilisk urges, guiding us to the right and down through tent-covered stalls.
“Tempest’s port is the other way,” Dad instructs.
“Soren is inthisdirection!” he glances over his shoulder. “And he’s got a lot more people.”
Dad picks up his pace, urging me forward.
Soren? My gods, I actually forgot about them in our escape.That’s when, through one of the alleys, a man emerges who looks just like the pale blonde from the Council, more men matching his speed and halting with the same intensity.
Basilisk doesn’t stop, barreling toward them and parrying immediately with two of them, catching them all off guard.
Even Matthias looks at him like he’s crazy before adhering his Zenith mask to his face.
Dad lunges forward, striking at Matthias, who yells out when he barely avoids being gutted. Fear grips me almost immediately, knowing that he’s risking everything right now. Matthias is twenty years younger, and in more shape.
Even so, my father demonstrates that he hasyearsof training. The blows are so forceful, the dodges so swift, and hair cutting close, I don’t know what to do. I want to help, step in, and do what I can.
But this isn’t a fight for me. I could make it worse.
What’s worse than him dying?
In the distance, I hear screams and scuffles. A hoard of horsemen ride fast toward us. In the front is a man wearing a black skull mask. But when I glance back at my father, my braid whipping around my neck, it might be too late. We’re tired and just escaped near death,morethan once.
My body shakes as if it’s been shocked by an eel when I see a blade pierce right through my dad’s shoulder, his echoing cries stretching through the streets, the blade sinking further as Matthiastwists.
No.
Wherever Jane is, something catastrophic is happening.
I kick Phantom’s sides even harder, riding as fast as I fucking can. I paid a lot of money to stow this horse somewhere rather inconspicuous with one of my men until I was officially out of Skull’s Row, and he could be ridden home.
Even with all my planning, it might not be enough.
We twist and turn upward through this coastal village that’s right outside the pirating ports. Grabbing the black skull maskat my hip, I adorn it on my face, the material adhering to me.Everythingevolves into utter clarity: my body stronger, my ability to grip Phantom with my thighs easier.
Jane, and her frantic heart, shines like a beacon during a storm. We round a corner and that woman’s energy is so palpable I can almostsmellher. Commotion fills the narrow streets up ahead, Phantom piling through any fucking idiot in my way, not giving a shit who it is, his hooves stamping into a few bodies on the ground that he knocks over.
