Page 59 of Creatures of War

I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed her, needing that moment of human contact. Her hug was warm and comforting. Her scent was sweet and soft. I let it comfort me as much as it could, but I wasn’t going to feel better until I was in the arms of my mates.

“Come on.” She pulled me further through the passageway. I wasn’t sure where we were going. There were a lot of twists and turns, and sometimes the path slanted up or down. “Here.” Aylia stopped us at a ladder. “I’ll go first to make sure it’s clear.”

“Okay.”

She climbed up and moved something that let in light. I waited, practically holding my breath.

There was an echo through the passageway that made the hairs on my arm stand up. It almost sounded like a voice. I squinted in the direction we came from, wishing I could see into the darkness. My heart rate picked up.

Were people already following us?

“Rayna, come on.”

I looked up to see Aylia frowning at me.

“Are you sure this is the right way?” I asked.

“Of course. We need to connect with another passageway that will lead us out of the castle. I’ll get you to safety, I promise.”

I nodded and climbed up. My limbs shook as I grabbed each rung and pulled myself up. Once I was close enough, Aylia was able to pull me up. Spending so long in the dungeon had left my body weak and exhausted.

We were in a small storage area filled with barrels. Aylia carefully covered our exit as I looked around.

“Where are we?” I asked.

“Their liquor storage room. It’s still in the basement, but there’s another passageway near here we can use. Be silent, there might be guards patting around here.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me with her as we moved to the door.

She had me pressed against the wall as she peeked out.

“Won’t you get in trouble?” I asked, realizing the position I was putting her in. If the king found out what she was doing for me... Fear curled deep in my stomach for her.

“I’m done with this place,” she said. “I can’t stay here, not knowing how the king is.”

“But you haven’t found your dragon yet.”

Aylia looked back me, her expression looking a little broken. “I’ll be okay. Being a rider doesn’t mean finding a dragon is all there is to my life. I refuse to believe that. I will pave the life I want, and maybe, someday, I’ll luck out and find my mate. But this place isn’t worth it. I will get you out, and I will find my own way.”

I touched her arm gently. “Maybe you can come with us.”

Aylia’s smile fell, and she shook her head. “Your path isn’t mine. Come on.” She slipped out of the room, and I followed.

I had to blink as even more light nearly blinded me. We were in a wide hallway made of stone, the air drier than when I was in the dungeons.

“Just down the hall to the right,” Aylia whispered.

We stayed light on our feet, my back feeling like there was a big target on it. Again there was a voice so faint and unexpected, that I missed what it had said. I froze; it felt familiar. Maybe one of the guards? The king?

“Come on,” Aylia said.

“I think they’re chasing us,” I said.

Aylia froze and looked behind us, frowning hard. A moment later, her eyes widened, and she grabbed me. “We need to go. Now!” She shoved me into a side room, running into the corner and opening another passage. She practically shoved me into the passage. As soon as the door was closed, she was running, yanking me with her.

“Aylia, slow down,” I said, nearly tripping over my feet.

“They’re coming. They might catch up. They can’t catch up to us!”

Her words were an ice-cold bucket dumped on me, and the adrenaline in me spiked. The king was coming, wasn’t he? His guards were hunting for us.