Curse of Stolen Flame (Firebird, #1)

CHAPTER 57

Two days later, Kindra slipped out of bed at precisely quarter to midnight. Jasper, ever the deep sleeper, did not stir from his place beside her. His chest rose and fell evenly in deep, heavy breaths. For a moment, she just watched him breathe and felt a swell of love for him. Her prince—her husband.

She hoped that whatever Tess and Emeline were about to reveal to her would be enough to save them both.

She padded silently into the dressing room and changed from her nightgown into a set of nerushmyr. She would not be caught unprepared this time, even taking an extra moment to equip Elric’s dagger.

When the clock on the mantle struck midnight, she was ready. Ever so quietly, she snuck out of the room and into the hall.

Tess was there, as promised. Her eyes flashed with relief when she saw Kindra. She glanced at the dagger sheathed at her waist and frowned. “We’re not going into battle,” she whispered, and Kindra shrugged.

“Nobody thought the ball would turn into a bloodbath either,” she hissed back, and Tess stiffened slightly, but said nothing in reply as she began to walk down the hallway, Kindra following closely at her heel.

“Em will meet us there,” Tess murmured, barely loud enough for her to hear. She halted at the sound of approaching footsteps, pushing Kindra behind a thick velvet curtain before she could protest.

The sound of guards drew closer, and Kindra didn’t dare to breathe as they paused briefly to greet Tess.

Only when they’d disappeared around the corner did Tess pull Kindra out of her hiding spot.

“You may have to tolerate doing that a couple more times,” the guardswoman told her as they began moving again .

It was only then that the feeling that she was probably about to commit treason took root.

That feeling only grew as they turned down a familiar corridor with an all-too familiar door. They slipped inside the broom closet without being seen, closing the door silently behind them. Tess walked over to the wall, a flame already lit in her palm, and pressed it to the stone, like she’d done it a thousand times.

And she probably had, Kindra thought as she watched the catacomb entrance illuminate and then slide open. The stale dusty air of the tunnels drifted out and enveloped her.

Wordlessly, Tess began to descend down the steps. Kindra had no choice but to follow, feeling increasingly wary with every passing second. Once in the tunnel, Tess turned around and closed the entrance behind them.

“We can get back out,” she assured her, speaking at a louder volume now that they were sealed within the catacombs. The fire in her hand grew to light up the space around them, and they began to make their way down the stairs. “You know,” Tess continued, “I was surprised that you didn’t push this with me. When you found the entrance and confronted me about it—I was expecting you to not let it go.”

“I didn’t let it go,” Kindra admitted. “I was angry with you for a long time for keeping secrets from me and lying to my face about it.” I still am , she finished silently. But at least it seemed like she was finally going to know the truth.

“You will understand very soon,” Tess replied, voice deadly quiet, “why we had to keep this from you.”

We. “So, Emeline has known the whole time, too?” She couldn’t fight the note of hurt in her voice.

“A lot of people have known,” Tess said, and gave Kindra a burning look. “A lot of people have died for this, too. It was a choice—to wait to tell you. You have already almost died twice because of—” She cut herself off abruptly, turning her head away and focusing intently on the stairs, which were still taking them down, down, down in a winding, twisting path.

“Because of what?” Kindra pressed, but Tess did not give an answer. “I’m getting really tired of this cryptic shit.” Again, no reply. Kindra held her tongue. She’d find out soon enough, she supposed.

For several minutes, they continued to walk in silence, the air growing colder and staler with every step. They had to be deep into the cliffside by now. Finally, the stairs ended, and they came to a small landing. There were three directions they could go. Tess directed them to the passage on their left. Again, stairs took them further into the earth. The smell of salt hit Kindra’s nose; there must be an exit that led out to the ocean ahead of them.

Eventually, the sound of other voices, hushed and tense, floated up from about two dozen steps down, where the stairs ended. She could see the dim glow of torches seeping out from underneath a closed door. Kindra’s body stiffened, and fire sparked in her palms. “Calm,” Tess hissed. The other Firefury took a deep breath, and grabbed Kindra by the shoulders, forcing her to look at her. When she spoke, she was more intense than Kindra had ever heard her sound. “Kindra, when we walk into that room, you are going to have a lot of questions. Knowing you, you are going to be very angry—and I can’t blame you for that, considering all we’ve put you through. But just know this: it’s all for Alverin’s future. For Istreria’s future.”

Before Kindra had a chance to respond, Tess pulled away from her and quickly descended the last few steps. She gave the door a series of knocks, some long, some short, and the conversation occurring behind it ceased immediately. Kindra, still registering Tess’s words, hovered a handful of steps behind her, still on her guard despite Tess’s assurance that she was safe.

And she was glad to be farther back when the door opened; glad to have the space to rally her magic.

Because when the door opened, it was Vylie Inacorro standing in the entryway.