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VANESSA
My spidey senses start to tingle the lower we descend into the castle and the more security staff we pass. I glance at one of them, but his eyes remain foreword, though his brow wrinkles at our presence.
Sarina ignores him, striding past as if she has every right to be here.
“Are we going to the dungeon?” I ask in a whisper, bumping into Sarina as she stops to peek around a corner.
We’ve already explored the rest of the castle, including the Great Hall, a massive kitchen, wine cellar, family suites, guest suites, the courtyard. The place is as impressive and steeped in history as I’d hoped, but Sarina has very little interest in shifter history and gave vague, unhelpful answers to my questions.
“We’re exploring the tunnel system beneath the castle,” she says, still looking around the corner.
“And it just happens to go through the dungeon?” I ask drily.
She smirks at me. “I can’t help the way they set up this labyrinth of a castle. Not my fault if we wander into an off-limits area.” She straightens, her face assuming a professional look. “Besides, I’m Queen of this place. I can go anywhere I want.”
“Despite your husband’s preference that you not?” I grin, liking the odd white-haired Queen.
She shrugs and motions me to follow her down the corridor. “Lock isn’t worried about me, it’s whoever’s in the prison he’s worried about.” At my frown, she adds, “I’ve been known to de-throat my enemies.” She pauses, then adds, “Two, to be exact. I’ve only had two kills so far.”
I arrange my face into what I hope is commiseration. “Perhaps more will come along with time. You’re still young.”
She nods seriously. “Only two hundred and twenty-six. I’ve not even participated in a single battle. Lock has killed way more than I have. It’s embarrassing.”
We descend further into the bowels of the castle and the air becomes noticeably cooler and more damp. I shiver, wrapping my arms around myself. Noticing, Sarina drags her heavy cloak off and tosses it around my shoulders, stretching up until her bare breast bumps my chin. She isn’t wearing a stitch of clothing under the heavy cloak. Only a string of pearls around her neck.
“Better?” she asks in a whisper. At my nod, she motions for me to follow again. “C’mon, I think he’s down this way.”
“Who?” I whisper back.
“I don’t know.” At my frown, she adds, “I just know they’re keeping someone down here. I overheard Lock discussing him. I think he’s been living here for a while.”
Intrigued, I follow her, my heart hammering in anticipation. It’s like I’m in a creepy horror movie, slowly being led to my doom by a beautiful bloodthirsty seductress. Will I faint from shock when I set eyes on the beast languishing in the castle prison? Probably not, since I’ve never been a fainter, but I’m an actor. I can hit the floor with grace and believability.
“Here he is,” she whispers, leading me to a closed door with a small window in it and a digital keypad. She frowns at the keypad, poking the numbers and jumping back when the screen flashes red and beeps. She makes a frustrated sound. “They updated the prison a few years ago. I liked it better when there were real bars.”
She goes up onto her toes to see through the window and I join her. At first, I don’t see anything, then I catch sight of movement. Disappointment rushes through me. “He’s just a man.” A rather unassuming one too.
She turns shining eyes to me. “Shifters can come in the most amusing human disguises. Maybe he’s a crocodile shifter or even a dragon shifter.” She frowns. “Though they’re usually flashier than this guy.”
“My best friend is a dragon shifter,” I say, thinking of Pinky’s eye-catching hair.
Sarina stares at me, her eyes wide. “You know a real live dragon? I’d love to see her.”
“I’m sure she’d be happy to come for a visit.”
A voice interrupts our conversation. “Your Majesty?” When Sarina turns around, a castle guard bows his head. “What are you doing down here?”
“Excuse me, is this man a shifter or a human?” I ask.
His gaze swings from Sarina to me. “Who are you?”
Sarina straightens and assumes a Queenly expression. “She is mate to Prince Keenan. You may answer her question.”
He nods respectfully. “The prisoner is human. He is Magistrate Barry Banbridge, formerly of Pendle.”
Sarina gasps. “From Pendle!”
The guard nods. “Been here a few years now. I’m surprised you didn’t know.”
