Nox laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Exactly.”
Silence passed between the four of them. Then Cedric straightened, slipping his hand from Elyria’s to rest it on the hilt of his sword. With his other, he pointed toward one side of the estate. “The family quarters are in the western wing. That’s where Tenny’s room is. I expect she’ll be there.”
“And if she is not? Is there a dungeon or some kind of torturechamber we should check next?” Nox’s voice was free of judgment and expectation, like they truly were simply trying to figure out their plan of action. Still, the thought had Kit’s stomach churning.
Cedric, too, looked nauseated by the notion. “There is no dungeon to speak of,” he said tightly. “Though I’ve never known what lies in the east wing. It was always off-limits to us.” His eyes drifted to the eastern tower. “I have to say, I’m now wondering why that was.”
Kit couldn’t hold in the scoff that burst off her tongue. “You’re onlynowwondering?”
“Kit.” Elyria’s voice was icier than that gust of wind.
“What? He lived with Varyth fucking Malchior for over twenty years and never suspected anything? Never once thought, ‘Hmm, Daddy’s acting a bit strange?’ ”
The ground rumbled beneath Kit’s feet. She stumbled backward, colliding with Nox.
“Ellie, knock it off. I’m only teasing.”
“He is not Cedric’s father,” Elyria said, steel lacing each word.
“He killed my father,” Cedric added, and Kit’s face immediately fell.
“I—You’re right. I’m sorry. I just—I hate this. Hate that he did all this. That he got away with so much for so long. Hate that heisTenny’s father, and that she’s in there somewhere right now and?—”
“We will find her,” said Nox, cutting her off gently.
“And we will findhim.” Elyria stepped up beside Cedric, her head turned to the Seastone estate. “I just wish we knew what we were walking into.”
Nox sighed. “The estate is warded—I can sense it from here. Shadowstepping directly inside is not an option.”
“Neither is flying straight in, right?” Kit added. “They’ll see us coming from a mile away.”
“Who will see us though?” Elyria clucked her tongue. “I don’t see anyone roaming the grounds. Do we have any clue how many guards or cultists might be inside?”
“Growing up, the estate was full of people—servants and workers and tutors and attendants, always coming and going.” Cedric pursed his lips. “I have so many questions now. Did they all know? Had they been working to further the goals of the Cult of Malakar all along? Had I?”
Elyria placed her hand on Cedric’s arm, her fingers hooking under the edge of his vambrace, and his rapid breathing immediately seemed to slow. The two of them locked gazes for several long moments, their expressions filled with such intensity that Kit felt she was intruding. There was nothing but the whipping wind and the occasional nod or shake of a head as they held their silent conversation. Stars above, nowthatwas going to take getting used to.
Eventually,finally, they returned their attention to Kit and Nox.
“You may not be able to see anyone from here, even with that sight of yours,” Cedric said, “but it doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Lord Ch—fuck it all—Malchior is expecting us. I cannot imagine he’ll have made it that easy.”
“What are our options here then?” asked Kit. “We can’tstepin. I don’t expect barging in through the front gates will net us better results than flying would. We don’t exactly have an army with which to break it down.”
“I am an army,” Elyria replied.
There was a beat of silence.
“Four hells, Ellie. That was very smooth.”
Elyria offered a devilish smile.
“But still doesn’t solve our current predicament,” said Nox, their mouth curving to one side. “How do we get in?”
“I do have a possible solution,” Cedric said, shifting his weight. “I’m just not sure you’re going to like it.”
“You were right, knightling,”Kit whispered into the sodden dark. “I do not like this at all.”
The tunnel was barely wide enough for them to fit, lined up one after another as they crawled through on hands and knees. Slick stone pressed in on either side, the ceiling low enough that Kit and Elyria both had to banish their wings so they wouldn’t scrape against the ceiling. The air reeked of mildew and wet moss, with a rotten undercurrent that had Kit breathing through her mouth.
