And that was where the sound was coming from.
I left the group to inspect the wall and study the uneven slabs. The singing grew louder, tugging at something buried deep in my mind. The tune was familiar, yet I knew I’d never heard it before.
Then, as suddenly as it started, the melody vanished, leaving me with a hollow ache in the pit of my stomach.
Cass wandered closer, hooking her thumbs into her wide leather belt as she pretended to survey the cavern wall.
“How are you holding up? According to Gavin, your hunt for the rune got a little… rocky. Pun absolutely intended.”
“Let’s see...” I gently dabbed at the cut on my face, checking to see if it was still bleeding. “Split lip, aching back, and I think I just heard music, so I’m pretty sure I took a boulder to the head. Otherwise? I’m grand.”
“I meant emotionally. But let’s circle back to the music. I don’t hear anything.” She tilted her chin, sending her blonde ponytail swinging. “Do you think it’s another trap?”
“It’s gone now. Probably just air whistling through the tunnels.” I shrugged. “Or maybe it was cave sirens looking to lure us all to our deaths at the bottom of the waterfall.”
Cass snorted and leaned casually against the wall, her worn boots crossed at her ankles. “It’ll take more than seductive cave sirens—which aren’t real—to luresomeone’sgaze elsewhere.” She bent forward, lowering her voice to a sly whisper. “You can tell me. Did Gavin give you a ‘going-away’ present in a shadowy alcove?”
The sound I made was half scoff, half groan.
“First, never discount cave sirens. Where there’s water, there’s trouble. And second—” I jabbed a finger into her shoulder. “Stop meddling. I might be tempted. But I have pride. I’m not aiming to be another notch on his extremely sought-after belt.”
Cass slumped against the stone like I’d ruined her good time. “That belt’s been looking awfully pristine lately. Wonder why. But keep your pride, Marin. I’d trade mine in a heartbeat if Gavin ever gave the signal. You know it would be worth it.”
I blew out a long breath and kept my gaze fixed on the wall in front of me, otherwise, I might get caught looking again.
“It’s official,” I muttered. “None of you are treasure hunters. I’m surrounded by jesters.” I pointed to the slab over her head. “I think that’s the way into the treasure chamber. We need to go up.”
“Right, let’s bury our heads in the rock. Good plan.” Cass heaved a sigh and then called to the others. “Marin needs a boost!”
They joined us at the wall. The mood shifted as the focus snapped back to the treasure. I shook off Cass’s nosiness and refocused on the plan.
“You think the entrance to the chamber is up there?” Gavin made a disgruntled noise, eyeing the crude slabs like he questioned their integrity. “This wall is at least thirty feet high. Weshould keep searching.”
“No. Marin might be correct.” Reid flipped through the pages in his notebook and tapped one of his drawings. “See how the runes are positioned in the stone? There are two similar slots near the top of this wall. If you each place a rune in one of the holes, it could reveal the chamber.”
Gavin scraped a hand through his still-damp hair. His gaze ran up the rock face, and I could see him calculating the peril scale.
I nudged him on the shoulder. “Trust me, partner. This one's a two. And puzzles are my specialty. It’s why I’m here.”
Bowen nodded. “And I only hire the best. Let’s try this, and if it doesn’t work, we’ll keep moving.” He handed me a rune and gave the other to Gavin.
“You’re the boss,” Gavin said, aligning himself with the lowest outcropping. Even with the boost, I’d have to stretch to reach it.
Gavin’s hands circled my waist, firm and steady. The warmth of his chest spread across my back, caging me between him and the wall. His fingers flexed over my hip, and then he lifted me until my fingertips scraped the slab.
“A little higher!”
He shifted his weight, digging his heels into the dirt, and pushed harder. Sharp rock bit into my palms as I clamped my hands around the ledge. Then I hooked my boot over and pulled myself up. Almost like a reward, the elusive singing returned. Somehow, I knew this was the right path.
I knotted a rope around the narrow ledge and dropped the end into Gavin’s reach. He eyed it like a challenge. Rolling his shoulders, he backed up, got a running start, and scaled the ridge as if he owed the rope money.
Show-off.
My muscles burned from exertion, and by the time I'd made it to the final slab, the skin on my palms was scraped raw. Gavin maneuvered to a parallel outcropping about ten feet away. He placed his rune into the small groove while I did the same.
Except nothing happened.
The cave didn’t reveal its secrets.
