The Blessed Ones are kept in a similar-looking location,I thought, recalling how it had felt like we’d reached a solid wall of the underground.It would make sense for the stairwell to be close to the Blessed Ones, too, right? For ease of access to the research labs?
Of course, vampires were fast. Some could even phase, which was akin to teleporting. So location really wouldn’t matter.
Good thing Cam is busy tonight,I thought, deciding on a random tunnel to my left.I’m going to need some time to figure this out.
Hopefully, no one would come looking for me.
He’d mentioned meeting with Michael and Mira, so they should be otherwise occupied.
And the guards, from what I understood, were sparse.
Just pretend to be going for a stroll,I told myself.You’re mated to a vampire. Why wouldn’t you choose the catacombs for an evening walk, right?
Besides, I’d already told Cam he’d brought me here. Perhaps this was what we did. How would he know the difference?
I swallowed, my steps starting to pick up pace a little. Because despite my self-assurances, time wasn’t really on my side.
All right, Cane. Where are you?
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
IZZY
I hadno idea what time it was, but the ache in my feet told me I’d been walking for a long time. The uneven ground might be part of it, too. However, I’d definitely been roaming for hours.
Not only had I not found the Blessed Ones yet, but I’d also completely lost sight of the stairwell that would take me back to Cam’s rooms.
My jaw clenched.So much for that restful evening.
At least I hadn’t found anyone else lurking down here. No guards. No wandering vampires.No cameras.
Well, none that I could see, anyway. If they existed, they were well hidden.
I walked up to a limestone pillar near the entrance to this tunnel and drew anXin the dust gathered on the edge.
I’d started doing that after my third row as a way to mark where I’d been. It had helped me not venture down the same path twice, but it hadn’t assisted my sense of direction at all.
And nothing,I thought after several minutes of exploring.Next aisle.
I blew out a breath, repeated theX, and headed down another row. I wasn’t actually finishing them, the tunnels toolong to examine completely. One could spend a week down here, maybe more, and still not see everything.
I just needed to find something familiar. Then I could retrace the steps from my memory.
Not here.
Not there either.
I’m definitely lost now.
Hmm. Nope. Nothing familiar here.
Cam’s probably going to have to come find me in this maze. That’ll go over well, I’m sure.
Ugh, my feet hurt.
More Xs.
And another X.
