Turning, I examined the kitchen with its yellow walls and abstract paintings decorating them.This wasn’t the first home where we’d encountered a smaller pile of clothes indicating a child, but a lump lodged in my throat when I spotted the small shoes by the back door.They’d probably been going outside to play.
I pushed myself away from the sink and strode into the living room, where I met Scarlet coming down the stairs.She was paler than normal.
“Everything okay?”I asked.
“There’s a crib upstairs.”
That was all she had to say.When she stepped off the last stair, I opened my arms and embraced her.
I’dneverreturn to this hated, awful place.
“Let’s get out of here,” I said.
CHAPTERFIFTY-NINE
Ryker
Climbingout of the canyon and back into the tunnel took some time, but we eventually made it out.No one spoke as we started down the tunnel toward the gargoyles and freedom.
There was no way we’d make it to the gargoyles before sunrise, but everyone was determined to get far away from the town before stopping for the night.When we reached a warmer section of the tunnel, we called a halt to our travels.
It was after two, and while we’d dressed warmer than we had the first time we entered the tunnel, we didn’t bring blankets.Because we’d have to spend all day and most of the next night down here, we nibbled on the jerky and sipped our water.
When everyone finished eating, I volunteered to take the first watch.We probably didn’t need any guards, but I couldn’t sleep without knowing someone watched over us.
We’d tucked matches and candles into our pouches, but I was afraid to waste those.Instead, I used my lightning to dimly illuminate the tunnel while the others settled in to sleep.
My nearly uncontrollable desire for Ellery had ebbed over the hours and distance separating me from the stone.Instead of being a soul-burning conflagration, it was now a distant, glowing ember deep inside me, but it wouldn’t extinguish until we were together again… if that even doused it.
I wasn’t going to take her in this place of death, dirt, moving trees, statues, and secrets… so many secrets.
The ire over those secrets was one of the things keeping me away from Ellery.I couldn’t touch her when I felt this way.
I stalked away from the others while Ianto, who’d volunteered to watch with me, took a candle in the opposite direction.I stayed close enough to keep an eye on Ellery while keeping my light far enough away not to disturb them.
Before we separated, we’d agreed it would be a three-hour watch.Callan and Tucker would take over after that.
I strained to hear any movement within the tunnel, but all that came was the occasional murmur, snore, or rustle of clothing as someone rolled over.
When Ianto moved back toward the others, so did I.After Tucker and Callan trudged sleepily toward the opposite sides of the tunnel, I laid next to Ellery and embraced her.She nestled closer as her breath warmed my neck.
Exhausted but unable to sleep, I stared at Tucker’s wavering flame while pondering what we’d discovered today.It was all I’d thought about for the past three hours, but I still didn’t understand what it meant.
Though it seemed impossible, I hoped the gargoyles held some answers.
CHAPTERSIXTY
Ellery
We tookturns sleeping before eating a small lunch and heading out again at eleven the next morning.There was no reason to rush; we’d make it to the gargoyles with plenty of time to spare before exiting the temple.
I was happy to take my time as I dreaded hanging out in the cavern with all those statues.They hadn’t moved the last time we were there, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t try to eat us this time.
Despite our unhurried pace, we eventually made it to the cavern of gargoyles.I stood with my toes at the cavern’s edge as I compelled myself forward while everything in me rebelled against entering.
But I couldn’t stay there forever, and as the others entered around me, I couldn’t let them go on their own.I crept into the cavern with my hands out at my sides and lightning at my fingertips.
“Holy shit,” Tucker breathed when Ryker’s and my lightning illuminated the massive cavern and some of the gargoyles within.
