Some golden fog still remained, lighting up the entrance. Enough to show me that the door opened to a dark pit that was less inviting the more I stared.
But I didn’t have time to contemplate my options.
Soon the air would be filled with the roar of the Citadel’s trucks, and I knew what they would bring—excavators. They’d planned to use explosives to blow the entrance this morning, and I wasn’t sure how much ancient fae magic would keep the force of dynamite at bay.
I pulled a long rope from my satchel, along with pins and a hammer. I spent half a minute hammering in a rope so I could slowly lower down into the fae vault without breaking my neck, but no longer.
Finally, I tugged on it, testing how secure it was. It would have to be, considering I didn’t have time to hammer another pin into the ground, not when I didn’t know how long it would take me to break into the vault. And if I didn’t steal the relic before the Citadel got there, it would all be for nothing.
The air was cool and damp, like a mountain cave instead of an underground pit hiding an ancient vault. I slid down the rope carefully, the only light from the small hole exposed to the creeping dawn light above.
My feet landed on something solid, and I tested the ground beneath me.
Firm, unmovable.
I let go of the rope.
The space around me was vast, and the thought of excavator trucks and dynamite was like another world. A faint trickle of water sounded somewhere behind me. I took my pack off and pulled out my lantern, turning the gas dial so the light flared to life.
My gasp of shock echoed through the silent space as the light illuminated the Golden Vault filling the space in the cavern.
I was surrounded by a golden underground palace.
The walls were painted in a metallic yellow sheen, and instead of stalactites dripping from the ceiling, it looked as though it was encrusted with jewels.
I laughed aloud and the sound bounced off the walls, coming back to me in waves like a friendly ocean. The lantern shook in my hand as I lifted it up to see more of the golden cave. There was a path in front of me, paved in cobblestones and leading to two golden pillars, forming a gate of sorts.
I secured my satchel over my shoulder, hooking the lantern to the bottom of my bag and adjusting my spectacles. The rope above me swung gently and a soft breeze brushed my cheeks. Frowning, I looked in the direction of the golden pillars.
This should have been the only open entrance. Unless the excavators had already broken through the stone.
At my thought, an enormous boom shook the cavern and dust sprayed around me, the crystals falling off the ceiling of the cave in great clumps. My hands shielded my face, covering my spectacles, my stomach dropping at the realization of what was happening.
Dynamite.
The Citadel were already here.
Of course, preservation of the vault was not on their minds. They wanted to blow it open and unearth the greatest relic they’d ever found.
And they wanted a way to cross the River and into the fae world.
My footsteps were measured as I made my way down the path, trying to calm my racing heart with each press of my boot.
With every step I was confident I grew closer to the center of the vault.
But I’d now been unearthing fae relics for months, and I knew the ancient fae didn’t leave places like this unguarded.
And this time I could call on my magic with no one around for me to worry about. At my thoughts, I felt my power whisper though my mind, and I called on it to come forth.
Help me find it.
The coils of golden light spilled from my hands like an extension of my own body lighting the way. Golden threads of my power appeared and tugged me along the right path.
I rushed forward, following the illuminated path, but should have been paying better attention. Although magic had largely faded from the human world, the traps of the ancient fae had not.
A click sounded underneath my feet, as loud as my laughter that had echoed across the cave a moment ago.
Too late.
