Page 52 of Soul of Fire

“What if there are guards?” Jorgen asked, withdrawing from his mate slightly as he cast a worried glance at Arik.

“Not a problem,” Branka said confidently, rising to her toes to peck him on the cheek. “We’ll just seduce them with our feminine wiles.” Jorgen rolled his eyes as Branka grinned at me. “Shall we?”

Arik nodded, stepping away from me and pinning me with a hard look. “Get to the courtyard as soon as you have the Book, then head to the coast. We’ll find you.”

Branka clapped her fist to her chest. “I’ll protect her with my life, Dragehersker.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Jorgen said, sweeping her into a final, desperate kiss.

It was the work of a moment for Arik and Jorgen to incapacitate our guards, then tie them up using bedsheets we had torn into strips.

“That will have to do,” Jorgen muttered as he locked them into the room he had shared with Branka. “I suppose we really have to leave now.”

“Then let’s not waste time.” Arik gave my hand a final squeeze, his silver eyes catching mine.I’ll see you soon.

Chapter sixteen

Eisa

“Ithinkwe’relost,”Branka hissed, her words muffed by the fabric of her hood.

She was correct. The castle was a maze, and I was certain I had taken a wrong turn somewhere.

We shuffled along hallway after hallway, keeping our faces toward the ground and trying to remain unnoticed by everyone who passed.

“Should we ask someone?” I suggested.

“That would give us away immediately,” she hissed back.

“Wandering the hallways in circles will also have that effect.”

I swayed on my feet, a wave of pain momentarily catching me off guard.

“You alright?” Branka grabbed my elbow to steady me. “Shit, you’re pale. We should have waited until tomorrow to do this.”

“Tomorrow was supposed to be the handfasting,” I reminded her, breathing deeply until the pain was safely tucked away again. “I’m fine.”

Branka squeezed my arm, but she didn’t argue. It was one of the things I loved about her. When I had my mind set on something, Sigrid would try to temper my flame. Branka would hand me kindling.

“Alright then, ask Arik.”

I felt like an idiot. Of course I should ask my mate, who grew up here.

Arik.I hoped he was already safely in his mother’s chambers with Jorgen.

Alright, Kjære?His voice was strangely faint, as if a wall separated us, and I wondered if there might be iron in the stones and doors of the castle after all. I hadn’t expected it to be so difficult.

We’re lost.I tried my best to send a mental picture to him of the hallway and the tapestries that surrounded us.I think we made a wrong turn somewhere.

There was a long pause while I waited for a reply.Go back down the hall you’re in. Turn left, not right.

I nodded, gesturing to Branka to follow.Why are you so quiet?

Suddenly, Branka grabbed my hand and dragged me to one of the alcoves that lined the hallways. Most were used to hold sconces, but one nearby held a tapestry. She pushed me behind it, then tucked the weaving back into place before us.

“What are we doing?” I hissed, trying my hardest not to sneeze.

“Look!” She nodded to a sliver of light between the stone wall and the tapestry, and I could just barely see the hallway.