Page 59 of Secrets of Ruin

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

Cole opened his mouth to receive a torch when someone brought it forth. The fire curled up toward his head, but he managed to stay away from the crackling flames.

Around him, the torch created shadows that danced as they went out to do Cole’s bidding. While the shadows moved out, Brokk and Orin worked to divide their army, leaving half outside while the other half entered the pyramid with them.

Kaylia kept her uneasiness hidden as she watched the shadows. She’d seen Cole lose control, witnessed him on the edge of destroying everything before, but she had faith he could keep it under control.

At least this time, they all knew what to do if he started spiraling out of control and could get Lexi at the first sign of something going wrong. When Cole prowled forward with his hackles raised, the shadows swirled around him.

Orin and Brokk flanked his sides while Varo and Maverick fell in behind him. Del walked beside her.

Kaylia didn’t like the idea of being separated from Brokk but didn’t have a choice. Once they entered the pyramid, Brokk and Orin would have to fall back to give Cole room to navigate the narrow halls.

When darkness enveloped them, Kaylia gulped as she tensed. She’d become used to the stench of the dungeon while trapped there.

But some of that smell was prominent throughout the halls too. She’d been too afraid to notice it when the ophidians first carried her through these halls, or maybe she was too focused on trying not to move because every time she did, the silver netting would cause more pain for Brokk.

Now, the thick, musky scent permeating the air clogged her nostrils. The earth’s dampness and the aroma of the snakes made her stomach turn, but she swallowed back the bile rising in her throat as she tried to block the disgusting odor.

The flames from Cole’s torch flickered off the stone walls surrounding them and the ground before him. Its glow didn’t travel much past him.

Thankfully, beside her, Sahira also held a torch. Its illumination revealed the layers of snakeskin stuck to the walls and floor as they searched above for some trap while Cole examined the ground.

Kaylia gulped as she resisted her impulse to vomit; this was one more detail she hadn’t seen when they first went through here. Now, it was impossible not to notice the remnants of the serpents who had nearly destroyed them.

There was also a chance the smell and the skins hadn’t been there before. Maybe the ophidians had fled this place, and they left a bigger mess than normal during their escape.

Up ahead, Cole stopped, and those at the front of the group shuffled as Brokk moved forward to examine whatever caught Cole’s attention. Kaylia’s heart battered her ribs as she resisted the urge to call him back.

“There’s a trap here,” Brokk said.

Grasping Varo’s shoulder, Kaylia pointed ahead of her, and he turned to let her pass. She slipped forward to stand behind Orin.

“I can cast a protective spell,” she said. “It will help keep everyone up here safe.”

When Brokk lifted his head to look at her, his blue eyes calmed her distress. “This trap’s built into the floor. Will it keep us safe from that?”

Kaylia moved closer to inspect the wire Brokk had uncovered from under a layer of dirt. “No.”

“A protection spell against other things wouldn’t hurt,” Sahira said from behind her. “We can’t cast it over everyone, but we can cast it over you, and since you’re in the front, you’re the ones most at risk.”

They hadn’t brought all their army into the pyramid, but there were still too many immortals present for the witches to cast a protective barrier over them all. But Cole, Brokk, Varo, and Orin faced the worst danger and could be helped.

“Cast it.” As soon as Orin finished speaking, Pip darted through the crowd, scampered up his leg, and settled on his shoulder. “I thought you were staying outside.”

“Puth changed his mind.”

“How much did you irritate him for that to happen?”

“I don’t irritate. I’m not a dark fae.”

Orin chuckled as he shifted his attention back to Brokk. “Can you disable the trap?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Let me have a look.” Ryker turned sideways to get through the crowd; he passed her to kneel beside Brokk. “I’ve dealt with some of their traps before.”

While Ryker examined the trap, Sahira, Elsa, Leland, and Kaylia worked together to weave a spell over those at the front of the line. A protective bubble shimmered into place over them. It was invisible to the others, but she saw the colors marking their magic.