Page 70 of What Beats Within the Tunnels

“How can you be so certain?” Drew challenges.

Amused, Citlali glances between Lyra and me. “In your lover’s spat, you were so consumed by concern for each other that you both departed without ensuring Samael’s end,” she taunts.

I remember that night vividly. The blood, the chaos, the swirling emotions. It all played out like a nightmare. But there was no way... We watched him fall.

“He was at death’s door,” I growl, my voice low and dangerous. “I saw it with my own eyes.”

Citlali tilts her head to the side, studying me with those dark, red eyes. “Eyes can be deceived, especially in the midst of chaos. But what do I know?” she muses, that same wicked grin pulling at her lips. “After you two dashed out like scorned lovers, I approached him. I expected to find a corpse, but instead I found a very weak, very much alive Samael. And with a little...assistance, he was revived enough to flee this castle.”

“But why save him?” Lyra demands, her voice barely above a whisper, her face pale.

Citlali shrugs, a nonchalant glint in her eyes. “It’s in my best interests to keep him around. Besides, the chaos he brings is always entertaining.”

The dungeon grows silent. Samael alive. The thought is irritating, but the thought of him wanting to “own” Lyra, as Citlali put it, fills me with a fury unlike anything I’ve ever known.

Chepi catches my eye as he nuzzles Lyra’s leg. He seems to intuitively understand her emotions. Without another word, Lyra picks him up and swiftly exits the dungeon. She doesn’t meet my eyes as she hurries past me. Colton follows closely behind her. As much as I yearn to comfort her, there are more pressing matters at hand. The last person to possess Lyra’s family grimoire was Samael. I’m determined to uncover his whereabouts, regardless of the methods required.

Drew and I exchange glances, and I know she’s here with the same intent. I’ll cooperate for the time being, but if her tactics prove ineffective I won’t think twice about entering that cell and giving Citlali a taste of the torment she subjected Lyra to.

Chapter 26

Lyra

Without exchanging a word with Colton, I keep my composure and rush to my bed chamber. If I believed Colton could find his way to my room without me, I’d use Chepi to make myself invisible. I should grab them both and channel there now.

Instead, I keep my chin up. I don’t want to look distraught, and I avoid eye contact with the servants as I pass. Thankfully, no one stops me. Once inside my room, I unravel.

I release Chepi and attempt to regulate my breathing, but the panic is already consuming me, making my skin scalding hot as if I’m about to combust. Seeing my distress, Colton steps in front of me, gently cupping my face and tilting it upward to meet his gaze. “Breathe,” he commands. I focus on the sprinkling of freckles in his eyes, trying desperately to steady my frantic heart, before I lose control of my magic and burn this entire castle to the ground.

Suddenly, a soothing warmth envelops me, and the distinctive scent of Colton becomes more pronounced. He projects his emotions on to me with such intensity that they begin to intertwine with my own. My heart rate steadies, and I draw a deep, calming breath, all the while holding his gaze.

“How did you do that?” I ask, letting the calming feel of him wash over me.

“I wasn’t sure it would work, but I dropped my shields and tried projecting my feelings, hoping they might calm you if you could sense my emotions strong enough,” he explains. His arms encircle me, and I nestle my face into his chest, finding comfort in being this close to him.

“I couldn’t bear to be down there any longer. There are so many questions still unanswered, and Samael, if he has the grimoire... It’s just too much,” I confess, my voice wavering.

“But you don’t have to shoulder everything yourself,” Colton soothes. “Drew and Nyx stayed behind. They’ll do whatever it takes to get the information we need from Citlali.”

Lifting my head to meet his eyes and drawing in a deep, steadying breath, I try to center myself. Colton, sensing my internal struggle, gently prompts, “Talk to me. Whatever’s on your mind, let it out. I’m here for you.”

“I can’t wrap my head around it. How can he not be dead? And if he isn’t, why isn’t he here, trying to seize power? Why would he run?” I say, my voice trembling with confusion.

“Perhaps he realized he’d crossed a line and assumed the council wouldn’t back him,” Colton muses.

Shaking my head, I reply, “You don’t get it. He’s mad and fixated on me. He doesn’t just want a marriage; he craves the power of my dark magic. He’s always several steps ahead, plotting who knows what.”

Colton’s voice grows firm. “He won’t get to you or your magic. We’ll find him, get your grimoire back, and I swear I’ll put an end to him.” I hope it turns out to be true.

Do you think the others will come up here once they’re done with Citlali?” I ask, the thought of going back to the dungeons unsettling me.

“If you want to stay here and maybe take a bath, get comfortable, I can head down and see how things are progressing. I’ll return as soon as I know something,” he offers, sensing my hesitance.

“Alright,” I reply, and he slowly pulls away from me. He gently kisses my lips and eyes me one more time, as if he thinks I’m not in my right mind. I give him a small reassuring smile, and satisfied by that he turns to leave. He nods at Chepi as he heads out.

“Keep her safe while I’m away.” Then he’s gone.

Alone in my room, I take in the surroundings. It’s been ages since I’ve been here. Everything is as I left it, yet it feels different, as if it’s wrapped in a layer of the past. Chepi silently follows me into the bathing chamber, and his presence always comforts me.