Page 25 of Ravenrose

Light.

His shouts follow me up the curving steps as I scramble after Riven.

We’re nearly at the top when my ears catch the sound of soldiers in pursuit, the armour clattering as they start their climb.

Riven reaches the top first, racing across the little reading library we’ve spent hours in, rushing toward the hand-painted tapestry on the far wall. The one with a gold-threaded map of the stars. Pulling it aside, he reveals a small hole cut into the stone wall. Inside it’s dark, but both of us know from our time as faelings, having spent hours playing and exploring the tunnels, only more stairs await us inside, curving down, a long but direct descent below ground.

It’s rather clever, really; no one would think to look for an escape tunnel at the top of the highest tower in the castle. The narrow staircase is hidden within the thick brick of the tower walls themselves. The passage leads down into a network of underground tunnels. Eventually, the three escape tunnels within Rosecliff converge, and from that point, they proceed underground to an exit located miles north of the castle.

Riven doesn’t waste any time, stepping over the carved rock and into the wall, chivalrously taking the little girl into his arms as well before helping their mother climb inside. With both children in his arms now, he looks up, craning his neck—searching for me, motioning with his head to hurry up.

But the hurried steps of the ascending Kovari soldiers are all I can hear, my thoughts racing as I try to come up with a plan—as I try to decide.

I take a step back, away from the tunnel, my hands shaking as I watch Riven’s eyes flood with confusion. Again, he silently urges me forward. “What are you doing?” he whisper-shouts. “We have to go.” He retreats further into the tunnel as if to encourage me to follow.

“I know,” I say, my words soft and my eyes burning with the tears I’m forcing back as I return my brother’s stare. Selfishly stealing these last few seconds, trying to memorize every inch of his familiar face.

“They saw me.”

I can hear the Kovari soldiers clearly now; their boots on the stone stairs bring them closer to us with every step.

It takes a moment for Riven to process my words, and from there, it’s only a second before he launches himself back toward the hole cut into the stone, and away from the passage that will take him safely out of the castle.

The passage we can’t let Kovaria find.

Unable to hold them back, tears spill over, wetting my cheeks. “I love you,” I whisper, tasting the salt from my tears on my lips.

“Rowan, no— Don’t!” my twin chokes out, reluctantly changing directions, having to stop to set down the children before he can leave the tunnel to get to me, but it’s a struggle to untangle himself as they cling tight to him, fear bright in their eyes.

Finally free, he races back toward the entrance, but it’s too late. I’m already speaking the words.

One second, I’m staring into Riven’s fear-filled eyes, and the next… solid stone.

The sudden silence cleaves my heart in two.

He won’t be able to undo it now that it’s sealed; only the one who spoke the spell can reverse it.

I step forward, laying my palm on the stone. It’s cold—like it’s always been there.

“I’m sorry,” I breathe, letting the tears fall free before reaching for the tapestry and dragging it back into place. I rush to the fireplace across the room, tossing the parchment Riven gave me with the sealing spell into the dying flames before wiping the tears from my cheeks while I summon what little courage I have left before turning to face my fate.

Chapter 13

ROWAN

The Kovari soldiers enter the tower with their blades drawn. The first man to enter eyes me suspiciously, holding his sword on me while whistling to the two men behind him to search the room.

The library located atop the west tower is small. Just a cozy little study with a view as far as the eye can see. Shelves filled with leather-bound books line the room. I’ve spent countless hours up here, alone, nestled in the cushions. My own private escape.

Having these men up here feels… wrong.

The way they move around the space, shoving things aside, knocking books to the floor… My fists tighten, and the man watching me lifts his sword a little higher, his cautious gaze shifting into a warning.

I hold my breath, schooling my face as one of them draws back the star map tapestry. To my relief, it reveals only a wall of solid, weathered stone—no trace of the sealed passage hidden within.

Not that they could open it even if they suspected. Humans don’t possess magic, but it is possible their Raven might. That power I felt…

The demon could do again what he had done to the castle wall, turning it to shadow, thereby allowing access. But to my relief, the man releases the tapestry, allowing it to swing back into place with no further regard.