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He stepped closer, his gaze smoldering. “If I win, I get to do whatever I want with you.”
Roza scoffed. “Never going to happen. When I win, you have to give me your fancy armor.”
“Deal.” He shot her a crooked grin before he took point, motioning for us to follow him. Distant battle cries echoed through the city. Roza looked anxious, listening intently. “I can’t tell if our side is winning.”
Zerek nodded in agreement. “It’s hard to say. The acoustics in this place make everything sound so close.” He watched her frown, her brows drawing down. “It’s a good thing that we can hear them. It means that at least some of our forces have breached the gate.”
I bit my lip. “We need to find Nyana. Fast.”
As we navigated another corridor, Zerek moved instinctively closer to Roza as she disarmed an obvious trip wire. For once, she didn’t snap at him or remind him she could handle herself. Instead, she just offered a quiet, “Thanks.”
Zerek nodded, shifting his stance to make sure she was covered before moving on. “It’s over here,” he whispered.
Steeling ourselves, we approached the grand double doors, ornately decorated with the Carxidor crest. I moved closer, muffled voices from within reaching my ears. I inched forward to a slightly ajar side door, signaling Roza and Zerek to follow my lead.
Peeking through the crack, I could make out two guards discussing the battle.
“It’s not looking good,” one said, his voice laced with anxiety. “They’ve breached the gates.”
“Don’t worry,” replied his companion, a hint of assurance in his tone. “Theodas will sort them out.”
Another laughed. “The Weaver always has a thread ready to be pulled. It’ll be fine.”
Roza glanced at me, her eyes wide. I shrugged, unsure what she could have planned. Roza’s grip on her weapon tightened, determination pulling down the corners of her mouth. “Ready?” She mouthed.
I nodded.
Without warning, she burst through the door with a loud battle cry. Zerek and I followed, attacking the guards with a ferocity that took them by surprise. Our weapons clashed as we fought, Roza easily keeping up with Zerek’s skill and speed.
It was over quickly. Four guards lay dead on the ground, blood pooling on the lush carpet.
Roza smirked at Zerek.“Two.”
He rolled his eyes and jerked his chin to the door. “In there.”
“She had to hear that,” Roza murmured.
I straightened my shoulders, ready to end this. “Doesn’t matter. Let’s go.”
I strode forward, kicking open the door.
The war room’s grandeur struck me first. It was enormous; its tall ceilings bore the intricate depiction of a vast spider’s web, each thread shimmering in the dim light, intertwining in complex patterns and pathways. But even that faded as my eyes landed on the room’s sole occupant.
There, standing tall and poised, was Nyana. Long, jet-black hair flowed down her back, framing a face that was hauntingly similar to Theron’s. Her skin was a shade paler, but it was those golden eyes, sharp and calculating, that held my gaze. It was like looking at Theron—if he’d been dipped in poison.
She wore an elaborate gown, as black as her hair, which contrasted with her pale skin. The gold in her attire matched her eyes and seemed to shimmer as if lit from within. Around the room were scattered tables laden with scrolls, maps, and pieces representing her armies—a visual representation of her expansive web of influence.
“Kael,” she purred, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “So you’ve finally come to see me. And you brought friends. How thoughtful.”
Roza and Zerek tensed beside me, but my focus remained unwavering on Theron’s mother. “You know why I’m here.”
Nyana chuckled, walking slowly around the table, her fingers brushing a token that likely represented one of her battalions. “Do you actually think you can kill me?” She shot an amused glance at the dagger in my hand.
“Yes.”
She tsked, shaking her head. “Such confidence. I suppose Tannethe’s already met her end, then? Another mess I’ll have to take care of.”
I snorted. “As if Theron would’ve ever married her.” The audacity of her plans still baffled me.
