29. Zarios

Chapter twenty-nine

I listened through the wall, all my concentration on any sounds. I listened as Sorcha pretended to ready for bed. My insides twisted at all the ways this could go wrong. It couldn't. Sorcha would be fine, and we would catch them. If I didn't keep telling myself that, I would feel myself spiral, and that couldn't happen. She needed me.

Once she'd stopped moving, I waited until finally hearing the click of the door. I'd hoped it wouldn't happen, that she was wrong, but she was too smart for her own good.

I couldn't hear what was happening, but I heard when the door clicked once again. I waited a few moments before I ran to the window and gave Naram the signal. He came from the darkness and nodded, heading towards the servants' entrance. Luckily, there were only a few ways to go. We had men stationed outside all of them, just in case, but I had a feeling he would take the servants' corridor in the west wing. It was where we'd go to sneak out as adolescents, and he was a creature of habit.

I took an alternate path to get there and, sure enough, I watched Damyr carry a limp Sorcha. He must have drugged her with something or knocked her out. The thought of him hurting her made me see red, but I had to follow through. I promised Sorcha I would.

I watched them walk the fence line as Naram came from the edge of the building. I silently gestured in that direction, and we went with a nod. We followed them for a while until we hit the forest.

"The old dungeon," I said. "It's the only thing out here."

"You're right. Let me gather the men and come out. Shouldn't be more than a few minutes. Please wait."

I nodded, following way behind so as to not draw any attention. This prison hadn't been operational since before our time. It was the perfect place to have too much to drink and do stupid shit.

He went to the side entrance, where one guard stood and went in, shutting the stone door behind him. Having her out of view was painful, but I knew he wouldn't hurt her. Whatever his plan was, angering Peradona was not a part of it.

I was going to save Sorcha, just like I promised.