Tharon

THARON

I inhaled sharply at Denna's words. My beast clawed at my chest, demanding action. Drawing on years of discipline, I took steady breaths. Focused my thoughts.

“I know.” The words came out steady, despite the storm raging inside me.

Niam turned in her chair, chin lifting. Ready to argue, to defend her choice. My fierce, stubborn mate.

I moved behind her chair, resting my hands on her shoulders. Let her feel my support even as my insides twisted at the thought of her returning to that place.

“If that’s what my queen needs to do, then the only question is how to make it safe.”

Confusion warred with dawning understanding on Denna and Mila’s faces. They’d expected a fight, expected me to forbid it. As if anyone could truly forbid Niam anything.

“The first step is getting inside Terr.” Niam leaned back against my hands. “We have to assume they’re watching the maintenance tunnels through the Canyonlands.”

Ashur pushed away from the doorframe. “I’ll get parchment. This needs a map.”

“I don’t know the region,” Korrin admitted from where he lounged against the wall.

“I do.” Denna sat forward. “Used to sneak out with my brothers when they went on patrol.”

Ashur returned with sheets of parchment, ink, and several charcoal sticks. I bowed slightly, acknowledging his foresight. “Please, show us what you know.”

Denna bent over the parchment, charcoal moving in swift, sure strokes. “The city’s built in rings - eight of them, with farmland to the east and the canyons to the west.”

The rough sketch took shape under her hands - concentric circles bisected by major thoroughfares.

“Guards check everyone at each ring,” she continued. “Even the farmers get searched coming in and out. No one’s supposed to go past the farmland without Temple approval.”

My hands tightened on Niam’s shoulders. The Temple’s control ran deep, wrapping the city in layers of authority like a spider’s web.

“Wait.” Mila tapped a section of the outer ring. “There might be a way.” She glanced at me, then at Niam. “The tanner’s quarter - where I grew up. The leather processing needs drainage channels, waste disposal. The smell is so bad the guards stay away when they can.”

“Through the sewers?” Denna wrinkled her nose.

“Better than getting caught,” Niam said. “How close can we get?”

“The drainage channels start here.” Mila marked a spot outside the walls. “They run under the eighth ring, probably connecting to the main sewers. If we can find an access point...”

I studied the crude map, mind already cataloging potential dangers. Guard rotations. Escape routes. How to keep Niam safe while letting her do what she needed.

“The temple will expect something,” Ashur pointed out. “After Niam’s escape, they must have increased security.”

“Good.” I said without thinking. Everyone turned to stare at me.

“How is that good?” Denna demanded.

“Because they’ll be looking outward, watching the obvious routes.” I traced the rings with one finger. “While we come in from below.”

“We?” Niam twisted to look up at me. “You can’t come into the city. One look at you and they’ll know something’s wrong.”

My beast snarled at the thought of letting her go alone. “I won’t let you-”

“You have to.” She caught my hand. “Think about it. A Shakai in Terr would draw every guard in the city. But a few human women? We can blend in.”

“She’s right,” Mila said quietly. “The more of us there are, the less we’ll stand out. Three women walking together is normal. A Shakai warrior would start a riot.”

Niam stiffened under my hands. “No. Absolutely not. You both have lives here now. Mates. I won’t risk that.”

My beast approved of her protectiveness, even as I mapped escape routes in my head. The layout of Terr burned in my mind - a maze designed to trap and control. Every ring another barrier between my mate and freedom.

“And what about your life?” Denna stood, copper bangles clinking against each other. “Did you think we’d let you walk back into that hell alone?”

“I have to go back. You don’t.”

“Actually, we do.” Mila crossed her arms. “My cousin still works the tannery. Denna’s brother guards the fifth ring gate. We have people who’ll help us.”

I stroked Niam’s shoulders, feeling the subtle tremors running through her body. “Your friends are right about needing help.”

She tilted her head back to glare at me. “Don’t you start.”

“I won’t stay behind.” My fingers flexed against her skin. “The sewers run deep enough to hide me. I’ll find a way.”

“You can’t. The risk-”

“Is mine to take.” I leaned down, bringing my face close to hers. “You are my mate. That is all that matters.”

“.” She pressed her palm to my cheek. “Please. I need you safe. If something happens to me-”

“Nothing will happen to you.” My words were thick with growls. “Because I’ll be there to prevent it.”

Ashur cleared his throat. “The Temple knows what a Valti looks like now. They’ll be watching for us.”

“Let them watch the gates and walls.” I straightened, but kept one hand on Niam’s shoulder. “While we slip beneath their feet like water through stone.”

“It’s suicide,” Niam whispered.

“No.” I pulled her chair around to face me, crouching to meet her eyes. “It’s survival. Yours. Mine. All of us.” I caught her hands in mine. “Trust me to protect you, just as I trust you to do what must be done.”

“The prince is right.” Ashur pushed away from the wall. “There's always a way. We just haven’t found it yet.”

“It’s suicide.” Niam shook her head. “The Temple guards-”

“Will be looking for escaped temple girls and Shakai warriors.” Korrin’s lips curved. “Not common workers.”

“And definitely not rag men.” Mila’s eyes lit with sudden amusement.

I frowned. “Rag men?”

“The lowest rank in the eighth ring.” She gestured to the crude map. “They handle waste disposal, clear blocked drains. No one looks at them - they’re basically untouchable.”

“They keep their faces covered,” Denna added. “To block the smell.”

A laugh bubbled up from within. I'd spent my life climbing to the peak of power, manipulating court politics, building alliances. And now I'd willingly become the lowest of the low.

“From prince to sewage worker.” I squeezed Niam’s shoulders. “At least the company will be good.”

She reached up to cover my hand with hers. “You’d really do that?”

“For you?” I bent to brush my lips against her hair. “Without hesitation.”

Ashur cleared his throat. “If we’re doing this, we need supplies. Clothing, equipment...”

“I can help with that.” Mila straightened. “My family were leather workers in the eighth ring. I still have contacts there.”

“We’ll need a backup plan,” Korrin said. “In case things go wrong.”

I nodded. “Denna, what do you know about guard rotations? Shift changes?”

She bent over the map again, adding notes in precise strokes. “The inner rings change guards at dawn and dusk. But the outer rings are more irregular...”

The conversation flowed around me as they discussed details - supplies needed, routes to take, contingency plans. But my focus stayed on Niam, on the slight tremor in her hands as she traced patterns on the map.

My brave, damaged mate, willing to walk back into her nightmares to save others. The beast within growled approval even as it demanded we spirit her far away from danger.

But that wasn’t who she was. And it wasn’t who I wanted her to be.

My mate wanted to bring down a city. And I would help her do it, because the alternative was watching her try alone.

Ashur cleared his throat. “The new moon’s in three days. Darkness will help.”

“We’ll need time to prepare.” Mila stood. “We can’t exactly waltz in looking like this.”

She gestured at her fine Shakai garments. True enough - we’d need to blend with Terr’s common folk.

“Tomorrow then.” I met each of their eyes in turn. “We can be in the forests around the city by the dark of the moon if we ride hard.”

They nodded, warriors all in their own ways.

As they filed out to begin preparations, Niam turned in her chair to face me. “You’re really going to help? Not try to stop me?”

I grasped her hands, bringing them to my lips. “I told you once - you’re not alone anymore. Where you go, I go. Even into darkness.”