Chapter 30 · The Princess Makes Her Move

"Let me out!" The scream bounced off the ice walls. "You said you'd let me out!"

Valen was already moving, one hand on his sword. Behind them, the crack in the wall sealed shut, blue light sinking into solid frost. Eliza grabbed his sleeve before he could disappear down the tunnel.

"If that's a trap, you're walking straight into it."

"Then keep up." He pulled free. "I don't have time to argue."

The tunnel sloped into darkness. Blue veins pulsed through the walls, bright enough to catch the blood drying on Valen's knuckles. The air tasted of iron and old stone.

"Someone's down here," he said.

"I heard her."

"You heard a voice. Gareth knows how to use voices."

Eliza touched the stolen guard knife at her belt. "Your mother said only royal blood could open this path."

"She did."

"So whoever's screaming is family."

His jaw tightened. "Or bait."

The scream came again, closer this time.

"Let me out! Val! You promised!"

Eliza stopped. "She knows your name."

Valen's gaze cut to hers. His face was hard, but his fingers flexed beside his sword.

"Don't let that make you careless."

"I'm not the one charging toward the cage.