Page 17 of Ruthless Monsters

“There’s a female here,”I tell Blake.“He called her his sister. I think he’s keeping her in this garden against her will.”

“You must know your arrogance will be your downfall,” the female replies. “Even I didn’t think you’d be daft enough to bring outsiders here. You say you created this place to keep us safe from the witches, but by now, even your most loyal followers must see it for the prison that it is. If outsiders are visiting our land, it stands to reason that the witches are gone. And your power is fading, brother. Before long, our kind will realize they don’t have to stay under your control.”

“If it weren’t for my power, we’d all be dead by now,” King Celzar snarls back.

“So, you say,” the female replies bitterly. “Yet, it seems strange that the witches would find our lands and attack us mercilessly on the same day you violated your banishment and returned home.” She pauses before continuing. “I hope your new bride sees you for the snake you are. For once, I don’t think this will be the wedding you intend. From what I hear, your new prisoner isn’t quite as willing as your last brides.”

King Celzar doesn’t look bothered by her last comment. “She’s as willing as she needs to be.”

“Is that so?” the female replies. “Because from what I hear, you’ve imprisoned four males, her fated mates. Are you so far removed from reality that you forget the lengths some might go to in order to protect their mate?”

“Fated mates don’t exist,” King Celzar retorts. “And in any case, they won’t be a problem. For now, the males are insurance.When I have her power, they’ll be of no use to me, and I’ll have no trouble keeping order in The Haven.”

I relay this information to Blake, and she curses, her rage flowing into my head.

The female in the room below tenses, and she turns, subtly gazing in the direction of the grate I’m peeking through. I’m sure I’ve been caught, but she turns away quickly, directing her attention elsewhere.

“The prison isn’t far from here,” she says to the king, making her voice a little louder. “When the food rations are brought to the prisoners, it only takes them a half hour to walk there. What makes you think your new captives can’t sense your betrothed even from that distance?”

Food rations?Excitement goes through me at the information the queen has given away. It’s too useful, and for a moment, I wonder whether she was really speaking for my benefit. But then I tell myself I’m being ridiculous, and I shake that notion away.

King Celzar lets out a humorless laugh. “Oh, I do so love our little chats, Nerelia. I truly don’t know what I would do without our entertaining conversations. Rest assured, the cuffs are as effective as ever, and even if they could sense her, they can’t escape the mines.” He straightens the collar of his shirt. “Now, I’m afraid I must leave you to take care of matters. Try not to worry yourself with such absurd thoughts.”

It’s not until the king has left the room that I step back from the vent and relay all the information I’ve gleaned to Blake.“I think I know how to get to Nate and the others,”I tell her eagerly.“I need to find my way to the kitchens.”

“Be careful,”Blake tells me, and I start making my way through the palace again, moving slowly to minimize the noise. The vents are an absolute maze, but I keep walking until the scent of freshly baked bread guides me down to a roomthat’s bustling with activity. In the large kitchen, servants cook over large fires, while others busy themselves kneading dough, measuring ingredients, and chopping an array of vegetables.

“Hurry up! This is the last cart, and if I’m late to the mines for the morning meal, I’ll be the one who gets punished,” an older male snaps at the young servant piling trays onto the cart beside him.

The mines! Crap, I can’t miss that cart!Thankfully, between the chatter, crackling of the fire, chopping noises, and the scrape of various cooking utensils, no one notices as I pick up speed, scurrying along the vent until I reach a grate that’s lower to the floor. Careful to pick a time when everyone is distracted, I bust out of the grate and run over to the cart, darting onto the bottom level. As I move further into the middle of the cart, I have to hold in my squawk when my feet sink into a portion of strange warm mush. Scurrying out of the food quickly, I move forward only to find myself stepping into another sticky pile. The food has a gritty texture, and I cringe as it slides between my toes. Before I can move out of it again, the cart starts rolling forward, and I fall back, completely sitting in the mush.Ugh.Gross.I groan inwardly as the unpleasant smell of some kind of mashed vegetable fills my nose. But then I remember that I made it!

I keep silent as the cart is pushed from the kitchens down a service entrance, and then we’re outside of the palace. A rush of warm air reaches me. Ducking low, I keep still as we pass the guards patrolling the palace, and then the trolley is being wheeled down a paved road.

“Holy crap! I made it outside the palace, Blake!”I send to my demon friend.“This cart should take me straight to the mines.”

Blake’s voice sounds distant when she replies,“Try not to get into trouble.”

Like the female in the garden specified, it feels like it takes a half hour of traveling down a series of tunnels before theair changes, and I detect a rancid smell that grows consistently stronger as the cart moves forward.Well, I can’t say I’m loving this,I grumble internally, though I have a new appreciation for the mush I’m squished in, because the food is helping to mask the smells around me.

“About time,” a gruff voice sounds from somewhere overhead. “You know the boss hates it when you’re late.”

The servant pushing the trolley doesn’t reply. He simply waits for a series of gates to open, and then he wheels the trolley forward, the steady screech of the wheels sounding in my ears. The guard moves in behind us, escorting us down a dimly lit tunnel, and when the trolley stops at the first cell, I peek my head out. Guant, hungry eyes stare back at me from behind the bars of the cell, and I recoil as black eyes lock onto me and cracked lips widen to form a yellow-toothed smile.

“What do we have for dinner tonight, aye? Fresh bird for a change?” the prisoner says.

The guard slams his baton onto the bars, and the prisoner reels back. “Stop your nonsense. You get the same as always.” The guard reaches down, grabbing a tray and sliding it through a hole at the bottom of the bars.

The prisoner looks back at where I’m trying to hide amongst the trays, and once again, I’m left wondering if this is it.Oh crap. Please look away. Look away, buddy.I wait for the prisoner to point and shout at me, but the guard bangs his baton against the bars again, and the prisoner takes a step back. The grubby-looking male winks at me. “Prefer this anyways,” he says to the guard. “Wouldn’t wanna ruin a good thing I’ve got goin’.”

I personally think that whatever mushy gruel they’ve been given looks like vomit, but hey, who am I to judge? If it’s keeping his mouth shut about me, then I’m happy.

We visit one cell after another, and I’m starting to get worried that I’ll be discovered when I see them. The cell they’rein is much like all the others, but Blake’s four mates are unmistakeable. I’m so relieved I almost collapse back into the mush I’m standing in, but I don’t.

As the guard slides four trays of food through the opening at the bottom of the bars, I dart from the bottom of the cart, quickly squeezing through the bars and hiding behind Alaric’s large form. The giant’s expression slackens when he sees me, but he hides his surprise and pivots his body, concealing me even more.

“I’ve found them,”I send to Blake.

“What? How do they look?”she asks me.“Are they hurt?”

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