Page 186 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

“Lennox is right. We try to go in. But it should only be some of us, the rest stay out here in case things go wrong.”

“Goddess above. This is insane. You can’t expect them to let you walk out unharmed after they kidnapped Kara!” Luce’s voice rose with every word.

“Shh.” I hit her on the arm. “I know it’s not ideal, but we have to try.”

“Well, I’m not walking into a trap. I’ll stay out here, ready to help once everything goes to shit.”

“I think I should go in. Alone.”

“No,” Luka growled. “There is no way I’m letting you walk in there alone.”

“It should be the three of us,” Delcan said. “It makes the most sense and shouldn’t set off any alarms. “The Queen, her husband, and their guard.”

“Okay.” I looked at Nico and Luce. “You two stay out here and watch for anything unusual. If we’re not out by sunset, come in after us.”

They murmured their agreements.

I turned to Declan and Luka. “Let’s get my sister back.”

Luka, Declan, and I backtracked slightly, making it appear as if we had come directly to the mouth of the pass. The guards were instantly at attention as we appeared, each of them releasing their swords from their sheaths with a whine that echoed in the silent passage.

We approached with empty hands held in the air.

“I’m High Queen Lennox Adair, I’m here for my sister. I believe she is being kept here.” The males lowered their weapons but didn’t sheath them. They dipped their heads slightly. “We’ve been expecting you, Your Majesty.”

We followed behind them as they led us into the building. The hallway was narrow, it was a tight fit to walk through side by side. My shoulder continuously brushed with Luka’s as we walked, Declan at our back, his wings tucked in tight so he could fit. The path was silent at first, but as we walked farther sounds filtered in. Were those nails scratching against a wall?

I shuttered as what sounded like a scream or a moan of pain, rang in my ears.

Doors appeared on either side of the hallway now. Small windows were carved into each door with thick bars over the openings, reminding me of the cells in a dungeon.

A body slammed against one of the doors. Letting out a hiss as we passed.

Luka jumped. “What was that?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but it’s one of the mistress’ experiments.”

“Experiments?” I mouthed to Luka. The word sent a shiver snaking down my spine.

As we continued to walk more and more sounds came from the cells. Some crashed against the doors as we passed, others remained quiet in their cells, slumped against the doors.

What kind of experiments were they? They all looked normal. As normal as any prisoner might look. In the hallbeyond, one of the prisoners was hanging its arms through the bars, hissing and growling as it scratched at the walls.

I sucked in a breath as we passed it. Claws, it had claws that were scratching against the walls, leaving deep gouges in the cement.

And its eyes were fully red. Its eyes reminded me of the eyes of the Dhampir… and the claws—Stars above. Was this mistress creating the Dhampirs? Was that her experiment?

I looked at Luka, his face was pale, making me assume he had come to the same conclusion I had.

Eventually, we came to the end of the hallway where it split in two directions. To the left, there was a chorus of growls and screams. Goosebumps peppered over my skin as I turned my back to the sounds and followed the guards down the path to the right.

Those growls—I knew those growls. I had heard them this morning, had heard them as they burst through the palace windows after our wedding.

Dhampirs were down that hall. Fully manifested Dhampirs had been either captured or were being made here.

I tried to block out the growls,the screams. I was here for Kara. I needed to get Kara out of here and then we could figure out what was going on in this building.

The guards opened the door at the end of the hallway, revealing a large open area. The room was empty, save for the makeshift throne sitting in the center at the far end. Boxes and other discarded metal items had been fixed to create a large square platform, with steps built in and encased in ice. Each of the four layers leading up to the throne resting at the top.

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