Page 25 of Hidden Kingdoms

“Someone needs to explain all this because I have no fucking clue what’s going on,” I ground out in frustration. Were those crickets I heard? Because it certainly wasn’t an explanation.

“If I punch you in the face like I punched Big Man back there, will that get your attention? You’re tall, but I’ll jump if I have to.” He turned then, a brow quirking up, and I realised I’d threatened to punch this beast of a man; I wasn’t going to take it back, though.

“You punched Bastian in the face?” His voice was a deep baritone that rumbled as though it came from the depths of the volcano itself.

“Is Bastian the big angry one wearing a mask?” I managed to reply, surprised words had actually left his mouth. And mine for that matter.

“He is.”

“Then yes, I did.” The laughter that rumbled through his chest was a wakening volcano. It wasn’t a joyous sound. The noise sent spikes of fear pulsing through me—I liked it.

Tug.

This was becoming inconvenient. And concerning.

“You will be taken somewhere to rest,” he finally offered, and I swallowed thickly.

Resting was good, I would rest my ass off until I could figure out what the fuck was going on.

And how I could make myselfnotbe a part of whatever that was.

“Thanks for all that info, Tiny,” I murmured, and his answering scowl had my already messed up heart missing a beat. Tremors of cold were beginning to wrack my body, and I was close to asking him to carry me for a share of body heat.

Glancing behind, I noted we were alone. “No guards?”

“I don’t need guards.”

Fair point.

Marcellus towered next to me, his long, dark cloak brushing the tops of his laced boots, the hood still pulled up around his face. The symbols twisted and swirled together out of my vision, stopping the second I focused on them.

They whispered to me in an unfamiliar language that tickled the edges of my memory, teasing me with images bathed in golden light that flashed through my mind in a short burst. Quicker than I could grasp them they slipped away, my mind clearing as a sense of calm followed.

That hadn’t been like my dreams, or like my nightmares. That had felt safe and familiar.

I must have stopped because Marcellus’ massive form was several feet ahead. Either he hadn’t noticed I’d stopped, or he just didn’t care. I watched his cloak sway lazily behind him,wondering what the hell it had just done to me before realising I was supposed to be walking with him.

For captors, these people were being seriously lax with my security.

I glanced around then at the nothingness surrounding me. There wasn’t exactly anywhere I could run to.

Marcellus was almost at the golden gates, the metal swirling into the neat, refined shapes of flames, and I quickened my pace to keep up. The soldier's standing guard snapped to attention, racing forward to open the gates before he had even reached them, heads bowed as Marcellus strode through without pause. Wincing at the reluctance in my muscles from that small amount of exertion, I asked the gods for at least the comfort of a soft bed to sleep on.

I doubt they’re listening.

While this wall wasn’t as tall as the first, it was still made from huge slabs of pale grey stone that glistened with veins of quartz, and this close up, I could make out the red marble that twined throughout.

If what I saw from outside the wall had been impressive, then there were no adequate words to describe what was before me now.

The smoke coloured palace stood stark against the brightening sky, ornate mouldings adorned every surface in intricate patterns that I was sure would tell a story if I got close enough to them. Countless turrets that punched up towards the clouds, shining in the sun’s rays that bathed its many columns as they competed to see who would touch them first.Seemingly endless windows rose seven stories high, elaborate swirls of gold framing them, their panes lined with black diamonds.

It was the type of place you saw in the fairy tales that children were read by their parents before being tucked in at night.

I wanted to stop and have time to take in the extravagant display before me, but I was already risking hypothermia with my minimal layers as it was.

Standing in another courtyard, this one bigger than the other, The larger cobblestones made way for smaller, smooth pebbles blanketing the ground like a sea of black pearls, their shimmer an oil slick of rainbow iridescence. Shining like little beacons that had my eyes jumping from one to the next were circular polished gemstones that I was loath to walk over, even with my bare feet.

The same flowers from outside the walls were growing in large, neat patches along the border of the wide pebbled path we walked down, leading towards an equally wide set of stone steps. The closer we walked, the more gemstones were interspersed with the black ones, and I could feel their pull with every step.

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