로그인The wooden boat slanted gently along with the current, passing through the narrow underground cave. The sound of rushing water contantly heating off the wet stone walls, it was slowed down only by the rhythmic splash of Brandon’s oar at the bow.The air down here tasted bitter in my throat, it carried a freezing cool air from the mountain passes above.I sat leanimg forward and my head lowed in the middle of the boat, my ruined silk dress soaked through and useless against the cold. My shoulders, shivering violently and my teeth clicking together before I could wrap my arms around myself. I did know something heavy and thick dropped over my shoulders; it was a heavy wool mantle, lined with dense fur, smelling of pine, iron, and his skin.Cassian crowded into the narrow space beside me. He pulled the edges of the cloak heavily to together tighter around my neck, when his hands lingered on my collarbone; it gave me a familiar sensatin. He was still half-bare beneath his unbuttoned ve
Chapter 84Lilith’s POVBack up in the keep, Morgana didn't run. She knew that if she fled into the dark night, Cassian's scouts would hunt her down in nodistant time.Instead, she grabbed a heavy clay lamp from her desk, smashed it against the floorboards right over her overturned medical notes, and watched the flame catch the spilled oils. Thick black smoke flared up instantly, climbing the curtains and spilling out into the hallway."Fire! The shadow-snipers set the room on fire!" Morgana screamed into the dark corridor, her voice echoing with a perfect panic, it was impossible not to believe. She shoved a handful of ash across her cheek and grabbed her medical satchel. When Kaelen’s men burst through the main doors, shouting for the Lord of the North, Morgana pointed them straight down to the grand staircase toward the barracks."They went toward the courtyard!" she lied, her face tight with terror as she backed away into the smoke-like shadow. "They fled down the western stairs!
Chapter 83Lilith’s POVThe stone passage was cold, pitch black, and smelled heavily of damp earth and river water.Cassian kept his left hand firmly wrapped around my wrist, pulling me beside him as Brandon led the way down the slick stone stairs with a small, iron lantern. Torin brought up the rear, his hand resting on his sword handle, his eyes scanning the pitch-dark stairs behind us every few steps.We walked for what felt like ten minutes, going deeper into the earth beneath the old keep. Up ahead, the stairwell opened into a wider underground chamber; an old stone sanctuary built into the bedrock, lined with worn pillars and empty stone room."We take five minutes here," Brandon said, lowering the lantern onto a low stone bench. "Torin, check the door to the lower river gate.""Right away," Torin said, disappearing down the far side of the hall.The moment we stopped moving, my legs felt weak and unable to carry me any further. The heat in my chest did not just go col
Chapter 82Lilith’s POVThe moment glass hit the floor with a harsh, sharp vibration, it bounced across the stone flags.Brandon didn't wait to see who was outside. He grabbed Torin by the shoulder and shoved him toward the broken window. "Get two men on that ledge! Now!"Torin and two guards ran toward the shattered opening, pulling their heavy iron shields up to cover the breach. Outside, the rain was still pouring down heavily, and the breeze whistling through the empty window frame and cool air gaining entrance into the warm room to dilute the air in the room within seconds.Brandon leaned down and pulled one of the black arrows out of the thick wooden beam overhead. He ran his thumb near the iron tip, then brought it to his nose."Shadow-snipers," Brandon said, his face going completely pale. "These are Kaelen's men. They're already inside the outer courtyard."Morgana backed away from the window, her hands catching the edge of her medicine table to steady herself. "That'
Chapter 81 Lilith’s POVThe room was completely quiet. The only sound left was the noise from burning wood of the fireplace.Morgana didn't even as much as 0 any reaction, to me intruding. She just simply placed the stone cup on the table beside the bed, she kept her movements slow and deliberate. She turned around, pulled her shoulders back, and smoothed down her dark skirts."Guards!" she yelled, sharp and loud. "Get in here! Now!"Heavy boots pounded against the stone floor in the hallway, and four guards pushed the door open aggressively. They pulled their sword halfway out of their sheaths, their eyes locking onto me where I stood alone near the doorway."She forced her way in here," Morgana , pointing a finger straight at my chest. She even started trembling with a shaky voice just to make it sound like she was scared. "His body is struggling with the fever from her core. I was trying to give him a silver-root sedative to drop his heart rate, and she barged in."The guards
Chapter 80Lilith’s POVThe smelled of dried lavender and stale stone was the fragrance that filled the guest chamber I was staying in; It was large, clean, and entirely cold room, even though a small fire place was built at the tail end of the room close to a small tea table to give the room some warmth but it didn't do much.I pasted around the room, unable to touch the pitcher of hot water the handmaidens had brought in earlier to keep me warm. Instead, I stood by the narrowly framed window, watching the rain pour heavily into the inner courtyard. My fingers traced the cold glass, my knuckles still stained with dried mud and tiny traces of blood from the mountain pass.I heard a loud knock on the door before I could turn towards the door, it clicked open almost immediately, Brandon stepped inside, carrying a dark cloak over his arm and a black mug of steaming tea. He still looked battered and had not cleaned up after the fight. His jaw tightened when he saw the already cold







