Page 175 of Heir of Broken Souls

Elysia merely rolls her eyes, unperturbed.

“Remember, we don’t know what he truly looks like. He has been shapeshifting for gods know how long. More than two hundred years, at least,” I say, drawing everyone’s attention back to what’s important. “So…this might not be entirely easy.”

“A part of me thinks he doesn’t even remember what he looks like,” Delilah says softly.

“We’ll make him remember,” Axel interjects, gleeful revenge filling his eyes.

Taking a steadying breath, I slide my hands into the pockets of my pants, savoring the warmth that steadies my slightly shaky hands. “I don’t want to keep Lenox waiting for too long?—”

Harlow snickers. “I’m surprised he hasn’t already stepped through the mirror out of curiosity.”

“Harlow,” I chastise.

She shrugs, spinning on her heel with a flourish. “I’ll be in the lower levels.”

She struts down the hall without a care for the darkness lingering in every corner, or for the art and death that hover upon every wall, then teleports to the floors below.

When I don’t immediately hear screams, I turn to Axel. “Where do you want to search?”

His head cranes behind him to the double staircase. “We’ll begin on the highest floor. Gods know how many levels this place has.”

I click my tongue. “I believe five.”

“We have our work cut out for us then,” Elysia murmurs, turning to Delilah. “Do you have any idea what we’re looking for?”

Delilah shrugs. “Not any more than you do.”

Elysia doesn’t seem surprised by her answer. She simply heads for the staircase, a shiver racking her body as she does. “Gods, let’s get this over with. Something is horribly wrong with this place.”

Axel, not needing to be told twice, hurries after Elysia, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

It isn’t until they disappear from our view does Delilah turn to me. “Are you ready?”

“As long as I’m with you, I’m ready for anything.”

Chapter66

Delilah

I’m certain at least six hours have passed since stepping through the castle doors, but when I check the time on a nearby blood-red clock, only an hour has gone by. The groan that has been threatening to rise finally does. We’ve searched endless halls, rooms, books, and nooks.

With every passing minute and every failed find, the tension in Knox’s shoulders tightens, and it only worsens as he rises with clenched teeth, a muscle ticking in his jaw as I once again don’t turn up with anything.

Nothing.

Not a single thread of information to follow.

Even the lower levels were a dead end. Harlow sent a mental image to Knox half an hour ago that she was going to search the grounds for cellars instead, and considering Knox hasn’t heard a peep from her, I dare say she found nothing.

Sighing deeply, I pause in the hallway as Axel and Elysia’s bickering float down the stairs from above us.

Knox’s fists clench and unclench by his sides. “I’ve never felt so utterly useless in my life.”

Sadness fills my chest at the hope I’m watching vanish from him. The joy and elation we all felt within the sunken island is well and truly gone.

“There’s still someplace I’m sure we haven’t searched. Perhaps it’s not within the castle but Air Court itself?”

He groans. “That’s worse.”