Back in the servant quarters, Ade was waiting.
The moment I stepped inside, she sat up from where she had been resting, her sharp eyes taking in my expression.
I said nothing at first, crossing the small space and sitting down on the rough mattress they had given me.
Ade watched me carefully. "You saw him."
I nodded. "He suspects something."
She frowned. "About you?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "But I don't like it."
Ade leaned in, her voice low. "Then we need to get out of here."
I met her gaze, my jaw tight. "Yes. We need to escape but not now. I…need to rest."
***
The morning birds singing was what woke me up.
I lay on the hard, scratchy mattress, staring at the cracked ceiling above me. My body ached, my ribs still raw from the fight, but my mind wouldn't stop racing.
I needed to get out of Kynigos Pack.
I needed to return to Sante.
It didn't matter what Ade said. I had to see it for myself. I had to know that he was waiting for me, fighting for me.
The problem was Minerva.
His gaze lingered in my thoughts, the way he had studied me, the way his touch had sent an unsettling pulse through my veins.
I couldn't afford to be caught in his web.
I turned to where Ade sat, sharpening a small blade she had somehow smuggled into the servant quarters.
"How soon can we leave?" I asked quietly.
Ade didn't look up. "The palace is heavily guarded at night. You won't make it past the gates."
"We?" I repeated, lifting a brow.
She finally looked at me, her eyes serious. "I told you, I swore to protect you. That means I'm coming with you."
I shook my head. "You don't have to—"
"I'm coming," she cut me off. "Whether you like it or not."
I sighed, grateful but frustrated. I had spent my life trying to fight my battles alone. Ade had chosen this fight.
"Fine," I muttered. "So, how do we do this?"
She leaned forward, lowering her voice. "There's a passage through the east wing. An old tunnel, barely guarded. If we make it through, we can be out of here before sunrise."
A small flicker of hope sparked in my chest.
I nodded. "Then we leave tonight."
****
The palace was silent, the air thick with the weight of the moonlight spilling through the narrow hallways.
Ade and I moved quietly, our footsteps light as we navigated the long corridors. The servants had retired for the night, and most of the warriors were patrolling the outer walls.
We just had to make it to the east wing.
We passed through the dimly lit halls, the torches casting elongated shadows that danced across the stone walls. Every time a distant footstep echoed, my heart slammed against my ribs.
But so far, no one had noticed us.
Ade nudged me forward as we reached the narrow passage she had mentioned earlier. It was hidden behind an old wooden shelf, barely noticeable unless you knew where to look.
"This way," she whispered, pulling the shelf aside to reveal a darkened tunnel leading into the unknown.
Freedom.
I could taste it.
I slipped into the tunnel first, heart pounding in anticipation. Ade followed, carefully replacing the shelf behind us.
We were so close.
Then a sound.
The hairs on my arms rose instantly.
Footsteps. Fast. Confident.
No.
I turned, but I was too late.
A strong arm wrapped around my waist, yanking me backward with startling force. My back slammed against the cold stone wall, a gasp ripping from my throat.
A second later, a hand pressed against my mouth, silencing me.
Minerva.