Chapter 218. Choose Carefully

The moment they stepped out of the dungeon, the air changed. It was subtle at first. A pressure that pressed against the skin as though the palace itself had drawn a slow, uneasy breath.

The torches lining the stone corridor flickered violently, their flames bending inward instead of dancing upward. Shadows stretched too long, clinging to the walls like living things.

Althea stumbled, her knees nearly giving out. Gavriel was instantly at her side, steadying her with a firm hand. Zander moved just as quickly, his eyes scanned the corridor as if he sensed what was coming before it fully revealed itself.

Then hurried footsteps echoed through the hall.

“Your Majesty!”

Simon came running toward them, his armor smeared with ash and dark stains that did not look like blood. His expression was strained, his breathing uneven, panic was barely contained in his expression.

“What happened?” Gavriel demanded.

“The captives. All of them. So