A Curse of Shadows - Page 92

ISLA

As we’re racing toward the basement, I try to recall every detail about the day I was killed. I want to know if Declan was there and whether he had black eyes then as well. I still can’t see the other person in my room, but I do put more pieces together.

We’re running down the stairs, but I don’t wait to share. “They used the secret passageways.”

“Who?” Dad asks, keeping pace right behind me.

“Whoever was in the room with me,” I say, my heart racing. “I was alone in my room when I walked in to call the kitchen about arranging dinner. It also explains why nobody saw me leave or be taken out. I never left the castle that day or any day after if Estee is correct.”

Asher looks over at me, a dark look in his eyes, but he doesn’t say anything.

“We better still be there,” my sister practically growls. “If we don’t break this curse, who the hell knows whom we can trust if Noen is screwing with people’s will.”

“It wasn’t Noen,” Asher says just as I open my mouth to say the same thing.

“What?” Estee gapes. “When did you figure that out and where is he, then?”

“This morning,” I say. Then I add, “It was safer to leave him in the holding room, but maybe we can let him out after this.”

I have no idea if that’s true, but suddenly, I feel like Asher isn’t sharing something.

“What are you thinking?” I ask through our bond link.

“That I’d really like to finally fucking kill someone.” He doesn’t say anything more and because we get to the basement door, I don’t get to press him.

Asher grabs the handle, but it doesn’t budge.

“Do we need a key?” I ask, assuming he’s at least had access to this space throughout his time as king.

His growl is low and deep. “No, we need a new door.”

As I ask for clarification, he lifts his leg and slams his booted foot through the wooden door. It shakes but doesn’t even crack. That doesn’t deter my mate, though. He repeats the action two more times, and once it finally fractures, he charges forward, crashing through with his shoulder taking the brunt of the impact. Wood splinters fly around us, but that’s the least of my worries.

“Asher!” I call out, but he doesn’t seem the least bit fazed as he gets up.

“I’m fine.” He grabs my hand, ignoring the slivers from the door that protrude from his shoulders as he pulls me forward.

I expect him to let go, but the space is dark and his grip only tightens.

My wolf comes to the surface, helping me to see. There are stacks of crates, their labels covered in dust and cobwebs, as if this space has remained untouched for decades. The walls are made of brick with crumbling mortar between them, yet nothing has fallen out of place. Old, ceramic vases are stacked past the crates, along with what I can assume are paintings covered by canvases.

Estee steps next to us and points to the left. “Back there, I’m pretty sure.”

I expect to feel some sort of pull since it’s my body down here, but there’s nothing, not even a nudge or a recollection of having ever been in this part of the castle.

We move around the boxes, doing our best not to touch anything, but that’s hard when Asher won’t let go of my hand.

Dad reaches for my shoulder, causing me to glance back at him. His face is lined with tension and he’s trembling.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, forcefully removing Asher’s hold from me so I can pay attention to my father.

“This is a lot to process and…” He seems to choke on his words. “I don’t know why any of this happened and while I’m more grateful than I hope you will ever understand to have the two of you back, I wish your mother were here with us.”

Tears burn in my eyes, and I nod. Even with the gift of my memories back, so much has happened since then that I haven’t had the time to grieve what I’ve lost. I’ve only been thankful for what I’ve gotten back. There hasn’t been time for anything else.

Yet the moment my mother’s face comes to my mind, I throw my arms around my dad. “I’m so sorry you had to endure all of this alone, but selfishly, I’m glad you managed to find the strength to hang on. Without you, I don’t know that I would have opened my mind to believing I belonged here and that would have been the biggest mistake of my life.”

He sniffles against my shoulder. “I almost didn’t.”