Chapter 10 A Really Bad Bet

Elaria's POV

My heart was hammering as I stood over Rowan. My pulse was all over the place, and I was gripping the sword at my side so hard my knuckles were white. He just couldn't be here. Not now. Not when everything I was trying to hold together was falling apart fast. His eyes locked on mine, dark and intense. For a split second, I thought I saw him hesitate. Then, he just looked defiant.

He never knew when to quit.

"Elaria," he croaked, struggling to breathe under my weight. "Whatever you think this is, you've got it wrong."

The gall of this guy! Did he think I'd just let him walk away after all this crap? My fingers were itching, every part of me screaming to end it right here, right now, before things got even more messed up. But I couldn't help but hesitate.

The shadows around us seemed to throb, moving strangely, whispering things only I could make out. They were like snakes, coiling, waiting, watching. It was creepy.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just kill you right here," I hissed, pressing the blade closer to his throat.

He smirked. "Because you don't really want to."

I hated that he knew me so well.

Before I could do anything, a roar ripped through the air – a deep, animalistic sound that made my teeth ache. The shadows scattered back into the darkness. Rowan's body went rigid beneath me. I turned just in time to see them coming out.

Figures with eyes that looked like melted silver. They were shaped like people, but their faces were... wrong. Twisted. Like someone tried to turn them into wolves but didn't get it quite right. Just plain disturbing!

The one in front took a step closer, his long fingers twitching. "The Queen's got a big choice to make." His voice wasn't human. It sounded rough, like old stones grinding together. "Choose carefully."

Rowan shifted under me, like he was ready to bolt. "Elaria, whatever this is-"

I shut him up with a glare.

Didn't have time for his questions, his doubts. Not time for mistakes. The whole situation was changing too fast, and these creatures were bringing with them a problem I wasn't ready to face. I needed to focus.

But did I have a choice?

The moment Elaria looked at me, I felt it – a gut punch. It was a strong connection, a pull that was almost too much. But I couldn't let it distract me.

I still felt the sting where her sword had cut me, a nice reminder that she wasn't exactly happy to see me.

Her face was hard to read, the light from the torches throwing shadows all over it.

You never listen, she finally said, her voice barely a whisper, but it cut through the noise like a knife.

I took a breath. Because you never tell me anything straight.

She moved closer, slowly. You wouldn't be able to handle it.

The air between us was buzzing with tension.

Behind me, the creatures moved, restless. They hadn't tried anything yet, which meant they were either taking orders from her or waiting for something worse to happen.

And I had no clue which was more scary.

You shouldn't be here, Rowan, Elaria went on, her voice softer, almost like she felt bad. This isn't your place.

I balled my hands into fists. Then why do I keep getting pulled back here?

Her lips moved slightly, like she was going to say something, but stopped herself. It was just a flicker – I almost didn't see it – but it was there.

That had to mean something, right?

The ground started to shake. A low, weird rumble went through the walls. The torches flickered like crazy, making the shadows dance like ghosts.

Something was coming, something big.

Elaria's eyes went dark. You don't know what you've done.

The creatures moved again, their glowing eyes focused on me even more.

I braced myself. Then clue me in.

She took another step, close enough that I could see how fast she was breathing. There's no time.

The cavern shook harder. A sound – a deep, animal growl – came from the darkness.

Elaria grabbed my arm, her hand like ice on my skin. We have to go. Now.

And right then, as the darkness swallowed the last bit of torchlight, she pulled me into the unknown.

Elaria was holding on tight, her fingers digging into my wrist like she didn't want me to get away, as she dragged me toward the tight passage. The air was heavy, like something was pushing in on us.

The creatures were behind us, snarling. Whatever they were, they weren't giving up.

Elaria, I said, stumbling over the rough ground, where are we going?

She didn't say anything.

She just kept going, faster now, making me even more nervous.

Another shake went through the ground, and the sound – the one that had scared me before – got louder.

Something huge was waking up.

The tunnel turned sharply, and we squeezed through a narrow spot that barely fit us. I felt the stone scraping my shoulder, but I kept moving.

The air changed.

The heavy feeling lifted, and we came out into something huge.

A chamber.

Really big.

As soon as we were inside, Elaria spun around and shoved me against the wall. She was breathing hard, her eyes wide.

What were you thinking? she hissed.

It took me a second to get my breath back. I was thinking that maybe you'd actually tell me the truth for once.

She clenched her jaw. This is bigger than you, Rowan.

Then stop treating me like I'm stupid! My voice echoed off the walls of the chamber.

A growl – deep and not human – came from the darkness.

Elaria jumped, turning toward the sound.

I looked the same way.

And then I saw them.

A pair of eyes.

No, not just eyes.

A presence.

Big, old, and hiding in the shadows like a sleeping volcano.

It had been waiting.

For me... For her, and For this.

Elaria took a step back, like she was ready to run.

Rowan, she whispered, barely loud enough to hear over my heart, don't. Move.

I was too scared to move.

The air felt alive, like it was filled with something wild and unnatural.

Then, the thing in the shadows moved, and my blood turned to ice.

It spoke.

So, it said, its voice like something ancient waking up. You brought him to me.

Elaria's grip on my wrist got tighter, her nails digging into my skin.

And right then, I knew –

I had just walked into something way worse than I could have imagined.