He glanced over his shoulder, eyes glinting faintly in the low light. “You are very bad at subtlety.”
I gasped softly in mock offense, though my laughter echoed faintly through the tunnel.
We walked deeper than I had ever ventured before. The air grew cooler, damp against my skin, carrying the faint scent of mineral-rich water and untouched stone. The hum of the city above faded until only the sound of our footsteps remained, accompanied by the distant rush of something I could not yet see.
“Talon,” I murmured, slowing slightly. “Truly. Where are we going?”
He stopped then, turning to face me fully.
“Do you trust me?” he asked.
“Yes,” I answered without hesitation.
A small smile touched his mouth. “Then come.”
He tugged me forward again, leading me around a bend where the tunnel narrowed considerably. The walls pressed closer together, the ceiling dipping lower until I had to tilt my head slightly to avoid brushing the rock.
The rushing sound grew louder the deeper we walked.
We rounded one final curve before Talon stopped beside a section of wall that looked no different from the rest—dark obsidian streaked faintly with silver veins.
He released my hand only to brace his palm against a jutting ridge.
“Stay close,” he murmured.
He stepped sideways into what I had assumed was solid stone. I followed, squeezing through a narrow gap between two towering slabs of rock. For a moment, darkness swallowed me—then, a beam of silver light greeted me.
I stumbled forward out of the gap and stopped dead.
Water cascaded from above in a luminous curtain, spilling down in silver streams. The sound was a constant, soothing rush that drowned out the world. I closed my eyes as a fine mist kissed my face.
It was all so familiar.
“Is this—” My voice trailed off as I turned slowly in place.
Behind us, carved naturally into the cliff-side and concealed entirely from the outer world, was a cavern.
His cavern.
Full obsidian walls curved overhead, glistening faintly with moisture. A cobalt-blue river streamed through its center, glowing softly as it wound between smooth black rock, the water so clear it looked like liquid light. The surface reflected the lanterns he had already lit along the edges, their golden glow dancing across the ceiling.
It looked untouched.
Exactly as it was the first time he brought me here.
“Did I finally figure a way to quieten you?”
I swatted his chest lightly, unable to contain the grin spreading across my face. “You brought me back.”
“I did,” he confirmed, striding ahead.
I stepped fully into the cavern, boots echoing faintly against the stone.
The river curved lazily past the familiar rock outcropping where I had once sat.
I trailed my fingers along the obsidian wall. It was cool and smooth beneath my touch, reflecting faint hints of blue from the river.
“This place just feels…” I paused, searching for the word.