“What is it?”
“I think I might know someone who could help, but…” Groaning, Ryker shook his head. “It’s dangerous.”
Of course it was. That was the story of their lives. Nothing was easy or simple when it came to them. Still, it needed to be done.
Her stomach twisted into a knot. “Tell me.”
Between the attack at Jade Academy, her visit to Horizon, and meeting Dimitri, it was clear that the rebels were a far bigger problem than she had initially thought.
Brynleigh wasn’t a paragon of virtue, but the rebels had tried to killchildren. That was the line, and they’d crossed it. TheRepublic of Balance was broken, but the rebels weren’t a viable solution.
“The person we need to talk to is in prison,” Ryker said.
That knot turned leaden in Brynleigh’s stomach. Her mouth dried, and she trembled as memories of what had been done to her ran through her mind.
“In the…” She pushed past the growing lump in her throat. “In the Pit?”
She wasn’t sure she could go back there. Not after everything. Not even with Ryker by her side.
“No, not there.” He moved, taking her hands in his. His touch calmed her, but the tremors remained. “I promise I’ll keep you safe. No one will ever take you from me again. You are under my protection.”
Brynleigh’s heart raced as Ryker’s words settled upon her, his vow ringing with truth.
“Okay, thank you.” She dipped her head. “So, if it’s not The Pit, where are we going?”
As soon as he told her, she knew he was right.
This was a bad idea.
CHAPTER 22
The Tenth Rule is the Most Important
Ryker’s fingers tightened around Brynleigh’s as he led her up the concrete front steps of Moonwater Prison.
From the outside, the red-bricked, three-story building looked like a boarding school. A scary one that promised nightmarish headmasters, rods across the backs of legs, and agonizing punishments, but still, a school.
It was all a lie, though. The interior of this building was anything but scholarly.
Ryker hated that he was bringing Brynleigh here, but she’d insisted on coming with him. She was so strong, this wife of his, but sometimes she made him want to tear his hair out. It had taken two days for Ryker to receive the necessary permissions to come to Moonwater Prison, but they were finally here.
“This is where they’re keeping Zanri?” she murmured as they climbed the last steps.
He nodded, squeezing her hand once in affirmation.
A week and a half ago, Zanri Olyt had been transferred here for continued interrogation. He would remain here until he was released… or he died.
The latter was far more likely than the former. Most of theRepublic’s prisoners were never released. Not after they entered the depths of the justice system.
“I’ve got you,” Ryker reminded Brynleigh as their feet hit the landing. A ward crawled over his skin, buzzing like a bee. Not only would the ward protect the prison, but it would alert the wardens of their presence. “I promise.”
“Thank you.” Brynleigh tugged the sleeve of her oversized black sweater, her outfit looking more like she was going out for a night on the town than into a prison.
“Of course.” He would protect her until his dying breath.
Placing his palm on the scanner embedded in the wall by the front door, he smiled reassuringly at her. A red light flashed as the scanner read his handprint, and locks tumbled.
The massive black door swung open on its own volition.