Disapproval dripped from the soldier’s tone, and there was nothing kind about the way he looked at Ryker’s wife. Obviously, the fae captain knew visitors didn’t visit Moonwater often. After all, prisons weren’t high on the Republic of Balance’s list of tourist destinations.
“I’m aware, but the circumstances warrant it.” Ryker canted his head.
He’d used a considerable amount of influence to get the clearance. Sometimes, there were benefits to being the son of a Representative. It wasn’t the first time Ryker had pulled strings using the power of his name, and it probably wouldn’t be the last. Being a Waterborn was fucking exhausting, but there were some advantages.
The Earth Elf furrowed his brows. “Still, some would say this is rather foolish?—”
“I’m bringing her in,” Ryker said, his tone brokering no room for discussion. “I have the clearance to be here, and so does my wife.”
Inwardly, he acknowledged the Earth Elf might be right. It wasn’t outside the realm of possibility that his actions bordered on being foolish. After all, he was taking the woman who had planned on killing him just over a month ago on a sensitive mission. However, there was a high likelihood this would provide them with the break they needed to learn more about the Black Night, so it was worth the potential risk.
Outwardly, Ryker showed no sign that he thought the Earth Elf’s words had any value. He ranked higher than this soldier, and he was done with this conversation.
Several tense moments passed before the Earth Elf seemed to realize arguing wouldn’t get him anywhere. He dipped his chin, stood, and strode to the door behind his desk. His movements were stiff as he punched a code into the keypad.
“Good luck,” the guard said dryly, swinging open the door.
Grunting a reply that sounded somewhat like, “Thanks,” Ryker placed his hand on Brynleigh’s lower back and led her past the desk.
The door slammed shut when they crossed the threshold, leaving them in a frigid, dimly lit corridor. The stone walls and cement floor lacked the lobby’s beauty, reflecting this place’s true, depraved nature.
Ryker curled his fingers around his wife’s.
“Welcome to Moonwater Prison,” he said grimly.
The roomthey sought was located on the third floor. The scholarly atmosphere was long gone, leaving them surrounded by institutional, white-washed walls, locked doors, and windowless corridors. It was nighttime, but that didn’t matter in here. Bright lights shone from the ceiling, chasing away even the hint of shadows.
Guards were strategically placed throughout the prison, stoically standing watch as Ryker and Brynleigh strode past. Unlike the Earth Elf at the entrance, none of them attempted to stop them.
The first two floors had been loud, filled with a symphony of pain. Endless screams and cries had come from the cells.
Ryker would take those dreadful melodies over the eerie silence of the third floor.
There were no more screams. No more pleas for mercy. Somehow, the quiet was even worse. Every beat of his heart was too loud, every breath too much.
He gripped Brynleigh’s fingers. She hadn’t spoken since they left the Earth Elf at the entrance.
Maybe he should’ve pushed back more on bringing her here, but it was too late. The cell they sought was right in front of them. Black numbers were etched onto the white door. A silver scanner was above the handle, like the one they’d encountered entering the prison.
Institutional. Secure. Cold. Heartless.
A dozen other prisons within the Republic fit the same description.
Brynleigh pressed herself against Ryker’s side, and she shivered.
“This is where they’re keeping him?”
Her voice was so quiet that he had to strain to hear her.
“Yes.”
“Oh.”
They stared at the door for a long minute but couldn’t wait forever.
Raising his free hand, Ryker scrubbed it over his face. “Before we go in… You might not like what he has to say.”
By all accounts, Zanri had been forthcoming with his answers. That wasn’t entirely surprising. Most people talked after weeks of torture. Ryker had studied notes from the interrogations, and there was one common thread: the shifter was angry. Not that Ryker blamed him, but he didn’t want the man directing that anger towards his vampire.