Page 65 of Death of a Mortal

“What could possibly be more dangerous than kissing the son of the male potentially keeping your mother prisoner?”

Noxie and Nella were both driving me nuts.

“Nella, just listen—”

“Oh, just imagine if you get married and become the princess of Ashenholt—”

“Just imagine if the king finds out what you’re up to.”

“—and the most beautiful babies—”

“He’ll probably throw you in the dungeon too. Or worse.”

“—and I could live in the castle with Halden—”

“Will you both just shut up for a minute!” I couldn’t take both Nella and Noxie going on about the least important parts of the night. We needed to find out exactly where the dungeon entrance was, and this back and forth was getting us nowhere.

Nella looked shocked at my outburst. Noxie scoffed through our connection.

“Both…? Are you talking to Noxie?”

“Yes. Or he’s talking to me and being incredibly annoying while I’m trying to get you to listen. Varyn showed me the castle blueprints.”

Her eyes widened.

“That’s the important part I was trying to tell you. I didn’t see any dungeons anywhere.”

Her face fell indisappointment.

“But I saw a footnote on a square drawn near the kitchen that said there had been renovations there that weren’t part of the official blueprint. That’s got to be the dungeons. We know they exist, and I think Caedryn himself had them built. So they’d be somewhere underneath the kitchen then. We have to figure out where and how to get to them.”

“And what do we do even if we find out where they are? I’m sure they’re guarded. How would we even get in?”

“I…haven’t gotten that far yet. Last night was…unexpected.”

Noxie had been silent since I called him annoying. I’d apologize later. I just needed a plan to find the dungeons now.

Nella looked around seriously, as if the answer could be written somewhere on the wall.

“I can ask Halden if he knows of any secret entrances or has heard anything.”

“That’s great, Nella, thank you. Sorry for snapping. I really want to get moving. We’ve been here so long, and I don’t feel like we’re any closer to finding my mom and getting out of this castle.”

“What about the prince?”

“What about him?”

“If we leave the castle, won’t you miss him?”

Once again, I hadn’t gotten that far yet. My heart dropped at the thought. But I’d have to think about that later.

“I’m sure I will. But you and my mom are my priority. We’ll figure out the rest afterwards.”

She nodded. “I’ll talk to Halden at lunch.”

“Sorry, Noxie.”

Nothing but a caw.