Page 214 of Lethal King

That’s a first.

“Well, it looks like we may be past the worst of it now.”

“Never assume that things will get better,” I teach the young hotshot.

“If only I could be so pessimistic.”

“You’ll learn.”

Brushing past him, I carefully stumble into the above-ground sewer that was hidden behind the vines. Stale water drips from the leaking ceiling. A rancid river flows at our feet.

I try not to breathe in the toxic fumes as I charge forward. But it’s no use. I’m exhausted, and I need all the air I can get, no matter how tainted it is.

“Do you see anything?” Deacon asks, following behind me as we wander deeper into the darkness.

“There should be a door up ahead,” I note, remembering the digital blueprints my drone scanned earlier.

“Thank god. I’m already getting nauseous.”

“Don’t get distracted.”

Keeping my gun trained forward, I step around a tall corner and prepare myself for yet another surprise.

But once again, nothing appears.

The absence of any obvious trouble is suspicious. Something is off. There’s no way we're in the clear yet. If I’ve learned anything since we got here, it’s that Tytus is almost as devious as his sister.

Over the past four hours, we’ve had to work our way through acres of expertly laid traps. It’s how I know we’re in the right place—because while most of them clearly weren’t made by Rozalia, a few had her handwriting all over them.

Tytus must have borrowed some of her contraptions to beef up his security. For most, that would make this place an instant death trap. But I’ve decided I’m not allowed to die.

Not yet.

“Is that the door?” Deacon asks.

Pointing the flashlight on his rifle over my shoulder, he illuminates a large black door.

“Must be. Stay ready.”

“Yes, boss.”

Our wary footsteps splash through the shallow water as we make our approach.

“Wait. Stop.” I grumble, spotting something unusual.

“What is it?”

Nodding up, I gesture towards a wire hanging from the ceiling above the door.

“Oh, shit,” Deacon curses. “Wait… that kind of looks like the trap we saw out at the front gate...”

“… After we disabled it,” I note.

“You think it’s disabled?”

“Let’s find out.”

Reaching into my pocket, I pull out one of the pebbles I picked up on the way in here. I toss it forward.