Page 96 of Lethal King

Why Leander?

Maybe she just likes him better than you.

Lifting my foot, I send a strong, angry heel down into the wooden square. It shatters beneath my weight, revealing a ladder.

My gun leads the way. And I climb down with only one hand, ready for an ambush—not that I’m exactly expecting one.

Rozalia isn’t trying to catch me. She’s on the run.

It’s like I can taste her fear in the dry air.

Whatever Rozalia was doing here, it definitely wasn’t waiting for me. This ambush caught her by surprise.

Maybe the vibrations are driving her mad.

My smirk falters a little at the thought.

That would be too easy.

I want to see her shatter in person.

The second my feet hit the last rung of the ladder, I hear another faint whimper echo through the tunnel. It’s followed by a frustrated screech.

That’s right, kitten. I’m inside you. There’s no escape.

“Maksim, can you hear me?” I mutter as quietly as possible.

“Loud and clear.”

“Do you see my signal?”

“Yep.”

“Good. Follow it. And have the explosives ready.”

“Copy that.”

The tunnel is deep enough that I can’t hear anything above ground. Dim, flickering yellow lightbulbs sway from the dirt ceiling as I race ahead, gun drawn and ready to fire.

To my surprise, the underground tunnel doesn’t stretch out in a straight line. Instead, it slowly begins to wind like a snake. For caution's sake, I have to slow down around every new corner.

Even if this isn’t a trap, there’s no way Rozalia isn’t beginning to feel cornered. Who knows what she’ll do to keep me from catching her.

Slipping my way past a stretch of hanging lightbulbs, I steady myself before a sharp turn ahead. But it’s not because I’m extra wary.

A new scent has joined the moldy underground air.

A spicy rose fragrance.

My eyes momentarily shut. A deep breath fills my lungs.

She’s close.

Then, as if to further confirm it. I hear a voice.

Her voice.

It’s too lost in the twists and turns of the tunnel to hear clearly, but there’s no mistaking it.