Chapter 279 The Dungeon

Chapter 279: Chapter 279 The Dungeon

Talia’s POV

The light did not fade.

It surrounded us, warm and golden, as we stepped through the door. I expected darkness on the other side, and I expected cold stone and more tunnels. But instead, I found myself standing in a place that felt like a different world.

The chamber was vast, with high ceilings and walls of smooth stone. Torches lined the walls, casting flickering shadows across the floor. The air was warm, almost hot, and I could feel the sweat forming on my skin.

Kaelen’s hand was still wrapped around mine. "Talia, where are we?"

I shook my head. "I do not know, Kaelen."

I looked around, and I felt my heart sink, because we were not in a chamber, we were in a dungeon.

Silver bars lined the walls, stretching from floor to ceiling. They were thick and cold, and I could see the faint glow of silver in the torchlight. The air was thick with the smell of rust and decay.

My nose burned. The silver was everywhere, pressing against my skin like a weight. I could feel it in my lungs, and in my throat, and it made me want to cough.

I looked at Kaelen, and my heart stopped.

His skin was reddening. The welts on his neck were spreading, creeping up his jaw and down his chest. His breathing was shallow, and I could see the pain in his eyes.

"Kaelen," I said, with my voice sharp. "Kaelen, look at me."

He blinked, and I saw the fog in his eyes. "Talia... I am fine."

"You are not fine," I said. "Look at your skin. The silver is everywhere."

I looked around, and I saw the silver bars on the walls, the silver chains hanging from the ceiling, and the silver manacles attached to the floor.

"It is a dungeon," I said. "A silver dungeon."

Suddenly Kaelen swayed, and I caught him. His body was heavy against mine, and I could feel the heat radiating from his skin.

"Kaelen," I said. "Kaelen, stay with me."

He shook his head. "I am fine, Talia. Just... give me a moment."

I held him steady, making sure my hands were gripping his arms. His skin was hot beneath my fingers, and I could see the silver burns spreading across his neck like a disease. The cloth I had wrapped around him was doing almost nothing now.

"Kaelen," I said, with my voice firm. "You need to go back."

He looked at me, and his gray eyes were sharp despite the pain. "What?"

"You heard me," I said. "Go back through the door, and wait for me there. The silver is killing you."

He pulled away from me, standing on his own even though I could see his legs shaking. "I am not leaving you, Talia."

"Kaelen, you cannot even stand properly," I said.

"I can stand," he said.

"You are swaying," I said. "Your skin is burning. The silver is everywhere in this place, and it is getting worse with every step we take."

"Then we move faster," he said.

"Kaelen, listen to me," I said, stepping closer to him. "I cannot focus on finding my mother if I am worried about you collapsing behind me."

He shook his head. "I am not going back, Talia."

I pressed my right hand on my forehead. "Kaelen..."

"No," he said, his voice cutting through mine. "I did not come all this way to sit in a chamber while you walk into danger alone."

I felt the frustration building in my chest. "You are being stubborn."

"So are you," he said. "That is why we are mates."

I laughed despite everything, but there was no humor in it. "Kaelen, please. I cannot lose you."

He reached for my hand, with his fingers warm against mine. "You will not lose me, Talia. I promise."

"You cannot promise that," I said. "Look at yourself. The silver is burning you alive."

He squeezed my hand. "Then we find your mother quickly, and we leave. Together."

I looked at him, and I saw the determination in his gray eyes. He was not going to change his mind. He was never going to change his mind.

"Fine," I said, my voice tight. "But if you collapse, I am carrying you out of here."

He almost smiled. "Deal."

I shook my head, but I did not argue further. There was no point, because he was as stubborn as I was.

"Stay close to me," I said. "And if the silver gets too much, you tell me immediately."

"I will," he said.

I looked at him, and I knew he was lying. He would never tell me if it was too much. He would suffer in silence until he could not stand anymore.

But I did not have time to argue. My mother was somewhere in this dungeon, and I had to find her.

I looked around, and I saw the cells. They were empty, most of them. But some of them had bones. Old bones, that looked to have been bleached white by time.

"Kaelen," I said. "We need to move. We need to find my mother and leave here fast."

He nodded, but I could see the strain on his face. The silver was affecting him more than he wanted to admit.

"Talia," he said. "The silver... it is everywhere."

I squeezed his hand. "I know, Kaelen. But since you do not want to stay back, we have come too far to stop now."

He looked at me, and I saw the determination in his eyes. "Then we keep going."

We walked deeper into the dungeon, and the silver pressed in on us from all sides. My nose burned, and my eyes watered. But I kept moving.

The cells stretched out before us, row after row. They were empty, most of them. But some held bones, some held scraps of cloth, while some held nothing at all.

Kaelen stumbled beside me, and I caught him again.

"Kaelen," I said. "Let me help you."

He shook his head. "I am fine, Talia."

"You are not fine," I said. "Let me help you."

I put his arm around my shoulder, and I took some of his weight. He was heavy, but I did not care. I would carry him if I had to.

We walked deeper into the dungeon, and the cells grew darker. The torches were farther apart, and the shadows were thicker.

I looked at the cells as we passed, and I felt the fear rise in my chest as I saw more bones. So many bones.

"Kaelen," I said. "What if my mother is..."

He squeezed my hand. "She is alive, Talia. I know she is."

"How do you know?" I asked.

He looked at me. "Because we have come this far. And she is still waiting for you."

I nodded, and I forced myself to keep moving.