The guard gasped when he saw us and managed to murmur. "It was... one of our own. The beta... he had the keys. Said the queen would understand... gold for the children..."
Darius dropped to one knee beside the wounded man. Kane moved past him, knife out, checking the cell. Rylan stood guard at the entrance, axe raised, eyes scanning the corridor for any movement.
I held Lila tighter, her small body tense against me. She made a small, frightened sound but didn't cry. The twins kicked hard in my belly, as if they felt the sudden spike in tension through the bond.
Darius's voice was ice. "Which beta?"
"The one who took over after the last traitor," the guard wheezed. "He said... the prisoner promised safety for his family. Said the children would bring the curse back anyway."
Kane stepped out of the empty cell, face grim. "No blood inside. They planned this. He's been working with your father for weeks."
