I sighed in frustration, then put my shoes back on and limped out of the room. The tunnel curved on, and in the distance I could hear the footsteps of the other two men. They were heading back already. All hell would break lose once they’d found their companion. We were running out of time.
The tunnel split into three. I paused, peering into each branch intently, trying to figure out which way to go. The one to my immediate left echoed with the sound of footsteps, so there was no way I was heading down there if it could be avoided. The one straight ahead smelled stale and old, but the air in the one to the right stirred gently, and held the freshness of rain. There was an exit down there somewhere.
My gaze went back to the middle tunnel and, after a moment, I walked on. I don’t know why; it just felt right.
The tunnel’s old brick walls ran with slime, and the floor was slick with moisture. I couldn’t see it because the darkness had closed in once again, but I sure as hell could smell it—and it was nasty. Thankfully I wasn’t wearing my pretty new shoes, but even these older ones weren’t going to be wearable after this. If I’d had half a brain, I would have changed into boots when I’d gotten home.
Any further delay would not have been wise, Azriel commented.
"Stop reading my goddamn thoughts," I muttered.
No.
I glared at him. "Why the hell not?"
Because you do not tell me everything you know or suspect.
Which seemed a bit hypocritical to me, given he was guilty of the same crime, but I knew it wasn’t about to change anytime soon. "Then will you at least do one thing for me?"
If it means you will stop risking exposure with all this talking, I will seriously consider it.
"All I’m asking is that you keep your distance whenever I’m with Lucian. That is my time, and it has absolutely nothing to do with your goddamn mission."
He looked at me, his eyes glowing with an unearthly energy. "Trust me when I say that I have absolutely no desire to watch your liaison with the Aedh."
The edge in his voice made my eyebrows rise. "You don’t like him, do you?"
"I do not trust him." His gaze slid from mine. The edge in his voice had receded a little, but it still spoke of something more than distrust.