Twenty-Four
I should have concentrated harder, but I was so caught up in the terrifying rush of doing the right thing that I completely forgot to rein in my Griffin magic. It escapes me all at once, leaving nothing behind. I shut my eyes for a moment and ball my hands into fists, but there’s no point in regretting what I’ve done. I chose to open the trapdoor. Now I need to find out what’s hidden beneath it.
I stare at the dark circle of space and the stairs that lead downward. An icy breeze drifts past the back of my neck, reminding me that I’ve lost my tenuous hold on the spell that was keeping me warm. I take a steadying breath and place my foot on the first step. There could be a hundred guards waiting at the bottom of these stairs. There could be all kinds of horrifying creatures or
