Kit crossed the room, finding the opening quickly. She remembered the knob combination and went to spin it, but the door was slightly ajar. Pierce had been here recently. With a deep breath, Kit stepped into the darkness.

This passage was just as dark as the last, but it wasn’t as dirty. She wondered if Pierce had actually brought a rag with him and dusted as he went or if it was just from his form fumbling down the passage so often. She couldn’t imagine Pierce wanting to stand before the queen covered in cobwebs, so she wouldn’t have been surprised if he actually did clean the space as he...