Kieran drifted in and out of consciousness, his body weightless, untethered. The world around him was a blur of movement, voices muffled as if he were submerged underwater. His limbs refused to move, his breath slow and shallow. The poison had done its job well.

A jolt rocked through him as he was thrown onto a hard surface. The impact sent a sharp ache through his skull, dragging him back to reality. His wrists were bound, the coarse rope biting into his skin. The scent of damp stone and iron filled his nostrils.

He was in a cell.

A groan to his right made him shift his gaze. Julian was there, bound and slumped against the wall, his breathing uneven. His lip was split, a dark bruise blooming along his cheekbone.

Kieran’s stomach twisted. “Julian,” he croaked, his throat dry.

Julian stirred, blinking slowly before focusing on Kieran. A smirk, weak but defiant, tugged at his lips. “You look worse than I do.”

“Where are we?” Kieran asked, forcing himself to sit up.

Julian exhaled, tilting his head toward the iron bars. “Not sure. Some kind of dungeon. Our new friends weren’t feeling chatty.”

Heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor outside. The iron door screeched open, and the leader from the ambush stepped inside, his expression one of amusement.

“Ah, you’re awake. Good. I’d hate for you to miss our little chat.” He crouched in front of Kieran, gripping his chin roughly. “You’re quite the troublemaker, aren’t you?”

Kieran jerked his head away, his glare unwavering. “If you wanted me dead, I would be already.”

The man chuckled. “Oh, I don’t want you dead, little noble. Not yet. There are people very eager to meet you. And trust me, their interest isn’t as kind as mine.”

Kieran’s blood turned to ice. Whoever these people were, they weren’t simple mercenaries. They wanted something from him—something more than just his life.

Julian’s voice cut through the tension. “You must be feeling real brave, hiding behind your little gang. How about you untie me and we settle this properly?”

The leader smirked. “Tempting. But no.”

He stood, dusting off his hands. “Rest up. You’ll need your strength for what’s coming.”

With that, he turned on his heel and strode out, the door slamming shut behind him. The heavy lock clicked into place, sealing them in.

Kieran exhaled sharply, the weight of their predicament settling on his chest. Julian, despite the bruises, grinned at him.

“Well. This is new.”

Kieran couldn’t help but huff a laugh. “Any brilliant plans?”

Julian smirked. “Give me a few minutes. And if that doesn’t work, we’ll just have to improvise.”

Kieran nodded, determination settling in his gut. They would get out of this.

They had to.

To be continued...