Lucien's POV
I held my prize tightly, a small smile spreading across my face as I hid the scroll within my clothes.
Victory.
Without wasting another second, I slipped out of the room and quietly shut the door behind me.
Getting caught now would be disastrous—especially by these demons.
My heart pounded as I moved swiftly through the palace corridors, keeping to the shadows and avoiding every guard and servant I saw. Every step felt too loud, every corner too dangerous.
I just needed to get out.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of careful movement and narrow escapes, I slipped past the castle gates and disappeared into the dark streets of the city.
Only when I reached the narrow alley where Lila and I had agreed to meet did I finally slow down.
My chest rose and fell rapidly as I leaned against the cold stone wall, trying to calm the frantic beating of my heart.
After finally calming myself down, I pulled the scroll from my cloak with a small smile.
