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If we’d delayed a ates would have sla us out

Erik continued leading me forward at a safe distance from the two of the toward the palace entrance, I kept fearing that they would vanish thehtest clue where to find Mona

But, as we reached the top of the stairs and walked through the front door into a stunning entrance hall, I began to allow an cli staircase after staircase as we moved up the floors of the palace

I would have been stunned by its beauty had my sto it upon hiulate our speed and distance from the pair in front of us

On ht lose theot too close, and Erik pulled me back

Finally, we reached what appeared to be the top level of the palace and, walking along the corridor, stopped outside an engraved wooden door

Mona pushed it open and stepped inside

"Well, Coen, I’ll catch you later," Mona said

"I look forward to it" Coen san to walk back down the corridor

Erik lurched forith me once more, but before we could enter the door, Mona closed it behind her

"Wait until the warlock has disappeared," Erik breathed

"Then we’ll knock" I was hoping Coen would hurry up and vanish, but, apparently still enjoying the exercise, he a corridor until he finally descended the steps down to the floor below

"Now," Erik said,closer to the door

He knocked quietly at first, then louder when nobody came to answer the door

Footsteps sounded

Erik was barely breathing as the door clicked and swung open

I was sure that during our walk through the palace, Erik had been ot her alone and he was now preparing to spit it out

But it wasn’t Mona standing before us

It was a dark-haired witch wearing a navy blue s out anyway, but Erik’s hand closed over my mouth and he pulled me back away from the door

We retreated further down the corridor as theup and doith a confused look on her face

Once the door closed again, Erik whispered, "We can’t risk trusting any of these witches

We have to find a way to speak directly with Mona

We’ll have to wait here and hope to catch her the next time she comes out alone" Exhausted from the tension, I slid down the wall and sat on the floor

"Okay," I said

"Hopefully it’s just a ainst mine as he slid down the wall next to me