She took a moment to assess the structure. It wasn’t very tall—three stories, roughly 70 feet high—but the guards were the problem. Katelyn glanced at her…
Watch. Shift change was about to begin. Right on cue, the soldiers at the entrance checked the time before one of them said, “Shift change.”
A few others nodded in agreement. Since they were only guarding a single prisoner, they weren’t particularly alert. After all, who would risk infiltrating the palace just to see a lunatic?
Katelyn remained hidden, waiting for them to leave. Eager to be relieved of duty, the soldiers didn’t even wait for their replacements before wandering off, making things much easier for her.
Once they were out of sight, she moved swiftly, circling around to the opposite side of the perimeter wall.
“There’s a window on the second floor. You can use a rope to climb up,” Jaxen instructed.
It wasn’t the easiest option, but it was the only viable one.
Katelyn studied the building. It was heavily secured, but as Jaxen had said, there was a window on the second floor.
After ensuring no one was watching, she sprang into action, moving with silent precision toward the structure.
Reaching the back of the building, she retrieved a grappling hook from her pouch and secured it in place. With practiced ease, she scaled the wall, her movements fluid and effortless, like a swallow riding the wind.
Watching through the surveillance feed, Jaxen was momentarily stunned. He knew Katelyn was skilled, but seeing her in action was something else entirely. She climbed that second-story window like it was nothing.
Jaxen imagined himself attempting the same stunt and immediately shook his head. He’d probably end up in a full-body cast.
Ltеst chαpt?rs in glovs.
Katelyn reached the second-floor balcony and peered inside. The room was empty.
Just then, voices echoed from below—soldiers talking. She quickly ducked, staying out of sight. Only when their voices faded did she carefully rise and slip inside.
She took a quick glance around. The room was neat, its furnishings spotless. It looked nothing like a prison cell.
She stepped fully inside, moving cautiously, careful not to make a sound.
According to the intel, the prisoner here was mentally unstable. Any sudden disturbance could alert the guards below. If things went sideways, she wouldn’t be the only one in trouble—Vincent would be implicated too.
After confirming the second floor was clear, Katelyn moved toward the third.
Just as she reached the top of the stairs, a faint melody drifted from one of the rooms.
She instantly froze.
The voice was unlike the haunting one Katelyn had heard in the garden before; instead, it was incredibly gentle. This gentleness washed over Katelyn, filling her with an unexpected sense of peace. Hesitating at the top of the stairs, Katelyn stood motionless for a long moment. Slowly, she peered out, trying to trace the source of the sound. It drifted from the direction of a nearby room, drawing her forward with its mesmerizing tone.
.
.
.