The laughter continued beneath them.
Low.
Deep.
Almost impossibly distant.
Yet every person inside the council chamber heard it.
Sebastian stood motionless.
His eyes remained fixed upon the stone floor.
The King had just spoken words that seemed to make the entire palace feel unfamiliar.
The gate beneath the palace was never the entrance.
It was the prison.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Sebastian slowly looked at his father.
"What is beneath us?"
The King didn't answer.
Sebastian's voice hardened.
"What is beneath the palace?"
Still nothing.
"Father."
The King looked toward the floor.
His face had lost all color.
"I was hoping you would never have to know."
Sebastian gave a quiet, humorless laugh.
"You've been hoping that my entire life."
The King flinched.
Sebastian stepped closer.
"But you knew."
"I knew enough."
"Enough to lie to me?"
"Enough to protect you."
"You keep calling it protection."
Sebastian's eyes darkened.
