Free A Hint of Frost: Araneae Nation ( Book One) by Hailey Edwards

waited with us until they had it cleared. The most dangerous thing I’ll encounter is worms.”
    “You’re our maven.” He touched his middle and winced. “You must remain protected.”
    “Would you feel better if I said I’d seek out Rhys the second I reached the surface?” Regret almost tempted the truth from me as Armand’s expression eased. I’d posed the question as a hypothetical. I had to leave, now . No matter his answer, Rhys was the last male I’d go hunting.
    “All right, you can go.” He delivered his line as if he’d had real influence in my decision.
    “Thank you.” I worked to convey proper gratitude. “I promise I’ll be careful.”
    “See that you are.” Henri crossed the room to retrieve his coat from his chair’s back. “Here.” He all but threaded my arms through the sleeves, then rolled the ends until my hands were visible. “Inside the city, there are windbreaks. Where you’re going, there aren’t. Explore what you must, but make it quick. Get to Rhys as soon as you can, or you’ll freeze.”
    My fingers brushed my thigh, where my quiver should be. Cramped tunnels meant no room to pull a bowstring. Even my silk trick depended on leverage and surprise, neither of which I’d have if I ran headlong into company in the same tunnel. At least we’d both be disadvantaged.
    “This is a mistake,” Armand groused as he lifted me, lowering me into the tunnel.
    “If it is, it’s as good as made.” Henri guided my hands and feet onto the rungs and then total blackness enveloped me. Chills swept over my skin. My sister had used this tunnel. Had she given us a single thought as she crept into the night with her…lover? I didn’t know what he was to her.
    Inhaling a last breath of clean air, I climbed into the void and let earthen scents enfold me.
     
    Henri was right. My arms and legs faltered after crawling through his tunnel. While I imagined a male might wriggle through, he wouldn’t thank whoever had set him to the task. The walls were close and the air damp, but the path was packed hard and well-traveled. Pascale must have gone this way more often than we’d guessed. Either that, or Henri had spent an inordinate amount of time crafting a passageway whose primary function was to remain hidden and unused.
    Blinking as currents swirled about me, I sneezed when dirt blew up my nose. I inhaled fresh air in greedy pulls until realizing I shouldn’t smell grass and sunshine down here. Without light, I missed my cue and hit the end of the tunnel face-first. Cursing alleviated the worst pain.
    Groaning, I reached over my head and located the hatch. A hard shove cracked it open, and it fell aside, giving me room to stand for the first time in an hour. Clean air rushed over me, raising chills as winter’s breath whispered over my skin. Above me, dawn’s reds and oranges saturated the sky. Climbing hand over hand, I breached the surface, eager to be bathed in light.
    Though my eyes burned, I recognized this place. No wonder the tunnel ran so long and the ladder stretched so high. Stumbling on weakened legs, I collapsed in a heap while surveying my surroundings. Henri had dug a passage clear to the base of Mount Ereac. From this vantage, the whole of Erania spread before me. She was beautiful despite the wintry mantle she wore, her face kind in spite of the black stone walls looming above her brow, stretching far as I could see.
    Our markets and summer spinning rooms were empty, closed against the harshest part of winter. No travelers dared venture so far north for our wares when we went to ground for safety.
    The harsh clime was one reason Araneidae nested below the city. Only our clan and their spouses were allowed access to the clan home, although my parents had several personal guards.
    To think all these years we’d welcomed Theridiidae into our home. Their presence was tolerated because a second generation union between our clans was mutually beneficial. We’d given them the