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From a distance,the narrow path looked decent in size, wide enough to edge along if you laid flush with the rockface. But now that the trail was staring us down, barely illuminated by the waxing crescent Moon, it looked more like a sliver of cracked stone—unsteady and dangerous.
I glanced at Blue, nervous about having him cross but more uneasy about him traveling through the forest so close to Ossory. There would be numerous guards in these lands and even more lawless types. The palace brought in all kinds of creatures across Havre, many of them unsavory. The thought of having the omega exposed to them made my wolf tense.
I needed to get him inside the city where I could keep him safe. And, whether I like it or not, this was the fastest path.
We lined up, Joon taking the lead with Tzidal just behind him. He smiled, and she nodded calmly, waiting for her mate to lead the way. Blue and Lex stood behind me, the three of us waiting quietly as the pair slowly crept across.
Tzidal's toes curled over the stoney lip as she moved, one hand in Joon's and the other pressed against the wall of rock behind her. She shuffled, Joon moving slowly to allow her to keep pace with him.
This was going to take forever.
Leaning forward, I glanced at the camp below, feeling just how exposed we were. Thankfully, the guards were distracted, busy eating, chatting, and playing cards around little fires, unaware of our presence. The atmosphere was a little relaxed for an official patrol, and I struggled to figure out their purpose.
There was no repository of weapons, no barricade for prisoners, and no stockade of supplies. And their location didn't make any tactical sense. Surrounded by the jutting mountain, the wolves below only had one way in or out. It made more sense for alphas looking to protect more vulnerable wolves or supplies—it kept enemies from sneaking into a camp from multiple angles.
I wondered if they were more rogue guards, like those at Blue's camp. My wolf snorted, mocking my thoughts. He knew they weren't rogues, agreeing forcefully with Joon. I pushed my beast away and cleared my mind.
Joon and Tzidal approached the halfway mark, and I reached for Blue's hand. He startled when I touched him, pushing back into Lex. I took a calming breath, trying not to show my disappointment at his reaction.
Last night, after I cleaned his finger, he curled into himself, angling away from me. He wasn't asleep, but he pretended to be. It gutted me to know how much I scared him.
Slowly, I held out my hand, palm up, and waited.
Blinking rapidly, Blue swallowed hard, then slipped his small, cold hand into mine. His enchanting eyes glowed in the moonlight, just like his skin. He looked to be covered in stardust, shimmering bright for all to see.
He was so lovely.
My stomach dropped.
Moving my attention to Lex, I swallowed hard. They were both pale and bright, a beacon in the dark night. They would be so easy to spot for anyone that might glance up.
I motioned the siren forward, and he leaned in so I could whisper in his ear. "Can you change yourself to be darker?"
"Darker?"
"You're as bright as Blue," I motioned to the omega by my side.
Lex looked at Blue's face, then down at his own hands. Slowly, he phased. Black seeped across the siren's skin, bleeding over his robes. His clothes, skin, and hair went a deep black, even deeper in color than mine. He still held a glowing sheen about him, but it wasn't silver anymore. Instead, he shimmered gold. He looked like a glimmering shadow.
I turned to Blue. His black pants covered him well enough, but his linen shirt and pale face were still a problem.
"Here." Lex pulled out a black guard's shirt from the satchel. It was Joon's.
Joon and I hadn't worn anything outside our trousers since Vaesen, and we only wore them out of respect to Tzidal and now Blue. It was impolite to travel as beasts with omegas present.
I took a thankful breath and pulled the shirt over Blue's head, reaching behind him to pull his long hair out of the collar. It was so silky, like down-feathers. His cheeks blushed as my fingers grazed the back of his neck, and I swallowed hard, praying his reaction was out of affection and not fear.
But at this point, it was probably just a frivolous dream. A monster like me didn't deserve such a heavenly creature.
"By'," Lex whispered, motioning behind me.
Joon and Tzidal were almost across the path, waving us over. I glanced back at Lex, ensuring he had Blue's hand firmly in his before moving across the ledge.
Blue's hand trembled in mine, and I squeezed it a little, trying to reassure him.
The wind kicked up a bit as we slowly inched across the ledge. A chilly breeze filled with misty droplets of water made goosebumps flash across my skin, and I carefully looked down.
At the very bottom of the rock face sat a rushing gush of water. Too small to be a waterfall but quick enough to make a decent amount of noise against the boulders. I let out a sigh of relief. It was a welcome padding of sound should Lex get nervous and chatty.
