“Cloak, Monica, Blaine, and Victor,” I said. “The king and I will meet you in the crystal room. They know the way.”
He moved to argue but Kade interrupted. “Do it.”
“But—”
“That’s an order, Nik.” Kade’s voice could cut glass. We didn’t have time for anyone to be second-guessing us. The truth was Kade and I together were stronger than everyone in this alley. We would be fine.
Reluctantly, Nikoli slowed his steps, squeezing himself into Monica, Blaine, and Victor’s space. The alleyway was tight, and three wolves walking side by side left barely any room for the bear magic born. Before my dominants could ask what was going on, they vanished, as if they had just traveled on the vortex, but I knew they were still standing before me.
Kade, Finn, and I hugged the wall to let them pass us. A whoosh of air brushed across my face and then they were gone. I’m sure they had wanted to argue, but Nikoli had probably cloaked and silenced them, for their own safety.We gave them a few minutes before Kade and I stepped out of the darkness.
The street was empty again, so we stuck to the shadows and moved with speed toward the royal home. I had no idea how we were going to get inside, but that was a problem I’d deal with once we got there.
The huge building dominated much of the sky in the area. I could feel the surge of mecca stronger there than anywhere else.
“Cloaked shifter to our right,” Kade said with urgency. I felt it then: shifter energy. They had to have been cloaked and shielded so no one would notice. The only reason Kade had was because he was powerful and the shifter was basically right on top of us.
Too late to run.
“Don’t move,” a male guard growled.
Raising my hands, I swiveled my head enough to see who it was. A familiar face came into view: long amber hair tied back at the nape of his neck, lean corded muscles, and burning dark eyes. Mason. Now I understood how he had snuck up on us. He was the sneakiest of all border guards. His entire training had been in stealth and subterfuge. On top of that, he’d clearly been spelled to hide his scent and energy.
Kade growled, but I shut him down with a look.
I got this, I said, tryingthe newly formed bond between us. Kade’s eyes still swirled, but he gave me a nod.
I slowly peeled my jacket hood back and Finn stepped out of the shadows to stand beside me.
Mason’s face fell and he lowered the sword he had raised. Looking back over his shoulder, he called out into the dark alley. “Stand down!”
There must have been more guards, possibly with bow and arrows ready to take us out.
“Your High … Arianna.” He wasn’t sure what to call me and I wasn’t sure either. I was a dethroned queen. There was no title for that.
The two guards hiding in the shadows walked out slowly to join Mason. I looked up and saw Nix circling lower in the sky, ready to dive down here and join if a fight broke out. As the other guards stepped closer, I relaxed a little. I knew them all. Selene had not yet had time to switch out her entire staff.
“Mason, Garret, Gwen, I am not here to cause Selene harm. I know you’re sworn to protect her now, and I give you my word as your former queen that I will not actively harm her today. I’m just here to get Violet back.”
They all shared a look, and then Garret, the senior guard of the group, nodded. “It’s good to see you again, My Queen.”
Then they all turned and walked away down the alley and out of sight.
I exhaled the breath I had been holding.
“Come on.” Kade grabbed my arm and we jogged the rest of the way down the alley to the back terrace entrance.
That meeting had been pure luck, and I knew it wouldn’t happen again. Selene would put the least-trusted guards on the perimeter; her loyal guards would be inside and they wouldn’t hesitate to take my head if they found me on the grounds.
“Plan?” I asked Kade, because we were running out of time to just wing it.
He tilted his head toward me, a glint in his eye and a half-smile turning up his lips. “I have a crazy idea.”
That was usually Violet’s line. “I’m okay with crazy right now.”
Nix dropped from the sky and onto Kade’s shoulder. I had to back up several feet so her wings didn’t hit me in the face.
Kade was staring at his familiar, no doubt having a conversation. I knew now that I could probably link up with Kade’s thoughts and listen in, but I would never do that. If he wanted me to hear he would share it with me, but I did sense some apprehension from him. His feelings were seeping into me and making me nervous.
