Hunter turns around to face Branson again. “Alright. We go get supplies, then start first thing tomorrow.”
“You can do what you want.” Branson walks toward the open doorway with his hands in his shorts pockets. “Come on, Carter.” He looks back over his shoulder at his packmates. “Let’s go, Rodrick.”
Hunter’s eyes widen, and he shakes his head, worry lines creasing his forehead.
I pat my bag, then his, reminding him we have some supplies with us, even if it’s not a lot. “We’ll be fine. This shouldn’t take long.”
I don’t actually have any idea how long it’ll take to find the library. By some accounts, the cityhosted ten thousand inhabitants at one point. That’s a lot of ground to cover. Aunt April’s journal claims the library was hidden in the palace, the entrance known only to royalty. Branson never gave any credence to my aunt’s theories, dismissing it as the ramblings of a delusional woman. Caspian is right, we do have an advantage.
“It won’t take long,” I repeat, feeling more confident this time.
“Fine,” Hunter grits out, clearly not happy about it, but once again choosing to trust me.
I’m so grateful, I throw my arms around him, unable to resist. “Thank you.”
Slowly, his hands come up to the small of my back, pulling me closer.
“I won’t let them take this from you,” he whispers in my ear, his breath warm on my neck. His fingers spread, flexing over my wet shirt, our bodies pressed tight.
My heart beats a little faster, all the anger and anxiety over Branson transforming into a different sort of energy. Hunter’s lips brush the column of my neck, and I turn to putty in his arms.
“As much as I love seeing the two of you touching,” Phoenix says. “We should really get going.”
Hunter lets go of me, and I pinch both of my lips together and turn away from him.
Branson and his packmates are nowhere to be seen, already through the dark passageway. I clutch my waterproof flashlight tighter. Caspian keeps his eyes on the door Branson left through as he pulls himself out of the water. His tail dries quickly, and once he’s on his feet, Phoenix tosses him his wet shorts. I didn’t realize he’d been holding them this whole time.
Caspian holds Phoenix’s eyes as he slips the fabric up his legs, then he takes my hand, and we head to the entrance.
Pack Prescott may have a head start, but from everything I’ve read about Ocearus, this city won’t give up its secrets easily. If they want to find the library, they’ll need more than speed.
33
Idon’t know what I was expecting a hidden city to look like, but I didn’t expect to be met with a maze of pathways just beyond the short hallway. We’re clearly still underground, or perhaps under the sea, but the ceiling overhead is too far above us to see it clearly. There’s light coming from somewhere, but it’s got a blue-green tint that makes it clear it’s not sunlight. It’s also dim, leaving most of what’s around us masked in shadows.
We must be on the outskirts of the city, in a residential area, because there’re mudbrick buildings on either side of the narrow, web-like paths that fan out in front of us. They’re basic, practical, and unadorned. I can’t tell what's beyond them, and all of us pause to take it in.
“It’s beautiful,” Madi breathes. A scoff pulls my attention to the three assholes who’ve tagged along on our discovery. I expected Branson and his pack to be long gone, but they’re hovering at the crossroads, like they can’t decide which way to go.
“It’s just some run down buildings and dirty stone,” Carter sneers.
“So much for how advanced these cities were supposed to be,” Branson adds, eyeing the closest building like it’s a disappointment.
His packmate Chadrick—or is it Thadwick? Brad-dick? Dickrod? Whatever his name is—picks up a stone and throws it at one of the buildings, causing some of the plaster to chip off in a cloud of dust.
“Hey! This is ancient history, show some respect!” Madi scolds.
Of course Branson and his band of bullies pay her no mind, picking a passage straight ahead and stalking down it.
“See you dorks at the library!” one of them yells, though I can’t tell who because they've already disappeared around a bend.
Madison lets out an adorable little growl, and it takes all my willpower not to laugh at her. Instead, I put my arm around her shoulder. “Fuck them. Where should we start, sunshine?”
“I don’t care as long as it isn’t the same way they went,” she clips back before taking a calming breath. She shakes her head and turns to Hunter, waving a hand to defer the choice to him. Those guys must have really gotten to her if the fiery omega isn’t champing at the bit to lead.
“Right it is.” Hunter picks a path to the right, as far away from Branson’s choice as possible. Caspian walks next to him, the two pointing things out to each other as they go and discussing our strategy for finding the library. Which is exactly why I’m confident we’ll find it first. Even after only a few minutes with Branson andhis pack, I knew they’d never find the library before we would. Hunter is the smartest man I’ve ever met—well, apart from Seb. And Madi and Caspian are both thoughtful, well researched, and have a special interest in Ocearus. I’d bet on them any day.
The only way Branson’s finding the library first is if he happens to stumble upon it by sheer luck. It baffles me that Madi could have been with someone like that, but it was clear they all had a history together.
