Page 58

The path was supposed to remain relatively clear and safe during the weeks leading up to and immediately following the Grand Rite, but that wasn’t always feasible when the Staslid Mountains were involved. An especially snowy winter, and even the most reclusive and skittish of beasts could become desperate enough to stalk and hunt travelers.

Urgul were neither reclusive nor skittish. Add to it the distinct scents each of the omegas carried, a siren’s call of temptation to certain predators? It was not all that surprising that a pack of them had discovered us. Despite everything, I soaked in the vindication that my forcing the group to stay together had indeed proven the safer option. A large pack of urgul could be enough to overwhelm the standard guard brought to escort the participants of the Rite.

I forced my focus back to Amethyst and her lack of experience riding.

“I know,” I said as gently as I could manage.

Her scent lashed out, stale with her building fear. It was instinct to palm her thigh. Her entire body froze, an immediate reaction as ingrained as any reflex. I pulled my hand away at once, forgetting entirely those around us who would expect us to be growing closer as we drew nearer to my kingdom. Her hold slackened on the reins again.

“Tighten your grip, Amethyst.” This time I wielded that innate command. Her compliance was instantaneous. A thread of guilt intertwined with the dread and resentment, but I didn’t bother to try to dig it out.

A second laughing, cackling call came from the trees to our right, much closer than the original. It seemed the urgul were interested in attempting to find food among us.

Damn it all.

“Elyssian’s well-trained,” I told Amethyst as I grabbed the lead rope dragging in the snow, “but her first inclination will be to follow Torin. If we get separated, you need to stay with Shelby and Amaria no matter what Elyssian attempts to do.”

“Torin?”

I nodded to my own horse. She swallowed heavily and then nodded once, nearly imperceptibly. A third call came, even closer. It was echoed by a new one directly behind us. The calm of the group shattered. Those guiding the pack horses pressed to the outside of us at the quick motioning of the guard at the front of the convoy.

“We need to get the omegas out of here,” Arden said, dropping out of his saddle.

He undid the rope that connected his and Monique’s horses with quick efficiency and then pulled a small garment from one of the bags behind her saddle. Monique frowned but didn’t object, holding her reins in a similar fashion as Amethyst. Hugh didn’t say a word as Arden led her horse to him, though he nodded once in understanding.

Joseph looked at Hugh, too, and then dismounted. He stripped out of his clothing without a modicum of wariness or modesty. He must have an animal shape small enough to be beneficial to quickening the retreat of the group. I carefully grasped Amethyst’s elbow, bringing her attention to him with a quick tilt of my head.

She said her world had no magic. Perhaps she would like to see a different form of the magic we had.

Between one breath and the next, Joseph’s tall, slender frame was gone. In its place was a moderately large red-and-white fox, thick with winter fur. He shook himself once and then gracefully leaped onto Hugh’s saddle, curling into his lap. His gaze was keen from his perch, taking in the pack horses in front of our reorganizing group.

Amethyst gasped. “Holy shit,” she mumbled. She sounded almost dazed, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly open. “Oh my God, he’s a literal fox. Yeah, sure. You have shape-shifters. Fangs, wings, pointed ears. Two freaking moons. And now shape-shifters. Just another Tuesday manning the bar.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Her focus shot to me, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

“Manning the bar?” I asked. “You were a barkeep?”

It didn’t really matter, not with her returning to her own world soon, but I asked the question anyway.

She flushed, which was answer enough.

“Callum?” Arden asked. He didn’t bother to voice the rest of the question, knowing I would understand.

I pulled my gaze away from Amethyst and nodded. “Yes.”

Of course I would stay with the guard and fight the urgul.

“Good,” Arden murmured. Then he moved until he stood beside Monique. Her eyes were wide and tear-lined, and her shoulders moved with choppy breaths. He ran his hand along her jaw and down her throat, marking her with his scent to try to keep her calm. Then he pulled her toward him and kissed her. I averted my gaze, jealousy burning my throat as effectively as any cheap liquor.

“Do you want me?” Vincent asked, just loud enough to be heard over the clinking of metal as the guard continued to rearrange their formation. “Or would you like me to join her?”

His eyes were clear, his own sword strapped to his back. The land gave no inclination either way even as I thought through both options. Shelby didn’t flinch from where she rode on the other side of Vincent, a small dagger hanging from the pommel of her saddle. Amaria had intentionally slowed her horse so the three of them were even, allowing me room to adjust Amethyst as needed while everyone else prepared for their rushed escape. Both of them were calm and capable, trained to be able to defend themselves. I focused on the guardsman who rode on the other side of her, one of my personal guard. Heath’s eyes were keen, his sword in his hand, as he scanned the trees immediately to our right. He would be able to protect her from most anything, especially with Elise and Hugh and her ladies going as well.

“With me.” Vincent nodded and drew his sword, immediately bringing his horse to a stop. Then I raised my voice. “Heath.”

His gaze cut to me at once.

“Go with her, please.” I nodded toward Amethyst. “Vincent will stay with me.”