The were-beast gave him a nod. “I am Zev Astron of Lykos Peak.”
Dyna smiled. “I am Dynalya Astron of North Star.”
He almost laughed. They couldn’t expect him to believe that a human and a beast were of House Astron, one of the most powerful mage families in the Magos Empire. The mages were pureblood elitists. They didn’t make unions outside of their race. But Cassiel chose to ignore the lie because he had other pressing questions.
“What are you?” he asked Zev. “Were-beasts are to remain as beasts under the moonlight until dawn. How can you assume your human form?”
Zev cocked his head, gaze narrowing at him in return. “For a Celestial, you are also unique. Your Highness.”
Anger rushed through Cassiel’s veins. Dyna looked at him questioningly, and his face heated. If she realized what he was, she wouldn’t mistake him for a Seraph or even a Celestial. She would call him that other word he hated so much. Why should it matter what she thought?
“Dyna, the Holy Law calls for you to compensate the Prince for saving your life,” Zev reminded her.
“Yes, of course.” She turned her smile to Cassiel again. “Please allow me to give you a gift as a token of my gratitude.”
“As I said, I want nothing from you. You clearly have no wealth or stature or an ounce of intelligence for that matter. Anything you’d gift would be rubbish,” Cassiel said as he walked past her. He ignored the small twinge of guilt at the flash of hurt crossing her face.
A frightening growl vibrated through the forest, jerking him to a stop.
Zev stalked toward him, primal eyes flashing yellow. The threat in the beast’s low menacing growl sent a cold wash through him. Not in a position to fly out of reach, Cassiel readied his flute. He would not go down without a fight.
“No, Zev!” Dyna leaped between them, placing her hands on his heaving chest.
Gods, what was the stupid human doing? He expected the beast to tear through her, but to his amazement, it halted in place.
“I’m at fault,” she said. “I have offended him. Peace now. Breathe.”
Zev inhaled a deep shuddering breath and continued until his eyes returned to normal, fur receding. Dyna whispered something and he locked on the silver flute. Cassiel had been ready to shove it through his chest if the beast had gotten any closer.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness,” Dyna told him. “It’s safe.”
Cassiel didn’t believe her. There was no such thing as safe around that. “You cannot tame a beast.”
She bit her lip, looking away. “He won’t hurt me. Nor you,” she added, giving Zev a stern look. “Sometimes werewolves can be provoked when it comes to protecting their families. If he feels I am being threatened or harmed, his wolf surfaces.”
Had he harmed her? Verbally, Cassiel supposed. He should apologize, but pride pushed such a notion away.
Zev backed away from them, rubbing his face. “Darkness has fallen. If we don’t leave, soon we will become the hunted.”
Chapter 7
Zev
Zev knew he made a mistake when he saw the wild look on Dyna’s face. She crouched over her knees, shrinking herself as small as the day he found her in the burrow beneath the Hyalus tree in the mountains.
He pushed past the confused Celestial Prince and caged her in his arms. It was the quickest way to ward off Dyna’s terror. He learned she needed to feel the physical presence of another person to remember she wasn’t alone.
Zev murmured, “You have nothing to fear. I’m with you.”
He could hear how her heart thrashed erratically. Her shaking hands clutched his tunic, clinging to him like driftwood in the storm of her panic. Zev tasted her terror and her skin was ice cold. He contained her in an embrace, willing her all of his warmth. They remained so until her stiff body slowly relaxed, and her trembling eased.
“Thank you,” she mumbled. “I’m all right now.”
But his relief ended at the flutter of approaching wings. The treetops rustled in a strong gust as a flock of Celestials flew down to meet them, their flaming swords blazing in the night.
Dyna stumbled to her feet and backed away, pulling on his tunic. “They must have come for me.”
They will not have her. Fur rippled along Zev’s arms and his claws extended as he prepared to fight them all. The Watchers readied their weapons in response. He followed their movements, deciding who to take down first.
“Don’t be a fool,” Prince Cassiel said under his breath. “The archer has you in his sights.”
Zev spotted the Celestial who had a loaded bow aimed at him, the arrowhead glinting in the moonlight. He was confident in his abilities, but the archer was too close to avoid Dyna being hit.
The Prince addressed the Watcher in the center. “Why are you here, Captain Gareel?”
Zev had seen the captain before during the many times he had trekked through Hilos to reach North Star. The Celestials had never noticed him when he passed. He always slinked by under the cover of darkness as his wolf, but they were easy to detect in the foliage.
Celestials glowed.
Their light was muted to others, but to his wolf’s eyes, they emitted a flare of golden light. A sign they were not of this world.
Nor did they usually reek. Zev’s nose curled at the stench of burned leather. Captain Gareel’s shredded clothing and armor were scorched. Soot stained his long hair and wings. He appeared to have walked through fire but was otherwise uninjured. Although the Prince had spoken to him, the captain’s sight remained on Dyna, his face contorted in fury.
“I’m sorry,” she said meekly. “I didn’t mean to hurt you …”
Captain Gareel’s glare wavered at the apology. Zev glanced between them. She was responsible for his appearance?
“Ah, so it is true,” an amused voice called out at the tail of the flock.
The Watchers bowed as another slipped through their ranks. This Celestial was notable with power and elegance that matched the deep blue silk of his robes. Age didn’t defy the splendor of his face framed in golden hair and a short beard. Even in the dark, he emitted a light far more brilliant than the others. A regal crown of gold and sapphires adorned his head.
Prince Cassiel gave him an austere bow.
The Celestial acknowledged him with a nod before he fixed his deep-blue gaze on Zev and Dyna.
“Intruders,” Captain Gareel snarled, “you are in the presence of His Royal Majesty, Yoel Soaraway. A divine son of the Heavens, the High King of Hilos, and the Four Celestial Realms. You. Will. Kneel.”
Zev took Dyna’s elbow and tugged her to the ground. He tensed, keeping his head bowed as he watched the bare feet stride through the grass, circling them.
“Cassiel,” King Yoel said conversationally, his voice idle and smooth. “Imagine my surprise when the captain came to inform me of your encounter with a human in my forest, and that you deemed it suitable to dismiss the Watchers from their post.”
“I had little trust they would abide by my command not to harm her, sire,” the Prince said indifferently.
“You defied our laws when you spared her.” The High King sounded curious than angry. “Why?”
Cassiel kept his gaze respectfully lowered as he rose stiffly from his bow. “She is not a poacher.”
Zev clenched his fists to control his wolf pacing inside of him. They spoke of Dyna as though she wasn’t listening to them debate her life. He sensed her confusion, but she did well to remain demure and quiet.
Zev bated a breath before slightly lifting his head. King Yoel stood with his arms crossed, the edges of his mouth curled in disapproval at the Prince. They didn’t resemble each other, except around the nose and jaw. Their colored features were stark opposites. The Prince blended in the dark, whereas the King was the light.
“You have broken a momentous law, son.”
Cassiel lifted his head, a flash of defiance in his eyes. “I am not the first.”
That must have held meaning for something cros
sed the High King’s face before it slipped away. “This is a grave matter. The court adheres strictly to Rael’s Laws.”
“This human is innocent. She means us no harm. I have proven it.”
King Yoel looked to Dyna. “Have you?”
“Yes.” Cassiel crossed his arms. “Therefore, I’m granting her royal immunity and amnesty. It is my right, and the court has no say against it.”
His father and the Watchers gawked at him.
“Such absolution places a perpetual liability over you both,” King Yoel said. “It requires her fealty and silence. The repercussions are grave if she is ever found in contempt. Are you certain you wish to grant her this?”
Cassiel sighed as though the whole subject was of no consequence. Zev knew little of Celestial law, but what the Prince offered was protection at his own expense. If Dyna revealed to anyone that they existed, her life would be forfeit as well as his.
“Yes,” Cassiel said, “it is granted.”
The High King raised his brows and glanced back and forth between his son and Dyna. “Very well, I have no choice but to release her into your care. You are responsible for her discretion.”
“What of the were-beast, Your Majesty?” Captain Gareel asked.
The High King observed Zev thoughtfully. “We have shared our borders with the Lykos Pack for centuries. We have had no qualms with them and we will not start now,” he said, motioning at the Watchers to stand down.
A grating whisper stirred in Zev’s thoughts, dragging through him like claws. Would their decision change should they discover you have no Pack? What would they think if they knew what you have done?
“Zev?” Dyna called faintly. She looked at his arms where fur sprouted, his fingers digging into the earth.
If he didn’t silence the Madness, he would shift. He closed his eyes and focused on the scents of damp soil, pine, and old fallen leaves until the whispers faded. The Madness could condemn him later.
The Watchers sheathed their swords except for the captain. The white flames glowed brightly in the dark forest. The archer lowered his loaded bow but kept it at the ready, tracking Zev’s movements.
“Rise,” the High King said. “No harm shall befall you.”
Zev helped Dyna stand, and they both met his penetrating gaze. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“And with whom do I have the pleasure of acquainting?”
“I am Zev, and this is Dynalya of North Star.”
Dyna pinched the corners of her dress and curtsied.
The High King canted his head. “It truly is a pleasure to meet you, my dear, for you must be a wonder to have stirred the favor of my son. At the news of his transgression, I came to see for myself what could have possessed him to do such a thing.” He hesitated before reaching out and cupping her cheek. His eyes slid closed and he smiled. “I see.”
Zev growled. The King was Soul Searching. The Celestial ability to see another’s soul was a rather intimate thing, and he didn’t care for that intrusion on his cousin. Without thinking, he reached for Dyna. The archer immediately released his arrow. Zev tackled her out of the way and braced for the blow.
A drop of blood splashed on his cheek instead. The Watchers drew their blazing swords. Zev looked at the Prince’s hand splayed out above him with the bloody arrow point pierced through his palm. Red rivulets trailed down his pale arm, glistening against the white of his silk robes.
“You were ordered to stand down,” Cassiel hissed through his clenched teeth. He glanced past Zev to Dyna. His gaze flittered over her, checking that she wasn’t harmed.
She stared at the Prince with her mouth gaping. Zev slowly rose to his knees, remaining crouched by her as a precaution.
King Yoel chuckled. “What happened? He moved so rapidly I nearly missed it.”
“Be cautious, sire.” Cassiel grimaced as he jerked the arrow from his palm, tossing it aside. “I’ve found their kind have a tendency for belligerence.”
The Prince dropped his wounded hand to his side. Scarlet trails trickled down his fingers, collecting into a puddle by his feet. Drip, drip, drip echoed in Zev’s ears. The sweet metallic scent of blood flooded his senses.
“Why is no one helping him?” Dyna demanded.
No one cared that Cassiel bled. No one moved to help him, not even his father, but it wasn’t indifference. Before Zev could explain, she rushed to the Prince. She tore the edge of her wool dress and pressed it into his wound. He tried to pull away, but she held firm.
“Please be still. I’ll give you laudanum for the pain and stitch this closed.”
“That is unnecessary. I’m fine.”
“You’re not.”
Cassiel’s tight scowl smoothed out, his eyes falling closed as his fingers wrapped around hers. Zev glanced at the others, wondering how they would react to this. But the Celestials watched silently, the High King wearing a slight smile.
This was what the Prince must have meant when he said he proved Dyna’s innocence.
“Prince Cassiel?” She called worriedly. “Are you feeling faint? You’ve lost a lot of blood.”
His eyes sprung open, and he yanked his hand away. “Your concern is needless. I’m no longer bleeding.”
“That’s ridiculous. An arrow went through your—”
Cassiel removed the soaked cloth to reveal he indeed no longer bled. Zev watched in amazement as muscle and skin stitched itself together on an invisible loom until his hand was left without a hint of a scar. The crimson stains on his clothing were the only evidence of the injury.
He knew about the regenerative abilities of the Celestials, but to witness it was nothing short of miraculous.
“God of Urn,” Dyna whispered.
“Forgive the Watchers for their impulsiveness, my dear,” the King said. “We do not receive many visitors around here.”
The captain’s glare trained on the archer. “You spilled the blood of a prince. Others have been exiled for less!”
The archer dropped to his knees before King Yoel, lowering his forehead to the ground. “Forgive me, sire.”
“I’m sure you did not intend to harm my son. However, I said our guests would not be harmed. What value does my word have if it is not honored?” the King glanced at Cassiel. “Though, I would say the slight is yours. Do you wish for his exile?”
He gave him a look of barely restrained annoyance. “I will shear no one of their wings.”
Dyna’s eyes widened, and she looked at Zev. He gave her a subtle nod. Exile called for the removal of the wings. The Celestials could not go out into the human world with them visible. They were a secret race after all.
“My son has shown you grace. May you not take it for granted,” the King said.
The archer bowed again in gratitude.
“Tend to the mess you have caused,” Captain Gareel barked.
Cassiel dropped the bloodied cloth and moved Dyna aside as the archer approached. He offered the Prince a waterskin he unhooked from his belt. While Cassiel cleaned his hands, the archer nudged the cloth into the puddle of blood and snapped the bloody arrow shaft in half before tossing it on top with a handful of kindling. Then he set it afire.
Zev watched the flames devour it all. They couldn’t allow any trace of their existence for anyone to discover—especially divine blood.
Cassiel shook his head, the fire turning his silhouette orange. “As thrilling as this day has been, we must return to the castle, sire.”
Yoel’s smile broadened. “Yes, you’re quite right. Master Wolf, Fair Maiden, it would be my honor if you would join me for dinner tonight.”
Dinner?
The alarm that crossed every Celestial’s face was not lost on Zev.
Chapter 8
Zev
The Hilos castle rested on a summit. Its sharp-pointed towers rose high in the sky, poking through a veil of stars. Torches blazed in the night, but it was the bioluminescent plant life that highlighted the kingdom embedded in the slope. The summit rest
ed on the edge of the cove. A half-moon shimmered on the surface of the sea. The soft whoosh of the waves lapped against the coast, carrying the scent of brine in the air. The beauty of this place appeared as though a piece of the Heavens had descended to the land of Urn.
Zev kept Dyna close as the Watchers marched them up the summit and brought them to cross a narrow stone bridge leading to the castle. They passed by boisterous cascades that sprayed a fine mist over them. The High King and the Prince flew overhead out of Zev’s earshot, having a private conversation, no doubt about them. The Watchers led them to lofty wrought-iron gates wrapped in rusted chains. Yoel left his son and flew ahead with Captain Gareel.
Another Watcher took out an old set of keys and unlocked the chains. Two others took hold of the thick bars and pulled with the force of their wings. Zev cringed at the sound of the corroded hinges screeching in his ears as they opened.
Prince Cassiel landed beside Dyna. He hadn’t wanted them to come, but his father insisted and there was no gainsaying a king.
“Keep close,” he said.
Zev tried not to gape at the castle’s grandeur as their footsteps echoed through the quiet courtyard. They followed the Prince to the grand entry, and he guided them into the main hall. Inside, all surfaces were constructed of polished marble; gilded vines and leaves adorned the pillars, every detail meticulous and pristine. Chandeliers hung from the soaring cathedral ceilings.
Royal Guards stood at each corner, stiff and almost lifeless in their gold-plated armor that glinted under the candlelight. Their cold gazes followed them as they passed. The atmosphere didn’t feel right here. His wolf paced inside of him, restless and bristling.
Cassiel brought them before a set of massive gold doors. He glanced over his shoulder and said, “Do well to mind yourselves. Do not go anywhere alone, do not speak to anyone,” his cool eyes narrowed on Dyna, “and do not touch anyone. Above all, do not address Her Majesty unless spoken to. The High King may have invited you here but you are not safe from the Queen if you offend her. Do you understand?”
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