Chapter Thirty
Saphyra
A fter bidding Robin and Esmeralda goodbye, we stepped back into the narrow maze of stone corridors. I was filled with wonder at what we’d just witnessed. The first omega baby born in a decade. She was a miracle.
Was this another sign of the planet healing? I’d probably never fully understand, but I hoped my presence had helped bring it about in some small way.
Shadow led us through the winding passage, watchful and quiet as always. Sounds of life floated down the halls, increasing in volume as we grew closer to the central cavern.
The muddy streets, that had been abandoned when we’d arrived, were filled with pedestrians all shuffling and whispering amongst themselves. When we stepped from the arched opening back into the massive main chamber, a hush overtook the crowd that had gathered while we’d visited Robin and the baby.
Shadow took my hand, pulling me in closer behind him. I was too busy studying the citizens to take much notice of his caution. Pale, dirty, exhausted faces watched me with expressions of awe and reverence I didn’t deserve. I’d done nothing to help them and yet, one by one, like a tidal wave, they all dropped to their knees.
I wasn’t worthy of their fealty, not yet. There was so much still to do before I would have any right to this sort of reception, if I ever did.
Shadow tugged my hand, moving me down the road between the bowing people. I tried to smile and show my appreciation, but their tattered clothes and sunken cheeks were like plasma shots to my heart. I wanted to lift them up and tell them I didn’t deserve this, but the hope on their faces stopped me. They were counting on me. My return to Verden was a promise of a better life to many of these people.
I didn’t know how or what I would have to do, but I would find a way to be what they needed.
As we made our way through the crowd, I caught glimpses of the oak sapling between the gathered assembly. Smooth, dark stones surrounded it, creating a small barrier. People moved past it, keeping a careful distance. Maybe they saw it the same way I did, as a symbol of hope in the dreary darkness.
I couldn’t run from this place. There would be no leaving. Not until these people were safe again, and probably not even then. My problems were piled one on top of the other, and more were surely on the horizon, but I couldn’t hide from my responsibilities. I’d never really wanted to, even if it was the easier path. The strength of every person trapped under this mountain motivated and inspired me to keep trying.
There was a tug at my skirt, halting my progress. I pulled Shadow to a stop and turned to see what my hem had caught on, only to find a dirty-faced child with deep dimples smiling up at me. In a tiny, grubby hand, he held out a sprig of something purple. Grey moved in closer to my side as if to protect me from this innocent-faced young boy. Shadow scowled, and I hesitated.
“What’s wrong with you both? He’s just a child.” I reached out to accept the cluster of purple flowers. As soon as it landed in my hand, the boy darted away and vanished into the crowd that had risen to their feet and now lined the street.
Grey looked at the spray of violet-colored blossoms in my grip. “That’s larkspur.” His brows drew together, studying it more closely. “Which is poisonous.”
A shocked gasp slipped past my lips, and I released my hold on the flower. It tumbled to the muddy cavern floor like a cursed omen.
“Poison?” Shock thundered through my veins.
Shadow took a step as if to pursue the child who’d disappeared, but I grabbed his hand, and he stopped short, casting me a dark look. I felt suddenly vulnerable and didn’t want to be left alone, unarmed, in the middle of a crowd.
The muscles in his jaw bulged as he held himself back. “Put your shoes on. It’s time to go,” Shadow said, and handed me my slippers that he’d tucked into one of his pockets for safekeeping.
While I stuffed my dirt-covered feet into my shoes as fast as I could, Shadow barked orders into his comms.
“Yes, poison. Larkspur can be deadly if ingested. This could’ve been a warning,” Grey said, his eyes scanning the cavern.
All those reverent faces that had seemed so kind earlier took on a sinister cast. There was no way to know if someone here wished us ill. Was someone watching us from that sea of people plotting to hurt us somehow?
As soon as my slippers were on, Shadow grabbed my hand again and started towing me down a side street. Grey followed, his head swiveling, alert to danger.
“Wait!” I struggled to pull free of his grip. Shadow’s hand only tightened, and Grey herded me along from behind. “Couldn’t it have just been a child giving me a flower?” I begged, hoping that was the truth.
“Or, more likely, a threat from whoever’s been after you,” Shadow said, not missing a stride.
“It was just a flower,” I insisted, doing my best to convince myself while still trying to get free of Shadow’s iron grip. As ominous as it was, I didn’t want to think that my people would be capable of this.
Grey ushered me along. “Maybe it was just a flower from a child, but with everything else that’s been happening, there’s no reason to take risks with your safety.”
“I agree,” Shadow replied, hauling me around a freestanding building and through the entrance of a large metal corridor.
A unit of fully armored soldiers met us as we stepped inside. I shivered at the helmeted, black clad soldiers.
The tallest one strode toward us, pulling his helmet off to reveal my golden-haired alpha. His mossy gaze was thunderous as he closed on our position.
The scent of dark fruits blanketed me, giving away the identity of Fenix and his team. Mixed in with that was a hint of coconut, sea breeze, and fog. More than just Fenix’s team, then.
Ghost flipped up his visor and winked. Not to be outdone, his brother, Arkyn, did the same. The rest of the armored team formed up around us without the fanfare.
“What in the fuck were you thinking?” Lex growled, advancing on us like a raging storm.
I cringed under his harsh words, but realized his intense anger was directed entirely at Shadow. I had to stop this. It wasn’t Shadow’s fault. The threat had passed. The only danger now was Lex.
Alphas.
I shook my head and stepped between the charging man and Shadow. “Stop, stop. We’re fine. Everything is fine. Look at me. Nothing is wrong.”
Lex’s jaw ticked, but he stopped in front of me. Talking over my head, he glared at Shadow. “I could excuse this recklessness from them,” he nodded at Grey and me, “but you . You know the risks. How could you be so stupid?”
Shadow’s low growl rose in his throat. I reached back and found his hand with mine. How quickly after gaining freedom did I give it up again?
I puffed up my chest, taking a stand against an alpha that was nearly a foot taller than I was. “We can’t put our lives on hold just because of a threat. If we do that, we might as well give up now because they’ve already won.” I probably looked ridiculous, but there was no way I was backing down.
Lex’s green gold-eyes narrowed as he looked down at me. His gaze shifted to Shadow, then back to me again. “Yes, Your Majesty.” He bowed and when he rose, he turned his back on us.
“Move out.”
With that single command, the team of soldiers closed ranks and escorted us away from the cavern. I knew this was Fenix’s team, but they fell into step under Lex’s command like it was second nature.
I hated that it had come to this, but it only solidified my certainty that something had to be done for these people, even if some of them were working against me.