It's a good twenty minutes later when we finally reach the castle, but we are around the back of it now and the smell of something cooking reaches my nose.
"You're going to go through there," he says quietly, pointing to a window which is open a crack, his other hand ghosting along my waist before it rests on my hip.
My eyes widen as I look at it. It's not too high up, so we can reach it, but what worries me is the fact I can hear the faint hum of talking coming from inside.
"But there are people in there," I whisper.
He tilts his head. "Regardless of your powers awakening, Little Mouse, you still have the ability to pass undetected."
I freeze, realising what he means. Even if I do somehow have other powers, I do still have the traits of an omega.
He wants me to go in undetected.I gulp and nod before he pulls me back against him and, leaning over, kisses my lips.
"Just open one of the other windows, and I'll climb up," he murmurs, jerking his head to the right where there are two other windows, both of which are shrouded in darkness, most likely empty rooms.
"Okay," I say. Stepping back, I turn and look out the window. Zedkiel grabs my thighs as he lifts me up, and I catch hold of the windowsill, slowly peering inside.
I'm looking into an empty tiled area, and I look around, seeing an archway that leads to where the chattering is coming from. To the right, there's a door with two large baskets standing beside it.
I look down at Zedkiel, giving him a small nod as he lifts me higher, and I silently slip inside. My heart is thumping, but thanks to being an omega, I'm able to get around undetected. I silently pad towards the side door. From what I could tell from the outside, there is a window in there that shouldn't be too far from the one I entered.
"… tomorrow. My! I'm rooting for Prince Chasyn! I think he's perfect for the position," I hear one of the omega women say.
"No, he is lovely, but he doesn't have the drive of his brother, Prince Zedkiel. His speech really moved me. I think, despite the rumours and the fear we have of him, he has a good head! Not to mention how powerful he is! And look, he took the omega-"
"Hush, you know we are not to call her that! If someone hears you…"
The voices become hushed.
"I know. I just meant that he took an omega as a wife, and he treats her well. You can see that he loves her! He hasn't killed her. It's just his Lycan, a beast from the past, who did that. Prince Zedkiel has my vote…"
I close the door, certain that Zedkiel can hear them, too. I hope he can see how much support he has within these walls, too. I know he feels lonely, but he isn't because he will win all of his people over.
I scan the room I've just entered. It's a laundry room, and I slowly hurry to the window and unlatch it. I peep out, and Zedkiel walks over. Stepping back, he jumps, grabbing the ledge, and I step back as he slides through the window in one smooth move, leaving me a little startled and pretty impressed.
"Shall we? Or do you plan to stand there and stare?" he says quietly, with a small arrogant smirk.
I shake my head and glance back to the door that is slightly ajar.
"Are we going that way?"
He nods and leads the way. Even with his scent disguiser, if they paid attention, they may hear his heartbeat, although he's quiet. We exit the room and manage to make our way past the archway and out to the double doors.
With every corner and turn, my heart beats with nerves and the fear of getting caught, but somehow, with it, there's an excitement and every time Zedkiel pulls me close, as he looks around the bend or waits for someone to pass, I can't help but enjoy this crazy little adventure of ours.
The castle darkens as we make our way away from the well-lit halls, and we head deeper into the castle. With every step, I can feel that energy as we approach the Chamber of Truth.
I take a deep breath as we reach the entrance. There's no lock on the huge stone door that Zedkiel pulls open, but then we all know no one would dare enter this place. A place so sacred, yet so dangerous, only a royal can enter and live.
My heart skips a beat nervously as Zedkiel hesitates, staring through the stone door into the darkness, yet he doesn't move.
"What is it?" I ask in a quiet whisper.
"I'm second guessing if I should take you in there."
"You don't need to. I want to go in there," I say, holding his hand tightly before I step forward.
I feel a surge of power the moment we both cross the threshold, and the door swings shut behind us as we are plunged into darkness.