Winston POV
We have been running for days, not bothering to shift back into our human forms. During the day, we stick to the shadows and forests, but at night, we let our lycans run free. We no longer care who has seen us or what that might mean for our kind. Our only mission right now is to get to the portal and deliver Nyx's message. We can only hope that when we reach the Fae Castle, we will not be turned away for being lycan.
The forest of massive trees is finally in view, and I urge Graydon to pick up the pace, but instead, he skids to a stop. His nose lifts into the air, and he spins around. I look through his eyes and see a small cabin in the distance. Smoke is rising from the chimney and there is a figure in a cloak standing on the front steps.
Dever stops beside me and is staring in the same direction. His bones crack and shift, leaving Edward standing naked beside me. Edward takes a step toward the cabin and Graydon reaches out a clawed hand to stop him.
"That is where we are supposed to go," Edward whispers.
Graydon allows me to take control of my body, and I shift back as well. "You want us to approach as strange cabin, naked?"
"Don't you remember what Nyx said?" He asks as if he is in a trance. "To follow the magic. Can't you feel it calling to us?"
An uneasy feeling washes over me. The figure in front of the cabin has not moved and is staring in our direction, but there is no way they can see us from where they are standing, not unless they are a werewolf. Edward takes another step forward, and I feel myself growing nervous. Nyx told us the portal was in the forest. I don't think this is a mistake she would make.
By the time I pull myself from my thoughts, I look up to see Edward is already halfway to the cabin. I sprint in order to keep up with him, letting my claws slip from my fingertips in case a fight is waiting for us at the cabin. Before we can reach the cabin, the figure disappears inside, but the door does not close behind them.
Edward slows his pace as we approach the cabin, and we find two cloaks waiting beside the door. Edward moves without thinking, pulls the cloak on, covering his naked body, and steps inside the cabin. I want to hesitate, but I can't leave my brother in there unattended.
Pulling the cloak over myself, I step into the cabin. Edward is standing stiffly by the fireplace, and the large cloaked figure is standing beside him. The figure turns, and he is not what I had expected.
He pulls his cloak off his head and smiles in my direction. "You will have to forgive me for taking over your brother's mind. I could not risk you finding the portal."
He is young, or at least he appears to be. His jet black hair falls neatly down his back and pointed ears poke out from behind it. His eyes are a strange silver color. He is not of this world.
The man stands in silence and lets me take him in. "Why not allow us to make it to the portal?" I finally ask.
"If you were to step through the portal, time would be lost, and I need you to protect her," he says.
"Could you please lift your mind control from my brother?" I ask.
The man chuckles. "I would, but he will attack me. He is not as trusting as you are."
"Are you Cassian?"
"I am," he smiles, but it does not reach his eyes. He looks tired and sad. "I have been waiting for Nyx to show up, but I was not expecting to find lycans in the Human Realm."
"Nyx sent us with a message," I begin. "She wanted us to tell you that she failed."
A frown pulls at his lips, and it ages him considerably. He pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs heavily. "Nyx was always too hard on herself. My mistakes were never hers to fix."
Edward finally spins around. I can feel his anger filling the room, but he is trying to control it. He knows this man is not our enemy, but he does not appreciate having his mind taken over.
"We are owed an explanation," he snarls in Cassian's direction.
"And you will get one," Cassian replies. "But now I need you to protect my granddaughter until I can return with forces."
"How long will that take?" Edward demands to know.
"For me?" Cassian responds. "A day. For you? A year or more."
Edward and I share a confused look. Neither one of us understands what is going on.
"Time moves differently when you step through the portal. That is why I can't risk you stepping through," Cassian explains. "I need you to trust me. I will come back, but don't lose hope."
"Our mother has lost her mind," I spit out. "She believes Macy is dangerous."
Cassian grinds his teeth together, and his eyes flash a strange color. "There is a division between the werewolf world and the fae. I fear it can never be repaired."
"What about lycans?" I wonder aloud.
"You are not my enemy," Cassian says.
A sense of relief washes over me, but Edward is tense beside me. I don't think he trusts Cassian, but I don't know what other choice we have.
"We should get going," I say, tugging at Edward's cloak.
Edward doesn't look away from Cassian as I pull him out of the cabin. As we step out of the cabin, the wind picks up around us, and my eyes begin to water. Edward clings to my arm as the wind gets stronger, his claws digging into my flesh.
As suddenly as the wind started, it stops. I sway on my feet and choke back the vomit rising in my throat.
"That son of a bitch," Edward growls.
When my eyes come back into focus, I look around me. We are standing outside of the Royal Mansion. "How did we get here?"
"Magic," Edward growls as he storms toward the front door.