Macy POV
I feel stupid. Like some Mid-evil Princess traveling to court. The carriage jostles from side to side, and it is making my already nervous stomach worse. Every time my wings twitch awkwardly, Nyx rolls her eyes. She made her annoyance about this trip wildly known. Throwing a tantrum, I am sure, so large the whole palace dipped into silence for hours. When she finally emerged from Cassian's office, her hair disheveled and lipstick smeared, she was much more open to the idea. However, now that we are halfway to the Lycan City without Cassian, her mood has soured again.
I look out the window and see Edward and Winston traveling beside us on the backs of creatures I have never seen before. At first, I thought they were dragons with their long bodies and terrible horns, but they don't have wings or breathe fire.
"What are they?" I ask aloud.
Nyx pulls her nose out of the book she is reading and glances out of the window. "The dragons?"
"Oh," I say, leaning back in the seat. "I thought dragons had wings."
"Not every creature needs wings to fly," she replies curtly.
I glare at her, not caring if I make her attitude worse. She has been miserable since we came to the Immortal Realm. I miss the fun Nyx. The one who helped me cause trouble and didn't care about the rules.
"Is the carriage necessary?" I ask when it hits another bump.
"Seeing as you can't fly and can't remain upright with your wings for more than two minutes- yes."
"Wow, rude," I clip.
She sets down her book and gives me a rather harsh look. "I know you want things to be the same between us as they were in the Human Realm, but it can't be."
"Why not?"
"Because you are a Princess, and I am not. It wouldn't be proper," she sighs.
"Says Cassian?"
"Says me!" She raises her voice. She has never yelled at me before. It is worse than a parent scolding me. Her eyes are ablaze with frustration.
"Sorry," I mumble.
I go back to staring out the window, trying to forget there was even a bond between us. She knows as much about me as I do, but I know almost nothing about her. I didn't care. Not at first. But now, it seems unfair. She knows my next move before I do, and she will barely look in my direction anymore.
"I love you, Macy," she whispers. "The last time I broke the rules for a Royal, I got stuck in the Human Realm for 500 years. I need to be careful."
"You were my only friend. For most of my life, I only had you. Now- I don't. I miss you."
My words seem to soften the hardened exterior she has built around herself. A hint of mischief sparkles in her eyes, and I am reminded of when she was my wolf. "I miss you too."
"Good," I chirp. "Now that is out of the way, I need a favor."
Her eyes widen, and she tosses her book at my face. "Did you listen to anything I just said?"
"Every bit of it," I wave my hand. "How do you have sex with wings?"
She snorts. Tries to compose herself. Fails and bursts into laughter. "You are helpless."
"I am serious!" I squeal before quickly lowering my voice. "This is serious."
I glance out the window. Edward and Winston have equally smug looks on their faces. My cheeks flush, and I shut the curtains.
"They are lycans," Nyx laughs. "They have impeccable hearing."
"Don't remind me."
Shuffling to my side of the carriage, Nyx leans in close. I lay my head on her shoulder, and she twists her fingers in my hair like I used to do to her. The proximity to her settles me in a way no one else can.
"Your wings are a part of you," she says softly. "Just like you use your hands to explore the twins, your wings can be fun in the heat of the moment. You just have to find what works for you."
"Is for you to say," I pout. "You have had wings all your life."
"Except for the 500 years I spent in the Human Realm as a wolf," she groans. "Learning to walk on four legs took practice, but I eventually figured it out. You just need to spend more time using your wings."
"I thought Destin…" I let my voice trail off.
Nyx tugs me closer. "Did you care for him?"
"Not in the way I care for Edward and Winston. Perhaps I could have if we had more time together- I don't know. I don't think we were meant to be together."
"I am sorry we pushed him on you. Neither one of you were ready," Nyx admits.
"I hope he finds what he is looking for," I mutter.
The sun is beginning to set on the horizon, and a sense of unease watches over me. "Do the Gray Creatures come out this far?"
"They don't approach the Lycan City, but we are going to stop for the night. Just in case."
The tone of her voice tells me it is not precautionary. My mate killed their Queen. It is likely they will seek revenge. I am caught up in the thought of being attacked by a Gray Creature again, and it makes my skin crawl. I touch the cut on my face that I wouldn't let Edward heal. Suddenly, smoke fills the carriage, and it grinds to a halt.
"FIRE!" One of my guards shouts.
Nyx rests her hand on the door. "I would tell you to say here, but I know you won't."
"It is important to have realistic expectations," I tell her, rushing out of the carriage after her.
Edward and Winston are already rushing forward, and Nyx is right behind them, flapping her wings as fast as they will take her. In all of the commotion. It would appear they forgot they left me unattended. Not a single guard to protect me.
Cold creeps up my spine, and the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. I spin around, squinting in the dark. Gray Creatures. I step back and catch my fucking wing. Landing on the ground, I close my eyes and wait for them to come for me.
"It wouldn't serve us to kill you," their voices join in unison.
"What do you want from me?"
A chilling laughter catches on the wind. I look back at the fire, then back to the Gray Creatures. They are gone, but something glitters on the ground in front of me. I shouldn't touch it. Everything in my body is telling me not to. Still, I reach for it. My fingers close around it, and I pull it from the ground.
A glittering diadem rests in my hand. It is covered in stones that are unnaturally dark. It is like staring into the depths of a bottomless pit. An uneasy feeling washes over me, and I miss the footsteps approaching me from behind.
"What is that?" Edward asks, helping me to my feet.
I tuck the diadem into my pocket and smile at my mate. "Is the fire out?"
He eyes me suspiciously. "Yes."
"Lovely," I respond.
Stealing a glance over my shoulder, I swear the trees move.