They kept to Vael's grueling pace for the next two days and followed the lesser known paths the Shifter had mentioned. They had proven their worth, as they hadn't run into so much as a merchant or traveler, let alone any Lochren warriors. Talarion was still keeping an eye out for them though, and he knew Tissaia and Azael were doing the same.

    Kaius had retained his abnormal flightiness however, to the point where it usually took a few tries to catch the male's attention. Every time Talarion glanced at him, Kaius's hazel gaze was fixed on the mountains, distant and clouded. He hadn't been pushing for the male to open up to him though.

    Once Kaius made up his mind about something, it was difficult to dissuade him, and the last thing either of them needed was to argue on top of the stress they were already facing. He did what he could instead, though it did little to ease his heightened instincts, the urge he had to protect him.

    He held his mate as tightly as he could whenever they made camp for the night. Stayed awake with him until Kaius begrudgingly let himself drift off. Took additional turns on watch and made it clear to the others that they weren't to wake Kaius unless necessary.

    Talarion knew those efforts would annoy Kaius on their own, and he'd frequently heard him complaining to Tissaia that he was more than capable of taking his share of responsibility. Tissaia's returning argument always mirrored his own thoughts. Kaius was taking his share by helping Vael and Kahari hunt when they stopped to camp.

    He was helping by watching for any sign of Drenusha's Doe, though neither he nor Kahari had seen her. And during their brief breaks throughout the day, Kaius had also been helping Tissaia make a new supply of arrows for them to share, as their current stores were beginning to show signs of having been used and reclaimed repeatedly.

    Talarion pulled himself from his brooding thoughts when Azael's mount slowed up ahead. Tension tugged at the corners of his mouth as he joined the male, already searching for whatever had caught his attention.

    He had to admit, he was impressed by how much Azael's tracking skills had developed since they left Arcan. Or perhaps he had always been skilled after training with the Cahirim, and now it was just that his skills had been refreshed after many years of disuse.

    "What is it?" Talarion asked, lifting his head to draw a deep breath of air while Azael did the same. He carefully dissected every scent that greeted him.

    "There's more growth starting up ahead," Azael replied, pointing in the distance to where a spattering of coniferous trees and bracken popped up amidst the foothills. "I assume it will continue to the mountains from here."

    "Most likely," Vael agreed as he appeared at the Prince's other side. "It will give us some cover at least." He shot Talarion a teasing grin. "Maybe then you can ease up on your surveillance."

    "Not likely," Azael huffed. "And you're right, it will give us cover, but it will do the same for any bandits or warriors."

    "It's a risk we'll have to take if you want to stay on course. The only other option is going around."

    Awareness prickled down the back of Talarion's neck, telling him of his mate and the females' arrival even before they spoke. "What's going on?" Tissaia asked.

    Talarion tuned out Azael and Vaeldan's voices while they replied and fixed his attention on Kaius instead. His mate was gazing at the distant trees, his brows furrowed and something calculating within his gaze. Talarion reined his horse back a few steps, coming to stand beside him, but didn't disturb Kaius's concentration.

    The male was searching for something, that much was obvious. Tension gathered within Kaius's shoulders and a muscle in his jaw flexed. Whatever it was, he wasn't finding it. Talarion reached across the gap between their horses to rest his hand against the back of Kaius's neck. He brushed his thumb up and down in gentle, soothing strokes, and Kaius breathed a faint sigh.

    "I don't understand why she isn't helping us more," he murmured. "She must know why I'm trying to keep myself closed off from her visions, so why won't she give us a damned sign?"

    "That's a first. Usually you're defending your elusive goddess."

    Kaius's eyes closed. "Yeah, well, maybe you were right. Maybe she isn't being completely honest with us, and maybe I am just a tool for her to wield." He tipped his head back slightly and Talarion took his cue to make his touch a little stronger.

    "All you have to do is say the word and we can turn around. Let her find some other tool to wield. Maybe one of her own descendents this time."

    Kaius sighed again. "That's the problem. We can't turn around. Maybe she's not being completely honest, but I know she was sincere in that we have to find this artifact before Astaroth. She was genuinely afraid. And for whatever reason, I know that I'm the one who has to do this. I don't know why, but I know that it has to be me."

    Talarion couldn't help but smile as a rare frown pinched the male's lips. "But I will admit that I'm frustrated and starting to become rather pissed at her. I think I'll ask Kahari if she's ever had these problems."

    Talarion drew his hand back as the others began to move once more, having apparently reached a decision. Kaius offered him a wry smile before riding after them and falling into place beside Kahari, making good on his decision. Talarion remained at the back of the group, but was surprised to find Azael waiting for him.

    "If you want help tying them to a tree and making a break for it ourselves, all you have to do is ask," the Prince said, jerking his head to the rest of the group. "I'm sure you're not any more thrilled about moving through here than I am."

    "Tempting, but I think they'd manage to free themselves and then Tissaia and Kaius would try to kill us both."

    Azael hummed his agreement. "That might undo some of the progress Tissaia and I have been making, and I'd rather not have another repeat of the past."

    Talarion kept his gaze fixed ahead. He had noticed the change in his sister and the Prince's behavior towards each other. Where it had been tense and withdrawn, it was now warm and caring. Oddly intimate, in a way. He wasn't sure how to feel about it yet. "What changed?" He couldn't help but ask.

    "My perspective," Azael answered. "Up until now, I've lived my life in fear of the future, and that fear was the reason why I was always pushing Tissaia away. But I don't want to hurt her anymore. She's barely told me anything, but I gather that she's experienced enough hurt to last a lifetime."

    "What fears do you have?"

    Azael didn't answer right away, and when he did, his voice was low enough that Talarion almost had to strain to hear his answer. "Have any of Kaius's visions left you afraid for the future because of what they could mean?"

    His breath stilled. "Yes."

    "Do you believe in fate? That each of us are destined for certain things no matter what we do, even if we try everything within our power to avoid it?"

    Talarion faced him, finally. "Tissaia doesn't, but..." He shook his head, sifting through his thoughts that were already jumbled with the prospect of what Azael might be saying.

    "I've experienced too many things in life to consider them mere coincidences. Like Kaius and I meeting each other when we did. We needed each other, and we were drawn to each other from the very beginning. I've never believed that happened by chance. So yes, I suppose I believe in fate."

    Azael's throat bobbed. "I believe my fate to be a dark one, and it will spread to those closest to me. It already happened to my mother, and I never wanted that to be Tissaia's fate too, so I tried to push her away. She understands that somewhat now, but she doesn't take my fear as seriously as I do."

    "But you're trying to work through it?" The Prince nodded. "Why? And why now?"

    "Because I don't want to be like my father, or yours, and I don't want to waste my life hurting those around me because I'm afraid of something that may or may not come to pass. The only way to overcome my fears is to face them, and that involves facing myself. The things I've done, the darkness and bitterness I hold, and every other emotion I refuse to let out."

    Azael grimaced the next instant. "You were right, you know. I've been running from things too. Running from myself like a coward and letting others suffer for it, just like my father."

    Talarion's mouth lifted at one corner. "But unlike Mavron, you've made the choice to stop running. That already makes you a better male than he will ever be." Azael looked at him with obvious surprise. "Sometimes I'm curious to see what kind of King you will be. I used to think you would be decent, that you would get the job done, at least."

    "But I think you could do more than that now. You could be great, and bring Asterria to rise with you. Someday you might even be the greatest of them all, if you manage to pull the rest of that stick out of your ass." He shot the male a sly smirk and Azael just shook his head with a laugh.

    Neither of them had a chance to say more. "Stop!" Kaius hissed up ahead, and they both grasped the hilts of their weapons, instantly alert. Talarion's gaze locked on his mate at once. Kaius was as stiff as a metal rod, his head swiveling from side to side in search of something. His gaze jerked to the left and he had an arrow nocked a heartbeat later. "Someone's coming."

    "I don't hear anything," Kahari protested.

    Talarion unsheathed one of his daggers with barely a sound. "He's right." He could hear the faint crunch of bracken underfoot, still a ways off.

    "There's still time for some of us to get out of sight," Azael noted. "Vael, can you shift and cover our tracks? Make it look as naturally animal as possible."

    The male gave a curt nod and shifted into his bear at once. He lumbered off, making a show of leaving his own massive paw prints in the ground and clawing a few markings to the surrounding trees.

    "Kaius, take Tissaia and Kahari and go further ahead. You know how to keep them from detecting you. Talarion and I will stay here to make sure they take Vael's bait and don't follow your scents." Azael dismounted and led his stallion to Tissaia.

    Kaius met Talarion's gaze with a questioning look as he followed suit. "Go," he assured his mate while he secured his mount to Kaius's. "We'll catch up."

    Kaius bowed his chin. "Don't be long." He wheeled around to Tissaia and Kahari, and they set off at once.

    Talarion didn't watch them depart. He turned back to Azael and found the male already picking up handfuls of dead leaves and bracken off the ground to smear across his hair and face in an attempt to mask his scent.

    Talarion mimicked the Prince, half surprised that he hadn't thought of it himself. When they were as disguised as they could be, they slunk into the thickest area of undergrowth and crouched low to the ground. Azael glanced at the large tree closest to them.

    "Think you can get a vantage point up there?" He asked. "That suit of yours will blend in better with the bark than my clothes."

    Talarion eyed the tree and nodded. He took the end of his braid and slung it around his neck to keep it from dangling and sheathed his blade. He was clawing his way up the tree the next instant, and positioned himself in the shelter of a sturdy bough just as the newcomers came into view.

    His heart faltered when he recognized the crest emblazoned across one of their shields. A raven with a coin clutched in its grasp. Warriors from Lochren, but not just any warriors. He knew these ones. They had been personally employed by his father, and their leader had helped oversee his own training.

    These warriors wouldn't be here to aid any refugees, and that left only one other explanation. Talarion measured his breaths and tightened his fist around one of his dagger hilts, bracing himself for whatever was to come.