The Queen's Conquer

Chapter 45 : Uncovered

Horripilation • [hor-rip-ill-ae-shun]
The erection of hairs on the skin due to cold, fear, or excitement.

🖤

~+~

~ Anastasia ~

There wasn't much to speak about after me and Max's dispute, leaving us with nothing but the tense silence of the night following us during our escape.

I managed to switch out of my dressy leggings and back into my jeans before we left knowing the nice attire would be ruined. But I kept the turtleneck, realizing that the more skin I'm able to cover with a foreign scent, the less likely my abnormal, wolf-like one will be detected.

I'm thankful for the jeans, though, because our only way out happens to be from a second-story window, inevitably ending in us falling into a large, thorny garden bush that leaves small rips in my clothes.

From what we can recall when we both used to live in Mylithia, the guards on stand tend to be more active during the night—when threats and attacks are more prone. But the number of Mylithian guards has significantly decreased since, leaving rogues to fill in their positions. Leaving us more exposed than ever knowing the kind of beastly enhancements they possess.

Though Max chooses to keep his mouth shut as we sneak out of Bianca and Jace's manor, he still decides to be helpful, finding us a clear path through the back gardens where only Mylthian guards are stationed.

I'm worried that our dispute might've left permanent damage on his trust for me—something I can't afford right now considering my life is in his hands. But he doesn't reveal much about his feelings, only being compliant as we slip through the walkway that leads out to the side streets of this kingdom.

Down every alley and shortcut, I'm gripping the horribly sketched out map of Mylithia in my right hand, using my left to keep me attached to the stone walls we walk against—our only form of protection at this point.

My senses have never been on such high alert before. Every sound, smell, and small motion sends my heart racing—preparing for the worst. And what I especially can't stop thinking about is what will happen if we encounter a rogue out here—if I'll be forced to kill it.

Neither of us speaks as we stay along the wall after wall, me in front of Max as we scour the streets of this abominable kingdom.

It's been at least thirty minutes now of sneaking through corridors between congested buildings and hiding behind corners as we listen for sudden movements before proceeding further, only stopping to make sure we're still heading in the right direction. And for an understandable reason, we've barely had any trouble with encountering one of my father's rogues—because I'm guessing nearly all of them have been requested back to Maddox's hideout for his supposed urgent meeting.

I've also come to the realization that we've been running through the middle class division of Mylithia once five more minutes have passed. The clear change in the lack of quality of the architecture and the overall spacing of the buildings is proof enough—another flaw of the government's for not providing the middle and lower class sectors with adequate homes.

"How much farther?" Max suddenly asks, keeping his voice at a whisper.

"We're almost halfway," I mutter back, glancing down at my shitty map for what feels like the hundredth time.

The fact that the library lies in the heart of the middle class sector is what has made this mission much more difficult given where we started. But most of the important government buildings were purposefully put into the center of the kingdom—right between the upper and middle class sectors, more falling into the latter region—to bring a sense of unity to Mylithia's infrastructure and people.