The Black Curse (Rough Draft)

Chapter Eighteen

"So what is the plan?" Caspian asked, taking a more active role in the conversation now that there was a tentative truce in place between the Shifters.

"We'll play along, just until we reach Aldrid. They aren't going to have anyone meet us at the port there since for all intents and purposes, we will appear as Elves," Theory tells them though his eyes were trained on Niro, daring him to objects again with the insistence that Theory misheard.

"Unless they have someone watching us," Niro noted.

Theory thought back to the fae that he'd seen several times throughout their journey across Rhettick. The one who had led him to the alleyway to listen in on Rowan and Sawyer.

No.

They were helping, at least, that's what it seemed like. He never would've discovered the true intentions of their mission if it hadn't been for them.

"That would only happen if they suspected that we knew this was a ruse. If we play along well enough, there shouldn't be any doubts."

The unspoken end of that was Niro should have no problem playing along since he didn't believe Theory to begin with.

"Once we get to Aldrid, we'll head straight for the Aldowen Mountains. We'll have a fortnight, if even that much time, to find the Seer and get the information we need," Theory continued.

"Then what? They'll be suspicious if we head back to the port without stopping at the Chentali Palace to see King Elion," Niro countered, folding his arms across his chest.

"We won't go back through Aldrid," Caspian stated confidently, drawing the attention of both Shifters.

"How are we supposed to get back then?" Theory asked.

"Aideren. Then head south."

Theory shook his head. "We can't get back through Tarr or Gemp, they're crawling with the Guard."

Niro leaned forward, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "No, he may be on to something. If we go from the Tooka aisles and stay close to the western border of Tarr, we may be able to get through that way. Besides, Tarr and Gemp house most of the Incubi led barracks. It's unlikely they are aware of Shifter disputes. And if they are, they won't care."

They would need to move quickly, especially if they were aiming to beat the grapevine. The Shifter Clans may shut down the ports if they caught on to their deviation of the plan. The last thing they needed was to be detained, but Niro was right in that the Incubi Warriors likely were unaware of this plan. As much as Theory disliked High King Ellis, there was no way he'd be okay with a battle of this magnitude. Not with the unrest between the Kappas and Nymphs still brewing.

Theory turned to Caspian. "Are you okay with joining us? I didn't really ask you before dragging you into the middle of this."

Caspian shrugged. "This is a lot more interesting than anything I would have been doing instead." Then he grinned, making his dimples puncture his cheeks. "Besides, I'm hoping I'll get a glimpse of you underneath that glamor."

Theory didn't know why he blushed, but it didn't go unnoticed, if the deep rumbling growl coming from Niro was any indication.

The implication of what was implied was still a fairly new concept for Theory to wrap his head around. The relationship between Caspian and him, despite the heat shared, wasn't romantic in nature. Instead, it showcased a budding friendship that Theory never thought he was capable of having. One that he thought the Breeder and Incubus also shared, but since the night of Theory's heat, Niro had been particularly unfriendly.

Theory didn't even want to begin dissecting the new knowledge about the being inside Niro and their obsession with Theory. Was Niro interested in him romantically? Was the creature inside him? It was a jar of worms best left unopened.

Theory shivered at the thought alone.

Clearing his throat, Theory attempted to shift the conversation. "We'll head to Cassis to warn the Dragon Chair. Perhaps they'll know of a way to remove the package."

Niro stiffened.

It was subtle. Theory wouldn't have caught it if he wasn't studying the male so closely. Did he have some issue with the Dragons? Was he just as bigoted as the other Shifters? Was that why he didn't want to deviate from the original plan? So convinced that Theory had been lying, it would make so much sense.

"Are you against that plan?" Theory asked, challenging his strange behavior outright.

"No," Niro grunted, but Theory still had the nagging suspicion that he wasn't telling the truth.

***

Though tempted, Theory did not sleep in Caspian's room, choosing instead to bear the burden of staying with Niro as originally planned.

The plan they worked out was hardly fool proof and relied heavily on Caspian's ability to remain unseen, but it was the only thing they had for such a short amount of notice. Still, it made apprehension curl in Theory's gut.

Sleep was paramount, and yet he lay there with his thoughts running races in his mind, their footsteps trampling over any semblance of calm. Even more so when he counted the breaths of his partner on the bed beside him. Though deep and even, Theory still didn't trust.

It was well into the evening that he eventually succumbed to the darkness that beckoned, only it wasn't as restful as it should have been. Or that he needed it to be. Instead, he was plagued with the dream that had haunted him since childhood.

The unmistakable sensation of falling. The drop gathered lead in his stomach as the weightlessness around him triggered the unending fear he had been trying so desperately to flee from. And in the shadows, he could faintly see the glow of purple eyes, lilac skin, and shimmering purple hair.

A familiar sense of danger jolted him out of the hellish nightmare and into a reality that was much more terrifying.

The dark figure that hovered over his sleep-prone form was not of his imagination, conjured up in his distressed state of unconsciousness, but was as real and solid as he was. In the moments it took to adjust his eyes to the dim lighting, upon closer inspection, he saw the glowing red eyes and realized it was Niro.

"Niro?" Theory whispered.

The figure only grinned with menace, carving an expression unnatural to Niro's face, and with a voice much deeper than Niro's typical baritone, hissed a short sentence.

"Niro's not here."