𝐆𝐎𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 ᵉ*ᵗᵐ

34 ┃ 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭

━ ⭑─⭒━

━ ⭒─⭑━

You walked beside Telemachus, your steps careful, your voice barely above a whisper as you glanced down at the large lump of fabric moving beside you. "Lady, act right," you murmured, shifting the bundle slightly with your hand as you tried to keep her from straying too far. "We're almost there."

The Askálion let out a small grunt from beneath the sheet, clearly unimpressed with your request. Her paws shuffled against the stone floor, and before you could react, her large frame tangled itself in the oversized cloth, causing her to trip with a muffled thump.

You sighed, closing your eyes briefly. "Gods help me..."

Telemachus bit back a chuckle, his shoulders shaking slightly as he helped steady the covered beast. "I told you this wouldn't be subtle," he muttered under his breath.

"You told me?" you hissed, adjusting the sheet before Lady could trip again. "You're the one who decided to drape a whole damn tapestry over her!"

"It was the first thing I grabbed off my bed!" Telemachus defended with a small shrug, though amusement still lingered in his voice.

Lady gave a low, frustrated growl, shaking herself like a dog trying to rid itself of water, making the fabric billow slightly before settling back down over her form.

You pressed your lips together, exhaling sharply through your nose as you whispered, "Just—try to keep still, please."

Telemachus, ever the optimist, smirked slightly as he adjusted his grip on the fabric. "At least she's cooperating more than the hunting party did."

You scoffed at his easy-going attitude. When Telemachus first suggested sneaking her in under the cover of fabric, you had stared at him for a full five seconds, waiting for him to say something to indicate he was joking.

He wasn't.

"You want me to what?" you had your arms crossed as you glanced between him and the very large, very conspicuous creature at your side.

"Cover her with a sheet," he had repeated plainly, as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world.

You blinked at him. "That is the worst idea I've ever heard."

"Do you have a better one?"

Yes. It was called not smuggling an oversized mythical beast through the palace.

Still, with the servants walking the halls, you knew leaving her out in the open wasn't an option. And when Telemachus had gone on to explain that both his parents were already waiting in the throne hall, you realized there was no turning back.