Reborn (Shadow Beast Shifter, #3)(85)

I nodded. “Don’t worry. I won’t do anything to jeopardize us.”

Behind me, their power settled into the land as they started to weave their second fortress. A quick glance was all it took to see that this time each strand was thicker and brighter. As Shadow had said, they’d learned from their mistakes, and if this was our last shot at stopping a war, they were giving it everything they had.

Taking my part of the whole process seriously, I strolled around the perimeter, tamping down my energy so that I didn’t inadvertently give us away. My senses were on high alert, and I felt the moment a foreign spark of power drifted closer to the circle.

I didn’t panic and neither did Inky, so it was clear we’d both felt the same thing. This power wasn’t the Nexus goddess; it was the locals of this outlier island. Their jab of energy was both curious and a touch hostile as they attempted to understand who had invaded their territory.

When they moved closer, I positioned myself so they’d have to go through me first. A flicker of unease thrummed along my bond from both Shadow and Angel, but there wasn’t much they could do except trust in me. In the power I contained.

Trust me to be a contributing member of this pack.

I’d been excluded from the fortress due to my youth and inexperience, and while that stung, I understood their reasons. But it didn’t mean I was helpless.

The locals were close now, hiding in the trees, and while I couldn’t see them, I felt their power. When one finally stepped into view, I understood why they’d been able to hide so well. They were camouflaged, and not just in the way that their clothing had been designed to blend into this landscape, but also their skin, hair, and other features.

The one before me had brown and green skin, the two colors almost splattered together to form a perfect jungle vibe. It allowed them to blend near seamlessly into the environment around them.

“Hello,” I said, the translation spell helping me to communicate with them. “We mean you no harm.”

They stepped closer, and I had no idea of their gender, of course, but the bare chest was male-like. For what that was worth.

“Why are you here?” Rumbly words holding more hostility. “With the Supreme Being?”

Before I could answer, there was a rustling near the local’s feet. I could see nothing there, not until the creature unfurled itself and rose to stand a few feet above me.

I blinked, confused. I was fairly sure it was a sprecker, only heavier-set and… scarier than any of the ones I’d seen before.

“I thought you didn’t keep creatures,” I asked, turning to the locals, feeling stupidly betrayed by them. “I thought you rejected the way of the royals.”

The local being and the creature looked at Shadow, and I could see them judging my judgement of them, since I was mated to the head royal. But we weren’t like the others in the Concordes.

Both Shadow and I agreed that the creatures were not vessels to be used for our gain.

“The shadow creatures are our friends, not our possessions.”

The local’s words rumbled in the winds, strong and sure. With it came a true burst of joy; I hadn’t misjudged them.

“I’m born of the Nexus,” I said, taking a chance that this was the way to get through to them. “The mother of shadow creatures, and I want to free them from the life they’ve led on the mainland. Shadow agrees with me, and since he’s the Supreme Being, there’s hope that we can change the course of the realm’s future.”

The being and his sprecker friend examined me closely, as the other locals crept forward. “How will you defeat the original mother?” the first one asked me, head tilted as if examining me for lies.

I waved to my pack and their half-done fortress. “That’s what we’re working on now. Sorry to bring it to your lands, but we needed to hide from the phoenix, and your energy is so strong here that it’ll hopefully be enough to confuse her pursuit of us.”

There was a beat of silence, and then they all sprang into action, ducking and diving back into the foliage. I blinked in shock, wondering what had spooked them.

“She approaches,” one hissed from nearby. “We must protect the barrier.”

I felt her then, a moment after they had. Dannie, moving on swift winds, was tracking us the old-fashioned way. By literally following the magic trail of Shadow’s jumps.

Spinning, I hurried to Shadow and the others, prepared to fight her if it gave them the time they needed to finish. I wasn’t on my own, though, Inky lowering to be at my side, puffing out as sparks flashed through its center. The locals hadn’t abandoned us, either, reappearing with silver stones in their hands, which they held above their heads and started to chant. Their words were loud and fast, and I felt the power they were calling.

A cloak of energy drifted down over all of us. I shot a quick glance at my pack and the fortress, and I blinked at what the locals had done. My friends were camouflaged, taking on the form and appearance of the foliage around us. A quick glance at my arm told me I was rocking the same forest-color palette.

Holy shit. They had hidden us using the magic that protected their island.

The locals were helping us stand against Dannie, and I sent out a quick prayer that we’d have enough time for the final strands of the fortress to be complete.

It was our only chance; Dannie wouldn’t allow us to escape again.