Lowen hesitated at the edge of the dock, her fear of water clawing at her nerves. But Azriel took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. With a gentle tug, he led her onto the submarine.
The submarine's steady thrum pulsed around them, a constant reminder of the deep, enclosing waters. Lowen's grip on Azriel's hand tightened, her other hand clutching her chest as if to steady her racing heart. Azriel squeezed it back gently, offering a silent reassurance that he was there, right beside her.
Standing up with a steadying breath, Lowen addressed Azriel, her voice soft but firm.
"I'm going to make your wings disappear for a while," she announced, her tone playful despite the seriousness of their situation.
"Hope you're not too attached to them," she mused, her fingers brushing lightly against where his wings joined his back, causing a shiver to run through him.
Azriel raised an eyebrow, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
"As long as I get them back," he replied, his voice low and teasing.
Lowen chuckled.
"You might like this new look. Think of it as...undercover Azriel," she teased as she concentrated, gesturing with a flourish.
Gradually, Azriel's majestic wings began to fade, seamlessly replaced by the illusion of him dressed in normal clothes of Crescent City—a crisp white t-shirt that hugged his muscles modestly, exposing the black ink of the Night Court more openly, paired with worn blue jeans and sturdy black boots. The transformation made him look strikingly rugged and approachable, a stark contrast to his usual otherworldly classical elegance.
Lowen caught her breath, her heart fluttering unexpectedly at the sight. Azriel, in turn, caught the compliment in her eyes, his cheeks coloring with a soft blush that made him even more endearing. He offered her a shy smile. Stepping back to admire her work, Lowen let out a low whistle.
"Not bad, my beautiful shadow. You clean up nicely."
Azriel looked down at his new attire, then back at her with mock seriousness.
"How do I compare to the citizens here?"
"Definitely competition for the local talent," Lowen quipped, feeling a rush of affection for him.
With a playful flick of her wrist, Lowen conjured a similar outfit for herself. Her clothes shifted into a casual long-sleeved blue shirt and black jeans, complemented by practical boots. She spun around playfully.
"How do I look?"
"Like trouble," Azriel grinned.
She turned to see Malek already adjusting his and Nesta's appearance into similarly unassuming clothes—Nesta in a steel blue t-shirt with jeans, and himself in a black shirt and jeans.
Hypaxia, observing the transformations, gave a small smile.
"You all blend in quite well," she commented just as the submarine began to slow, indicating their arrival.
The group followed Hypaxia into the sprawling expanse of what she called the River Queen's palace. Now repurposed as a makeshift sanctuary, the halls and chambers buzzed with activity. Makeshift camps filled every corner, each crammed with huddled figures—some tending to the wounded, others distributing rations.
As they moved deeper into the palace, Lowen noticed curious glances directed their way. Among the faces, one struck her immediately—a female bearing an uncanny resemblance to Amren, her sharp features unmistakable, standing beside another female with elegant, doe-like legs.
Suddenly, amidst the murmurs and shuffling, a familiar voice cut through the din.
"Lowen!"
Ruhn darted through the crowd towards her. Instantly, Azriel's blade was at his throat, his expression dark and lethal. Weapons were swiftly drawn around them, the tension deep in the air.
Lowen's eyes flared yellow, entering everyone's minds easily.
Lower your weapons.
The room complied instantly, the immediate threat dissipating as quickly as it had escalated, shocking the room.
"He's an ally. His name is Ruhn," she addressed Azriel with a gentle firmness.
Azriel's blade lingered for a moment longer before he sheathed it, his gaze still wary.
Ruhn, unshaken, flashed a wide grin and pointed at Azriel.
"Is this Azriel? I thought he had wings."
Then he lifted his hand, revealing tendrils of shadow that mirrored Azriel's own abilities.
"Look. Twins."
Azriel exchanged a look with Lowen, a silent question in his gaze. Lowen merely smiled and shrugged slightly.
"Bryce talks a lot. You shouldn't have shown her so much."
Azriel's response was a soft, almost imperceptible grumble, acknowledging the breach in his usually impenetrable demeanor.
At the mention of Bryce, Ruhn's expression darkened, his initial excitement fading.
"Are you here to help?"
His voice carried a mix of hope and desperation.
Lowen quickly explained their unexpected arrival, her voice steady but filled with a touch of frustration.
"A portal opened unexpectedly, pulling us through. We're just trying to find our way back home."
Ruhn's shoulders sagged as he absorbed her words, a mix of understanding and disappointment crossing his face.
"I figured as much. We could really use fighters like you and Malek, but I get it—not your world, not your fight."
Nesta, who had been listening intently, chimed in.
"Is Bryce here? How is she?"
Ruhn nodded slowly, his expression turning grave.
"Yeah, she's here, but she's not doing well. They've got her resting, trying to fight off whatever this sickness is that's shutting her system down. She's stubborn though, keeps trying to get up and join the fight whenever our backs are turned."
He gestured for them to follow.
"I'll take you to her, but just be prepared—Hunt is with her, and he's been...well, he's pretty protective right now. Very aggressive."
Lowen nodded in understanding. As they walked, she noticed Hypaxia engaged in a quiet discussion with Tharion, Ithan, Lidia, and some unfamiliar faces, including a dark-winged warrior and the woman who resembled Amren, accompanied by the doe-legged female.
Turning a corridor, they approached a door from which raised voices could be heard, clearly Bryce and Hunt in the midst of an argument. Ruhn knocked firmly on the door, and the voices inside suddenly quieted. The door swung open abruptly, revealing Hunt, his expression tense and guarded. Behind him, Bryce appeared, her face pale but eyes sharp as she peered to see who it was. Ember and Randall were also in the room.
