The moon penetrated the thin cloud cover, casting a soft, pale light upon the rugged mountains. Still, it was dark enough that I needed my demonkin vision to make out more than vague shapes. Luke led us down a steep game trail, winding through the valleys until we neared one of the outlying forts.
"Xiviyah," he said, turning to face me with a frown. "We'll leave your wolf behind here, and you'll need to drop your wards."
My tail instinctively curled up, hidden beneath the illusion, and I took a shaky breath.
He must have seen the panic in my eyes because his expression softened slightly. "It's alright; I'll protect you," his voice was gentler than usual. "But both it and the golden glow of your wards will give us away, especially this late at night."
