Chapter 16

Chapter 16
Jax's POV

I curled up beneath Celeste's oversized white priestess robe, nearly drowning in layers upon layers of fabric. Her footsteps echoed above my head, each step making the robe sway and bringing with it the salty tang of sea breeze mixed with that suffocating mugwort scent.

"Can you slow down?" I hissed, keeping my voice low. "I'm about to get trampled!"

"Shut up!" Celeste's voice came from above, edged with obvious tension. "You're breathing too loud!"

"I'm stuffed in here like a potato in a sack," I shot back. "What do you expect—graceful breathing?"

Her pace suddenly quickened. I didn't keep up, nearly getting flung out entirely. The robe jerked violently. Celeste lost her balance, and I instinctively reached out to steady her, my hand gripping her calf. Her skin felt warm and soft beneath my palm, and I felt her muscles tense instantly.

Damn. This was awkward as hell.

The next second, her heel came down hard on my fingers. I nearly yelped, biting back the scream and turning it into a muffled grunt. Pain shot through my bones like needles. I clenched my jaw, tears threatening to spill.

"Sorry!" she whispered, her voice flustered.

I rubbed my fingers and decided to keep quiet. The girl was clearly more nervous than I was. If I kept complaining, she might actually stomp me to death.

The world beneath the robe was dark and cramped, only a sliver of weak light filtering in near my feet. I could hear footsteps outside, voices, and Celeste's breathing as she struggled to keep it steady.

She was trembling. I could feel it.

As we turned the corner in the corridor, I heard Julian's voice—deep, gentle, carrying an authority that made you want to obey instinctively.

My entire body went rigid. I held my breath, terrified of making even the slightest sound.

The three guards were just steps away. I could smell them—that wild, feral scent unique to werewolves, mixed with leather and metal.

If they caught me, I was dead.

"Goddess." Quillan's voice rang out, respectful yet questioning. "It's so late—where are you heading?"

"I need to go to the rooftop to observe tomorrow's winds and tides," Celeste's voice came from above me, startlingly calm. "Today's prediction was wrong. I cannot let innocent fishermen suffer again."

"You are truly merciful," Quillan's tone carried satisfaction. "Having your protection is Free Haven's blessing."

I felt Celeste give a slight nod.

After a brief silence, the footsteps faded away.

I let out a breath beneath the robe...

"Nice acting..." I couldn't help but mutter under my breath.

Celeste's hand suddenly pressed down on the hem of the robe, as if trying to silence me completely.

But just then, a bright green light began glowing from within the robe.

I looked down at the crown in my arms and froze. That damn crown—the gemstone that had been dull just moments ago was slowly "coloring." It was a clear, translucent green, like fresh spring leaves, like ripples on a windswept lake. The light grew brighter and brighter, impossible to hide.

Shit! Why the hell is this thing glowing now?!

My heart pounded in my chest, my mind going blank.

The footsteps outside paused. I knew they'd seen the light. I clutched the crown tighter, trying to block the glow with my body, but the green light seemed alive, seeping through my fingers.

"What's that light?" Julian's voice came, clearly puzzled.

I closed my eyes, bracing for the moment we'd be exposed.

This was it. Game over. I wasn't just getting caught—I was dragging this foolish girl down with me.

But Celeste's voice rang out, steady and unfazed: "Alpha, this is the only memento my father left me."

She raised her right hand. In the moonlight, the dark green jade ring on her finger glowed faintly.

I peeked through a gap in the robe—the ring's light was almost identical to the crown's.

Genius improvisation!

Quillan's voice followed, launching into some story about a captain, a storm, and a keepsake. I barely understood it, but I could feel the tension outside easing.

When Celeste's hand moved away from me, the green glow from the crown gradually faded. I was too shocked to speak, but I stayed perfectly still, afraid to make any noise.

Why did this thing react to her? What the hell was it?

Finally, the footsteps retreated. Celeste continued forward, and I could feel her steps trembling. We made it all the way to the top of the lighthouse before she stopped.

I crawled out from beneath the robe and took a deep breath. "Finally! I can breathe again! Nearly suffocated in there."

The night wind on the rooftop hit my face, carrying the scent of salt water. I stretched my stiff limbs and looked around. The view was incredible—the entire night scene of Free Haven spread out before me, scattered lights twinkling in the darkness like fallen stars.

In the corner sat an old wooden pulley cargo lift. I walked over to inspect it. "This thing actually works?"

"They use it every week to transport supplies," Celeste nodded. "It's safe."

I was about to leave when I glanced back at her. She stood in the moonlight, her white robe billowing in the wind, her expression carrying an unmistakable sadness.

"Hey," I said suddenly. "You don't look too happy."

She shook her head. "It's nothing... I just... I thought..."

"Thought what?" I grinned. "That I'd come worship you every day like some goddess?"

Her face flushed instantly. "I didn't think that!"

I dropped the joking tone, my voice serious. "Look, I don't want a goddess I have to kneel to every day. But if I had a goddess friend—that'd be pretty cool."

She froze, her eyes slowly lighting up. "Friend?"

"Yeah, friend." I extended my hand. "I'm Jax. You already know that, but let me introduce myself properly."

She hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took my hand. "Celeste."

"I know. All of Free Haven knows." I smiled and let go. "So, goddess friend—see you around."

I jumped onto the cargo lift, ready to descend. Then I remembered something and pulled the crown from inside my jacket.

In the moonlight, the green gemstone had gone completely dark, as lifeless as the other stones. Only the red and blue gemstones still sparkled.

"This thing..." I looked at the crown, then at Celeste. "It seems to have some connection to you."

She stared at the crown too, confusion flickering in her eyes. "I... I don't know either."

"Whatever. We'll figure it out later." I stuffed the crown back inside my jacket and pulled the rope.

The cargo lift began its slow descent. I waved up at Celeste. "Remember to save me some room—I'll bring you fried fish next time!"

She couldn't help but laugh. It was her second genuine smile of the day.

The lift descended through the night, the sea wind tousling my hair.

I looked down at the crown in my arms, then up at the white figure at the top of the lighthouse.

This goddess trapped in a cage wasn't so different from me, a street thief.

We were both running. Only she couldn't escape, and I still had a chance.

A friend... I never thought I'd make friends with a "goddess."

But if it was her... maybe that wasn't so bad after all.