Aeon's Point of View "Listen up," I said to my guards as they entered Sebille's house. "We are now going after the father, as he is our most challenging target. We don't know what magic, if any, he has available to him. He has considerable resources, so we must take care when apprehending him." I had kept Landae with me because we would most likely need his skills to pick the lock to enter Duan's house. "Captain," he said. "I have an idea of how we could go about this." Giving Landae the nod to proceed, he explained, "We know that Duan has more resources than Neri, but I doubt he would leave his son vulnerable. I think we should scout out both properties before we make a plan of action." "I hear what you are saying, Landae," replied Elara, one of the three females we had in the Queen's Guard. "We don't know if he has a golem or some other form of defence at his place of residence. What I can do is cast a detect magic spell. This would typically highlight any forms of magic within
Aeon's Point of View While I was pondering how to get Neri and his bed partner to the palace successfully, Elowen came up with an idea. He'd been one of the original guards to spy on Neri and Duan. Like all of the guards I had handpicked for the Queen, he was intelligent and excellent at problem-solving, "What if we take the time to return and get an invisibility cloak and maybe a spell caster?" he inquired. "We could keep Neri and his bed partner in a deep sleep and cover them with an invisibility cloak. Using a spell caster with levitation, we could transport them that way." He had a good point. To ensure a discreet return to the palace, we could carefully conceal Neri and his bed partner under an invisibility cloak, shielding them from prying eyes and Duan's spies. If they moved swiftly through the shadows, they might avoid detection while returning to the palace. With any luck, we would be arresting Duan tonight rather than leaving it tomorrow. Considering Elowen's suggestion
Avril's Point of View Mother had mind-linked me late last night to tell me what she had decided to do to capture Duan and Neri. Part of me was horrified that I had to act as if I rejected Tyler. As if I would. Apart from being my fated mate, the perfect complement chosen for me by Helios and Selene, Tyler was a wonderful, caring guy and amazing in bed. He had shown me multiple times last night. We went and had breakfast with Mother, along with the rest of our group. It was amusing watching the warriors, Daemon and Adriana had brought with them, slightly freaking out that the dimensions of Mother's dining room had changed shape. They didn't understand Fae magic. Our houses were built with magic. Usually, the more noble families were more powerful, and we could afford to expend the magical energy to build and maintain their homes. The palace was different because it was built on a particular nexus of energētikés grammés. This specific nexus was the most powerful, but a similar one
The full translations and pronunciations in Chapter 46 are: In hoc loco (in hohk loh-koh) Per susurros venti vetusti, (pair soo-soor-rohs wehn-tee weh-toos-tee,) In umbris ubi secreta rarefiunt. (in oom-breess oo-bee seh-kreh-tah rah-reh-fee-oohnt.) Coge veritatem, detegite fallaciam, (koh-geh veh-ree-tah-tehm, deh-teh-gee-teh fahl-lah-kee-ahm,) In verbis dictis, proditor occurrit. (In wehr-bees deek-teess, proh-dee-tohr oh-koor-reet.) Obedi potentiae, patefacite consilium, (Oh-beh-dee poh-tehn-tee-eh, pah-teh-fah-kee-teh kohn-see-lee-oom,) Nulla palliata mendacia intervenient. (mool-lah pahl-lee-ah-tah men-dah-chee-ah een-tehr-veh-nye-ehnt.) Sustinete potestatem, pandite coniurationem, (Soo-stee-neh-teh poh-teh-stah-tehm, pahn-dee-teh koh-nee-oo-rah-tee-ohn-ehm,) In hac compulsione veritatis, proditio eorum comprehensa. (In hahk kohm-pool-see-oh-neh veh-ree-tah-teess, proh-dee-tee-oh eh-oh-room kohm-preh-hen-sah.) Imperate verbis, nulla optio negandi, (Eem-peh-rah-
Avril's Point of View Having mind-linked Duan and Neri earlier, the stage was now set, waiting for them to arrive. I mentally composed myself, preparing to act on my part. The anticipation in the throne room was palpable as we awaited the arrival of Neri and Duan. I stood beside Mother, my heart heavy with the impending charade. Tyler, to my right, wore a concerned expression that mirrored my own unease. The Fae guards flanked each side, creating an illusion of heightened security. Elder Faolan, having agreed to play his role convincingly, stood nearby, adding an element of uncertainty for our targets. He had a smirk on his face. Since he was pretending to be on ex-Elder Alarik's side. Pania's spells lingered in the air, forming an invisible boundary that would be the stage for our performance. Although I didn't understand the language of the witch's spell. Pania had translated it for us. The words of the compulsion spell echoed in my mind, the weight of responsibility pressing on
Avril's Point of View "You say you have the Council on your side. Is that all of the Council, or merely just a few members?" Mother questioned, her look partially bored, her tone steady and commanding. Duan's smirk widened, revealing a cunning confidence. "Your Majesty, I have the majority of the Council by my side. We share a common goal – the purity and strength of the Fae bloodline reigning supreme. Not only that. The Fae Realm will be closed to all non-Fae. We neither need business with them, nor do they benefit our way of life at all. If Prince Thorn does not put aside his mate, he will be declared a betrayer of our ideals. In deference to his sister, we will give him the choice of exile or death." His words hung ominously, and I exchanged glances with Tyler, silently affirming that we needed to tread carefully and continue our supposed rejection. There was just so much going on with Duan's declaration. There might still be information he would share with us. As the compulsi
The full translations and pronunciations in Chapter 48 are: moíraios means fated and is pronounced (moh-ee-rah-yos) with the stress on the second syllable. hieros means sacrosanct and is pronounced (hee-eh-rohs) with the stress on the second syllable. Why did I choose Ancient Greek Gods and the language? Since Selene is one of the more traditional names for the Moon Goddess, I wanted to keep the same Panthenon of Gods rather than chopping and choosing between multiple panthenons. The connection between Ancient Greek and the Fae, or faeries, lies in the realm of mythology and folklore. While there isn't a direct historical or linguistic connection between Ancient Greek culture and the Fae as depicted in Celtic folklore, both traditions are rich in myths, legends, and supernatural beings. Ancient Greek mythology is filled with a diverse array of gods, goddesses, nymphs, and other supernatural entities, each with their own powers, attributes, and domains. So, I felt that Helios, kno
Avril's Point of ViewWe followed Mother into the large Council Chambers. Tyler and I walked hand-in-hand, much the same as the other couples with us. Although the threat to Tyler and my relationship was effectively over, I felt vulnerable, especially after my first heat."What are you ruminating about, my love?" asked Tyler."I'm just feeling relieved that Neri and Duan, along with the Elders, are imprisoned and will not be coming out until they are sentenced.""There is no way they will escape the death sentence, will they?" asked Tyler.I shook my head as we neared our destination.The Council Chambers room had seen many discussions, from setting laws to border skirmishes. Now, it was going to see the possibility of war. The last thing we wanted. The last time I had been in this room was just before Alise went to be an envoy to the Vampire King and Queen, and I went to take that position with the new Lycan monarchs.The room was of a reasonable size, enough to seat sixty attendees.
I hope you enjoyed that short story. It was rather important because it was the beginning of the Supernatural Council, which is mentioned in Book 4.Book 4: The Gamma and her two Alphas follow Princess Lucienne and is set just over 18 years into the future. Lucienne is not entirely happy being a princess and certainly is not all ladylike like her mother, Queen Adriana, wishes she was. In fact, she can be a bit of a rebel at times and pulls no punches if you piss her off. Book 4 has been started and will be posted starting January 2025.Check out my I*******m page (nikoradepressedpoet) for pictures of the latest covers. Each book will be available in paperback. I am rewriting parts of Book 1. The covers for books 4 and 5 are already designed.
Asher’s Point of ViewAndreas fell to the ground, crumpling against the cold tiles, his body barely clinging to consciousness. The fury in his eyes was still present, but it was mingled with something else—fear. “You may have won this battle, but there are others who believe in the purity of Dragonkind,” he rasped, his voice barely a whisper.His words hung in the air, a twisted echo of the truth he could no longer deny. The irony was palpable; he had sought power through a dark alliance, yet he spoke of purity as if it still held weight. He had traded the purity he claimed to uphold for power, and now, even that was slipping through his fingers.Father stepped forward with the Council behind him, his expression one of grave disappointment. “Andreas, you and your father have sown discord among our people and disgraced your family name. T
Asher’s Point of ViewMy Dragon and I were enraged by Andreas’s words describing our fated mate as a dog. Rin placed her hand against my arm, its muscles tense and coiled tightly, fists clenched in anger. Her gentle touch acted like a soothing balm, softening my clenched fist.Slowly, I felt the anger beginning to dissipate, the pressure easing as I relaxed under her calming influence. The contrast between my earlier state and this new sense of peace was palpable, reminding me of the power of our bond. There was nothing Andreas could say that would make me turn against Rin. I would rather lose my crown than be without her.The tension in the council chamber was electric as Andreas continued to spew venom, his arrogance infuriating. I could feel the Dragon within me thrumming, eager for a confrontation. “Enough!” I
Christine’s Point of ViewThe air felt thick in the chamber, as if the magic that summoned Andreas and Viggo hung around, binding us in an unseen net of tension. Viggo’s face was drawn tight, his eyes flickering with a dangerous mix of fear and rage. At the same time, Andreas’ expression remained cold and calculating. His eyes darted around the room, assessing, scheming.Andreas recovered first, straightening as if pulling on an invisible cloak of authority. “What you claim is… nonsense,” he panted, glaring at Eiríkr. Fighting the compulsion to tell the truth was taking its toll and making him sweat. “I’ve been… nothing but… loyal… to our kind. This… is a… farce!” He was panting now from the sheer exertion.Asher stood tall next to me, his ha
Christine’s Point of ViewWe slowly made our way back, twisting and turning through the enchanted passages to the awaiting Council Members. Asher had already mind-linked his father, who assured him they would be waiting. We weren’t the only ones who had news since the archiver from the Council of Witches and Warlocks had found some interesting information.The Council Chambers buzzed with a quiet intensity. Though our alliance remained steadfast, the growing unrest among the Dragon-Shifter populace threatened everything we had built. Outside these walls, whispers of dissent were rising, fueled by fear of change and manipulation by those who sought to close our society once again.Asher stood beside me, his expression grim as he explained what we found in the books. “While we have nothing concrete at this stage, if we do
Asher's Point of View"So you think he's using his own son as a pawn?" Adriana asked.Her question was answered, "I think Viggo would use anyone—blood or not—to get what he wants." I agreed with Father. This was part of the reason why I didn't want much to do with my uncle, aunt, and cousins.My grandfather had forced Father and Viggo to take chosen mates, ones he thought were acceptable for the Royal Family. Both were well-educated, refined women from noble families.My parents had at least fallen in love eventually, even if they weren't fated mates. Father had never met his fated mate, or at least, that was what he had told me. When my mother, Áslaug (AWS-lough), died, he was heartbroken but still able to function.Viggo
Asher's Point of ViewThe council chamber felt colder than it ever had before. No matter how many fires roared in the hearths or candles flickered against the heavy stone walls, a chill seemed to seep into my bones. I couldn't put it entirely down to tiredness, even though I was exhausted fighting two battles in such a short time.No. It was a combination of many things. Andreas' smirk, the flames from the explosion, and the insignia of the Purists haunted me as I sat at the table, my hands clenched so tight that my knuckles were white.Rin sat beside me, her expression hard but eyes betraying the same exhaustion and worry I felt. It had been hours since we returned from the first fight, but with the second battle, we hadn't had a moment to breathe. There was no time for rest when the Purists were gaining ground. My cousin, Andreas, was
Asher's Point of ViewAs soon as Rin and I returned from the marketplace attack, we called for an emergency council meeting. The tension in what we now referred to as the council chamber hung in the air, thick enough to cut through.The servants had been busy changing the room. It was now a place of stark contrasts. Ancient banners from each species hung from the high vaulted ceilings, their vibrant colours dulled by the weight of war. The air smelled faintly of smoke and iron, a reminder of battles past and future.Every seat around the grand, circular table was filled. Dragons, Wolves, Vampires, and the Lycan King and Queen united under one roof. Yet, for some reason, it felt as if we were all divided by the constant threat looming over us.The Purists were growing bolder, and tonight
Christine's Point of ViewThe days that followed were a whirlwind of activity. We launched joint patrols, organised public gatherings, and ensured that every species—Dragons, Wolves, Vampires, Fae—was represented. It wasn't easy. There were still plenty of sceptical people, glares, and whispered doubts. But slowly, I began to see a shift.In the streets, I saw Wolves patrolling alongside Dragons. Vampires and Fae worked alongside Dragons in the markets to keep the peace. It wasn't perfect, and tensions were still simmering beneath the surface, but it was progress. And I started feeling hopeful for the first time in what felt like forever.Asher and I stood on a balcony overlooking the domed city one evening, watching as the lights of the stronghold twinkled in the darkness of the weir. The air was cool, carrying the scent of snow from ou