EMMA I would take him with me one way or another. That boy deserved better than what his father was giving him. This was something I truly hated about Gaisreen. It was not fair that the boy could be hurt because he was worried for his mother and loved her. Seriously, like the fuck. “Have him,” he said with an indignant huff. My fist cocked back, and I threw it as hard into his face as possible. He was knocked out cold but not dead. My fist had done some serious damage though. The medics would probably just rebirth him instead of taking the time to fix him. He was lucky that it was all I did. I turned around and knelt in front of the little boy. I tore part of my shirt off and gently wiped the blood away from his face. “My name is Emma. What’s yours, sweetheart?” I asked with a soft smile. I did not want to frighten the boy, especially after what I just did to his father. “Dylan,” he said quietly. Dylan was a young boy probably no more than eleven or twelve. He was tall for his ag
EMMA The guards outside of the General’s tent eyed us with open hostility. I hated that my family was being subjected to their prejudice. It was not fair for them at all. It was taking all of my self-control to refrain from ripping the bastards to shreds. “I request an audience with General Madelina,” I said as I tried my best to keep the irritation out of my voice with how they were looking at my people. The guards snapped their gazes to me and looked me over from head to toe. I felt the possessiveness and anger rolling through the mate-bond, but we could not have that right now. ‘Don’t act or respond to them. They’ll kill all of us if they feel threatened,’ I told my mates, hoping that they would understand the gravity of the situation. I felt their reassurance through the bond. I heard the other Gaisreen whispering the same things to their mates. This had to be dealt with properly, or it would be game over for us all. This was why Nae and Barachiel insisted on bringing all the
EMMA I explained what power trafficking was, and they listened intently without interrupting. They understood how hard this was on me, and I appreciated them letting me get it out while I could. Power trafficking was somewhat similar to the Ancestral Slave Trade. Instead of using people for ancestral blood, power traffickers used them for their essence. Every creature contained an essence within their bodies. Every essence held a certain level of power. The stronger the essence then the stronger the power. Alphas, for example, held very strong essences because of the power that coursed through them. In Fae terms, the Clave was the equivalent to the Alpha. Sirens held some of the strongest essences among any species because they held an ancient and pure magic within each and every one of them. Those with gifts held even stronger essences than anyone else. Then there were the humans. Human essences replenished even though no other species did. Humans could also be blessed with gifts.
KAI Doll had been hesitant regarding Dylan’s vision at first, but she began to see how crucial it was for these people. She always hated the lifestyle of the Gaisreen. She mourned over truly heartbreaking things when the others saw no point in it. She even explained it a bit more to us so that we could have a better understanding of what she meant when she said that she felt different than almost all Gaisreen. During her first battle, there was a group of twenty-five humans who had been tortured, brutalized, and murdered by the Nokaura. Many of them were only children. Instead of just leaving their bodies discarded on the ground like they were nothing, Doll took the time to move them all to the side and buried them so that they could hopefully find peace after what the Nokaura had done to them. Her fellow Gaisreen taunted and made fun of her because she felt her heart breaking for those souls. We had all been severely pissed off when Doll issued that challenge, but we understood why
EMMA The crowd regarded me with varying levels of expressions. Many were expressionless. Some were mortified at what Madelina did to me. Some were even sneering at me. I could already tell how this was going to go. Before the title could officially be given to me, people were allowed to challenge me. It was a death challenge since it was a title challenge. I already explained this to my mates because we could not appear weak if a challenge was issued. We were all three Alphas, and this was no different than a challenge for the Alpha title. They were reluctant but agreed. “Caliphine herself visited an Oracle boy last night to explain that the Gaisreen current way of life is not how it should be. The first ones of our kind fought alongside each other because of the bond of brotherhood and sisterhood. There was love between parents and children. Caliphine is not pleased with our apathy and brutality. She chose her worthiest vessel to fix this. The same vessel that that Caliphine chose
EMMA Luce took us to where Dylan and his mother were staying. I wanted to make sure that they were settling in okay and walk them to breakfast. We had a full house nowadays, so I wanted to give them a head up as well. Dylan answered the door and immediately wrapped me in a loving hug. I chuckled at his enthusiasm and hugged him back. “Good morning!” I said with a smile. This boy was very special because he retained a pure heart throughout everything that he was faced with. Only the strongest could survive it all and still be loving. It was very apparent why Caliphine chose him as her mouthpiece. I was very proud of him, and I would ensure that he had every single thing he could ever want or need. “How about we go to breakfast? I do need to warn you that we have quite a few people who will be there, but everyone is very open and welcoming. You and your mom are now part of our family as is everyone else who will be there too,” I explained. It was clear to see that they were both ta
EMMA I felt like a fool for blowing up on Barachiel like that. He did not blame me, but I still hated that I pushed him away when he was just trying to be helpful. He did not know that Caliphine took her rebirths away. Ethan had originally been upset with Nae for doing that, but he got over it when she asked him to imagine him being reborn after she and Brian died. To live life after life without the two people who meant everything to him. He then took her and disappeared for a few hours, so everyone knew what that meant. We had a bet going that Nae was the dominant one in the relationship. Nobody expected it to be him. Then it was time to officially split my magic. My mates were excited, and nearly everyone decided to become spectators. I could not fault them because I would do the exact same thing if it was someone else splitting theirs. “How are we going to split the magic?” I asked Macario. I knew how we split my aura, but that just redistributed it. This one had to be specifi
EMMA We had quite a large group going with us today, but Barachiel was already aware of it and assured us that there would be no problems. I was not naive enough to think everything changed overnight, so to speak, but I did know that there was positive change already taking place. Here was to hoping that we had a good trip. “Ready?” I asked as I looked around the group. Everyone nodded their heads eagerly. I could not help but chuckle at their enthusiasm. I opened the portal, and we all stepped through it. I heard the pups gasp, and it warmed my heart. I loved how excited they got with every new experience. The guards looked surprised with our large group, so I left them and took my mates up with me to talk to the guards just incase they were hostile like before. “Commander Valecostina,” the guard on the right said. “At ease. Actually, it is Venscothi. That’s my birth name,” I said with a small smile to set their nerves at ease. They both nodded in understanding before opening th
EMMA I went into labor during the middle of the night, and it scared the living shit out of my mates. It was adorable while also being a little comical. Most soon-to-be fathers were like that. We had everything ready because we knew it was possible to go into labor a little earlier than expected because of having twins. Oddly enough, this pregnancy had no true complications. Most shifters who had multiples typically had complications. However, I was thankful that everything had gone as smoothly as possible. The sigils truly helped with the pain of the delivery because it would have been torture otherwise. I felt horrible that I did not already have these on hand for when Bellamy was born. “You have this, Emma. One more push and your baby boy will be here,” Tilly said. It had been ten very long hours of labor, but it would be worth it in the end. Kai was sitting behind me, lending me strength during this time. He had a hold of one leg while Xander had a hold of the other. The thre
EMMA It was still very surreal to think that I had been in Tylaphina’s realm for six entire months. However, I was able to bring back messages to Papa and Leonidas from our family. They were amazed as I told them about spending time with everyone. Their parents wanted me to tell them how incredibly proud they were of them both. They were proud of Papa for being the King that our people needed. They watched as he transitioned to the ruler of Aedrul and were thankful for how he protected everyone that he could from Selene until she could be taken care of permanently. They were proud of Leonidas for everything he did to help Papa rune Aedrul. His strength and perseverance made the entire Venscothi line puff out their chests in appreciation and admiration. My mates and I wasted no time in completing our bond in wolf form as well as completing the Goddess of Fate ceremony. It was very intimate and quite pleasurable. It was interesting to say the least because we watched as our souls mom
EMMA The pain from Asry’s shards slicing through me disappeared. Had I died? Nae did not say that was a possibility, but even she could not see every outcome. “No, you are not dead,” a melodic voice said. I opened my eyes and was in a beautiful field that was adorned with flowers of every color. My body was bathed in incredible warmth from the sun overhead. It was so peaceful, and my heart felt whole. It was a nice change from it feeling ripped apart, so there was that at least. There were wolves of all sizes sitting around, curiously watching me. It was a little creepy, but they looked happy. A beautiful woman stood between two of the larger wolves who looked as big as Krosthani. She was easily seven feet tall and had an ethereal glow around her. Her light brown hair cascaded in waves all the way to her waist, and her eyes were the most vibrant honey color which complemented her light bronze skin tone. “My name is Tylaphina, and it is because of you that I am free now. I was the
KAI “Why would you do that?” I screamed at her. There was only one explanation of how I was unharmed when she was not. She used Nata’s magic on me when I did not even realize it. She saved me instead of herself. I had never been more furious with her than I was in this moment. Macario and Tilly needed me to move away from her, but I could not do it. I could not let her go. “We have to let them take care of her. She needs them. Come on,” Xander said. I could hear the same anguish in his voice that I felt. I placed a kiss to her lips before setting her back on the ground and standing up. He pulled me a little further away to where Zane was. We watched as they assessed her. They spoke lowly to one another, but none of us could hear it. ‘She used Nata’s magic to protect me,’ I told Xander. I collapsed to the ground under the weight of it all. It was me that should be there and not her. She always took every fucking risk, putting everyone else before herself, when she should have pro
EMMA The success of tonight depended on my ability to play my part perfectly. Thankfully, that was one thing I excelled at no matter in which life or situation it was necessary. I steeled my shoulders and turned around slowly to see Asry’s smug face smirking at me as if he was the one in charge right now. As if he was the one who fooled me. Oh, how the mighty would fall. “Can’t say that I’m surprised that you’re here with mother bitch,” I said dismissively. “Ungrateful brat. Who do you think you are?” she hissed at me. I looked at Asry imploringly who just laughed and waved me on. He did not care about Lenora one damn bit. He probably was not wanting me to kill her, but I still would. This was something that I thought about extensively since we put this plan together. I needed to make him believe that I would consider being on his side. Then I would kill her so that she was out of our hair while also ensuring that his vessel was no more. This would solve one of the issues tonigh
EMMA Couples danced around the room, twirling, and dipping their partners. There was a string quartet playing on the balcony that oversaw the room. Acoustics amplified the music throughout the room as if it was right beside each of us. Despite the mission of the night, it was great to be in my Handsome’s arms once again. I loved sharing moments like this with my amazing mates. They were near and dear to my heart. No matter how much time we spent together in life, it would never be enough. Kai’s copper and silver eyes peered into mine while a handsome smirk pulled at his lip because he was thinking the same thing. We learned how to read one another better than any mindlink ever could. ‘Anything?’ I linked out. One of the sigils ensured that there was no evidence of a mindlink between any of us. That was the only way that we could pull this off. It also kept an open line of communication among everyone while in this room. It was a bit awkward right about now because there were many
EMMA The stress about tonight faded away the moment that my eyes locked onto my mates. I was never able to comprehend what I did right in life to have them willing to stand next to me no matter how crazy or bizarre the situation was. They were beside me every step of the way from that night at Olly’s until this moment as they pulled me between them. “You are absolutely stunning, love,” Xander said. He and Kai stalked around me to get the full view of my look. The matching low rumbles from their chests showed me that they certainly approved. “Doll…” He could not even finish his thought because his eyes flashed with an intense desire. “You get even more gorgeous every time my eyes look at you,” he said, caressing my cheek with his thumb. My body instantly flushed in response to his words. It was not certain that I would ever get used to everything they made me feel. I felt cherished, complete, immensely happy, and I felt loved most of all. All of those emotions flooded through my bo
EMMA We all ate a late breakfast together. It was not a joyous occasion, but we tried to make it as lighthearted as possible. The mission tonight was weighing heavily on everyone’s mind. It was not something that we discussed or alluded to, but it was the gigantic elephant in the room. I was really trying to keep my emotions under control because my mates would feel them and worry. We could not change what would happen tonight because we all knew the truth. Asry was too dangerous to let live. He would never stop coming for me or my family. We had to take him out of the equation to ensure our safety. I had a feeling in my gut that Nae’s vision of me being in a coma-like state was going to happen. This was the one thing I had to keep from my mates because they would call all of this off right here and now. They already felt guilty enough about me being in harms way, but there was nothing that we could do about it. I would just bury that thought as deeply as possible so that it did not
EMMA I woke up between my sleeping mates and smiled at them. They gave me the best ending to our night yesterday. That bath was perfect and incredibly relaxing. Today was going to be difficult on all of us but more so on them because they would be fighting against their instincts to protect me at all costs. Was I terrified to face Asry today? Absolutely. I would be a damned fool to feel giddy about facing an ultimate evil that wanted to enslave me as his Queen. However, that terror would solve absolutely nothing. For the time being, I would just shove that terror down as far as I could. Everyone needed to remain focused for today because our futures could finally begin once he was gone. A mischievous grin tipped my lips up as I looked between the two of them. Eenie…meenie… My gaze landed on Xander, so I carefully maneuvered myself until I was eyelevel with his glorious cock. I remembered the first time I saw it and how excited it made me. It still did to this day. I would never get