Celine POVThe guard leads me through winding halls of the castle, each one grander and more intricate than the last. The walls are adorned with elaborate tapestries depicting dragons in flight, their forms woven in shimmering gold and crimson threads. Light filters through stained-glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the polished stone floors. Despite the beauty around me, I feel a growing unease, a tension that seems to thicken with each step closer to the room where Nischola waits.When I finally enter, the room takes my breath away. It is as grand as the rest of the castle, with high vaulted ceilings and walls painted in soft hues of blue and silver, a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere. At its center, on an enormous four-poster bed draped in sheer, flowing fabric, lies Nischola. The delicate beauty of the room seems to mock the dire state of its occupant.She is pale, her skin clammy and slick with sweat, her hair plastered to her forehead in damp strands. Her breathin
Celine POVJonathan doesn’t move his hand. His amber eyes lock onto mine, stern yet gentle. “You don’t understand. You’re pushing yourself too far. Do you even realize how much time has passed?”A breathless laugh escapes me. “Five minutes, maybe ten,” I say dismissively. My body feels heavy, sure, but not like I’ve been working for hours. “I can handle this.”“No,” Jonathan says firmly, his tone brooking no argument. He pulls out the journal and holds it in front of me, his finger pointing to a specific passage. “Read this. It says right here—when performing magic of this magnitude, time warps. What feels like minutes to you is hours to everyone else.” He looks back at me, his brows furrowed with worry. “It’s been over three hours, Celine.”Three hours? My stomach twists. Could that be true? It didn’t feel like hours. The exhaustion I brushed off as a minor side effect suddenly feels heavier, pressing down on me like a physical weight. Jonathan continues, his voice softer now. “You n
Sebastian POVCeline spins around to face me, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. Her wide, stunned eyes flicker over my towering form, and it takes everything in me not to burst into laughter at the bewildered look plastered across her face.“Sebastian?” she says, her voice laced with hesitation, and then adds more firmly, “Where’s your head?”I can’t help but chuckle, the deep rumble of it resonating through my chest. “I’m right here, Celine,” I assure her, making sure the cadence of my voice is familiar enough to cut through the surreal moment.Her gaze darts upward, to the massive, draconic head that has replaced my usual human features. “No,” she says, pointing with emphasis. “That’s not your head!”I laugh outright this time, the sound warm and amused. With a small mental shift, I revert to my hybrid form—the one I’m most
Sebastian POVTurning to address the rest of the army, I project my voice so it carries through the hall. “Tonight, you have proven why this kingdom stands as one of the strongest in the realm. Your bravery and skill on the battlefield have once again secured our borders. You have done amazing work, and I am proud of each and every one of you.”The soldiers respond with a collective roar of approval, their pride evident in the way they stand taller, their wings unfurling slightly.“However,” I continue, my tone serious, “we cannot afford to grow complacent. While the exiled have delivered their message and are unlikely to attack again immediately, we must be prepared for the possibility that they may try to break through and reach Celine. I want guards stationed at every border, patrols doubled, and reports sent to me hourly. We will not allow them to exploit any weaknesses.”There is no hesitation in their response. A
Sebastian POV“It—” Diadri stammers, her gaze darting to Zokod.“This is clearly fabricated,” Zokod says, his voice rising slightly. “Our son died, Your Majesty.”“Did he?” I counter. “Because this photograph was taken the week after your son allegedly passed away. What’s more, there’s currently an underground operation selling children and adults with special abilities into slavery. The information I’ve gathered places your son directly in the middle of this.”The murmurs around us grow into shocked gasps. Zokod shifts uncomfortably, while Diadri looks ready to collapse.“From what I’ve uncovered, your son was sold for over 500,000 crowns,” I continue. “And then, coincidentally, your family came into money—insurance, you claimed. But that’s not all, is it? Monthly payments continue to arrive from the Werewolf Kingdom.”
Celine POVThe palace halls stretch endlessly before me, their grandeur amplified by the faint flicker of torchlight casting long, shifting shadows. The guard leading me walks with purpose, his steps echoing against the polished stone floors. Despite the beauty surrounding me, the intricately carved archways, the glimmer of gold trim on every doorframe, and the soft hum of enchantments woven into the very air—I can’t focus. My body aches, and my mind feels heavy with everything that has transpired.“This way, Your Majesty,” the guard says, his voice firm but polite as he gestures toward a wide, ornate door at the end of the hall.Sebastian’s bedroom.The door looms ahead, its surface carved with intricate dragons weaving through storm clouds, their wings outstretched in eternal flight. The craftsmanship is stunning, each detail so lifelike it seems the dragons could leap from the wood at any moment.Jo
Celine POVThe logistics of it alone make my head spin, but I nod absently, trying to piece it all together. When I glance up, I notice Jonathan watching me, his expression curious.“You were talking to your wolf,” he says softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.I nod, brushing my hair back from my face. “Don’t you ever talk to your Fae?”Jonathan’s smile fades slightly, his gaze thoughtful. “Fae aren’t like wolves or dragons. Our shifts are part of us, but there’s no separate consciousness, no voice to guide us. When Sebastian shifts, Helios can take control, and he can step back. When you shift, Luperca is there for you to lean on, to speak to. For Fae… we’re always in control. There’s no separate entity to connect with.”I tilt my head, processing his words. I’ve always assumed that every shifter had a connection like mine, a voice in their head that offered
Celine POVHis head tilts in curiosity, his expression shifting to one of interest. “Can she do that while you’re in your Fae form?”“She says she’s connected to every part of me,” I explain. “Apparently, it doesn’t matter what form I’m in.”A faint smile spreads across his face. “Then I’d be happy to meet her. She’s a part of you, after all.”I nod, focusing inward again. How do I do this, Luperca?Relax and let go, she instructs. Focus on me and allow me to step forward. You’ll still be there, but as an observer.I exhale deeply, trying to relax. The sensation is strange—like being pulled backward and watching from behind a pane of glass. My body moves, but it’s not me in control anymore.“Hello, Jonathan,” Luperca says, her voice richer and more commanding than mine. Hearing her speak out loud through me is disorienting.
Celine POVI watch Dolton carefully. He wouldn’t have turned bad, I know it. He wasn’t alone, he had me, Sebastian, and Jonathan. We wouldn’t have let him become something evil.Stepping closer, I gently slip my hand into Dolton’s, trying to calm him. He turns slightly, offering me a faint smile, but the worry in his eyes is unmistakable. He shouldn’t be worried; he has us.“You once mentioned feeling like part of you was missing, like something wasn’t fully there,” his father says from behind the bars, his gaze unwavering. “Do you remember when that began, Dolton?”“No, I don’t,” Dolton snaps sharply.From the other cell, Wes chuckles darkly. “It started when Leif was born. Come on, Dolton, catch up.”Turning sharply, I glare at Wes, and the twisted, evil man mockingly blows me a kiss. My stomach churns with disgust.“Leif is part of you,&
Dolton POVAs I go to leave the cells, Celine walks in. It's pointless, I know she wants to know how things are happening but my father isn't about to speak.“He won’t speak,” I mutter before glancing back to my father. “At least not truthfully.”Celine smiles softly at me and nods. She looks back to my father and steps around me going toward the cells. “Then let’s make sure he can’t lie.”What? I stare at her and realise what she means. She reaches my father and his gaze turns cold. She doesn't hesitate she reaches through the bars and grips his hand, her grip tightens even more. I watch as his eyes widen, and a sharp breath escapes him as her magic pulses through him, I know what she's doing. She's going a truth spell and ensuring it's weaving into his mind, binding him to honesty. The moment the spell settles, I watch as she releases him and steps back, nodding toward me.“He can’
Dolton POVI stare at the moon, trying to understand what Leif is talking about. To me, it’s always been just a moon, something distant, powerful in its way, but never something I thought would speak to me. Yet Leif’s words linger in my mind, urging me to look deeper, to truly see.At first, I don’t notice anything unusual, just the pale glow of the moon standing oddly bright against the daytime sky. But the longer I stare, the more the edges of my vision blur, pulling my focus sharply toward the moon’s surface. Something shifts there, a subtle movement, a ripple of darkness.I blink, thinking it’s my imagination or fatigue from the battle. Yet the shadows don’t vanish; instead, they sharpen, becoming clearer, more defined. My breathing slows, and my heart quickens as I focus, straining to understand exactly what I’m witnessing.Then I see it, the shadows aren’t just vague, dark shapes. They’re detaile
Celine’s POVThe moment Dolton speaks, everything inside me stills. A heartbeat?My hand instinctively moves to my stomach before I can even process the thought. I don’t know why I do it, as if touching the skin there will somehow confirm what I already feel creeping into my mind.For the past few hours, I’ve felt different, not just exhausted from the battle, but off in a way I couldn’t explain. I thought it was the weight of everything we had endured. The stress, the adrenaline, the overwhelming chaos of the fight and its aftermath. But now, as I focus, as I truly listen to my own body, I feel it.My heartbeat pounds in my ears, but beneath it, softer yet just as strong, is another. Smaller, lighter, but carrying a strength all its own. The realization hits me slowly, sinking into my bones, spreading warmth through my chest.I press my fingers to my stomach, the weight of Sebastian’s hand still cover
Dolton POVWe leave the palace and travel to the pack in silence, not the kind where no one is speaking, but the kind where something lingers in the air, heavy and unspoken. Conversations happen around me, but the weight of everything we’ve been through presses down on all of us.Sebastian looks lost in thought, still trying to piece together what happened with Helios. I feel the same way, my mind circling back to the shadow thing. It wasn’t something I had done before. I don’t even know how I did it.“Did you know last night was a blood moon?” Leif suddenly speaks up, breaking through the murmur of conversation.Everyone turns to him, including me. “How did you know that?” I ask, confused.“I could feel the difference,” he says with certainty. “It might have been hidden, but it was a blood moon.”I nod slowly, unsure of what to say to that. “Okay.”“Y
Jonathan POVEveryone is different now, and I know it’s because of the battle. We all tapped into something we didn’t fully understand, unlocking pieces of ourselves we hadn’t even known existed. Then there was Celine, so close to dying, and Sebastian nearly died as well. Standing on the edge of death leaves a mark, one that doesn’t fade easily.But it’s Dolton who concerns me the most. Something about him feels… off. He looks lost, distant, like he’s trying to make sense of something bigger than just the battle. I can sense his unease even from the other side of the palace, something stirring within him that he hasn’t spoken about yet.The other royals have left, tending to their own, but I decide to stay and find Dolton. I walk through the halls until I spot him sitting alone, a glass in his hand. Leif isn’t here, which is unusual. The kid has been at his side constantly since they met, bu
Sebastian POVThe air in the palace feels heavy, like the walls are pressing in, suffocating me. I shift on my feet, glancing around the grand hall that once belonged to the Werewolf King. There’s too much history here, too much bloodshed. Staying in this place doesn’t sit right with me.I turn to Dolton. “Would your pack be able to take us in?”Dolton tilts his head, studying me. “You don’t want to stay here?”“No,” I admit, running a hand through my hair. “I don’t like this place. It belonged to him. It’s… tainted.” I exhale sharply. “I need to be somewhere that feels like neutral ground.”Dolton doesn’t hesitate. “It won’t be an issue. My pack will accept us.”That’s a relief. The last thing I want is to stay in this palace any longer than necessary. I can’t explain it, but the idea of sleep
Celine POVI don’t know what I expect when we get back inside, but it certainly isn’t this.Standing in front of Sebastian, looking furious, is Alpha Ian.“You lied to me!” he shouts, his voice echoing through the palace halls. “You disappeared without a word, you didn’t update us, you didn’t tell us the plan! We still don’t have our daughter!”I step forward, but before I can speak, Dolton moves around me, standing between us.“A lot needed to be sorted to save Gregory,” Dolton says firmly. “He’s not dead, which means your daughter is safe.”“Safe?” Alpha Ian’s voice rises, his frustration boiling over. “How is she possibly safe when you no longer have him to tell you where she is?”“All the children had records,” I explain. “We can track her.”Alpha Ian’s glare snaps
Dolton POVI don't feel like me; I'm not sure if it's actually me or because one minute Celine was on the floor unmoving, and the next Helios took her, and I had no idea if she was alive.We move further into the palace and sit down. The royals talk about how they will collect their children who are still here and take them back. Then, any children found in their kingdom who were stolen will be sent to their kingdoms.The conversation is important, but right now, I can't focus. Standing, I walk to Celine and pull her out of the room. We say nothing, and I don't want to be there with her in front of everyone.As we get into a quieter room, I wrap my arms around her body. I hold onto Celine, gripping her tighter than I probably should, but I can’t seem to loosen my grip. She doesn’t pull away, though. She just stays there, warm and steady, letting me hold on.“What’s wrong?” she asks softly.I don’t know how