Sebastian POVAs we leave the house and return to the car, Celine finally breaks the silence. “Vampires?” she whispers, her voice heavy with disbelief.“Yes,” I reply grimly. “Vampires. And this is just the beginning of what we’ve uncovered.”The tangled web of corruption spreads deeper than I want to admit. Each royal family remains in the dark about the depravity festering within their kingdoms, but whispers and evidence point to individuals in every realm—those who exploit children for their unique abilities, trading innocence for power or coin. It’s sickening. I can’t afford to trust blindly. I need to go to the Vaelers’ home personally and extract every scrap of information. The risk of leaving it to my guards is too high. If this rot extends further, any one of them could warn the guilty parties or destroy crucial evidence.Celine sits beside me in the car, her presence grounding me as my thoughts swirl. I catch her gaze, her brow furrowed in confusion and concern.“I don’t know
Sebastian POVHer gaze sharpens, and I see her resolve hardening. “I want to know everything,” she says. “About Shadow Binding, about my bloodline, about who I really am.”I smile faintly, pride swelling in my chest. “And I’ll tell you everything, Celine. But for now, you need to focus on the meeting with the elders. There’s more to uncover, and you’ll need your strength for what’s to come.”“So... they’re immortal?” she asks, leaning in slightly.“In a sense, yes. They don’t age, and they heal quickly. But they aren’t invincible. Sunlight is deadly to them. Direct exposure burns them alive within minutes. That’s why Shadow’s blood is so significant. It gives them temporary immunity to sunlight—a way to walk in the day without fear.”Her eyes widen in realization. “And that’s why she’s so rare?”“Exactly,” I say, nodding. “Dragon blood, for example, is lethal to vampires. A single drop can cause excruciating pain, and if enough enters their system, it will kill them. Merfolk blood has
Sebasitan POVArktos was different. Everyone knew about him.“Sebastian… Could they have used magic? Diadri did say they had someone who could manipulate how things appeared.”Her words send a chill down my spine. “That’s exactly what they did,” I growl, fury igniting in my chest. “They used magic to make Arktos look dead. Even to me. They fooled everyone, including Rosalind.”My hand tightens around the box, the edges digging into my palm as I try to suppress the storm of emotions brewing within me. Anger. Guilt. Betrayal.“They didn’t just fool you,” Celine says, her tone steady but fierce. “They took advantage of everyone’s grief. This is beyond cruel.”I sift through more of the papers, my fingers trembling as I uncover more names, more victims. My breath catches when I notice a column listing prices—Shadow’s name is there, along with Arktos’. The amounts are staggering.“Three hundred thousand for Shadow,” I mutter, my voice low and dangerous, the weight of the numbers chilling.
Dolton POVWhen Sebastian and Celine return from their outing, I take her hand and guide her away. Sebastian is occupied with the investigation into the dragons, and his decision to involve Jonathan makes sense. Fae are naturally adept at sensing dishonesty, making Jonathan an invaluable tool in uncovering truths. That leaves me and Celine with a rare opportunity—time alone, uninterrupted for at least a day or two.As I lead her through the corridors, I catch her puzzled expression. It’s not surprising. Earlier this morning, before she joined us, we discussed sleeping arrangements. Two of us sharing a bed with her? Manageable. Three of us crowded together every night? That’s where the line is drawn. None of us, myself included, are entirely comfortable with the idea of lying shoulder to shoulder in one bed.“Why are we going to the bedroom?” she teases, her tone playful as a mischievous glint lights her eyes.“Not for what you’re thinking.” I chuckle, shaking my head as I open the doo
Dolton POV“So I’m right,” she says, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips.I groan, leaning back in my chair. “Fine. You have a point. But Jonathan doesn’t need a dragon form, Celine. He already has two forms—Fae and Merfolk. You can’t give him another.”She chews her bottom lip, clearly already contemplating it. “But he should fit in too,” she murmurs, more to herself than to me.“Do you think he cares about fitting in?” I counter, my tone firm. “Jonathan is comfortable in his Fae form. That’s the side of him that’s most natural, most prominent. Just like for me—it doesn’t matter that I now have a dragon form. I will always feel more like myself as a Lycan. I didn’t feel out of place at that party, and neither did Jonathan.”She sighs heavily, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on the table. “Going forward, Celine, you need to talk to us before making these decisions. I understand you were scared after the vision, but you can’t change who we are without consulting us first
Jonathan POVAs a Fae, detecting deception is second nature. Sometimes it’s an overwhelming surge of certainty; other times, it’s a subtle, lingering unease that gnaws at the edges of perception. That’s why I volunteered to help Sebastian. In matters as grave as this, the ability to sense dishonesty is invaluable.Celine needs rest. She and Dolton have a lot to prepare for with the flight training looming. Meanwhile, I find myself standing in the shadows of Sebastian’s command center, watching him prepare to address the kingdom. Even through a television screen, his presence is formidable—commanding and unyielding. He embodies the weight of leadership, his mere posture enough to silence doubt.I understand why many in the kingdom are uneasy about Joseph taking over the throne. They’ve grown accustomed to Sebastian’s strength, his unwavering determination. Yet expecting him to rule until his body gives out is cruel. Even a king deserves a life beyond the crown.The crew signals their r
Jonathan POVAs I turn to leave, Dolton appears at the door. “Jonathan, can I have a word?” he asks, his tone serious.I nod, addressing the servants one last time. “Follow the updates. You’ve got this.” With that, I step out and join Dolton in the corridor.As we walk, his expression remains tense, his usual calm demeanor clouded by something weighing heavily on his mind. “Do you think you could find something in the journals—or anywhere—about Celine?” he asks.“Something about Celine directly?” I ask, puzzled by his vagueness.He sighs, clearly wrestling with how to articulate his thoughts. “Not just about her. Specifically about the Queen Goddess—how things are supposed to go when she comes back.”I stop in my tracks, turning to face him fully. “You’re not making sense, Dolton. What exactly are you looking for?”His eyes dart away briefly before he finally mutters, “Celine isn’t pregnant.”The weight of his words hits me like a blow, and I stare at him, processing the implication.
Celine POVI jolt awake, my body already mid-shift, scales rippling over my skin, wings unfurling, and claws extending before I can even process what’s happening. Panic claws at my chest, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear.I’m fully in my dragon form, the foreign weight of it pressing down on me. Nothing feels right. The room feels constricting, too small to contain this body. My mind races, trying to understand what’s going on. This wasn’t a voluntary shift. It couldn’t be. Someone must have used magic to force this. But who? Why?I stumble toward the door, instinct driving me to escape, but something makes me stop short. My claws dig into the floor as I hesitate, my chest heaving with shallow breaths. No. If someone is outside, using magic to force this shift, I could be walking into a trap. I shake my head, stepping back, my tail knocking into a chair and sending it clattering to the floor.Calm down, Luperca’s voice cuts through my rising panic, her tone soothing but firm.
Sebastian POVThe cars come to a stop, and I glance out the window, relief flooding through me at the sight of home.Dolton nudges my arm with a playful grin. “You should fly up with Celine. It’ll be quicker than waiting in the cars.”I shake my head firmly. “No, we should all arrive together.”Dolton’s smirk widens, mischief clear in his eyes. “Alright, then how about Helios takes her up instead? I’m sure he’d love to stretch his wings.”I roll my eyes. “How is that any different?”Dolton shrugs, chuckling softly. “You said you missed home. I’d bet Helios does too—this is his kingdom after all. Maybe he deserves to arrive first.”Before I can respond, Helios takes Dolton’s suggestion as permission, surging forward eagerly and pushing my consciousness to the back. My body shifts abruptly in the car, a wave of laughter erupting from bo
Dolton POVWe’re sitting in a clearing, resting before continuing our journey back to the Dragon Kingdom. The weight I’ve carried since the battle finally feels lighter as laughter fills the air. Around me, faces are relaxed for the first time in what feels like forever. Sebastian sits close to Celine, his arm protectively around her as people continue to celebrate her pregnancy, teasing him about becoming a father. Their smiles are contagious, and I find myself genuinely laughing alongside them.Yet even as I laugh, Julius remains uneasy, pacing restlessly inside my mind. I try to push the unease away, but it’s difficult when Julius is this restless. I glance over to Leif, sitting quietly, staring off into the trees. There’s still so much I don’t know about him, so much he probably doesn’t even know about himself.Leaning closer, I nudge his shoulder gently. “You okay?”Leif blinks, pulled from his thoughts
Jonathan POVI sit alone in the quiet car, the journals spread across my lap. My fingers flip through the pages slowly, frustration building with every page turn. I’d told the others I needed silence to focus, but the truth is, I just didn’t want them to see how much this is getting to me.I’m trying to find answers for Dolton, something that can explain what’s happening to him, but each page I read feels emptier than the last. My heart thuds with a heavy anxiety as I rub my temples.There’s almost nothing here about Lycans. The few mentions I’ve found are vague or useless, and there’s not a single line about the Shadow of the Moon or why there can suddenly be two Lycans. It’s as if the writers deliberately avoided the topic, which only makes me feel more unsettled.I lean my head back against the seat, taking a slow breath, and close my eyes. Dolton deserves answers, he’s struggling with something non
Sebastian POVWe left the Werewolf Kingdom first thing in the morning. I want to get home. I’ve spent far too long away from my kingdom; Helios is restless, and so am I.It’ll take about three days to get back, but since it’s only our group traveling, all my men can drive, which means we won’t be slowed down by walking. Dolton chose to ride in another car with Leif, wanting to spend some time speaking with him alone. Jonathan opted to ride separately, claiming he needed quiet to focus on reading through the journals.I understand why Jonathan turns to the journals for answers, but even I doubt they can solve everything. I know he’s hoping to find something—anything—to help Dolton. Finding out Leif is directly connected to him, even in death, must be overwhelming, especially when severing their bond might risk both their lives.Still, despite the circumstances, I welcome the chance to spend time alone with Celine.
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