Celine
The morning air is crisp, the lingering darkness still heavy around us as we move forward. I walk beside Dolton at the front of the convoy, my steps steady, but my thoughts are anything but.
Everything feels too still. Too quiet.
The attack went as planned. We got the children. The exiled and witches were dealt with. And yet, there’s a weight in my chest that won’t leave. It's not from us getting ready to face the werewolf King either. It's more than that.
Dolton glances at me as we walk, his Lycan form massive beside me. “You’re thinking too much.”
I exhale slowly. “And you’re not thinking enough.”
His ears twitch at that, but his voice stays even. “No point worrying about things we can’t change.”
“But what if I can?” I look ahead, my gaze distant. “What if I should?”
Dolton stays silent for a moment, waiting for me to continue. He knows me well enough to tell when something’s bothering me.
“It’s Sebastian,” I fi
SebastianThe earth is still beneath my feet. The heat of flight, the rush of the wind, the weight of Helios pressing me down, all of it vanishes the moment I shift back.Celine stands in front of me, her expression torn between relief and concern.I remember flying. I remember seeing her, watching her chase me, trying to reach me, trying to bring me down. But Helios wouldn’t stop. Wouldn’t listen. Wouldn’t even acknowledge me screaming at him inside my own head.Now, I’m here, back on the ground, and Celine is right in front of me.I exhale sharply and pull her to me, wrapping my arms around her. Her body presses into mine, her warmth grounding me in a way I desperately need.She says nothing for a moment, just lets me hold her. My grip tightens, my heart still racing from something I don’t understand, something I can’t explain.In the distance, I hear something faint, just beyond the treeline. A shift of movement, a rustling.
SebastianQueen Nymia and Queen Sereia exchange another glance, something unspoken passing between them before Nymia speaks.“We can combine our magic to get answers,” she says, her voice even, measured.Queen Sereia nods. “But it will hurt.”I don’t hesitate. “I don’t care.”Nymia studies me, her sharp gaze unwavering. “You say that now, but this isn’t just pain, Sebastian. This magic is not meant to be used on dragons. Your kind resists outside influence, and forcing our way in will cause agony beyond what you’ve ever known.”Meeting her gaze, I don't react or flinch. “I need answers.”Sereia leans forward slightly. “We will have to silence you.”Tensing beside me, Jonathan's posture shifts.Sereia continues, her tone firm. “The pain will be enough to rip your throat raw if you try to scream. If we do this, you won&rsq
CelineThe world feels quieter as we fall behind the others, the distant murmurs of our people fading as Sebastian leads me away from the main group. His grip on my hand is steady but tense, his thumb pressing against my palm in a slow, deliberate motion.Something is wrong.I can feel it in the way he moves, the way his gaze flickers between me and the horizon ahead. He’s trying to find the words before he speaks them.I don’t wait. “You know what’s happening,” I say, keeping my voice even. “Don’t you?”Sebastian exhales, nodding once. “Yeah. I do.”Glancing up at him, I narrow my eyes. “How?”He hesitates, but only for a moment. “I had Queen Nymia and Queen Sereia use their magic to uncover it.”I stop walking.He takes a few more steps before realizing I’m not beside him, then turns back. His expression is unreadable, but his pos
Celine POVThe warmth of his human skin disappears, replaced by scales hotter than fire, his massive form easily cradling me against his chest. The sky above shifts, darkening slightly at his presence, but I don’t look up.I look at him. Helios.His golden eyes burn as they lock onto me, the intensity of his stare making my breath catch. His massive claws tighten around me, pressing me closer, as if now that he has me, he’ll never let go.“Mine.”The possessive snarl doesn’t come aloud, it rumbles through his chest, through me, vibrating deep inside my bones.I keep my arms wrapped around him, letting my fingers stroke over his scales, feeling the ridges and grooves of his powerful form. “I told Sebastian to let you take over for a bit,” I murmur, watching as his golden eyes narrow slightly.Another growl, deep and rumbling, not quite satisfied. “I don’t want a bit,” Helios f
CelineI stare at him, the weight of his words settling into my chest, pressing down like an uncomfortable truth I can’t ignore.He’s right. I never thought about what happens after. Never thought about whether Helios would want those moments with me, the ones I give to Sebastian without hesitation.Because in my mind, he was Sebastian, or at least, that’s what I told myself, but now, looking back, I see the mistake. I assumed.I assumed that because I gave those moments to Sebastian, it was enough. That Helios would be satisfied knowing I stayed in Sebastian’s arms, even if it wasn’t him I was holding. But that was wrong.Helios isn’t just some extension of Sebastian’s consciousness. He may be Sebastian’s dragon, but he’s also his own being. He's also Sebastian, so to give him part when he's in control is wrong.I never thought to give him the same love I so easily give to his other half
Dolton’s POVI walk beside Jonathan, listening as he explains the issues Sebastian is facing. The way he talks about it, it’s clear he doesn’t fully understand it.And how could he? Merfolk and Fae aren’t like wolves, bears, or dragons. Their shifts are seamless, natural, without conflict. Their forms don’t hold a separate consciousness, no other voice fighting for dominance.Glancing back, I see Helios carrying Celine. She’s asleep, and it’s obvious from the way he moves that it’s Helios, not Sebastian.“There should be a way to control his shifter,” Jonathan mutters.“This isn’t like with you. While Sebastian and Helios are the same person, they are also separate. Controlling a shifter isn’t easy, especially for someone like Sebastian who craves control and doesn’t like to give it up.”His gaze flickers to me. “You do it.”
Jonathan’s POVI understand why Dolton keeps things hidden. He’s right. None of us truly know how powerful he is. No one has ever fully understood Lycans. They have no records, no history to explain what they are, only stories passed down through whispers.“You think that you’re normal?” Dolton asks, looking at me.“Am I not?” I ask. I’m so normal that I was a guard and a servant.“How many Fae do you know who lost their mate and survived?” He watches me closely.“I didn’t lose her, I rejected her, Dolton, which is why I survived.” If I had kept our bond when she died, I wouldn’t be here.Dolton shrugs. “Do you honestly think you rejected her fully? Fae are unable to reject their mates if they love them, so how did you, Jonathan?”The question catches me off guard.“I know a lot. While I grew up, I tried to lea
Sebastian’s POVLetting Helios keep control is unsettling. All he’s been doing is walking and carrying her, but I still feel like I’m missing out on something. Strangely, that’s exactly why I didn’t take back control.If I feel like this after only a short time, then I can only imagine how Helios felt every time I pushed him to the back of my mind and ignored his feelings. I’m not sure how long it’s been before I feel the shift. Helios slips back, and I’m pushed forward.Gaining control again, I instinctively tighten my hold on her.I can share.Helios’ voice growls in my mind.“Yeah, yeah, it’s me who can’t,” I mutter. That’s the truth. I can’t share. It’s not that I don’t feel what he does. I do. Everything Helios felt while holding her, I could feel too, but it was muted, not as strong or as intense. Which, I guess, is exactly what frustr
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
Jonathan POVI watch as Sebastian stands there, his wings still spread behind him, his chest rising and falling with each heavy breath. He looks lost. There’s something in his eyes, a flicker of confusion, of frustration, like he’s searching for answers he can’t find.He finally looks at me, his expression tight. “I don’t know,” he mutters, shaking his head. “I can’t remember anything after Arktos until waking up in the cave.”I exhale slowly, my body still humming with residual magic from the fight. “Helios killed the Werewolf King,” I tell him, keeping my voice even. “It was brutal, Sebastian. He lost it completely.”Sebastian doesn’t react, but I can see the way his jaw clenches, the way his fingers twitch slightly like he’s remembering something distant, something just out of his reach.I continue, knowing he needs to hear it. “Arkto
Sebastian POVThe void stretches endlessly around me, thick and suffocating. No sound, no sensation, no indication of time passing. It’s as if I’ve been ripped from existence, trapped in a place that doesn’t belong to me. My body feels weightless, unanchored, yet there’s a heaviness pressing down on my mind, chaining me here.I reach out, desperate for something, anything to pull me back. But there’s nothing. No Helios. No Celine. No flicker of warmth from the bond that always ties me to her. It’s wrong. It’s all wrong.A memory flickers, Helios roaring in rage, a searing pain lancing through my chest, the weight of something crushing down on me, suffocating and unrelenting. Then darkness swallowed me whole.How long has it been? Hours? Days? I grit my teeth, fighting against the nothingness, clawing for a way back. I won’t stay here. I can’t.Something shifts. A distant warmth brushes against m
Celine POVI barely register the movement before the world tilts. Suddenly, I’m beneath him, my back hitting the cool stone floor of the cave. His weight presses over me, his body caging me in, his lips devouring mine with an intensity that leaves no space for anything else. His fingers tangle in my hair, keeping me still as he deepens the kiss, his tongue sliding against mine in a slow, punishing claim.I gasp against his mouth, my hands grasping his arms, but he doesn’t let up. He presses me further into the ground, his body flush against mine, his heat overwhelming. Every movement, every touch, is possessive, raw.He isn’t just kissing me. He’s reminding himself that I’m still here. I feel his cock against my sex as he deepens the kiss more.Heat pools between my thighs at his hardness pressing against me. My body responds instantly, arching into him, seeking more of that delicious friction. His scales shimmer in the dim l
Celine POVWarmth surrounds me, steady and strong. My body feels heavier than it should, as if the very air weighs me down. I blink slowly, my vision adjusting to the dim light around me.Stone walls, I'm in a cave with Helios.His arms are tight around me, his wings curled inward like a shield. His body radiates heat, but there’s something different. The way he holds me, it isn’t just possessive. It’s desperate.I tilt my head back to look at him.He isn’t watching me. His gaze is distant, unfocused, locked on some invisible point beyond us. His golden eyes, usually burning with intensity, look hollow.I reach up, cupping his face in my hands. “Helios?” My voice is hoarse, weaker than I want it to be. “What’s wrong?”His eyes snap to mine, but there’s no relief, no flicker of ease at seeing me awake. Only something I’ve never seen before. Fear.“Sebastian