SebastianI wait, my chest tightening with each second, as I wonder if she’ll find the courage to tell me. Her silence feels heavy, weighted by memories she can’t escape. We sit in the small tent nestled within the dense forest, the creak of the wooden beams almost echoing her hesitation. Finally, her voice breaks through the stillness, soft but strained.“I was sixteen when my mum moved us,” she begins, her words halting as if she’s testing the waters of her own resolve. “Her new partner had said we could stay with him.”Her gaze drops to the floor, avoiding mine. Her vulnerability feels raw, and I tread carefully. “Did you have your wolf then?” I ask, my voice quiet but curious. If she was still with her mother, maybe something had stifled the connection with her wolf.She shakes her head, her voice now barely a whisper. “No, I couldn’t feel my wolf. The day we arrived... the brothers spoke to me. They said I was their mate and kissed me.” Her body tenses, and the words come out quie
Sebastian POVI watch her, my heart pounding as I wait for a sign. Emotions flood her face—confusion, fear, pain. Then her eyes snap open, wide with realization, and tears fall freely.“I remember,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “He said he loved me. He told me to focus... to find my wolf.” She looks at me, her expression a mix of awe and sorrow. “He said... I’m the Queen Goddess?”The words hit me like a thunderclap. My mind reels, trying to comprehend. The Queen Goddess? That would make her... above all other deities. Above the Moon Goddess. How? She looks at me like she wants me to explain.“I’ll explain soon,” I promise, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. “What happened to him after he told you? Where did he go?”“His dad came in,” she says, her voice breaking again. “He was shouting at Dolton for telling me. Dolton begged him not to make me forget. He was screaming for me to remember as they dragged him away.”Her tears flow harder, and I pull her close, my mind spi
Celine POVWhen I fell asleep, I was with Sebastian. His presence wrapped around me like a protective shield, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt safe. But sleep did not bring peace. My dreams were a relentless replay of my final moments with Dolton—his face, his voice, his agony. Over and over, I saw him locked away because of me, his screams echoing in my mind.I hated it. I hated that he suffered because of me. It wasn’t right. But even as guilt consumed me, a small part of me clung to the hope that his father and brothers wouldn’t harm him. They might be cruel, but not to him… right?When I wake, the emptiness beside me is like a sudden chill. I am alone. The silence feels heavy, oppressive, as a sense of unease creeps through me like a shadow that refuses to fade.Then, the noise hits me. Loud shouts pierce the quiet, and the sound of hurried footsteps fills the air. I sit up, my heart pounding. Something is wrong. Very wrong.“Now! They need all the soldiers
Celine POV I set to work, using my claws to dig the bullets out. My breath comes in shallow gasps, and sweat beads on my forehead. The bullets aren’t deep, but the act of removing them feels like pulling poison from his very soul. Each one hits the ground with a metallic clink, and I feel a flicker of hope.“Mutt!”The voice freezes me. It’s cold, mocking, and all too familiar. My body goes rigid as I turn toward the source. Beta Noah. His sneer cuts through the dim light as he steps into the room, his presence suffocating.“I can smell you,” he says, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. “I knew you’d come back.”Joseph’s shout snaps me out of my paralysis. “Get out of the cell before he locks it!”I bolt for the cell door, fumbling with the keys in my haste as I race to Joseph's cell. But before I can reach Joseph’s cell, Noah’s hand catches me, slamming me against the stone wall. Pain radiates through my back, and I cry out. His grip tightens around my neck, cutting off my air.
Sebastian POVThe weight of my failure presses heavily on my chest as I replay the events in my mind. This is my fault. Part of me doesn’t want to admit it, but I can’t deny the truth. Joseph had warned me, but I refused to believe him. I didn’t want to face the idea that someone could challenge us, that they could take down our dragons. That arrogance, my unwillingness to prepare, is what led us here—almost defeated, wounded, and vulnerable.The memory of pain lances through my back, sharp and vivid. I remember the searing burn as I fell, and then... nothing. My world had gone dark. Now, as I look around, the stone walls of the cell where I woke feel colder, the air thicker with the metallic scent of blood and sweat. The dim torchlight flickers against the rough-hewn stone, casting long, shifting shadows that make the narrow corridor seem alive.Celine’s scream had jolted me awake, the sound cutting through my haze like a blade. My instincts had taken over. I could have acted in my hu
Sebastian POV “What have you found out so far?” I ask, needing to understand the inner workings of this pack.Joseph straightens, his expression grim. “It was a sanctuary for rogues for many years,” he begins. “A place where anyone could come and stay. Everyone had equal rights—no alpha, no hierarchy.”I nod slowly, processing his words. “And then Dale arrived?”Joseph’s face darkens. “Yes. He came with his mate and declared himself the Alpha. Those who opposed him... didn’t survive. After enough challenges ended in death, the rest accepted his rule. But he’s not a true alpha. He uses magic to dominate, to enforce his control.”“When did he take over?” I ask, leaning forward. Every detail is crucial.“A few months before he brought Celine here,” Joseph replies. His voice lowers, the weight of his next words evident. “Many don’t even know who she truly is. The top soldiers used her own magic against her. They had her visit a so-called ‘doctor,’ who administered wolfsbane to weaken her
CelineI place the plate down on the nightstand, my thoughts swirling as I process Sebastian’s questions and my own hesitant answers. The room feels warmer now, though the heavy stone walls and dark wooden beams retain a weight that’s hard to ignore. Outside the windows, the faint glow of sunlight filters through tattered curtains, casting soft patterns on the floor. The bed beneath me is surprisingly comfortable, the blankets thick and warm, though they do little to ease the tension in my body.The questions he asked me linger in my mind, but one stands out among the rest—the possibility that the woman I called “Mum” might not have been my mother. Sebastian seems to think she wasn’t, though he hasn’t outright said it. Why would anyone take me? Why raise me if not out of love? The uncertainty gnaws at me, but I don’t dare voice it.Before I can fully untangle my thoughts, Sebastian’s voice draws me back. His tone is quiet, almost hesitant, and his words catch me off guard.“I know what
Celine POV I wrap my arms around his neck, my body pressing against his. Another vision flashes through my mind—this one more intimate. It’s not a memory, but something else entirely. I realize it’s what he’s imagining at this very moment. Us. Kissing. His golden eyes stay locked on mine, and I can’t help but smile.Leaning forward, I press my lips against his. He doesn’t move at first, his body perfectly still, as if waiting for confirmation. Then, slowly, his arm wraps around me, pulling me closer. His lips move against mine, soft yet deliberate, and I moan softly as his tongue grazes mine. The kiss deepens, and I lose myself in it, tangling my fingers in his hair.His hands trace along my body, their touch sending shivers through me. I whimper softly, drawn further into him, but then the visions return. They’re more intense this time—us, together, naked. The feelings and sensations from the vision seep into me, flooding me with heat and desire. My body moves instinctively, grinding
Sebastian POVThen I close my eyes and reach out—toward her, toward her shifter—hoping that I can find her before she slips away completely. Hoping that I don’t just sink into the darkness like before, hoping that this time I can actually reach her, I take a deep breath and press my hand over hers.The moment I push out to her mind, I’m dragged under.The shift is violent—like something has grabbed me by the throat and yanked me into a space where light doesn’t exist. A suffocating weight presses in from all sides, thick and heavy, swallowing every sense I have. There’s no sound, no vision, no ground beneath me, just a vast nothingness that coils around me like a predator waiting to strike.Helios roars, the sound vibrating through my very bones, a deep, primal response to the unnatural force pulling at us. His instinct is to break free, to tear through this space with brute force and demand control, but I grit my teeth and restrain him.Not yet.I need him, but not to fight. He can c
Sebastian POVI don’t like this. It’s taking too long, and now we’re going to be late to meet the elders, which isn’t acceptable. Every moment we waste here is a risk, yet I can’t bring myself to focus on anything except the unmoving form of Celine lying before me. The air in the room feels heavy, thick with uncertainty, and the longer this drags on, the more my patience frays at the edges.Elira finally steps back, her expression unreadable, but there’s something in the way she exhales that unsettles me. “From what I can tell, she’s under a spell,” she begins, her voice slow and measured. “She’s linked to someone else’s mind, which forces her to see what they see. There’s a chance she can hear us, but she’s locked inside another’s consciousness, experiencing their reality instead of her own.”Her words settle like a weight on my chest, dragging my thoughts to the worst possibilities. I hadn’t considered this before—hadn’t thought about the risks of what she might be seeing, of who sh
Sebastian POVAs we descend, I see him—Aarmon, the head vampire. He stands outside the castle gates, his tall, imposing figure wrapped in a dark cloak. His sharp features are illuminated by the faint torchlight, his crimson eyes narrowing as he watches us approach. His confusion is evident, his brow furrowing as he steps forward, scanning the scene with interest.Helios lands hard, his claws digging into the earth as we touch down just outside the castle. The ground trembles beneath the force, and a cloud of dust rises around us. I force him back, reclaiming control as my feet hit the ground.Aarmon tilts his head, his expression unreadable as his piercing gaze locks onto me. “Sebastian,” he greets, his tone smooth but tinged with curiosity. “What brings you here so suddenly? And in such a state?” His eyes flick to the figure in my arms, hidden beneath the throw.“Where’s your mage?” I bark, my voice sharp and commanding.Aarmon’s brow arches sligh
Sebastian POVEvery instinct in me screams to stop her, to call her back and tell her to save her energy. But I can’t. Not when she looks like this.She looks free.It’s a look I’ve never seen on her before, and it warms my heart in ways I didn’t think possible. The smile on her face is radiant, a stark contrast to the weight she’s carried for so long. As she turns and dives, laughter spilling from her lips, it’s like she’s shed every burden she’s ever known.I let her have this moment because… when does she ever get to have fun? When does she ever get to live?She’s ahead of me now, her movements light and carefree, but I stay close. Close enough that I can reach her if something goes wrong. There are still dragons out there—rogues and exiles—who might see her as a target, but I pray none are near.Her laughter rings out again, filling the air like a melody, and my chest tightens at the sound. She spins an
Celine POV“What did you see?” he asks, leaning closer, his eyes scanning mine for answers.“Nothing,” I whisper again, the confusion in my voice matching the turmoil in my mind.“You saw something, Celine,” he presses gently.I nod slowly, struggling to put it into words. “I… I saw nothing. It was just darkness. A really cold feeling, panic, and all these screams and shouts… but there was nothing to see. It was completely dark.”His head tilts slightly as he processes my words, then he nods. “Maybe you’re too weak to see the full vision,” he says thoughtfully. “Forget about it for now. Don’t try to trigger any more visions. I was only asking—I didn’t want you to actually try.”“Sorry,” I mumble, feeling small and uncertain. “I don’t know what happened.”Jonathan sighs, pulling me into his arms. I let myself melt into his embrace, finding a small comfort in the way his hand strokes along my back.The moment is short-lived, though, as the car door opens and Sebastian motions for me to
Celine POVI watch as Sebastian steps out of the car, his broad shoulders tense with the weight of his responsibilities. Dolton follows close behind, his head slightly bowed as though burdened by his own doubts. Inside, the tension lingers, suffocating and thick. Jonathan sits quietly across from me, his nose buried in one of the journals, his focus unbroken.Shifting, I move to sit beside him, leaning slightly into his space. “What are you looking for?” I ask softly, my voice breaking the silence.“I’m just making sure we have everything we need for this meeting with the elders,” he replies, lifting his gaze to me. A faint smile crosses his lips before he leans forward, pressing a kiss to my lips.For a moment, the world fades away—the chaos, the fear, everything. I lose myself in the warmth of his touch, kissing him back as I press closer to him, seeking comfort in his presence.But his hand gently stops me, resting against my shoulder. He shakes his head, his smile soft and underst
Sebastian POVCeline stirs beside me, her body shifting as she wakes. I turn to her and offer a soft smile, though my worry is difficult to hide. She sits up slowly, her movements heavy with fatigue, and looks between us. Her face is pale—too pale. Her energy is fading faster than I expected, and it’s clear she’s running on fumes.“How are you feeling?” I ask, keeping my voice gentle.She forces a smile, but it’s weak. “Perfectly fine. I just needed a nap,” she says, her voice thin with exhaustion.I don’t press her, but it’s obvious she’s lying. Her weariness is written in every line of her face, and I’m silently thankful that we’ve decided to prioritize the Vampire Kingdom. She won’t last long without the blood she needs.The cars grind to a halt, and I glance out the window. We’ve arrived? I told them to rush, but I didn’t expect them to cover the distance this quickly.“I’m going to discuss the plan with the guards. Stay in the car—it may not be safe,” I tell her firmly. Leaning o
Sebastian POVThis trip was meant to help Celine unlock more of herself, to teach her how to harness her abilities—to shift effortlessly and use magic with confidence. But she’s barely managing to eat, let alone channel energy into anything else.I watch her as she sleeps, her breaths shallow and strained. So much has happened in such a short time, and it’s tearing her apart, pushing her body far past its limits. She’s running on empty, and every moment of rest she gets is merely a fragile reprieve.“It’s a complication,” Dolton murmurs, breaking the heavy silence. His brow furrows as he looks at me. “How do we navigate her need for blood when we return to the Dragon Kingdom full-time?”It’s a question that’s been gnawing at the back of my mind too. Frequent travel to the Vampire Kingdom isn’t just inconvenient—it’s dangerous. The time, energy, and risk it takes aren’t sustainable. But without those trips, where else would she get the blood she needs to survive?“Maybe there’s a spell
Celine POVI can’t do it. I won’t drink blood. How could this possibly be right?“What’s your fear around vampires and everything else?” Dolton’s voice is steady, but his eyes narrow as he studies me.“They’re evil!” I snap, my emotions unraveling. “What do you think, Dolton? They kill people—they’re evil. They’re from hell!”He chuckles, the sound low and almost mocking. A smirk tugs at his lips. “No, they’re not. That’s just a bedtime story people tell their kids to keep them behaving, to make sure they don’t wander off. Vampires are no different from us—except they drink blood. Yes, there are bad ones, but there are bad werewolves too. Bad fae. Bad everything. Those ones? They’re exiled, just like anyone else.”It doesn’t matter. I don’t like this. It’s all wrong—twisted and unnatural. Totally messed up and wrong.“What’s your plan then? Ignore it and die?” Sebastian’s gaze pierces through me, unrelenting.“Jonathan got it wrong. I won’t die.” My voice shakes, but I try to sound co