Sebastian POV
I inhale sharply, preparing myself. “Before I left to save Joseph, I agreed to marry Tatsuya. At the time, I thought finding my mate was impossible. It was meant to solidify alliances, to do what was best for the kingdom. But that was before I knew you existed.”
Her voice softens, but the words hit like daggers. “She would be the ideal queen, though, wouldn’t she?”
“No,” I counter immediately. “You’re my mate, Celine. That’s all that matters now.”
Her gaze sharpens, her next words deliberate, each one landing like a blow. “Not through choice, Sebastian. Answer me this honestly—if you’d had a choice before meeting me to make one of us your mate, if it was between her and me for your kingdom, who would you have chosen?”
“That’s not fair,” I respond firmly, shaking my head. “You’re asking me to judge something
Sebastian POVI spot Dolton near the refreshments table, his arms crossed as he surveys the room. I land smoothly, folding my wings back, and make my way toward him.“She’s still outside,” I tell him quietly as I approach.Dolton’s eyes narrow. “Still upset?”I nod. “She’s calming herself. I think she’ll be fine, but this evening has hit her harder than I anticipated. She overheard some of the conversations.”“About you and Tatsuya,” Dolton says flatly, not even phrasing it as a question.“Yes,” I admit. “And Lord Arman didn’t help. She also saw... something when Tatsuya touched her. A vision of the past.”Dolton sighs heavily, rubbing a hand over his face. “She’s tough, Sebastian, but she’s new to all of this—new to your past, to this kingdom, and to the role she’s stepping into. This isn’t like de
Celine POVSebastian walks away with Lord Arman, his expression calm but his shoulders tight with tension. I know this announcement has rippled through the kingdom like a storm, leaving chaos in its wake. To most of the people here, it was a foregone conclusion that Sebastian would return and marry Tatsuya. She fits their vision of the perfect queen: poised, powerful, and singular. Now, everything they thought they knew has been upended.The weight of their stares presses against me as I move through the crowd. Some faces light up with smiles, their congratulations warm and genuine. But others—oh, the others—look at me like I’ve stolen something precious from them. The disdain is palpable, simmering just beneath the surface. It’s not just that I’m not Tatsuya; it’s the fact that I’m different, a queen goddess with three mates, a concept that challenges every tradition they hold dear.I finally understand
Celine POV“Well, thank you, but I do belong here,” I say, my voice firm and unyielding. “This conversation is over, Tatsuya. I’ll be sure to repeat every word of it to Sebastian.” I step back, hoping to disengage, but she moves closer, her presence oppressive.“You’re really willing to risk your other two mates just to keep one?” she sneers, her tone dripping with malice. “Your fae friend might survive the fall. He has wings, after all. They’re not as strong as a dragon’s, but…” She laughs, the sound sharp and bitter. “Your little wolfie friend? That’s another story entirely. Perhaps I’ll make sure he has an accident. And just for fun, I’ll make sure you’re there, powerless, as he falls to his death. You’ll watch, knowing you could have stopped it—but didn’t.”Her words send a cold chill racing through my body, but when her hands grip mine, the world shifts. A vision assaults me—a horrifying image of Dolton plummeting from the sky, his screams
Dolton POVThe weight of Celine in Sebastian’s arms feels heavier than it should, not because of her but because of what just happened. I watch as she slips into unconsciousness, her body utterly spent. It doesn’t surprise me. Shifting into a form for the first time drains energy, but what she just did—what we all just witnessed—goes beyond anything we could have imagined.For a long moment, no one speaks. The air feels charged, heavy with the weight of realization and uncertainty. We’d all speculated about her Pantheromorph form, imagining some amalgamation of her other sides. Perhaps a dragon’s body covered in wolf fur, with fae wings and a merfolk’s sleek features. A single, cohesive form that blended her identities into one. But what she became defied every expectation.It wasn’t one form. It was multiple. Separate entities, each representing a piece of her essence, existing all at once and con
Dolton POVHer eyes meet mine, shimmering with unshed tears. “I...” Her voice wavers, trembling as much as her lip.“Celine, why?” My words are quieter now, but the confusion and frustration remain.“Now the vision won’t come true,” she whispers, the words barely audible over the sound of my pounding heart.“What?” I sit up fully, staring at her, the weight of her actions crashing down on me. “Celine, you can’t just do this! That’s not how it works!” My voice is a mix of disbelief and anger, the enormity of what she’s done hitting me like a tidal wave.Her tears spill over, her hands wringing together as she stares at me with desperation. “The vision I had—it was of you falling, Dolton. Falling from the Dragon Kingdom. I felt it. I saw it. I had to stop it, and now it won’t happen!”I feel my jaw clench as frustration builds. “Wi
Dolton POVI kiss her deeply, pulling her flush against me, and she lowers herself onto me, her heat engulfing me. A guttural groan escapes my lips as my hands grip her hips, guiding her movements. Celine’s body undulates with intoxicating grace, her hips rocking in a rhythm that speaks of her need to anchor herself to me, to reality.Her moans are soft yet urgent, each sound drawing me deeper into her. She arches her back, her breasts pressing forward, and I capture one taut nipple in my mouth, teasing it with my tongue before sucking firmly. Her head falls back, and she threads her fingers into my hair, clutching me closer.“Oh, Dolton,” she breathes, her voice trembling with desire and vulnerability.I thrust upward to meet her movements, our bodies locking in perfect synchrony. The world outside fades, leaving only the two of us, cocooned in a haze of heat and longing. Sweat glistens on her flushed skin as she grinds against me, her
Celine POVThe morning feels heavy, as though the weight of yesterday’s events is still pressing down on me. I wake alone, my body humming with an odd sensation I can’t quite place. It’s like a lingering echo from the chaos of my shifting, a blend of soreness and something deeper, something unsettled.After showering and dressing, I step into the corridor. The palace feels unusually quiet, the distant sounds of activity muted, as if even the building itself is holding its breath. A guard greets me immediately, his expression unreadable.“Your Majesty, King Sebastian is this way,” he says with a small bow, turning to guide me.I hesitate for a moment. Your Majesty. The title feels foreign, like it belongs to someone else. I’m not a queen, not yet. I shrug it off and follow him, my steps echoing faintly against the marble floors.When I step into the room, I find Sebastian, Dolton, and Jonathan seated toge
Celine POVJonathan seems to sense my discomfort through the bond. “Look, I can feel your unease,” he says gently. “We all know this situation isn’t ideal. But Sebastian’s case is different. If he waits too long, and we find ourselves in unsafe territory, the risks grow exponentially. Dragons claiming their mates isn’t as simple as me as a Fae or Dolton as a Lycan. You’ll be in flight, Celine. That’s not something we can do just anywhere.”I mull over his words, biting my lip as I consider the implications. “Is there no way for all three of you to claim me before we leave?” My voice is quieter now, tinged with vulnerability. “I don’t want days to pass with me married to Sebastian and only claimed by him. It doesn’t feel… fair.”Sebastian’s gaze softens, his expression thoughtful. “We can try to arrange it, if that’s what you want,” he offers.
Helios’s POVI carefully take Clara from Dolton, cradling her against my chest as if she’s the most precious treasure I’ve ever held, and she is. Her delicate warmth radiates into me, a fragile yet unwavering presence in my arms, melting through the lingering hardness that once defined who I was. Her steady, peaceful breathing calms something deep inside me, quieting the restless beast I had always been.As I study her tiny face, with soft cheeks and a delicate nose, the innocence reflected there stirs something unfamiliar in my chest, a fierce protectiveness unlike anything I have ever known. The heart that once burned with obsession, possessiveness, and dominance now fills with a different kind of fire, pure and gentle. It’s startling yet comforting, reshaping who I am from the core outward.Instinctively, almost without thinking, I begin to hum softly, a melody from a lifetime ago, one I barely remember, yet somehow feels right to shar
6 Years LaterJonathan POV“Caleb, hold still,” I murmur, tightening my grip gently around my three-year-old son, who wriggles impatiently in my arms. His soft golden hair tickles my chin as he peers eagerly around the room, blue eyes wide with excitement. Aurora streaks past, her small dragon form shimmering in hues of violet and silver, scales glinting under the soft lights as she darts playfully around us.Celine laughs softly as she watches Aurora, her eyes filled with warmth. Sebastian stands near her, arms crossed over his chest, a proud smile on his face. Beside them, Dolton cradles his newborn daughter, Clara, just a week old, her tiny features serene as she sleeps peacefully against his chest.The room is alive with happiness, joy bouncing off the walls as we prepare for the celebration. I find myself smiling, my heart swelling. It wasn’t so long ago that I thought I’d lost everything. But here, surrounded by these people,
Sebastian’s POVThree months laterI’m flying as fast as I can, the wind cutting sharp against my scales.I left the kingdom earlier to meet Aarmon and collect two feeders for Celine. Her pregnancy has made her need blood more frequently, and I have no idea how she will be after the baby is born. I planned to return days ago, but Aarmon ran into issues with the vampires, delaying everything. Now I’m rushing back, and the only thing I know is that Celine has gone into labor.I abandoned the cars hours ago, there wasn’t time to waste. The soldiers will ensure the feeders arrive safely. Right now, the only thing that matters is getting to her.Helios pushes forward, impatient, and I don’t stop him. He’s always faster than me in the air, and this time, I need that speed. He focuses, his instincts sharper, his wings slicing through the sky with powerful strokes. At least this way, if we’re late,
Celine’s POVThe grand hall of the Dragon Kingdom is alive with celebration, the golden glow of torches casting flickering light over the towering stone walls. It’s strange how quickly everything has settled, how the chaos of battle has faded into something almost distant, like a dream that we all woke up from. The weight of it still lingers, of course, but tonight is not about that. Tonight is about the fact that we are here. Alive. Stronger than before.The past week has been a blur, filled with moments of reflection and change. Somehow when Helios takes control, I can hear Sebastian in my mind. It's strange but nice. Jonathan has embraced both sides of himself more than ever, his fae and merfolk magic flowing together like they were always meant to be one. Dolton has grown quieter, more thoughtful, as if the shadows that once burst from him still whisper at the edge of his mind, not in a bad way though. Leif is adjusting, still finding his place among us
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,&