Celine POV The moment I stepped out of the car, a wave of icy stares greeted me, each pair of eyes piercing through me like daggers. Their whispers were like a current, growing stronger and louder as the small crowd began to gather behind us. The weight of their judgment pressed heavily against my chest, leaving me feeling like an outsider in a place that should hold safety.Dolton walked ahead, his shoulders tense but purposeful, as he led us into the packhouse. The interior was dim, the worn wooden floors creaking beneath our steps. He quickly showed us to a room, his words clipped and distant. Without waiting for a reply, he left, shutting the door behind him with a finality that felt deliberate.Sebastian sets down the bags and surveys the room. The space is modest, with a small table by the window and a simple bed in the corner. The air inside feels heavy, a reflection of the tension outside.“He’s separated us,” Sebastian mutters, his jaw tightening as he takes a seat at the ta
Celine POVSebastian leans down, his breath warm against my ear as his lips trail along my neck. “I’m giving you two time,” he murmurs, his hands tightening on my waist. “You’ve been apart for years. Your wolf may have been hidden, but his felt every moment of that separation. He was in pain every single day. Time with you is healing his wolf.”His words catch me off guard. I hadn’t considered that aspect before. My heart aches for Dolton’s wolf and the pain he endured while I was unaware of the bond we shared. My fingers trail lightly over Sebastian’s arm, grounding myself as I process the storm of emotions swirling within me.I linger against Sebastian, feeling the heat of his fingers tracing languid patterns along my spine. Each stroke sends a shiver through me, grounding me in the moment. I press myself closer to him, my lips brushing against his neck as I let my fingers work on the buttons of his shirt, sliding it off with purpose.“My love,” his voice rumbles low and steady, “yo
Celine POVI wander through the packhouse, my frustration growing with each empty hallway and room. Dolton is nowhere to be found, and I can feel the weight of his absence pressing down on me. Spotting a maid carrying a tray, I step closer to her, my voice soft but urgent.“Can you tell me where Dolton is, please?” I ask.She offers a polite smile. “I believe he was in the cells the last time I saw him.” With that, she walks away, her footsteps echoing down the corridor.The cells. Of course. With a sigh, I make my way to the lower levels, the air growing colder and damper as I descend the stone stairs. The dim lighting casts long shadows, and the scent of iron lingers in the air.“Dolton?” I call out, my voice hesitant as I step further into the room.A voice answers, but it’s not his. “Celine?” Turning quickly, I see Alex rise from a worn cot and approach the bars of his cell. His face is gaunt, but his eyes light up when they meet mine. “You look... amazing,” he says, offering a we
Celine POVFinally, he nods and steps into the room, his movements stiff and reluctant. I follow, closing the door behind us. The space feels unusually quiet without Sebastian, who I assume is still with his visitors.“Are you okay?” I ask, watching him closely. His pain is evident in the slump of his shoulders and the turmoil in his eyes.He turns to face me, and the weariness in his expression is raw. “I thought I could do this,” he admits, his voice low. “I thought I could get used to sharing you. In my mind, I was preparing myself for sharing you with Sebastian. I wasn’t prepared for his dragon.”His words take me by surprise, and I blink, trying to process. “So, you’re telling me you plan to keep me—and your wolf—away from each other?” My tone carries a mix of disbelief and frustration. “You’re a Lycan, Dolton. You’re as connected to your wolf as Sebastian is to Helios.”He flinches slightly, as though my words have struck a nerve. “If I’m still a Lycan,” he murmurs, his voice so
Sebastian POVThe tension in the air feels almost suffocating as I step outside and find Alpha Ian flanked by a small group of his pack members. His expression is a storm of frustration and grief, his movements sharp as he approaches me. I know exactly why he’s here—he’s expecting answers, results—but all I have are scattered pieces of an incomplete puzzle.“You just left,” Ian says, his voice laced with accusation.“I went to the town,” I reply evenly, meeting his gaze. “We found the auction site, but no one there is talking. If Dale sold your daughter, that’s the place he would have done it. But we’ve made no progress. These people don’t break easily.” My words hang heavy in the air, and I wish I had more to give him, something concrete that could lead him to his daughter.“You said you would help!” Ian’s frustration boils over, and his glare pierces through me like a dagger.“I am helping,” I insist, my voice firm but tinged with the weariness of this impossible situation. “But the
Sebastian POVI rub my temples, the pieces of this twisted puzzle only becoming more convoluted. If this is true, if the King truly bought and used her, then our path forward just became infinitely more dangerous.“What do we do now?” Ian asks, his voice barely above a whisper.I glance at Celine, her expression a mix of shock and quiet resolve. “Now,” I say, “we uncover the truth—whatever it takes.”Ian’s sudden outburst breaks the tense silence like a thunderclap. “We have the evidence!” he exclaims, standing abruptly, his voice filled with desperate energy. “This is it! We can use this to get my daughter back!”Before I can respond, Celine steps forward, her expression fierce and unyielding. “No!” she declares, her voice cutting through Ian’s urgency. She turns to face him fully, her eyes blazing with determination. “We use this evidence to save everyone who was ever sold in that place—not just your daughter. Her blood is the thing to keep her alive, others aren’t that lucky.”Ian
Sebastian POVDolton walks back into the room with a determined expression and drops a large, heavy box onto the table. The thud echoes through the space, and the weight of the moment settles over all of us.“What is this?” I ask, my gaze shifting between him and the box.“This,” Dolton says, gesturing to the box, “is everything Celine’s mother brought with her, plus everything I’ve collected over the years from attending every single auction I could find. Pictures, videos—anything that might help.”I step forward, pulling the box closer to me. The sheer amount of material inside is overwhelming—papers, photographs, and other documents spill over the edges.“I went to find her,” Dolton continues, his voice steady but laced with frustration. “At every auction, I searched for Celine or anyone who might lead me to her. But while I was searching, I saw more than I ever wanted to. I saw every species you can imagine—dragons, fae, vampires, bears, merfolk—all being sold. If they had unique
Celine POVI’ve noticed how worry has etched itself into every line of Sebastian’s face, the weight of everything pressing down on him. He carries too much—responsibilities that aren’t even his to bear, yet everyone looks to him as if he alone can fix what’s broken.“Sebastian needs to focus on what’s in front of him first,” I say, standing. My voice carries a firmness I don’t often use, but I need them to listen. “I understand you all want answers. I understand the need for justice—believe me, I do. But what’s the point of rushing if Sebastian isn’t in the right headspace? He’s stretched too thin. Mistakes will be made. He’ll act out of desperation, and you won’t get the outcome you’re hoping for.”I let my words settle before looking directly at Alpha Ian. “You want your daughter back, and I understand that better than anyone. But if you had only a few weeks to save someone else in your family, someone just as important, would you sacrifice that chance? Would you let them die just t
Celine POVMy eyes widen as his words sink in, panic rising like a tide threatening to pull me under. “So there’s no way to the kingdom?” I ask, my voice tinged with desperation. My fingers clutch the edge of the seat as I try to process what this means.“There is,” Sebastian replies firmly, his tone a mixture of calm authority and urgency. His eyes flick to Dolton and Jonathan. “But it won’t be by car. The road is compromised, and the cars will have to be left behind. We’re going to fly the rest of the way.”Fly? My stomach twists at the thought. I’ve never flown, and the idea of being carried through the sky sends a shiver down my spine. My instincts scream against it, but I know there’s no other option.Sebastian continues, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “I’ll take Celine with me. You two will need to let my guards carry you. They’re trained for this, and it’s the safest way to get to the kingdom.”Dolton exhales a long, frustrated sigh, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.
Jonathan’s hand brushes mine, a small gesture of comfort. “He’s right,” he says softly. “Your safety is what matters most.”Dolton nods, his expression grim but resolute. “We’ll get her to the kingdom, Sebastian. You won’t have to do this alone.”Sebastian doesn’t respond immediately. His jaw clenches, and his grip tightens on the steering wheel as the car races forward. Finally, he exhales sharply. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”The tension in the car is suffocating. Outside the window, the forest blurs past, dark and unyielding. The cries and howls have faded, but the fear they’ve left behind lingers like a shadow, wrapping around us and refusing to let go.The car barrels through the dense forest, the sound of the engine reverberating in the heavy silence of the day. The cries we heard earlier have faded, but the memory of them clings to me, chilling my bones. My heart races with every twist and turn of the rugged path, the bumpy ride only adding to my growing unease.Sebast
Celine’s POVThe tension is so thick it feels like a living thing pressing down on us. Sebastian’s sharp, focused expression says it all—he’s ready to order us back to the cars after that eerie, childlike laugh echoed through the trees. The sound doesn’t sit right in my chest, and the rustling nearby sends a shiver racing up my spine.I step toward the sound, curiosity overriding my better judgment. Pushing through the trees, I move cautiously, trying to make out the source of the noise. Behind me, I sense Sebastian, Dolton, and Jonathan following, their presence both reassuring and heavy with unspoken concern.As we press forward, weaving between ancient trees whose gnarled branches twist like claws, something comes into view that makes my breath catch.A cage.It’s large, rusted, and covered in creeping moss, like it’s been here for ages yet still serves a dark purpose. Inside is a creature so grotesque and unnatural that my body freezes in place. It has the form of a human, but its
Sebastian POVAs these thoughts swirl in my mind, I glance at Dolton, who’s been unusually quiet beside me. The weight of everything we’re facing is palpable. Breaking the silence, I suggest, “We should stop for a break. It’ll be the last one before we reach my kingdom. Celine’s shifter needs space and air to recover.”Taking out my phone, I type out a quick message to the guards, instructing them to find a safe location to rest. It’s a delicate task. Outside the kingdoms, there are still scattered towns and cities, remnants of a world left behind. Most of them are teeming with the exiled—dangerous, desperate beings. Some places might be safe enough to stop at, but many are not. Trusting the guards to make the right call, I tuck the phone away and let out a slow breath.Dolton breaks the silence, glancing at me. “Any idea what this Pantheromorph is supposed to look like?”I shake my head. “It’s only ever been mentioned in stories. The assumption is that it’s a combination of all her f
Sebastian POV“We have a bigger problem,” I say, breaking the silence. Dolton looks at me, his brow furrowed, waiting for me to elaborate. “Calling all the royals from each kingdom into one location? It’s risky. More than risky—it’s a disaster waiting to happen. If the Werewolf King is working with the exiled, they won’t need to take down the kingdoms individually. They’ll take us out in one stroke.”Dolton exhales sharply, sitting back against the seat. “You’re right. It’s the perfect opportunity for an ambush. Gather all the royals, their key leaders, and their guards in one place, and we’re practically handing them the kingdoms on a silver platter.”I nod, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. “We’d be fools to assume the Werewolf King hasn’t already thought of that. He’s been planning this for years, using his greed and cunning to sow discord. He won’t hesitate to strike if he sees the chance.”Dolton taps his fingers on the armrest, his eyes narrowing in thought. “Then
Sebastian POVThe journey back feels excruciatingly longer than the trip to our destination. Perhaps it’s the numerous stops we’ve made along the way, or maybe it’s the tension hanging in the air, pressing down on us like a heavy, invisible weight. Normally, we’d take to the skies—flying is quicker and less draining—but given the uncertainty of Joseph’s situation, we couldn’t risk leaving behind vehicles and supplies. The ground travel is necessary, but it stretches time in a way that gnaws at my patience.It’s been nearly twelve hours since Celine’s encounter at the lake. I glance over at her, fast asleep and curled up against Jonathan as he sleeps. Her breathing is soft and steady, her body relaxed, but even in sleep, there’s a vulnerability about her that stirs a protective instinct deep within me. Jonathan holds her carefully, almost reverently, as though he’s afraid to disturb her. It’s a sight that, surprisingly, doesn’t spark jealousy—just a quiet sense of relief. She’s stopped
Dolton POVJonathan, who has been uncharacteristically quiet, finally speaks. His voice carries a weight of apology. “I should have told you. I didn’t think it was important to say I was also Merfolk. I haven’t shifted into that form since I was a child, back when I stayed with my mother in the Fae Kingdom. I never intended to shift into it again. I had accepted that I was Fae, and only Fae.”His words hang in the air, heavy with regret and vulnerability. His gaze flicks between us, searching for understanding, though I can tell he’s bracing himself for judgment.I let out a sigh, my voice gentle but firm as I reply. “But you’re not only Fae, Jonathan. You never were.”The truth of it seems to land with him, his shoulders sagging slightly as if he’s finally acknowledging a part of himself he’s long suppressed. The room feels charged, the unspoken complexities of identity, loyalty, and belonging weaving through the space. Yet, in this moment, I can see something shifting in all of us—a
Dolton POVCeline is still trembling, her body giving away just how deeply shaken she is. I can’t blame her—we should have warned her. We should have told her that outside the protection of the kingdoms, the world isn’t just untamed; it’s downright dangerous. But we didn’t expect her to wander off, to venture into a space where these horrors lurk. The guilt gnaws at me, knowing we could have prevented this.The only silver lining is that she shifted. Her merfolk form was nothing short of breathtaking—silver and gold shimmering together in her tail. Not even the royal Merfolk can boast such a rare combination of colors. Typically, the royal families have distinct, unique features that set them apart, but none of them have the brilliance that she does. It’s like her very being is touched by the divine, a beacon of her status as the Queen Goddess.But even that marvel is overshadowed by what just happened. We returned to the car and found them gone. The moment I saw the empty space where
Celine POV“Not many can shift into both forms,” Sebastian says, breaking the silence, his voice thoughtful. “Usually, one side is more dominant than the other. Take Nischola, for example. She’s both dragon and wolf, but her wolf side prevailed. She can’t shift into her dragon form at all.”His words only deepen my confusion. “You’re saying Jonathan is unique?” I murmur, still trying to wrap my head around the revelation.Sebastian’s gaze sharpens as he turns back to Jonathan. “You are powerful. You yourself are rare—unique, even. Hiding either side of you isn’t just denying who you are; it’s punishing your shifter Jonthan. Do you know why the kingdoms separated in the first place? Because they couldn’t accept that some of their own could embody more than one kind of magic, more than one kind of being. If people embraced both sides of themselves, maybe the kingdoms wouldn’t despise each other as much as they do now.”Jonathan doesn’t respond immediately, but the weight of Sebastian’s