Celine POVThe stronghold hums with movement as we prepare the children to leave.The ones who have already been placed, the Fae-born, the merfolk, the dragons, the vampires, and the bear shifters, stand in organized groups, waiting for their escorts to take them back to their respective kingdoms. Their faces are still uncertain, but for the first time, there’s a sense of direction.A purpose.King Thorne and Queen Nymia stand with the children meant for the Fae Kingdom, speaking softly to them, their presence far more reassuring than Jonathan’s ever could be. This is their responsibility. These children were stolen from their lands, and now it’s up to them to welcome them back.The vampire-born children stand slightly apart from the others, their postures stiff, their red-tinted eyes flickering toward Aarmon. They recognize him. Whether as one of their own or as someone who holds power, it’s hard to tell.Aarmon exhales and finally steps toward them. “You’ll be taken back to the Vamp
JonathanThe tension in the war room is thick, the air heavy with unspoken concerns. Everyone is here, the remaining royals, the strongest warriors, Celine, all of us. The weight of the next decision presses down on us all.Sebastian leans forward, his eyes sharp as he speaks. “We can’t afford to walk into this blind. The Werewolf King has been preparing for this far longer than we have, and we need to be ready for anything.”Aarmon crosses his arms, his expression unreadable. “We already saw what Celine’s power can do. If it works again, there won’t need to be a fight.”Thorne exhales slowly, tapping his fingers against the edge of the stone table. “And if it doesn’t?”Silence stretches. It’s the question none of us want to ask, but we have to.Celine shifts slightly, her gaze flicking to Thorne. “I don’t know how it works yet. I don’t know if it’s something I can force or if it will work the same way it did before.”Alaric lets out a deep rumble of a sigh. “We can’t rely on just one
JonathanThe conversation shifts quickly. Now that the decision is made, we plan for it.Sebastian straightens, his eyes scanning over us. “The children staying with us can’t be left behind, but we can’t have them in the middle of this either.”Celine nods. “They’ll travel in a separate vehicle, at a distance. Close enough that we can reach them if anything happens, but far enough that they aren’t caught in the fight.”Ulrich crosses his arms. “Who will guard them?”“Some of Sebastian’s men,” I answer. “Handpicked warriors who won’t leave their side. They’ll be under strict orders, protect, don’t engage.” I don't trust others soldiers, Sebastian's men will follow him, and the other royals, they are still skeptical about the children.Dolton shifts slightly, his eyes darkening. “Leif stays with us.”Sebastian exhales, clearly expecting this. “Fine,” he says. “But he stays in the car. With the guards.”Dolton’s jaw tightens. “I should be with him.”“You will be,” Celine says before Seba
CelineThe tension in the room still lingers, heavy with the weight of everything we’ve planned. The children are leaving, the warriors are preparing, and soon, we will move to end this war.I feel him, a stronge presence behind, warm, powerful, and consuming. I feel the sharp press of teeth against my neck. A slow, deliberate bite. Not enough to hurt, but enough to claim.“Mine.” The word is a low growl, vibrating against my skin, and immediately, I know it’s not Sebastian. It’s Helios.I inhale sharply, my body tensing, but before I can speak, he moves. His arm wraps around my waist, firm. Guiding me away.The others are still deep in conversation, too focused to notice. No one stops us as he leads me out of the room, his grip steady, purposeful.I glance back at him as we move through the halls, but his golden eyes are dark, Helios is in control, and he’s not letting go. By the time we reach a quieter room, the air between us is thick, and electric.The door shuts behind us with a
Celine POVI am completely at his mercy, and the realization sends another surge of desire coursing through me. He must sense it, because his rhythm changes, becomes more urgent. The ridges along his length hit places inside me that make stars burst behind my eyelids.“Look at me,” he demands, and I force my heavy lids open to meet his gaze. The intensity I find there steals what little breath remains in my lungs. “I want to see your eyes when you shatter for me again.”His tail slides between our bodies, finding that sensitive bundle of nerves with unerring precision. The triple sensation, his cock filling me, his scales against my skin, the tip of his tail circling my clit, is overwhelming. His tail moves again and I whine“Helios,” I gasp, feeling myself climbing toward another peak. “Please—” His hand drops between us, his fingers rubbing against my clit. Before I can process much, I feel his tail snake around my leg, the tip of his tail pushes into my ass.“Yes,” he hisses, his g
SebastianI exhale sharply, forcing the tension out of my body. Now isn’t the time to dwell on this.“Shift,” I tell Celine, stepping back fully. “We need to go.”She hesitates for only a moment before nodding. Shadows ripple around her as she shifts into her Fae form, her wings unfurling with an elegant snap. Even now, after everything that just happened, she looks calm, in control.I wish I could say the same. I move toward the door, but my mind is already pulling apart the pieces of what just happened.Helios took control again, and this time, I wasn’t aware of anything. That hasn’t happened since Ember Season. I try to reach back, to remember anything from the past hours, but it’s empty. A void.It wasn’t like before, when I could fight Helios for control. When I could at least see what he was doing, even if I couldn’t stop him. This time, I was completely gone.It was just him, and I only came back when Celine said my name. The t
CelineThe 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.
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,&