Sebastian POV “It seems these auctions are a recurring operation,” I say grimly. “We need to find where they’re held.”Max’s head dips slightly, his guilt apparent. “He didn’t tell me where, just that he was the highest bidder.”“Then that’s where we start,” I reply.Max stands, his shoulders slumping. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help,” he mutters before leaving the room.The door clicks shut, and Joseph speaks up for the first time in what feels like hours. “The King gave us permission to investigate and resolve issues, not to dig into his affairs. If we keep going and it turns out he’s involved, what then?”I meet his gaze, unflinching. “If the King is part of this, there will be war. Wolves against dragons.”Joseph’s jaw tightens. “So what’s the plan? Gather information, find Daisy, and leave the rest to her family? Are you really comfortable walking away, knowing children are being kidnapped and sold?”His words hang in the air, the weight of them settling heavily on all of us.
Celine POVAfter hearing everything Alpha Ian shared, a fire ignited within me—a burning need to help, to uncover the truth, and to make those responsible for such cruelty face the consequences. The thought of anyone willingly taking children and selling them like objects, stripped of freedom, treated as things instead of beings with rights, churns my stomach with anger.What sort of monster does this? The faces of the other children I had seen flash through my mind—faces filled with fear, hope extinguished. I clench my fists, the need for vengeance and justice boiling in my blood.The donations go back thirty years, long before I was even born. Could it be true that the King is somehow involved in this? The thought unsettles me deeply. A King’s duty is to protect his kingdom and his people, not to exploit them. How could someone in his position allow such darkness to fester under his rule?I place a worn piece of paper on the growing pile beside me, the facts and accusations swirling
Celine POV His chuckle vibrates against my lips as I fumble with the buttons of his shirt. “We should bathe,” he murmurs, his voice low and teasing, before his teeth nip gently at my lower lip.He’s right, as usual. The heat of the moment cools slightly, replaced with the desire to feel the water cleanse us both. I grasp his hand and tug him into the adjoining bathroom. Turning on the shower, I step under the cascade, pulling him in with me. The room is warm and steamy, the faint scent of lavender and cedar from the soaps lingering in the air. Before I can make a move, his arms encircle me, his broad chest pressing against my back, enveloping me in his warmth. The water cascades over us, its steady rhythm a soothing backdrop as he takes a cloth and begins to wash me. His movements are deliberate, almost reverent. One hand holds the cloth as it glides across my shoulders, down my arms, and over my back.His other hand finds its way to my neck, holding me gently but firmly in place,
Sebastian POVThe moment we arrived at Eloune City, the atmosphere shifted. The sprawling, chaotic streets buzzed with life, but it wasn’t the comforting hum of a thriving community—it was an undercurrent of danger, of tension waiting to snap. The kind of place where you couldn’t trust the shadows or the smiles.None of us stepped out of the cars immediately. This wasn’t the kind of city to take chances in, especially with a group like ours. Royals and guards tend to attract attention, and not the good kind. I scanned the streets through the tinted windows. People moved in clusters, their eyes sharp and mistrusting.“We’ve got a few locations to check,” Celine says, breaking the heavy silence. Her voice is bright, almost hopeful, and when I turn to look at her, she is smiling faintly. She has been reading through the information we gathered, piecing together possible leads.“It’s not about just knowing where to go,” I reply, my voice low. “It’s about keeping you safe. Places like this.
Sebastian POV This is a place where shadows thrive, and we are stepping right into the darkness.This city operates by its own rules, a shadowy underworld where anything illegal is not just tolerated but thrives. Every step here feels precarious, and I’m on edge as we step into the shop. I keep Celine close, my hand resting protectively on her lower back as my eyes scan the room.The shop’s interior is as grimy as the city itself, dimly lit with flickering overhead lights that buzz faintly. Shelves line the walls, cluttered with all manner of strange and unidentifiable objects. The air smells stale, with a faint metallic tang that makes my nostrils flare.At the counter sits Austin, a wiry man with sharp eyes that flicker with intelligence—and greed. He rises slowly, his movements deliberate, a sly smile spreading across his face.“King Sebastian,” he drawls, his tone both mocking and intrigued. “Not who I expected to walk into my fine establishment.” He chuckles, leaning on the count
Celine POVWe arrived at a private hotel, a quiet, unassuming place where questions weren’t asked and privacy was paramount. The staff didn’t so much as blink as we checked in, their professionalism masking any curiosity they might have had. After a modest meal and a brief moment of calm, we began to prepare.Sebastian had tried everything to obscure my identity—to mask my scent, dampen my aura—but nothing seemed to work. My unique essence, the unmistakable mark of who I was, lingered stubbornly. His frustration was evident, though he tried to hide it behind reassuring words.“It will be fine,” I whisper as we step out. “We just have to trust this will be enough.”His eyes meet mine, steady but laced with worry. “Just stay close,” he says, his tone firm.“I know,” I reply softly. “Stay close. Don’t wander off. Don’t ask anything too obvious.”He gives a small, tight smile, but the worry doesn’t leave his expression. “I’m just trying to keep you safe,” he murmurs as we join the growing
Celine POV The first page of the book I hold is a photograph of a woman, captured as if she were an object on display. Beneath her image is a list of attributes, each detail meticulously cataloged to appeal to potential buyers. The entire thing makes my stomach churn. How much of myself had been reduced to something similar when I was sold? What did my page say?The thought gnaws at me, a dark curiosity I can’t suppress. Part of me wants to rip through every book in this room until I find it—to see what they wrote about me.“Don’t,” Sebastian’s voice cuts through my thoughts. He gently takes the book from my hands, his touch firm but careful. “Try not to get caught up in things that won’t change anything now,” he murmurs, his tone gentle, but his words strike a nerve.He’s wrong. It matters to me.Before I can respond, a voice booms across the room.“This is your ten-minute warning before the auction begins,” a man announces from the stage. His tone is smooth, almost cheerful, as if t
Dolton POVThe sharp knock on the door yanks me out of a restless sleep, my heart hammering in my chest. I groan, dragging myself upright, each movement weighed down by the ache that’s been my constant companion since she was taken. The pain isn’t just physical—it’s the raw, unrelenting agony of being severed from her, my mate. I thought holding onto the bond without rejection was the right thing to do, a way to keep her connected to me. But now I wonder if she’s enduring this same torment.How is she coping? Does she even know I’m still searching?“What?” I bark toward the door, my voice hoarse, and it creaks open to reveal Asline standing there, her expression a mixture of hesitation and resolve.“Alpha Dolton,” she says, dipping her head slightly in deference. “There’s still no confirmation whether she’s being sold tonight.”I exhale sharply, the weight of the news settling over me like a suffocating blanket. Of course, there isn’t. It’s always the same—the thread of hope dangled ju
Celine POVThe scent of smoke clings to the air, thick and heavy, curling around the burning remains of the witches who once guarded the entrance. Sebastian’s fire still flickers along the stone walls, casting jagged shadows across the courtyard. The air hums with the cries of dying enemies, the clash of steel, the low snarls of shifters tearing through their targets.I stay low, my wings tucked close, my magic thrumming beneath my skin. The witches and their allies are focused on the battle outside, their attention locked on the forces tearing through their defenses. They expect more warriors, more fire, more brute force.They don’t expect me. I step forward and let the shadows take me. My body dissolves into darkness, the world s
Sebastian POVKing Thorne is the first to speak, his sharp Fae eyes flicking over each of us before settling on me. “You’re finally ready.”Celine steps forward, her voice steady. “We attack before first light.”Ulrich grunts, cracking his knuckles. “Good. We’ve been waiting.”Sereia’s silver eyes flick toward the map laid across the war table, the markers indicating the enemy stronghold, where the witches, the exiled, and the kidnapped children are being held. “Scouts have confirmed the layout. The children are in the lower chambers, heavily guarded.”Aarmon chuckles darkly. “Of course they are. They know we’re coming for them.”I step up to the table, my claws scraping lightly against the wood as I look at the map. “Then we go in fast. No drawn-out fight. We take the children first, eliminate resistance, and burn the rest to the ground.”Dolton’s growl rumbles low in his chest. “No survivors.”Celine’s golden eyes narrow. “None.”A heavy silence settles over the room, the weight of
Sebastian’s POVHelios is still in control.I can feel him, his raw need, his possessiveness, his complete refusal to loosen his grip on Celine. It isn’t just instinct driving him now. It’s something deeper, something stronger.I had let him take control. I had given him the power willingly, but something happened.Something shifted, and now I can’t take it back.My mind pushes, clawing against the barrier keeping me locked away while Helios holds her, while he moves inside her, while he claims her again and again. He is lost in her, drunk on her, and I know this isn’t just about pleasure.It’s obsession.He missed her. He has waited too long to have her, to feel her wrapped around us, and now that he has her, he doesn’t want to let go. Even now that he's finished, he's still holding her.I grit my teeth, fighting against the wall that shouldn’t be here. I should be able to take control whenever I want, should be able to force him back. But this time, something is different.This time
Celine POVSnarling, Julius' claws tightening on my hips as he begins to move, his pace deep and unrelenting, but perfectly timed with Helios. Every thrust pushes me further into the Helios grip, forcing me to feel both of them taking me together.“Fuck,” Julius growls, his voice strained as he pulls back and thrusts in again. “She’s squeezing both of us so damn tight.”Helios groans, his tail coiling tighter, his golden eyes locked onto mine. “She was made for this,” he mutters, his thrusts slow, deliberate, making sure I feel the fullness of them inside me. “Made for us.”Jonathan’s hands slide over my stomach, his breath warm against my ear. He hasn’t moved in yet, but his touch sends shivers through me, his fingers teasing, stroking, adding to the overwhelming sensation consuming me. “She’s already trembling,” he murmurs, his lips brushing my shoulder. "She can take more though."Helios growls, but it’s softer this time, less of a challenge and more of an acknowledgment. His golde
Celine POVI see it, the moment Helios snaps and can't hold backHis claws dig into my thighs as he yanks me away from Julius, dragging me into his arms, his grip unrelenting. “You belong to me first,” he snarls, pressing his mouth to mine, his tongue claiming, punishing, and devouring. His body is hot, burning against me, his scales rough where they meet my skin, but I welcome the intensity, the overwhelming force of his need.Julius snarls behind us, but Helios doesn’t care. He never does. He’s obsessed, feral, and he’ll always have me first.His tail wraps around my leg, pulling me closer, his grip tightening as he positions me exactly how he wants. “You’re mine,” he growls again, and then he thrusts into me, forcing a sharp cry from my lips as he stretches me, fills me, and claims me.Jonathan and Julius growl, their own need growing, but Helios doesn’t rush. He takes his time, dragging his tongue along my throat, his claws gripping my hips as he moves, slow at first, but quickly
Celine POVThe taste of blood still lingers on my tongue, thick and metallic, but my body feels stronger. The gnawing hunger that had dulled my senses is gone, replaced by a steady warmth spreading through my limbs. I hate needing this, but I can’t deny the difference it makes.Walking, Sebastian stays beside me as we return to the war room, his gaze flicking toward me every so often like he is assessing my strength. He doesn’t say anything, but I can feel the satisfaction rolling off him. He knows I needed that.Aarmon steps ahead, pushing open the doors. The room is quieter than before, the tension eased slightly as plates of food have been brought in. The gathered rulers and generals are eating, drinking, taking what little time they have before the mission begins.Leaning back in his chair, Jonathan smiles, a piece of bread in his hand, smirking as he sees me. “You look less like you’re about to fall over.”I sigh, sitting down beside him as Sebastian moves to his usual place. “I
Sebastian POVThe moment I step out of the room, the weight of command settles back onto my shoulders. The warmth of Celine’s body, the way she melted between us, the way she whispered my name in the dark, all of it fades into the background.Now, there is only war.I move through the halls with purpose, my mind already cataloging everything that needs to be done. The fortress is alive with movement, warriors gearing up, leaders gathering, the tension thick in the air. This is not like past battles. This is the beginning of something far greater.Jonathan and Dolton fall into step beside me, both of them shifting back into the roles they were born for. Jonathan’s sharp mind, Dolton’s brute force. We do not need to speak. We all know what needs to be done.I push open the doors to the war chamber where the supernatural rulers are already waiting. The map of the Shadowlands is spread across the table, marked with points of interest, potential enemy strongholds, and scouting routes.King
Celine POVI watch as Sebastian’s fingers tighten on my thighs as he parts them wider, his golden eyes burning with hunger. Behind me, Dolton grips my waist, his chest flush against my back, his breath hot against my ear. There’s no hesitation between them, no moment of pause. They know exactly what they want.Slowly, Jonathan strokes a hand down my stomach, his lips trailing kisses across my shoulder before he bites down just enough to make my body jolt. “We’re done teasing,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my skin.Dolton groans, his grip on my waist tightening as he presses me back against him, his body already hard, already demanding. “Then let’s take her properly.”Smirking, Sebastian's hands glide lower as he positions himself between my legs. “She’s more than ready for us.”I barely have time to catch my breath before he pushes inside, stretching me, filling me. A sharp gasp escapes me as pleasure crashes through me, my body already sensitive from their mouths, from the way
Celine POVSebastian leads me away from the war room, his hand warm against mine as we step into the quieter halls of the fortress. Jonathan and Dolton follow closely behind, their presence a steady weight against the chaos waiting for us outside these walls. For the first time since everything started, it’s just us.Sebastian doesn’t speak as he guides me deeper into the fortress. The walls shift from the grandeur of the council chambers to something older, something untouched by battle. The door he pushes open leads to a dimly lit chamber, warmed by the glow of a low fire. It’s quiet. Safe.I exhale slowly, my body finally relaxing, but my mind refuses to. The moment we step into the room, the tension shifts. The world outside is full of war, but in here, there is only heat, only them.Sebastian moves first, his hands gripping my waist as he tugs me toward him, his lips already on my throat. He knows exactly where to kiss, exactly where to press his tongue to make my breath hitch. H