Asteria POV.Standing on the beach, the same beach I was captured from. I look around for any signs of Bethany, but I can’t see her anywhere.I take a few steps forward before I look at the water and shake my head. The only way out of here is up at the road. I look up towards the road, but I don’t see her or anyone, for that matter.I sigh before I turn and move towards the rock formations and sit down. I know there is also a cave not too far from here. I doubt she has gone there. If anything, she should be here, but if it was over thirty minutes ago, she will be long gone.I look back at the water again and I have a feeling that I’m being watched. I sit here for a little while longer just as I hear the screech of tyres on the road and Carter shouting my name. Great, I don’t need him here. Doesn’t he understand the reason I’m acting like this is to protect him? For fuck’s sake!“Asteria! Are you ok?” he comes running towards me and I look up at the sky. Having to keep up this façade i
Asteria POV.Gaia and Fenrir have both come to check in with me and I know they have spoken to Carter, but I don’t ask how he is. I know he isn’t ok, and that kills me further, but it is for the best.“Any news on Bethany?” I ask and Gaia looks at Fenrir and they both shake their heads in a no!“She has to be somewhere. No-one can just disappear like that, especially a human. What do we know so far?” I ask as my kitchen has become HQ for operation find and kill Bethany Patterson.“Nothing. She hasn’t made herself known since that day. Which is really strange. Why did she make herself known and then disappear on the beach?” Gaia says and I try to rack my brain as to why.“She isn’t alone in this little revenge mission. She isn’t strong enough to take me down on her own. The military has no need for her. So she must have someone who is willing to help her, otherwise she wouldn’t have had the balls to go to find Carter in the first place.” I say as I look at both Gaia and Fenrir.Fenrir
Carter POV.Something is telling me to head to the cove and against my better judgement, I go. And it’s a damn good thing I did.I get out of the car and see Asteria walking along the shoreline when I look from her and see a siren in the water. I gasp and move as I watch Asteria enter the water as this new siren moves closer to her. She has platinum blonde hair. Her skin is pale, but I can see the sheen of scales on her exposed skin and face.The scent of blood hits me, and I feel pain in my stomach. My eyes widen when I realise this siren has just hurt Asteria. I move fast as I stumble to see Asteria leave the water, her hands covered in blood as it drips from her stomach.She drops to the sand and chokes as I run towards her. I look at the siren in the water, who has a sinister grin on her face. She shrieks before she dives and I see a silver fin leave the water as I reach Asteria, her eyes closed.“Asteria, stay awake. Stay with me.” I look down at where her hands are and blood is
Asteria POV.That damn beeping better fuck off! I open my eyes with great effort and panic, as I can’t breathe properly. My eyes go wide as I choke, feeling something in my throat. I cough and choke and I grab it and panic. There is a tube in my mouth.The beeping gets louder and faster as I pull. It hurts, tears leave my eyes as I keep pulling until it is out and I cough and wheeze. I take a big lung full of air and look around the room as the door bursts open and in comes Carter, Fenrir, and Gaia. I choke on my tears as Carter moves to me and I hold my arms out for him and he holds me.“Shh, it’s ok. You’re alive. Breathe Asteria.” His scent calms me, and I follow his instructions. When the beeping slows down.I move from him and see the tears in his eyes and I don’t think I just act. I pull him closer to me and kiss him.Tears leave my eyes and I can taste them on my lips as I deepen the kiss. He moves away from me and strokes my cheek before he places his forehead against mine.My
Asteria POV.It has been three weeks since I woke up from being in a damn coma and I am still recovering but the Dr reluctantly allowed me to return home. But not my home, not my cosy little cabin, but into Carter’s care.He has been working from home and I have been slowly regaining my strength, which is next to nothing. I’m still sore and tired. The Dr will not clear me for travel until I am close to 100% better. Which at the moment will take a few more weeks.Currently laying on the sofa watching some show I can’t do this. I need to get out and become stronger. According to the Dr and Carter that I need more rest, but how can one be so damn tired? When all I do is rest? It is not logical in the slightest.“Hey, do you want a drink?” I look at the voice and I smile.“No thanks Dani, if I drink anymore, I will be peeing from the world.” I say with a chuckle and I wince. Danielle and Jerome have been here every day since I came back here and we have become good friends.It is strange
Asteria POV.I hear a shriek from the water, I climb out of bed and move towards the balcony. Looking out I see Artemis standing on the sand. I smile as I open the door quietly not to wake Carter and creep out to see her.“Artemis, any news?” I ask her, and she moves towards me and hugs me.“I have left the colony. I am seeking allies for us to take her down because she has declared war. The ones I have spoken to so far are willing to help us. They do not know her. They are loyal to you.” I nod in understanding as we sit down and I look out over the water.“How many?” I ask and she sighs.“So far, 10,000.” I smile and nod my head. The total population of sirens is over 200,000.“How likely are the others to join our fight?” I ask her, not knowing what is happening is killing me.“The main colony is with you, but they are staying quiet. The others are not so sure. They know she never challenged you officially, and I have made it known that once you return, if they abandon you by suppor
Asteria POV.Leaving the pack, I can’t help but feel sad and somewhat betrayed by Perla, but then again, isn’t this what I deserve?“It will be ok. We will get answers and you will take your place once more.” Carter says from beside me as we drive towards the airport. Another thing that is worrying me, I’ve never flown before. Well, that is a lie I have, but that was on a dragon and it scared the shit out of me. Damn Dragus, thinking he was being funny.“This is my fault. Everything that is happening right now is my fault. Don’t worry about it.” I say as I look out of the window and close my eyes, thinking about what I will do if my father refuses to speak to me. I know the temple is not far from Athena’s but still, if he doesn’t answer me, what can I do? I can’t take on a siren in my human form. I will be killed in seconds.“Hey look at me. None of this is your fault. We will make it right, ok?” he takes my hand and kisses the back of it. Gods, why is he so, so understanding? No, I w
Carter POV.Her pupils are blown wide, only seeing a slight violet around the edges. I smile at her as I kiss her again. She moans into it, arching up off the bed.My hands roam over her exposed skin, down her stomach, stopping on the still healing wound. I pull back and look down at it and then up at her.“I don’t want to hurt you.” I say and she pulls me back down, kissing me slower this time.“You won’t.” She whimpers. Her legs wrap around me again as they tighten around my waist. I cage her in so I’m not causing her pain.I kiss down her chin to the column of her throat and she moans as my tongue moves to the place that will once more hold my mark; I nibble and suck hard and she moans louder, arching up off the bed once more. My hand reaches for her breast and I squeeze it over the fabric of her bra. I lift off her completely as she pants her raven hair sprayed out around her as she sits forward and unclips the bar and I gently yet teasingly pull the straps down slowly from her sh
Carter POV.18 Months later.Coming back to the surface after being in my siren form for a few months was strange. Not much had changed, but still it was weird.“It would be the same if you were stuck in Lycan form for that amount of time.” Lykos had said to me when it was taking me a little bit longer to adjust to being back on two legs. But here we are sitting watching the two most important women in our lives.“Lykos, we are truly blessed. Look at them both.” I say with a big smile on my face as we watch Asteria chase after Ione in the palace gardens. Both are wearing matching outfits. Lykos purrs watching our mate and daughter playing.When we came back, everyone was shocked to see not only how much Ione had grew and changed but also the change in myself. I have bulked up in the water. But not overly bulky.I watch as Asteria runs away from Ione, and she chases her mom. With Set beside her, the second we got home, Set pounced on them both. Ione has said she remembers him and so
Asteria POV.“Swim Carter, she is right on your tail.” I shout from the top of the abyss as the meg gains on him. It has been two months since Carter’s and Ione’s training began.I watch as the meg slams her jaws shut as he picks up speed. That was close. The rest of us move along the top, watching the test play out.Carter swims and stops turning. What is he doing? I look at Artemis and she looks at me. When I see him throw the trident towards the meg. She rolls to the side, avoiding it. She gains speed and my eyes widen. When she slams into him and I go to stop it when Artemis holds me back.“Look!” she says and I wait for the sand and debris to settle when I slowly smile, seeing Carter has his hands on her snout. She is wiggling her fin to move forward, but he isn’t budging.Carter has grown in size, strength, and speed. He is a great hunter and fighter.He shoves hard, and she flies back, shaking her head. He moves like a bullet and lands blows to her gills and she roars. Swimming
Asteria POV.It has been a few days since the wedding and the crowning ceremony. The celebration ended yesterday and I’m glad it did.There are only so many times you can shake hands and give kisses before you become tired of it.Selene and Lycaon congratulated us both, and I decided it was high time we drew a line in the sand and move forward without the hostility. Grated the hostility came from me, but still it was time to move forward.Zeus was still a prick and that will never change. Even though it has been just over a week since I gave birth to Ione, she is a lot bigger now and crawling. I wasn’t kidding when I said sirens grow quicker.We think once she hits a few years old in siren time that she will slow her growth down. Last thing we want to come back from her training and her being an adult.Today we start her training, and Fenrir will be in charge alongside Lycaon. Carter enters the bedroom carrying an excited Ione. She has been swimming in her siren form in the bath. We a
Asteria POV.The elders have been on my ass today, and I’m ready to flip out. According to them, it is not traditional for the luna queen to not wear a ballgown! I laughed at the dress.Even Artemis and my mother laughed as I stood there is this dress that looks all puffy and it’s tight around my chest and neck. Gaia counted the layers to this cloud like dress and counted twenty. I look like a fairy. It’s red and gold and really puffy, as Gaia said. I don’t like it.It weighs a tonne too. When I told the elders, I don’t like it that it wasn’t comfortable; they sneered at me, muttering I was a savage, so I did the only thing I could. I tore it to shreds. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t sit down, and I couldn’t fit through the damn door. Being called a savage was the final straw. So I showed them how savage I could be.So here I am with my females around me as they get me ready. My long, wavy raven hair is down flowing against my lower back. I have my coral crown on my head adorned with
Carter POV.Watching Asteria assert her dominance is always fun to watch. He did deserve it and she is right. Even I didn’t like the way he was looking at Ione. If Asteria hadn’t stepped in to protect her when she did, I would have killed him. Lykos was on the verge of shifting when she put him and the others in their place.The bedroom we are in is nice. The wealth of the Lycans is evident. However, it is pretentious. Yes, I have mansions and top of the line supercars, but this. There is too much gold and reds. I get it furnishings fit for a king and his queen, but this is not what I’m comfortable with and, by the looks of it, neither is Asteria.I understand the palace is filled with history but I would like to make some adjustments, but I doubt the elders will be too pleased with that. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice, but it’s too much.Asteria is standing on the balcony that looks out over the kingdom and beyond that, the ocean. Ione is having a nap and so it is just the two of us f
Asteria POV.Walking the path towards the Lycan Palace. It hits me that the palace is shielded from the world using an illusion spell. But this is the royal pack.The palace sits in the middle with houses surrounding it, similar to a packhouse. Wolves and Lycans leave their homes to see what is happening as Carter and I, plus our entourage, walk towards the palace.I keep my head high as Carter carries Ione. The wolves and Lycans bow as we pass, showing their respect to us. My eyes connect with a few and they bow lower. We walk up the steps to the palace and come face to face with what I can only assume are the elders.They bow in respect as Fenrir moves closer to us.“Welcome home your majesty, we’re thrilled that you are here.” One of the dusty old men says not acknowledging me. I ignore the disrespect because if I was to act on it, then he would die.I ignore their conversation as I look around, surveying everything when Carter takes my hand, pulling me out of what I’m doing.“Plea
Asteria POV.There hasn’t been a day of peace since before Ione has been born. Now don’t get me wrong, I love seeing everyone, but is it too much to ask for us just to have time together with just the three of us? The only time we get to ourselves is when it’s bedtime.“Fen, just the man I wanted to see,” Carter says as the wolves take their seats and coo over Ione.“Oh-oh, that sounds ominous. What can I do for you both?” Fen asks with a chuckle and I roll my eyes as I lay Ione on my legs. Her feet against my tummy, as I gently sway my knees from side to side as I make silly faces at her, earning me big giggles from her.“We need your help with running the kingdom, well, looking after the kingdom for a couple of months. Ione will begin her training before the end of next week, and I need to be with both her and Asteria. So, would be the interim ruler while we are away?” Carter asks, and I look up at Fen and smile at him.“I will only do it if I get Ione cuddles.” He says as he stands
Carter POV.Words can’t describe what I had witnessed. The birth of my daughter Ione. Asteria handled it like a pro and I now have more respect for the females in the world. It was scary when she started to death roll, but then she pulled Ione free.I saw her tail before Asteria did; I know she was panicked that Ione may not shift. So she didn’t notice that little detail before she took off like a bat out of hell to get to the surface.But here we are in the living room with a sleeping Ione in my arms. Asteria is back to normal. She appears to be stronger than before. She is breastfeeding her but also supplementing her with blended fish. Gross, I know, but sirens feed their children differently. Hence why they are born with teeth and talons.We have had so many visitors over the past few days and Ione has taken it all in her stride. She is a dream, though. She never cries and Asteria said it’s because siren babies don’t cry. She is content and happy. Lykos is in love with her the same
Asteria POV.I wake up in the night wincing in pain. Trying to get comfortable is a nightmare. Odessa has told me she is low in my pelvis, but I knew that already she has been for a while now.I pull myself up and shuffle to the end of the bed and place my feet on the ground and stand. I’m exhausted, but nature calls. I hold my bump with one hand and the wall with the other as I make my way to the bathroom.I’m out of breath and I feel like I’ve run a damn marathon in flip-flops. I move to the toilet and do my business and wash my hands.A low pain spreads across my belly and I brace my hands on the vanity, my chin tucked as I breathe in through my nose and slowly out of my mouth until it passes. Once it does, I stand up straight. I look at the bath in the mirror.I turn slowly and move towards it and turn the water on. Placing the plug in. I strip down. And climb in as the bath fills.Leaning my head back, I place my hands on my bump that pokes out of the water and I hum, the song wa