Asteria POV.This was a bad idea. The last time I was at Carter’s home was when I found him fucking both Sephone and Bethany. I stop at the front door as the rest pile inside. Carter looks at me from the door and comes closer to me.“I know this is difficult for you after the last time you were here. I understand why you don’t want to come inside. The interior is no longer the same. I had everything remodelled. I had everything removed from what happened that night. If you want, we can go to my other house, but it isn’t finished yet.” He says and I take a deep breath and walk forward and through the door. I can’t let what happened in this very house affect me anymore.I walk inside and I’m shocked to see the changes. The only things that are the same are the floor to ceiling windows facing the ocean. Everything else has been changed. The living room has a huge built in fish tank and the room is painted in delicate colours of soft greys. Originally it was white, sterile. The art work l
Asteria POV.Jerome and Dani left a couple of hours ago. It is nearly time to go. I am standing on the balcony overlooking the calm waters of Moonlight Cove.“You ok?” I nod my head as I watch the water. The moon reflecting off the surface of the water.“Yeah, we need to get ready.” I tell him as he stands next to me. We both stand in silence for a while. He leans on the railing, matching my stance.“Everything will be ok. We get in and out. We will get what we are there for and then we can put this behind us.” He says and I just nod my head with a small pout on my lips, deep in thought. I stand up straight and close my eyes, and take a few deep breaths to calm myself down.“Let’s get this over with.” I say as I turn and walk back inside the mansion, seeing the wolves ready to leave.“Does everyone remember the plan?” I say and all eyes turn to me and they nod their heads. I look at Artemis and she nods once. I smirk at her.“Fenrir will open the portal for Artemis and I first, not fa
Asteria POV.I chuckle to myself, seeing him standing beside her. I look at him, then to her, and smile.“Well, isn’t this cosy? I’m sure General Collins will love this. So tell me. Sorry I didn’t get your name the last time I saw you.” I say as I move further into the room, my siren senses picking up on more movement, but I don’t take my eyes off him.“Whatever your name is, it is not relevant. You can betray your commanders and your country, but that is what humans do, yes? They always betray their own.” I say as I stop with my feet apart and my trident at my side. The wolves and my people slowly fan out, surrounding them.“You will pay for what you did.” He points at me, raising his gun and I tilt my head to the side.“What I did? I don’t even know who you are to even offend you. But no matter.” I shrug and he becomes twitchy when Maria holds her hand up and he relaxes.“You killed her!” he shouts at me and I sigh loudly, like this is boring me, but all it does is make him angry, w
Asteria POV.Walking through the headquarters of the Supernatural Council, I head to the prison under the building. This place would usually hold the most dangerous of shifter criminals. I should have been here, but the Supernatural Council never caught me.I walk with confidence as I unlock the door using my retina scan and hand print. The door unlocks and I walk inside.The glass cells line both sides of the room. The room is white, clean and sterile. These cells are strong enough to hold a dragon. So two weak humans won’t be able to break free. Each cell is enchanted with magic and the glass is unbreakable. The only way in or out is if a member of the Supernatural Council opens them. Each cell has hidden cameras. Plus the cameras in the hallway. This place has been dubbed the Eerie. Completely impregnable.I walk past cell after cell and stop as I look to the right and see Maria, then to the left and see the soldier in the one opposite hers. However, Maria is next to a rogue werewo
Asteria POV.I swim for hours to clear my head, but I can still hear the screams of the dead. The wails of their children. I can’t keep running. I need to face my crimes. Being made a human was not enough. They need their justice. They need their retribution for what I have done.I find myself in the water outside Carter’s mansion. I look up and the mansion is dark. I move to the beach and drag myself up and allow the shift to take hold. I sit in the sand and look out over the horizon as the sun begins to rise. I bring my knees to my chest and hug myself.I sigh, not knowing what to do with this. Am I justified in what I have done? I always thought I was, but now I don’t think I was.“Hey, how long have you been out here?” I turn and see Carter approach from the balcony and I offer him a small smile as I turn and face the rising sun again.“Not long. I hope I didn’t disturb you?” I say as I watch the sky change colour from black, dark blue to pale sky blue with reds, oranges, and pink
Carter POV.I can hear and feel the pain Asteria is in as she talks about what has happened to the sirens over the years. It is heartbreaking that all this started because she helped the humans, but they were greedy and wanted more.She looks at me and I move towards her and pull her into a kiss, cradling her head to my chest as she sobs. Asteria holds the weight of the world on her shoulders and is filled with guilt for what has happened, not just to the sirens, but to the humans.“You did what you thought was right. You saved your people, and you have been at war for a long time. There will always be casualties in war. You can’t blame yourself for all of it. The massacre wasn’t your fault. That was on Sephone.” I say to her and she pulls away and looks up at me.“But Shanti’s death is on me and every siren that has died is on me. Even the sirens that were massacred. I am the queen. It falls on my shoulders. Going to war with the humans has done nothing but cause more death and more
Asteria POV.I wake up, and it is dark. I stretch and yawn, blinking to clear my vision. Hearing voices coming from the office upstairs, I stand and wrap the blanket around me as I make my way up the stairs and the voices grow louder and I smile, knowing who they are.My father, uncle, and Selene. It is a meeting of the Gods. I snort with a chuckle as I move closer to the door.“Come in Asteria.” I hear my father’s booming voice and I open the door and stand there. All eyes in the room look at me. Carter moves towards me when Hades scoops me up in his arms.“There she is, my little devil fish. How was your sleep?” he chuckles and Carter growls at him, but Hades being Hades ignores him and sits down and I cuddle him. Hades, even though he is feared, he is a big softy at heart.“I slept fine. What are you all doing here?” I ask and he lets me move to sit next to him when my father approaches and squats down, taking my hands in his.“We are here to help. I know what you are planning on d
Asteria POV.It has been nearly a week since the truth was revealed to me and it has done nothing to ease the guilt I hold in my heart.The conference is tomorrow. But I don’t feel right about it. Something is off. I can’t put my finger on it.I have been staying with Carter in my room and it is like I never left and we never had all that drama. It has been nice. I have stayed hidden because the military is looking for me because I never reported back to them after we took Maria and Garett.But from what I have watched on the TV, the military has been called to the conference as well. They are wanting to discuss the attacks and how the shifters are a threat. Which is my doing.Carter has been working speaking to important people. People I don’t know and I won’t concern myself with them. This conference is happening this year in this country, so with the help of Fenrir and Gaia, we will portal there with the prisoners and all the evidence of the laws they have broken. My father, Hades,
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