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,
Asteria POV.Waking in the middle of the night, my skin is tight and itchy. The fabric of the quilt is irritating my skin further and I want to rip my skin off. I climb out of bed and head to the bathroom. Turning on the shower to the coldest setting, I step under.My skin sings as the icy water cascades down my body. The itch is now dull. I rest my head against the tiled wall. My skin prickles with each movement. It feels like thousands of needles piercing my skin and I need relief. My talons extend and my teeth turn to sharp points.But it hurts, and it has never hurt before. This is a definite sign of the mating season. I need my paste. I keep the shower running but step out and run towards the balcony and grab the jars. Hearing hisses coming from the water. I turn and look and see male sirens in the water.My eyes widen as I back away slowly into the room. I close the door and lock it. My hands shake and my knees buckle under me. I sit there and watch in horror as my legs begin to
Asteria POV.The moment has arrived. We are transporting the prisoners to the conference and we need to do this and fast as my skin begins drying again. I don’t have long. 48 hours, my ass.The prisoners are led out in cuffs that can’t be broken unless with the blood of the one who has placed them on. Which is Gaia. We walk through the Supernatural Council headquarters and out into the lobby.Wolves form a circle around us as Fenrir opens the portal. I take a few breaths as Carter takes my hand and gives it a squeeze.“It will be ok. As soon as it is over, we get out of there. I won’t ask why you think your mating will be a bloodbath, but I would like to know when this is over.” He says, and I nod my head. Turning my attention to the portal. I look at Artemis, who nods her head at me before she walks through with some of the wolves first.I take a deep breath as I step forward, flanked by Carter, Fenrir, and Gaia. The prisoners are led by the wolves.Once we step through, we are insid
Asteria POV.I stand up straight as my father comes to stand beside me. I look at the men and women in the room and all I can see is fear in their eyes that they are coming to see some of the ancient gods in front of them.“Allow me to introduce you all to my father, Posedion. My uncle Hades and the Moon goddess Selene.” I say as I gesture to them. The room is silent as they take in the newcomers.“Things have to change. My brother, the Almighty Zeus, has sent us with a message.” My father’s voice booms and the people in the room bow their heads and I fight the smile but keep myself composed.“That you have one week to create new laws in favour of the shifters or you will all face annihilation. The Gods have become tired of hearing and seeing the way the shifters have been treated. The way my daughter had been treated. She lost her power for what she did to the humans but she saved a human life. She went against her own people to save you all, yet you don’t show your gratitude. Howeve
Asteria POV.“Don’t worry, you are safe here. Do you need anything?” I look around and I’m lost for words. This place is bigger than the mansion on the beach.There is so much natural light flooding in, it is beautiful. There are natural wood and stone elements and it feels warm compared to the beach mansion, which feels cold.“Let me show you around.” I follow behind him as he shows me the living room, which is the same size as the lower level of the beach mansion. There is a bar and a TV on the wall above an open fireplace. The floor is wooden and the coffee table is stone and glass. There are giant paintings on the wall and cream coloured leather sofas in a U shape in front of the fireplace.The kitchen is all white marble and tile; the appliances are stainless steel; it is beautiful. The window looks out onto the back garden and swimming pool.The rest of the house has the same theme running through it. He shows me upstairs and there are seven bedrooms which all have their own bat
Carter POV.We have been here for a few days now, and Asteria is becoming more irritable by the day. She paces like a wild animal, snarling, and hissing when she is not in the pool. I had a load of fresh fish flown in for her, because she can’t eat anything other than raw fish without being sick. She is becoming more animal at the moment. So far she hasn’t attacked me, so I’m classing that as a win.Fenrir and Gaia came this morning to see her, and she tried to attack him. She burst into tears, apologising and has stayed in the pool. This is all part of the process. I have been in the water with her and she has been fine. So I know she is still there.Fen and Gaia told us that the human leaders have agreed to the laws and the new rights that the shifters will now have and they were approved last night. I suppose looking at the face of death, AKA Hades, would do that. So now the shifters have the same rights and freedoms as the humans.As for the three traitors, well, they won’t being
Carter POV.I catch her losing my balance and we both tumble to the ground; she rolls and shifts into her human form. I roll and stay on my knees when she hisses from her crouched position.She launches at me and I stand ready for her attack. We clash. She wraps her legs around me, shrieking as she throws her head back and I hold her tightly when she throws her head forward and it connects with my nose. I let her go and blink at the blinding pain in my nose.I growl at her. She growls back.“Attack her now. Prove to her you are strong enough to be her mate.” Lykos shouts in my head and I move, wrapping my hand around her throat. I slam her to the ground. The slabs crack. She is frenzied.Her talons rake down my arms as she bites into my forearm, ripping a chunk from me. I scream before I roar in her face. She shrieks back. Chest heaving, nose to nose. Not breaking eye contract. When she wraps her legs around me and squeezes.She tightens her hold, and it’s like being squeezed by a dam
Asteria POV.Time has stilled. It has been filled with mating and fighting. I have no clue what day it is or the time or even if this is happening. All I know is that Carter is worthy. He has proven that long before my mating season hit.“Mmm, don’t stop.” I moan as he pulls my legs open further, bending my knees and pushing them into my chest as he feasts on my pussy. He is ravenous. Just like I have been.His tongue fucks me good as his fingers join his tongue. I moan loudly, my head thrown back, before I look back at him. My hand in his hair.“I’m coming.” I moan out as he increases his pace licking up to my clit before he sucks on it hard, causing me to scream his name. My legs feel like jello but I don’t care. He is my mate, and mine alone.He pulls away and kisses up my stomach to my lips, and I kiss him back greedily. Tasting myself on his tongue. I fucking love it. I push him back gently and he helps me off the dining table. I drop to my knees in front of him.Taking his hard
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