Chapter 24 - Satiating Desires
Serena
Aero had so many sides and every day I get to understand them more and more.
I had seen his arrogant and rude side already in the past; got a first-hand taste of it and it was awfully bitter.
I also saw his serious side many times when he was in court with his council. Damn, he was sexy looking like a tyrant with his subjects under his mercy.
His funny side was impossible to ignore too. I happily witnessed it when he was provoked by Aero the Cat. They were cute together but I knew enough not to tease him more about the feline.
Thanks to our visit to Alchidna, I was able to see his badass character while fighting. Since I was busy with my beast friend during the great battle, I was unable to witness him and Nevannir fight. I was certain though that was an epic scene to watch.
Chapter 25 – Half-Fae, Half-WolfSerena“Thank you for being such a wonderful host while we’re here, Alpha Aaron.”Standing close to the coach, I awarded the alpha of the Slandail Pack a grateful smile. Aero stood next to me, ready to embark the conveyor too, but of course, we had to say our goodbyes properly to our host.“You’re welcome, Luna,” Alpha Aaron dipped his chin briefly. “It is a pleasure to serve you.”“I trust that you’re...doing what you should be doing?” I tossed him a curious glance. He sucked in a breath in response, knowing exactly what I was talking about.“I’m working on it, Luna. Victoria is...uh...sleeping inside my room.”“Excellent!” was my
Chapter 26 – The Queen’s MotherSerenaI won’t deny it. My aunt’s words worried me for a moment, but Aero, so supportive a mate, gave me a boost.Pregnancy wasn’t an easy milestone to undergo; I knew this already, and it was even more difficult since I got twins. I hadn’t really equated the facts about me being a half-fae half-wolf and how this would affect our babies’ development, but what the hell.The deed was done, and our pups were coming, and they were coming soon. I looked at the brighter side instead. At least Aunt Adna was conscious enough to inform us of her worries.Aero and I ate light while auntie shared her fond memories when my mother had me. Of course, since she loved flair and spectacle, the dining table we used became a brief stage. The room dimmed. A hologram of some sort
Chapter 27 – Baby BluesSerenaI didn’t know how long I stared at the adorable babies past the viewing glass, but I was sure it took time. I couldn’t help it. I got too caught up mixing and matching mine and Aero’s physical features in my head just to get a preview of our children. Plus, I played with boy names, trying my luck on what would best suit them as Aero and I hadn’t decided on their names yet. My reverie broke when someone behind me touched my shoulder.“I knew I’d find you here,” Aunt Margaret’s voice filled the hallway before I could turn and face her.“Auntie,” my smile reached from ear to ear.She stretched her hands up and embraced me. I reciprocated the gesture.“Serena, I’m glad to see you again.”“G
Chapter 28 - A Triple JoySerenaSince I was out of commission that time, I didn’t see what Dr. Rutherford looked like. I expected her to have a younger face like Dr. Gillis, but when we met and started some small talk; I found her to be older and wiser.The woman had a classic beauty to her. I reckoned she was in her late fifties, almost sixties. Actually, almost like my mother’s age if she still lived.As expected, she wore a doctor’s coat, but her choice of dress underneath this garment proved to be sophisticated. She wore heels despite her age and she rocked strutting it.She was soft-spoken, giving off a gentle vibe, and her words when she explained the procedure made me appreciate her more. Aero and I weren’t medical-savvy people, so anything that would help us understand this daunting situation was app
Chapter 29 – InvestigationsAeroSerena was right. Viscount Daniel was everywhere. It was maybe because of the nature of his work or he just loved to travel.For me, I say both.I had known the man for almost three months now and had spent time with him enough on the cruise ship to say he was someone to be vigilant of. He was a careful man. His words were selective all throughout our time together in the ship. He didn’t open up the subject of his position as representative on Earth, and neither did I.I wanted to hear these things on the point of view of another person; from Marcus dela Forte, to be exact. But the old man was still unavailable, so now I had no choice but to further step up my game.Planning to meet the viscount, I found myself in Budapest with his scent lingering in one of the rooms
Chapter 30 - The Maternal TruthAeroAfter finding a safe spot away from the crowded streets of Budapest, I teleported back to Phanteon, inside my chamber specifically to place all the important materials I bought and replace the ones I wanted to replace. My conversation with Viscount Daniel was fruitful. Now, I was more cautious, more alert with him and with the people around me.I found the room already warm; the fireplace lit and fresh of logs, but Serena wasn’t around. I tuned in my version of a GPS in our mate bond, and there I found her already on Ehnrelil. My brows furrowed. She was due to visit the place tomorrow, but why was she there now?I mind-linked her instead to get the answer.“I want to know more about fae pregnancies,” was her explanation. She also informed me about the twins and Lady Hanhenna, and where they w
Chapter 31 - Sins of the FatherAero‘I’m busy, Elijah,’ I answered, almost in a snappy tone. But then, I reminded myself to calm down. It was my father and his minion whom I was angry about, not my brother. He didn’t deserve my wrath. ‘I can’t talk to you right now, but later. Certainly later. I’ll visit you in your house but please make sure you’re dressed this time.’‘Okay, brother,’ he conceded, but still, his voice was roped with concern. ‘Is Serena with you?’‘She’s in Ehnrelil right now.’ And I was glad she was because I want to sort out this mess on my own. I don’t want her to see me murder my royal augur should he try to deny me the truth.‘I see,’ was Elijah’s reply. I could sense his worry increasing thereafter, but I
Chapter 32 - A Brotherly BondAeroChoosing to cool myself first before going to Elijah’s manor, I took a quick bath and changed my coat and pants into a lighter clothing of t-shirt and jeans. Tossing my old clothes into the laundry basket was me tossing away all my insecurities and sadness I had bundled up since a child. Now that I know Olivia isn’t my mother, all my memories of her became nonexistent. She didn’t matter to me anymore. She didn’t occupy a space in my heart.That vacant space remained a gaping hole. When I find my real mother and if I find her, that’s the time I could decide if she belonged to this space. She was yet to prove her worth to me. She was yet to explain her side of the story.If I had uncovered this truth before Serena arrived in my life—the past me who declared absolute hatred to all females—then
EpilogueSerena“Ryland! Raziel! Rule! Be ready!” Aero roared as he paced in front of them, acting as game master in this friendly competition of brothers. He was dressed in nothing but trousers while the triplets, as usual, copied their father, acting as if their pre-pubescent muscles could contend to Aero’s bulging ones. The three were lined up within the yellow line, ready and waiting for the red flag to be released.I sat on the stone bench outside the mini arena of Alchidna just observing them. On my lap was Scarlett, trying to shake her baby maracas to the best of her ability. She just turned two five days ago while my triplets reached their teenage status a month before that.Scarlett was a heaven-sent to Aero and I. We were never sure what gender we would be blessed in my second pregnancy, but luckily, it was a female. A princess. Aero let me name her, and I used the Earth name of t
Chapter 57 – Baby StepsSerenaAero broke our kiss when we arrived in our favorite spot in the hot spring.“Welcome back,” he greeted and gave me a wink.I chuckled at this and turned to face the area where we made lots of cherished memories together—well, mostly hot ones.“Don’t just stare. Go and dip. You need to rest. I’ll massage you.”Hearing this, I tossed him a disbelieving look. “What? The great alpha king wants to massage me?”He pulled down his pants and straightened before me with pride in his eyes. “Yes, but you should know I only do this to the woman I love.”“Well then, massage away, my dear alpha king,” I answered before I bit my lower lip.My heart fluttered when he touched me again, first to caress my shoulder and next to trace the mate mark on my neck and the crescent moon mark on my wri
Chapter 56 – The BeginningAeroI didn’t doubt Serena when she said she wanted to deliver our children in a cave and with me assisting her. She trusted me with our sons’ lives. She didn’t second-guess me, so it was only right I shouldn’t second-guess myself too.Obviously, this wasn’t what we planned at all, but considering the circumstances, this was the best we could get. Serena seemed contented, so I was contented.Seeing her in pain, it sliced me to pieces. I wished I could fight this battle with her. I wished I could feel the same pain as what she was feeling, but I knew this was an obstacle reserved only for her.When our firstborn arrived, my happiness was over the moon.A father. The word echoed in my head repeatedly.I couldn’t believe I am a father now.I wanted to celebrate, but I knew it was best to do so later. Serena was due to deliv
Chapter 54 – Precious SoulsSerenaA sound of a cry and a huff escaped my mouth when I realized who just materialized inside the cave. My husband, who looked so good, so handsome, but also so worried, stood before me. My heart instantly leaped in joy.Finally, he came and right on time.“You never called me,” he said as he stepped forward toward me.“I was about to,” I answered, half wincing, half smiling.His warm hand contacted my cheek, and I reveled in the feel that it brought.“How are you feeling?” His gentle eyes landed on mine. His other hand touched my contracting belly and moved it up and down the roundness.“Tired,” I replied. “I’m in labor, Aero.”“I know,” he simply answered. He looked so calm on the exterior, but I knew deep inside his many emotions were swirling
Chapter 53 –The Scent of the QueenAeroI must say, Calaheim did me a favor. The area where the portal ended brought me inside a house that sickeningly smelled like Sofia. I was in a foyer in what I could reckon as the second floor, judging from the nearby stairs I spotted and the grand chandelier hanging on a beam just leveled with my line of sight. Below me, I could hear a woman talking—or more like complaining—together with a man groaning in pain.I instantly recognized their voices. One was Dr. Rutherford or Hilda with a rougher tone now than before, and the second was from Viscount Daniel.Slowly, I inched closer to the stone balustrade to spy on the situation. The viscount’s rough state made me clench my hands instantly.He was shirtless and bloody, with his arms and chest wounded with a slicing cut of a blade. This blade was visible on Hilda’s hand. The edge was pointed to
Chapter 53 –ForgivenessAeroHadon was sneaky, but I was sneakier. What I did was to only use my enhanced sense of smell to locate him everywhere he went in Ehnrelil. I observed enough distance between us; hid under the shadows or behind the walls and watched his every move.First, Hadon went to the Council of Elders’ tower. Did some paperwork there until he left two hours later and went to the Rexhus Tower. There were priestesses in training there. He observed them with a disappointed face and demanded more from them. Like a boastful man, he showed his spells—cheap magic tricks that even a fae child could do. But there was one that caught my eye. It was the cloaking spell he used when he kidnapped Serena.I gritted my teeth while I watched him show it off to the priestesses. I wanted to rip his throat apart, but I knew I had to be mor
Chapter 52 –Tailing the FaeAeroQueen Adna looked morose when I teleported to her throne room. Gone was her beauty. Gone was her radiance. She sat on the throne, slumped, silent and without life. It was ironic to watch her like this because I knew, if I was a female version worrying about Serena’s welfare, I would look the same.When she noticed my entrance, she perked up and her expression lightened a bit.“Have you found her?” She stood and asked without delay.I shook my head and maintained my neutral face. My anger remained on the surface just waiting to explode; waiting for me to unleash it to the right person. I just needed to find this person first.“No, I still haven’t, but I found out who took her,” I answered.Queen Adna’s worried ex
Chapter 51 – The Luna EscapesSerenaLike what Viscount Daniel said, I ran—or more like plodded—as far away as possible from Sofia’s house.The house was impressive—that was my first impression when I first glimpsed it en route to my escape path. The walls were made of white bricks and it was covered in vines almost deliberately to camouflage it with its surroundings. It had a landscaped garden and toadstool pathways—a standard in every fae house, but hers was a weird dark violet. The house was surrounded by autumn-colored trees and lavender-green grass; quite picturesque if not for the owner and the people living in it.The bluish color of the barrier was visible around the house, yet I couldn’t quite figure out the depth of its coverage: how many kilometers it stretched or how high it reached the sky.D
Chapter 50 – Her Majesty’s SaviorSerena“What does it feel to be hopeless now, luna? It’s fun, right?” Hilda stated as she continued to stare down at me. Her mocking voice was dripping with confidence, so similar like her daughter’s. I wanted to lash out, give her a witty reply, but the state I was in reduced me into a moaning mess.I embraced my contracting belly and ignored her instead.“Your husband will never find you. You are doomed,” she continued, still with the viscount by her side, just looking at me with no emotion in his eyes. “My daughter’s house is imbued with her magic—from the surrounding landscape to this very building we stand, and with Hadon’s help, this place is forever hidden. No one can enter unless I will it so.”“Mhhhh!” A whimper of