Serana POV.Walking out of the volcano, I look down at our beautiful baby girl. Vilkas and I need to have a conversation about his whereabouts. I know he feels guilty that he wasn’t here. I can feel it through our bond. Yet, I push it away. I’m not angry. I’m just disappointed that he would run away when the issue could have been dealt with, yet he ran.“Serana.” I look over my shoulder and see the three of them standing not far behind me.“Yes.” I reply, looking at Vilkas, who looks nervous as he bites his bottom lip.“I’m sorry. I should have been here.” I sigh and fully turn and walk towards him.“We will talk about this when we arrive home. That is, as long as you don’t run away. I think there is more to what is going on than you are telling me. Let’s get her home first.” I say and he nods his head. I look at Lara and Hyperion and they both smile softly at me.I look down at our sleeping daughter and bring her closer to me as I run the tip of my nose gently across her cheek, breat
Vilkas POV.Here goes.“Wait, you are a king?” Serana asks me as she fully turns to face me. I nod my head and she looks shocked, her mouth open as she blinks.“Yes, I gave it all up when I followed Starci. I thought I was in love with her and her with me, but we know how that went.” I say with a nervous chuckle as I look at her, but she doesn’t say anything. She just nods in understanding.“The Phoenix Kingdom and the Dragon Realm have been allies since the dawn of time. That is how I knew your mother. Marcia was my best friend growing up. Our families would travel between the realms to spend time together. When I was still a prince. I made a vow to your mother that I would protect humanity as a guardian to this realm and to also protect the Bastian Royal Bloodline. Your father took your mother’s surname when they mated and married. Or so I believe.” I tell her and she chews the inside of her mouth.“I should have told you sooner and I apologise for that. I was ashamed of what I did.
Serana POV.The last six months have gone by in a blur of insomnia and caffeine. It doesn’t help that Cyra will only sleep on Vilkas’s chest and now he has made a rod for his own back.The shrill cry of my daughter pulls me out of the shower. Poor little thing is teething, so yes, sleep has not been happening as of late.You would think with so many hands to help, it would be easier, but it isn’t. In fact, it is harder to set routines, as everyone wants to be next to her at some point.“Ok, ok. Come on, baby, are those toothy pegs hurting you? No, oh I know what you are doing, missy, screaming the room down because you have been put down.” I bend down to scoop her up from her crib. Her face is red as she screams. However, there are no tears, no this is temper. Temper that she has been put down for all of thirty minutes so I can shower and get ready.I swear to Rhiannon, Vilkas is going to pay. I fucking warned him this would happen and now I feel like the bad guy because I have give i
Serana POV.“Kill them. They will die in the fire.” Bedelia hisses in my head and I know my eyes are completely orange now.“What happened?” Joel shouts as he and Wesley come running outside. Vilkas has held onto me, holding me up so I don’t fall.“She was taken. I was too late.” I say, my voice quivering as I try to rein in the unbridled rage and heartbreak. That my daughter was so close, yet I couldn’t save her. I failed her.“Whoever it was is bleeding.” I look at Joel, and his red eyes are glowing as he sniffs the air.“Find whoever it is.” I say to him, and he nods, running like lightning back into the palace.“We will get her back.” Vilkas says, with tears streaming down his face. I hug him and hold him close. I feel the rage build higher. But I can’t blame him. It is on me. If I had just slept in our bedroom, I would have been able to stop whoever it was.I don’t respond. I pull out of his hold and he looks at me with confusion, but I turn and run back to the palace. Heading to
Serana POV.It has been three years since Cyra was kidnapped by the bitch called Samara. Starci and Hyperion’s secret child. Hyperion told me that Samara is a few years older than me. He was tricked by Starci and she became pregnant from their one night together. The next day, he found his fated mate. He kept Samara hidden because of what Starci had done. He loves his daughter, so he thought it was for the best. The road to destruction is paved with good intentions.When Starci had Samara, he took her from her because Starci didn’t want her. Shortly after that, she attacked humanity. He was left raising their child with his mate, who had given birth to a son. Samara never wanted for anything. She had the love of both him and his luna, who she called mom. She had no idea Starci even existed. So the question remains, why now?The pull from Cyra always leads to dead ends, but I know she is alive, otherwise I would feel it. Is she being looked after? She is being treated well? Is she warm
Serana POV.My heart is slamming violently against my ribcage because I know this is a trap. Every time we have gotten close to them, they disappear. Samara is playing with us. I will kill her and whoever is following her. I would do anything to get Cyra home.Three years, three god damn fucking years of searching, not just our kingdom but all the other realms. It has been exhausting and heartbreaking at the same time. Every time we get close enough, they just disappear.This has put a tremendous strain on not only my relationship with Vilkas, who’s guilt overshadows everything else. It has also put Hyperion’s and Lara’s relationship on the thin line. I understand why she is pissed because he never told her he had a child with that traitorous bitch. This could have been avoided if we knew and were able to monitor her movements, but there is no point in the shoulda, woulda, coulda’s. It happened and Vilkas and I have missed out on so much and we only crave to have her home, safe, and s
Serana POV.We leave the cavern and stand outside the entrance of the volcano. My heart feels like it is going to implode. I can’t believe Pascha would do this to me, to us. What will Wesley say? Did he know? Did he betray me, too? What about their son?“We take Pascha alive. I want to speak to her. I want to know why.” I say as I watch the camp.“We move now.” Vilkas says and we move in our human form. I close my eyes and think of all the good memories I shared with Pascha and not once did I get the feeling that she would ever do this.“Serana, we have come to help.” I look at Lara and Hyperion. I snarl at him.“This ends now. Your daughter will die for what she has done. The Lycans clearly can’t be trusted.” I shove past him and follow the group down. We wait in the treeline to see if there is any movement.The speakers crackle and come to life.“Serana, step out. We can see you. Or don’t you want your daughter?” Samara laughs, and it echoes around the camp. I look towards Vilkas an
Vilkas POV.Looking at Cyra, my heart aches painfully at the state she is in. I know she will have issues adjusting to how her life should have been. We flew back, and I held both Serana and Cyra in my paw. Cyra is still clutching Serana.We are in the process of giving her a bath. Serana is in the bath with her as she soothes her.“It’s ok baby, we are not going to leave you.” I say gently as she trembles in her mother’s embrace. I look at Serana, and she looks devastated. Devastated that we couldn’t get to her sooner, I feel her guilt through the bond. She is questioning if she is a good mother.“You are a great mother. You are so patient and loving with her, Serana. Don’t doubt that.” I tell her through our link when I see little green eyes looking at me and I smile softly at her.“Mommy is the bestest.” She says and I frown.“Sweetie, how did you know what I said?” I ask her and she chuckles before she hides her face back in Serana’s chest.“I could hear you. In here.” She taps he
Serana POV.“Will you three just stop and get ready?” I call out from the kitchen into the living room, as the twins and Cyra are all fighting. Gods have mercy.The twins are now six, and Cyra is eight. Whoever said it is easy raising hybrids is a full of shit. These three are always arguing or fighting, and it is draining.“Mom, we were just playing.” Cyra says as she walks into the kitchen with the two trouble makers behind her. They smirk at me and I glare at them.“Well, I have been calling you to get ready for the past thirty minutes. Now move your butts or you will all be late.” I say as I usher them out and wait patiently for them to finish getting ready when Wesley and Shane enter with Penny.Wesley found himself a beautiful mate. She is great with Shane and he loves her like she is his mother. At first I didn’t like the idea but then I got to know her and she makes my boys happy so I didn’t burn her to a crisp.“Hey, momma.” I say to her as she waddles closer to me. She is du
Vilkas POV.Standing on the balcony as I look down on the Dragon Realm and I can feel the tension in the air. In a few hours, both the Dragon Realm and the Phoenix Kingdom will be merged.I smile before I look down and see Cyra standing beside me as she looks at the realm beside me. She is beautiful, it hard to believe that we created her and her brothers. All three of our hatchlings are beautiful. The twins are now crawling and are always following Cyra wherever she goes. She doesn’t mind; she is brilliant with them.“Daddy, everything will be ok.” She takes my hand in her small one and I squeeze it gently as she looks up at me with her green eyes.“Yes, sweetie, everything will be ok.” I pick her up and she sits on my hip in her pretty dress and her long black hair with her fiery streaks has been left down. I place my forehead against hers and she closes her eyes.“Are you excited?” I ask her and she looks at me and bites her lip and I feel the anxiety coming off her.“Yes, and no.”
Serana POV.“Ok, ok, I’m coming.” The screaming wails of the twins echo around the room as I step out from the bathroom. I move towards their cribs and, as soon as they see me, they both stop. Pouting, I raise an eyebrow at them. Yup, these two are little players. Now they are all smiles.“Your sister used to do this. I’m not falling for it.” I coo as I lean down to pick up Aero when I move to pick up Ajax. Moving with them both in my arms towards the rocking chair, I get comfortable.Placing Aero on my shoulder and Ajax across my lap, I unbutton my top to feed them. I have given up with a bra because they are always and I mean always hungry.Vilkas even latches them on when I’m sleeping or at least trying to. However, we have the routine down. The first week or two was difficult juggling the two of them, but we got there in the end.Cyra is absolutely in love with them and is always helping with them. I know that novelty will wear off soon, though, especially when they start moving.
Serana POV.We have been back at the Phoenix Kingdom now for a few days and it’s become more difficult to move to the point I want to cry.I grunt as I move to sit up against the headboard of the bed. Vilkas has been helping Hyperion finalise the details for the pack. I smile to myself that Wesley will finally get the title he deserves. He has been there with me from the beginning and he deserves the world at his feet and so does little Shane. We have the room in the territory to accommodate more wolves and their mates if need be, so it’s a win-win.Gods, I need to move; I feel stiff and yucky. I shuffle towards the edge of the bed and brace myself to stand up. As I do, my back crunches and I sigh. So good. I waddle, holding my bump to get to the bathroom.These two are pressed against my bladder and I constantly feel the need to pee. It’s not ideal. I was contemplating just living in the bathroom at one point this week. Between toilet breaks and napping. That is all I do. Bedelia is
Serana POV.Today we are making the trip back to the Phoenix Kingdom to prepare for the birth. I can’t wait to get home. It is hard being between the two places. Besides, I need to check on something that I have been working on secretly. Only Vilkas knows about my secret plan.We decided that after the birth we would return to the Dragon Realm for a short while and travel between as we finalise the merger between both.Wesley left two days ago to prepare the nursery at the palace in my kingdom. I trust him and I know he will watch over the kingdom while I’m running back and forth between realms.So the transition will be easier for all involved when we open the borders between the realms.Vilkas is leaving his father in charge until we return. We have a week before the birth and I’m shitting myself. I spoke to Lara and Valeria at great length about what will happen. We discussed the probability of a lava birth. Similar to a water birth, but in the lava pool. So that way, our hatchling
Serana POV.Twins! Twins! I can’t believe this. Vilkas came back around and still looks pale. Neither one of us knows what to say or do. It is still a shock.“Twins!” he says as he puffs his cheeks out as he huffs. His elbows are braced on his knees as he looks at the wall in complete disbelief.“Yes, Vilkas. Twins! But hey look, it will be fine. We have so much support. Besides, you are great with Cyra and yes, we only expected one, but we have two. One more won’t make a difference. We will be fine.” Yeah, we will be fine. I’m starting to freak the fuck out.“Yeah, we will be fine.” He turns to look at me with a grimace and I sigh as I push myself to stand up.“No point in worrying about it. It has happened, so we just have to prepare extra, that’s all.” I say more to myself than to him right now. I don’t know why he is grumbling it’s not him that has to push them out.Oh gods, I’m going to be torn apart by bringing our sons into the world. I stagger and sit back down.“Well, I see y
Serana POV.The past few days since I regained the memories have been hard. It is hard to forget, but Vilkas has been true to his word and whenever I drift off into space, he brings me back and we do something that replaces the reason why I drifted in the first place.Today we have an appointment to see our son and I’m excited to see him. Vilkas has been totally different from when I was pregnant with Cyra. Ok well that is a lie, he is behind me everywhere I go and in a way it is cute. He is always kissing and touching my bump.When we told the family, yes family, that I remembered certain things they understood but didn’t press for what I remembered and for that I am grateful. The only ones who know the truth are Vilkas and Lara. After all, Lara was there when my memories came back but she has said she won’t say anything and I appreciate that about her. She understands why.I’m sure the others would too, but the fewer people who know, the better. We went for a walk yesterday in the m
Vilkas POV.I pick Serana up in my arms and run with her towards the palace. Cyra is crying, but Joel takes her and follows behind me.“What happened?” Lara asks as I enter with a limp and unconscious Serana in my arms.“She remembered Pascha and Samara. Her memories must be coming back.” Lara’s eyes widen as I place Serana on the sofa and Lara looks at me.“Everyone but Vilkas, out.” She commands and everyone leaves. She drops to her knees and chants something I watch as her hands glow light blue and white. He presses her hands on either side of Serana’s head and I look up and see the memories look jumbled when I watch as each one evaporates and Lara gasps.“What is it?” I ask and she looks at me, her eyes white.“Serana is rejecting the memories. She doesn’t want them.” How can she do that? Is that even possible?“How?” I ask and she looks at me before looking back at the memories that are fading. But not all the memories are fading, only the ones she doesn’t want to remember. I wat
Serana POV.Entering the kitchen, the chatter dies down and I begin to feel nervous as all eyes turn to us. Sensing my distress, king Vilkas squeezes my hand in reassurance and nods his head as we enter the kitchen, Cyra bouncing around as she shows everyone her hair and points at me.“My mommy did them. I love them like I love my mommy and daddy.” She nods her head, letting everyone know her true feelings, and I smile gently at her.“Serana, what would you like to eat?” A woman with blue snake-like eyes asks me and I look at Cyra, who comes closer to me and takes my hand and draws my attention to her.“Mommy, that is Nanny. Nanny is daddy’s mommy. Like you are mine. Nanny makes the best pancakes. You should try them.” Her green eyes shining and I chuckle at her and nod my head at her.“I think I will. Thank you, Cyra, my sweet little girl.” I say as I caress her cheek and she giggles before she pulls me towards the island and helps me sit down. The tension in the room is something el