RION POV "What happened?" I asked Kealen, as he gasped for breath. He looked like he'd just run a marathon. "We need… to…" He struggled to speak. "Let the man catch his breath," Aric said, handing Kaelen a cup of water. Kaelen downed the cup, then turned to Seraphina, who had left the bed and was now standing beside him, her hand on his back. His eyes softened and he took her hand and held it. "You're awake," he said, his breath slowly. "I am," she answered even though it wasn't a question. Kaelan caressed her cheeks before he dropped her hand and turned to us. "We need to leave the palace," he said, his voice more steady. "I overheard two nobles talking. They had caught Seraphina's scent." My heart dropped. "Gods, you should have seen the way they were talking about her like she was a prize to be claimed." He worked his jaw, his fist clenched. "But they don't know who she is or where she even is. O
SERAPHINA POV Without warning, the cabin had blurred and twisted, a sharpness in my head driving me deeper into the chaos. Images began to flash before my eyes, each more vivid and disorienting than the last.First, I saw the cabin, but it was alive with laughter, sunlight pouring through the windows. But in a blink, the scene shattered, morphing into the same cabin engulfed in flames, the laughter replaced by haunting cries that echoed in my mind.A heartbeat later, I was in a sunlit field, warmth enveloping me, the scent of flowers filling the air. I felt a rush of joy, but then it twisted abruptly; the sky darkened, and I saw myself standing alone, heartbroken, clutching a wilted flower in the same field now shrouded in shadows.The pain in my head intensified, visions flowing like a turbulent river. I was suddenly in a crowded marketplace, vibrant colors swirling around me.A couple danced joyfully, but just as quickly, the imag
ARIC POV "You're going to wear a hole in that rug if you keep pacing like that," I teased Rion as I watched him pace back and forth. "We can find another way," he just grumbled and continued pacing. I glanced over at Kaelen. He met my eyes and just sighed. "Pray, Rion, what other way can we find?" Rion finally stopped pacing—thank the gods. I was beginning to fear for that poor rug—and turned to Kaelan. "We can find another way, Kaelan," he said again as if trying to convince himself. "Ember Hallow is a place of terror. The spirits there demand a price, a price you might be able to pay, or a price you might never be able to pay. But pay you must. If you don't, the spirits will inflict a fate worse than death." "Those are just words on paper, Rion," I said. "They're not!" Rion shouted, his eyes blowing wide. "They're not," he repeated in a smaller voice. "This warning comes from someone who's been there, who's seen the horrors firsthand. And my gut tells me it's true. Ever since
RION POV I sat on the desk in the royal archives with maps spread out on the table before me. I've been at this for two hours. Although I don't know what I'm looking for, some extra hands would at least make this quicker. But I was alone in this. Aric was staying with Seraphina at the cabin. Kaelan was off preparing for our trip. So I was here, stuck with the musky scent of ancient parchments and ink, with only maps as my company. I sighed as I slump down on my seat, running my hands through my hair. Frustration gnawed at me. Miranda had promised I'd recognize the map, but after sifting through hundreds, I was starting to doubt her. The sheer volume of maps in this archive was daunting; I hadn't even reached the halfway point. I will be here all day. Probably all week. I looked down at the maps in front of me and sighed again. There wasn't any map in front of me that stood out. I got up from my seat and decided to walk around the archives, perhaps then I might find something
SERAPHINA POV I sighed as I played around with my food, my appetite abandoning me. "Is all well, Seraphina?" Kaelan asked from where he was seated across from me, a book in front of him. "This is the fifth time in as many minutes that you've sighed.""I'm okay," I said even as I sighed again. Kaelan chuckled softly and I raised my head to look at him. "Do you know what the word 'okay' means?""Yes, clearly," I grumbled. Kaelan dropped his book and walked to me, kneeling in front of me. The sight of him on his knees for me was beautiful. He was beautiful. I felt the heat radiating from him, drawing me in, and my breath caught in my throat. His fingers brushed against my knee, sending a shiver up my spine, and I leaned forward, captivated by the magnetic pull between us."Tell me what bothers you, Lumièrea," he said softly, his voice low and velvety as if weaving a spell just for me, and he took my hand into his and planted a kiss on all of my fingers. Lumièrea. My light. I lov
KAELAN POV I have never desired anybody the way I desired Seraphina. I needed her, craved her, thirst for her. I could try to convince myself it was the mate bond, but the truth was far more profound.I had felt things for Seraphina long before the mate bond came into play. From our first encounter, she captivated me. Every moment spent with her unraveled my defenses, pulling me deeper into her world.Even before the bond manifested, I was consumed by her presence, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. She was my enchantress, igniting emotions I never knew existed and leaving me both exhilarated and vulnerable.I wanted to be worthy of her love, her soft looks, her hard kisses. She was a goddess in my world and I planned to worship her. I lifted Seraphina from her knees and carried her into the room, our lips never parting. Her hands roamed, touching everywhere she could. Even with my shirt on, her touch set my skin on fire. The shirt felt like a suffocating weight, a barrier betwee
SERAPHINA POV "That is a lot of loads you guys are carrying," Miranda said with a soft laugh. "A month is a lot of time to be on the road, Miranda," Kaelan answered. A sweet shiver ran through my body at the sound of his voice. Ever since we've sealed our bond two nights ago I've been responding intensely to his touch, voice, even his presence in ways I didn't think was possible. I felt him everywhere. Is this how it's going to feel when I seal the bond with Rion and Aric? Gods, I couldn't wait. "And we also have to make His Highness here comfortable," Aric said, throwing his arm around Rion's shoulder. "He will be without his princely bed." "Shut your mouth, Aric," Rion said, pushing Aric off. "You'll also miss your hot bath. There wouldn't be any hot springs on the road for you to dip your long limbs into."Aric sighed and picked up the bag to load on the carriage. I glanced at the carriage. It wasn’t extravagant—just an ordinary traveling carriage. No one would suspect the
ARIC POV The sun dipped low on the horizon as I guided the weary horses toward the modest inn. Rion sat next to me, glancing back at Seraphina, who pressed her nose against the carriage window, her eyes wide with wonder.Her eyes have been this way since we left the kingdom three days back. She viewed everything with new eyes, smiled and laughed at the smallest things, and asked a million questions. Watching her alone made my heart light. The danger we were going to face seemed worth it if it brought her this much joy. Within three days, she was visibly improving: her complexion brightened, her weight returned, and her eyes sparkled with newfound life. "Look at that!" she exclaimed, pointing at a cluster of villagers gathered around a bonfire, laughter spilling into the evening air. "Can we stop there tomorrow? I want to see their festival!"Kaelan, leaning against the opposite wall, chuckled. "You’re a curious one, Seraphina. We’ll have to keep moving if we want to reach the moun
SELANARA POV It pains me deeply to watch my oracle go on with her life without me, but oh the joy it fills me with. She was happy, dare I say happier, than she had been when she served me. There was no goddess to burden her life with her problems and needs, her sadness and rage, her love and hate. She was free from that burden in this life, and I wanted it to remain that way. Mortals would do well without the gods mingling in their lives. That was a future I hope to bring about. A future where mortals would have no connections to the gods, where there would be no oracle and envoy. That was what I should have done centuries ago but I was selfish. Now, I had seen that it was the right thing to do. Some gods and goddesses would resist, that was expected, but they would be forced to obey. The immortals liked having a link to the mortal world, a tool to carry out their works, some dirty works included. Why have I not done this sooner? The immortals have polluted the mortal realm eno
SERAPHINA POV I was confused when I blinked open my eyes to see familiar walls surrounding me. Was I still dreaming? Had my dreams been diverted from the past and now to the present?The familiar scent of my room wrapped around me, enveloping me in a warm hug as if telling me welcome.I was back in the palace, but how? How long have I been asleep?I searched my mate bonds for my mates and it seems they were nearby because it responded immediately. Not long after there was a knock on my door and my men entered inside."The sleepy beauty finally awakes," Aric said as he leaned in to kiss my forehead. I smiled up at him. "Hi." He smiled back.Kaelan and Rion took their turn kissing me before they sat, waiting. "How am I in the palace?""Well, we carried you on a horse and rode here," Rion said, with a smirk on his face. "Fast, if I may add."I rolled my eyes at him and turned to Kaelen, knowing he'll give me the answers I needed. "You've been asleep for two weeks," Kaelan said, his voi
NYMERIA POV (Two centuries ago)"You look brighter than the sun in that dress, my pretty," Varrik teases, a small smile on his face.I giggled. "Oh stop being silly, you." The dress I was wearing was the exact opposite of bright. I was dressed in a gown as black as the night. It flowed to my feet and pooled at the ground, a long slit that shows my leg when I move at the left side. My black hair was tied up and swept away from my face, showing my neck."Nah. I would say she looks as serene and captivating as the moon," Lysandor added, his arms crossed as he leaned against the pillar. I shot him a look but my smile was wide."It would seem I'm the only one not in a poetic mood today," Myrran said as he stepped into the room and placed a kiss on my forehead."And bless the gods for that small mercy," I said as I turned to face my mates. They were also dressed beautifully, each in their different, unique colors and styles. There wasn't a special occasion today. It was just one of those
RION POV Selanara was strong, stronger than any goddess recorded in history but Malakar seems to be her match. Malakar turned shadows into spears and they went flying towards Selanara.I wasn't going into a panic mood yet because I knew any harm that came to Seraphina's body would be healed when Selanara left her. But still, panic was at the top of my chest as I watched the shadows tore through the air with unholy speed, the jagged tips aimed straight for Selanara’s chest, her heart—her very soul. She couldn’t move fast enough.No! I screamed in my mind.But Selanara’s power surged one last time. With a defiant scream, she thrust her hands forward, and the temple exploded in a torrent of light. The ground shuddered and cracked, sending stone and dust flying into the air as the cosmic force she unleashed sent the shadow spears flying off course.For a moment, I could only watch in awe as Malakar was consumed by the explosion, his figure disappearing into the swirling void of light.
KAELAN POV I stared, stupefied, as Seraphina, no, Selanara, floated off her feet, so she was staring eye to eye with Malakar.My Seraphina was still in there but the goddess was in full control. I knew this wasn't hurting Seraphina in any way—her goddess loved her the way we did, so she wouldn't bring any harm to her.Malakar tried to keep his expression blank but a flicker of something flashed in the god's face, there and gone the next."And how do you intend to end me, my love," Malakar said, his tone flat. "We've had this dance before. It resulted in you losing your name, your legacy, and me being imprisoned. And you losing your name meant no one has been praying to you. You're weak, my sweet."A god grows weak when no one prays to them or offers offerings to them. Selanara being forgotten for centuries meant no one has been praying to her. How she was even standing here was a wonder. It has been recorded in history that three gods have vanished to the void after being forgotten
SERAPHINA POV A ball of darkness formed on Malakar's palm, moving like snakes, darker than the night. He was in front of me before I could blink, slamming his palm onto my chest with so much force, I went flying back.The crash of my fall wasn't what made me scream, nor the crack of my bones that made my eyes water. It was the agonizing pain that ate at me from the insides. The pain was beyond anything I’d ever known—like something was eating me alive from the inside, consuming my flesh and bone. My organs twisted, each breath a fire of searing agony, as though my very soul was being ripped apart. I fell to my knees, gasping, screaming, my body shaking uncontrollably. The darkness burrowed deeper, turning everything inside me to dust. I screamed—raw, desperate—and tears streamed down my face as the torment tore through me with brutal force.Joining this brutal pain, I felt the mate bonds in my chest, their own agony adding to my pain. My mates… My mates…I couldn't bring my head
SERAPHINA POV "Eryndor," Malakar called, his voice booming. Eryndor was immediately at his side, his head bowed."Yes, Dark One," he answered.Malakar's eyes were still fixed on me when he said, "Restrain her.""Yes, Dark One." Before I could speak, shadows had already coiled around me, restraining me so tightly that I couldn't even move a finger. It felt as though the wall had returned, and once again, my powers were sealed away."You will understand that this is for your own good, Nymeria," Malakar said, his eyes darker than the night. "Your mates are distractions, liabilities. You'll survive without them. Losing your mate's bond would not kill you."I would survive without my mates but it'll leave me empty, hollow, just a shell. Panic squeezed me. I tried to fight against the shadows, but it was useless. The more I fought, the more they tightened, but I still didn't give up. I kept fighting. Death would be better than to live without my mates.Malakar turned away from me and faced
SERAPHINA POV "Oracle," Malakar said, his voice soft and smooth, "This day has been far too long in coming. I've waited an eternity for your wolf to awaken, for your true power to be unleashed." His finger gently pressed against my chin, a subtle reminder of his presence. "My impatience got the better of me at one point. I sent others to test you, thinking a little danger might be the catalyst. Alas, my hopes were dashed when it failed to ignite your transformation." I gasped at him. "Y-you sent people after me?" That wolf that had attacked me in the woods that day I went training with Kaelan in the woods. That soldier that had taunted me and then touched me. My first months in the barracks when those bandits had attacked the barracks. Those were all Malakar. "I did indeed.""But...you were imprisoned," I breathed, my head pounding. "I was," was his short reply. I stared back at Malakar's eyes, feeling a storm of emotions—fear, anger, hate, panic. But underneath all that there wa
SERAPHINA POV When it comes down to letting the greatest evil be released, letting the world be ruined, letting darkness reign, and my mates, I was choosing my mates. There was no need to think about it. I looked at each of their perfect faces, their eyes telling me what their mouths couldn't and I knew I was making the right choice. I would burn the world to ashes myself if it meant saving them. I looked back at Eryndor standing in front of me, his eyes still pitch black. "Give me your word that you'll release them," I demanded, my voice cold and detached. "Including Miranda."Eryndor nodded. "You have my word."I stared at him, letting him know how painful his death would be if harm were to come to my mates and friend and nodded. He gestured towards the diagram and I stepped into the center wordlessly. Eryndor picked up the bowl he had dropped earlier and walked to me, a dagger in hand. I offered him my palm and winced when he cut me, blood flowing out. My mates fought agains