The vessel and the Key

“You might be the Vessel, May…  but I’m the Key.” Nyra’s whisper lingered in my mind as the smoke she vanished into slowly dissipated.

The altar chamber felt alive, cracked open. There was a throb of power in the air. Something ancient has been woken, and it was scary. There’s more to Nyra than I had imagined.

Melina sat beside me as we both lay on the floor, slumped and covered in a pool of her blood, she was wounded. She looks so small now. Ashamed. Broken.

“She used me,” she murmured. “And I let her.” I didn’t respond right away. I just stared at her short for words. Rage, betrayal, heartbreak… they all tangled up inside me.

“You were my sister,” I said gently. “You knew what Ceryn did to me. You knew what Castillo did, yet you still chose them? So what use is this last-minute defense, this medicine after death when everything is spoiled already?”

Her lip quivered. “I thought I was protecting you.” 

“No!” I replied. “You were protecting yourself. You were being self-centered, inconsiderate, and allowed your emotions to rule you. Look at the havoc you caused at the gate, see how many wolves were killed all because of your betrayal, is that how you planned to protect me?”

She hung her head. For once, there were no excuses. I’m really sorry she pleaded but I was no longer eager to listen to what she had to say. 

I stood up and walked away, not out of resentment, but because I needed a moment of my own, to breathe before I go mad. Everything that was happening was too much for me to take in at this point. 

I found Aether outside, later in the evening after I had rested and taken some ointment from the infirmary to nurse my wounds. He was leaning against the old big tree, his breaths quick and heavy.

He didn’t say much when I got closer; he just looked at me. I could feel he had a lot in mind to say to me but didn’t know how to.

“I feel different,” I whispered. Breaking the silence 

He nodded. “I know. Your energy… It’s stronger, wilder.”

“I’m scared,” I admitted. “Not of Nyra, nor Ceryn but of me, of what I’m becoming.”

He stepped closer, his voice steady. “You’re not becoming someone else, Maybel You’re finally becoming yourself.” And for the first time, he called my name with so much trust, he believes in whatever I will become. 

Then he reached out and touched my hand, squeezing my hand while looking at me with those big captivating eyes of his, and immediately something happened.

The bond clicked into place. Not slow, not gentle, but wild. It struck me like a thunderstorm in my chest, A rush of heat like electric fire. It was destiny.

I  knew—he was my true mate, not a backup, or a rebound. But the one I was destined for.

His eyes widened. “You felt it too?” He asked 

I nodded, breathless. “This… this is real.”

He pulled me close and kissed me passionately, I could sense the longing in his eyes. The kiss was deep, desperate, and much needed

His lips were fire, his grip firm, and his heart? It beats for me.

I felt our bond weave together like silver chains pulling tight, It was settled. Aether and I were mated. And for the first time, every part of me felt complete.

–––

“Get away from her!”

The voice behind us hit like a bullet.

We both froze. I turned slowly, and there he was—Castillo 

His eyes glowed fiercely, veins in his arms pulsing with rage. The air around him shimmered with Alpha power, drawing the attention of the guards patrolling around by the gate.

“What did you do?” he growled.

“I bonded,” I said calmly.

“With him?” he roared, stepping closer. “You think he’s worthy of what runs through your blood? Of you?”

Aether stepped in front of me.

“She chose me,” he said firmly. “You lost her the moment you turned your back, the moment you abandoned her due to greed.”

Castillo’s jaw tightened. “I rejected her to protect her!”

“You rejected me to protect me?” I snapped, stepping around Kade. “Do you think I’m a kid? Who do you think you’re fooling? You rejected me because you thought I wasn’t good enough for you, your pride mattered more than your mate. You let Ceryn wear my crown. You gave her my place.”

“You think he deserves you?” Castillo’s voice trembled. “He’s not even bonded to your pack! He’s not part of your bloodline!”

“I don’t care about bloodline,” I said, my voice rising. “Because for the first time, I feel seen, loved, and chosen.” The people I called blood let me down, to hell with blood! I yelled. 

Castillo’s fists clenched so hard they bled. “I never stopped loving you, May.”

“You stopped choosing me,” I whispered.

Silence filled the air. Then he looked at Aether with raging anger like he would pick a fight with him, then his face changed. I saw the heartbreak, the realization that this time, he couldn’t resort to violence if he wanted to win me back. 

His voice dropped to a whisper—cold and sharp. “This isn’t over!”

He turned and stormed off, with his Beta Nelson trailing behind, but the fire he left behind wasn’t dying.

Later that night, I stood in the training yard, my bond with Aether still pulsing in my chest making my heartbeat palpitate. Aria ran toward us, her face pale.

“Nyra was seen again,” she panted. “Outside the old forest. She was with three Nightborn… and they were carrying something wrapped in silver cloth,” Aria narrated, her eyes wide.

“What was it?” Aether asked, his tone sounded serious out of curiosity.

Aria turned to me, her voice trembling. 

“It was a mirror, May. One that belonged to the first moon goddess Vessel, It’s an ancient relic”

I felt my breath hitch in my throat, I had seen that mirror before in a dream. 

And in that dream... I was screaming.