Severus slammed his hand on the polished wooden table, the sharp crack echoing through the otherwise opulent chambers. He aggressively ran his hands through his hair, his usually composed demeanor completely shattered. Perseus stared at him, a flicker of irritation in his eyes, utterly unable to comprehend what had Severus so thoroughly worked up. He remained seated, radiating an almost regal detachment, yet a cold knot of confusion tightened in his stomach.“Can you hear yourself? You’ll get rid of Eleanor?” Severus barked, his voice laced with incredulity, as if Perseus had suggested something utterly unthinkable. His gaze was fierce, demanding an explanation, a retraction.“Loud and clear,” Perseus responded, his tone heavy with an unshakeable confidence, a certainty that bordered on arrogance. He spoke as though he possessed all the facts, as though his decision was not only justified but entirely inevitable. “I’ve done my best to make sure that there are no fairies left; we made
Perseus, with a practiced, almost mechanical rhythm, signed on another paper, the quill scratching softly against the parchment. His hand moved with an innate efficiency, honed by countless hours of administrative duties. Beside him, Severus, ever the meticulous aide, helped him organize the burgeoning stack of letters on his desk. Each sheet, a potential decree or a crucial response, was held down with an assortment of random objects: a smooth, river-worn stone, a discarded goblet, a heavy, ornate paperweight shaped like a dragon's claw. These makeshift anchors were necessary, given the sheer volume of correspondence that constantly threatened to engulf the polished surface of the desk, even as Perseus continued his relentless signing.His very identity as a part-dragon, a truth recently revealed to the broader world, had led directly to this overwhelming deluge. It wasn't merely the usual royal decrees and kingdom management; these were urgent appeals to the general public, demandin
E L E A N O RI stared at Asmodeus, my gaze unwavering, a silent challenge in my eyes. "You do?" The words were barely a whisper, laced with disbelief, a desperate hope that he might retract his statement, that there was a different path.I don't think I've ever truly wanted to accept my fae powers. It felt, in a deeply unsettling way, like I was trying to replace Reina. I’ve had my share of mourning her, a grief that gnawed at me constantly, a silent apology for even being born, for existing in a way that made me suitable to let Ravon use me as a vessel, for being the reason he took her away in the process. My very existence felt like a betrayal of her memory, a constant reminder of what was lost.Now, I was being told I was supposed to exploit my tribrid abilities, with two versions of my power gone, leaving me with just one. The very version that Perseus had, in his past, made sure went extinct, eradicating fairies from the world. It was a cruel twist of fate, a bitter irony that
E L E A N O RSomething mushy crushed underneath my boots as we stepped into the market, a sickening squelch that made my stomach lurch even before I fully registered its implications. The air itself was a shroud, dark and cold, devastatingly so, each breath a frosty dagger in my lungs. I could barely manage to keep it together, my every instinct screaming for me to flee, to find warmth and safety, but Bernadette walked past me, her grip on my hand a grounding force, pulling me deeper into the oppressive chaos as she led me through the churning, faceless crowd. My hood, mercifully large, was designed to obscure my face, offering a sliver of anonymity, but there was still enough room for me to peek through, to witness the horrifying, almost magnetic appeal of Reek's Market. The sights assaulted me, each one a fresh assault on my already frayed nerves. I almost lost whatever meager composure I had when my eyes landed on a decaying body, sprawled carelessly on the muddy, filth-ridden gr
E L E A N O R"What?" The single word burst from my lips, feeling like the only appropriate, the only sane response in that moment. My mind was reeling, trying desperately to catch up with the impossible reality Bernadette was laying out before me."They were protecting you, Eleanor. I truly believe that somehow, in a way we don't fully understand yet, Ravon actually saved your life and the lives of your family, your children." Bernadette's voice was calm, almost unnervingly so, as she continued her explanation. "Tribrid pregnancies, by their very nature, are incredibly volatile. The children often end up fighting against themselves, their different natures warring within them. But yours… yours were fighting him. That was one of the crucial factors that hindered his full possession of you."My hand, as if possessing a will of its own, instinctively rose to my stomach, brushing gently over the barely perceptible curve that was growing, slowly, steadily, over time. It felt utterly surre
I stood there, a statue of disbelief, utterly unsure of what to utter in that jarring moment. A profound tremble racked my entire body, as a torrent of confusion coursed through my very bones, rendering me utterly speechless. The question he had posed was so completely unexpected, so tragically impossible for him to ask me, and even worse, the way he looked at me—as if I were a noxious pest that needed to be exterminated, someone he had never laid eyes on before—was truly heart-wrenching. How could he? “Perseus…” My voice was barely a whisper, a plea. “Your majesty.” He interjected sharply, a crisp click of his tongue accompanying the correction. His tone was laced with an almost cruel condescension. “You should at least have some semblance of manners for your Alpha, miss.” I blinked, my mind struggling to process his words, completely thrown off balance by the sheer audacity. “Manners? Perseus, I’m your wife. Eleanor, remember? I am the Luna of this pack.” The words tumbled out,