Theron’s POVThe moon, a silent sentinel in the inky sky, cast long, skeletal fingers of light through the heavy velvet curtains of our shared chamber. The silvered illumination painted Elowen’s face in stark relief against the deep shadows of the room. She had finally succumbed to the exhaustion that clung to her like a shroud, her breathing shallow and uneven, each inhale a fragile whisper against the silence. Tucked beneath layers of soft, comforting blankets, she looked unnervingly small, almost childlike, her usually vibrant presence muted, subdued. Her dark hair, usually a riotous tangle, now lay spilled across the white linen pillowcase like a pool of dark ink, framing her pale features.Alaric sat vigil on one side of the bed, a weighty tome resting in his lap, its pages untouched. His gaze remained fixed on Elowen, his intense focus a silent testament to the fear that still lingered in the air. Ranon, ever restless, was sprawled in the large armchair near the dying embers of
Elowen’s POVWarmth. It enveloped me like a soft, downy blanket, a stark contrast to the cold dread that had clung to me the night before. It wasn’t just the lingering heat of the blankets, but a deeper, more profound warmth that seeped into my bones, chasing away the lingering chill of the forest night. It was the warmth of safety, of being surrounded, of not being alone in the darkness. It was the quiet, unwavering presence of them.And then, the scent. A symphony of familiar aromas that always grounded me, always reminded me of home. Ranon’s deep, earthy scent, like the rich soil of the wild woods after a summer rain, grounding and strong. Alaric’s crisp cedar and the comforting mustiness of old books, a scent that spoke of quiet intellect and unwavering stability. And Theron’s unique blend of cool steel and the electric tang of an approaching storm, fierce and protective, a constant reminder of his unwavering vigilance.I cracked my eyes open, the lids feeling heavy, as if weighte
Elowen’s POVThe descent from the mansion to the Academy grounds was slow, deliberate. Each step was a careful negotiation between my desire for movement and the dull, persistent throb in my injured leg. The late afternoon sun, a molten orb sinking towards the horizon, cast long, dancing shadows across the manicured lawns and the surrounding wild grasses. A gentle breeze, carrying the earthy scent of pine needles and the cool dampness of the nearby stone walls, rustled through the tall blades, a soothing whisper against the lingering tension of the past night.After a breakfast filled with an almost exaggerated normalcy – pancakes cooked with surprising care by a brooding Ranon, Alaric’s meticulously brewed calming tea, and Theron’s surprisingly gentle teasing – I had pleaded with them to allow me a brief excursion to the Academy grounds. Not for rigorous training, not yet. Just for fresh air, the feel of the earth beneath my feet, and perhaps a few slow, deliberate movements to remin
Ranon’s POVThe restless energy that coursed through me was a tangible thing, a simmering undercurrent of fear and possessiveness that threatened to boil over. I couldn’t stand still. I couldn’t focus. The image of Caelum’s smug, knowing smile, the echo of his cryptic words, played on repeat in my mind, fueling the primal urge to protect, to claim, to obliterate any threat to Elowen’s well-being.She had been unnervingly quiet on the walk back from the training grounds. The usual spark, the quick wit, the playful banter – all extinguished, replaced by a heavy, unsettling silence. And Elowen’s silence wasn’t like anyone else’s. It wasn’t a peaceful stillness, but a pregnant pause, a gathering storm. It was the hush before a scream, the tautness of a bowstring before the arrow is released, the razor’s edge before it cuts.I hated it. I loathed the feeling of being shut out, of being unable to reach her, to soothe the turmoil that I knew was raging beneath the surface.Alaric, ever the s
Theron’s POVThe next morning bled into existence, a slow, reluctant unveiling of the world outside the heavy stone walls of the mansion. Long before the first sliver of sun dared to peek over the horizon, an unwelcome restlessness stirred within me. It was a familiar companion these past weeks, a knot of anxiety tightening its hold with each passing night. Sleep, once a sanctuary, had become a battlefield of shadows and echoes, the phantom weight of her pain a constant pressure in the stillness.I hadn't intended to seek her out again. Logic, the stern voice I usually heeded, insisted she needed rest, undisturbed peace to mend the invisible wounds that clung to her like a shroud. Yet, an instinct primal and insistent tugged at me, a desperate need to confirm her well-being, to steal a fleeting glimpse of her before the day’s demands and pretenses began.Barefoot, I navigated the hushed corridors, the cool stone a stark contrast to the feverish unease within me. Each step was delibera
Elowen’s POVThe warmth of the blankets cocooned me as soft light spilled through the tall windows of the mansion. My leg ached dully beneath the layers of gauze, but the pain was bearable now. Familiar. Like the weight of a scar still healing.Ranon wasn’t beside me anymore.For a moment, I lay there—disoriented and surrounded by silence. The spot where he’d held me last night was cold now, the room empty of the quiet protectiveness I’d fallen asleep to.I rubbed my eyes, breathing in the faint scent of chamomile and cedar that still lingered on my pillow. My throat felt dry again, but the thirst wasn’t what drove me to sit up and swing my legs over the side of the bed.It was something else.Something missing.Someone.A hollow ache sat in my chest like I’d forgotten something important. I tried to shake it off, carefully limping toward the door.The mansion was still, the kind of stillness that felt wrong—like everyone was waiting for something. Or hiding.I found Ranon and Alaric
Elowen’s POVThe soft golds of early evening that had painted the sky with such delicate beauty just moments ago were now being swallowed by a creeping darkness. Heavy clouds, thick and brooding like ancient secrets gathering overhead, had begun to dominate the horizon. The air grew heavy, charged with a silent anticipation. The first drop of rain fell between us, a cold, singular bead that landed on my cheek like a whispered promise of what was to come.And then the heavens opened.It wasn’t a gentle shower; it was a deluge. Cold, fat droplets poured from the sky, relentless and unforgiving, soaking through my clothes in mere seconds, plastering my hair to my scalp, tracing icy paths down my skin. I gasped, the sudden chill a sharp contrast to the warmth that had begun to blossom between Theron and me. Instinctively, I stepped closer to him, seeking a sliver of shelter, but he didn’t flinch away. He stood rooted to the spot, drenched and silent, the rain plastering his dark hair to h
Elowen’s POVBy the time we finally stumbled back towards the mansion, the torrential downpour had softened to a persistent drizzle, clinging to our clothes and hair like a damp, cool mist. The world around us seemed to shimmer, washed clean and glistening, but the internal storm within me had finally begun to subside, replaced by a fragile sense of peace. My fingers were still entwined with Theron’s, his hand surprisingly warm despite the chill in the air, a tangible link between us that felt both comforting and charged with a renewed energy. The softness in his eyes, a reflection of the vulnerability we had shared in the rain, made it difficult to look away, as if breaking the connection might shatter the delicate truce we had forged.The moment we stepped through the grand, imposing front doors of the mansion, the familiar warmth of the interior enveloped us, a stark contrast to the cold dampness we carried with us. But the welcoming heat was immediately overshadowed by a palpable
Elowen's POV His grip tightened, and his hips bucked forward, hitting the back of my throat, and I moaned, the sensation a delightful mix of pleasure and pain. Alaric shifted forward, his lips closing around the nipple that Theron had been neglecting, his fingers teasing the other. Theron kissed my shoulder, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin, and his hands slid across the front of my panties, gently rubbing, the pressure eliciting a new wave of desire. Then Ranon tightened his grip on my hair, and the world blurred, his cock hitting the back of my throat, the sensation sending a ripple of pleasure straight to the aching apex of my thighs. I moaned, a sound he clearly felt, and a string of curses fell from his lips, his hips thrusting more forcefully, hitting the back of my throat again and again, the sensation pushing me closer and closer to the edge, the pressure building between my thighs. A familiar hand cupped the front of my panties, and a second later Theron ripped
Elowen's POV “I want to mark you, Elowen,” he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. “Not just with a bite, a physical claim. I want the world to know, unequivocally, that you are ours. That you belong to us, body and soul.” My heart raced, a thrill mixed with a sense of profound belonging coursing through me. “Then… show me, Ranon.” He captured my lips in a deep, possessive kiss, his tongue seeking entry, exploring the warm cavern of my mouth with a gentle insistence. Then a second pair of hands slid across my chest, his thumbs finding the sensitive skin beneath the swell of my breasts, and my breath hitched. Theron. His fingers gently lifted my shirt, a low, approving growl sounding from his chest when he saw the black lace of my bra. Then he pushed the fabric further, his calloused fingers finding the taut peaks of my nipples and tweaking, eliciting a low moan from my throat. My senses were overloading, every nerve ending coming alive, the intoxicating scent of sa
Elowen’s POVThe sun, a molten orb of amber and gold, had just begun its slow descent below the jagged horizon, painting the western sky in fiery hues that bled into soft violets and deep oranges. The tall, arched windows of the triplets’ private quarters, a sprawling suite they had painstakingly personalized, cast long, dancing shadows on the ancient stone walls, the flickering light resembling the hushed whispers of old magic, secrets stirring in the very fabric of the mansion. I stood before the crackling fireplace, the warmth radiating against my back doing little to thaw the lingering tension that still coiled within me like a tightly wound knot after the day’s unsettling events.They hadn’t spoken much after Caelum’s unexpected appearance in the combat hall. Not in explicit words, at least. But their silent communication had been deafening. The way they walked closer to me than usual, their bodies a constant, protective presence; the unwavering intensity of Theron’s gaze, barely
Elowen's POVThe next morning golden sunlight, fractured by the delicate weave of the gauzy curtains, painted shifting patterns across the dark wooden floors of our shared bedroom, finally settling in warm, inviting pools on the soft, rumpled sheets tangled around my limbs. For a few blissful, stolen seconds, cocooned in the lingering warmth of their bodies and the faint scent of their skin, I managed to forget everything—the rigid rules of the academy, the ever-present hum of latent magic, the unseen threats lurking in the shadows, the hushed whispers that followed me like a persistent echo. All that registered was the steady, comforting warmth of a muscular body pressed intimately against my back.Ranon’s strong arm was draped possessively over my waist, his calloused fingers splayed against the soft skin of my stomach, a silent claim that sent a pleasant shiver down my spine. Behind me, I could hear the soft, even rhythm of Alaric’s breathing, a reassuring presence in the quiet roo
Elowen's POV When his thumb brushed the thin, soaked fabric of my panties, a strangled whimper escaped my lips, a sound raw with need. The ache between my legs intensified, a sharp, insistent throbbing that demanded his touch, their touch. “Gods, you’re so wet, Elowen,” Ranon muttered against my skin, his breath hot and ragged against my inner thigh, the possessive observation sending another shiver of anticipation through me. Then his finger slipped beneath the delicate edge of the fabric, gliding with exquisite slowness over my slick, swollen heat, and I couldn’t help the involuntary moan that spilled from my lips, my head falling back against the cool, rough stone of the rooftop as a wave of pure, unadulterated pleasure shuddered through my core. Ranon groaned, the sound low and guttural, a primal rumble that vibrated against my skin, his fingers stroking against me with a teasing gentleness that left me trembling uncontrollably, every nerve ending screaming for more. “I want
Elowen’s POV The cool night air, sharp with the scent of distant rain and damp stone, pressed in around us, no longer a chill but a warm, endless cocoon, isolating us from the rest of the sleeping Academy. Above, the celestial canvas was a breathtaking spectacle, the stars spun in dizzying, intricate patterns, a thousand tiny, silent witnesses to the beautiful, chaotic storm raging within my heart. I felt like I was burning from the inside out, a slow, consuming fire ignited by their nearness, their unwavering gazes. Surrounded by them—Alaric’s steady, grounding strength, Theron’s consuming, passionate fire, Ranon’s wild, untamed hunger—I was drowning in the magnetic pull that bound us together, a force both terrifying and exhilarating. And I didn’t want to be saved. I yearned to succumb, to be completely consumed by the intensity of our connection. I wanted to drown in the depths of their devotion. “Look at me, little star,” Theron whispered, his voice a rough, urgent rasp that r
Elowen’s POVThe night pressed down on the Academy like a heavy velvet shroud, suffocating and restless. Even after the last echoes of footsteps faded down the long corridors and the heavy oak doors of the student rooms clicked shut, sealing everyone into their private spaces, sleep remained a distant, unattainable shore for me. I paced the confines of my room, the moonlight filtering through the tall, arched windows, casting pale silver rectangles across the dark, polished hardwood floors, my mind a relentless whirlwind of anxieties and unanswered questions, spinning endlessly around Caelum’s cryptic words and the Triplets’ simmering fury.They had been a silent, ominous presence throughout dinner in the grand hall. Dangerously, furiously silent. Their usual banter and playful jabs absent, replaced by a taut, almost palpable tension that crackled in the air around us like an impending storm gathering strength, the heavy clouds of their anger darkening their eyes. I knew, with a certa
Elowen's POVThe sun was a pale, watery smudge behind a thick blanket of heavy, bruised clouds as I stepped into the Academy’s main courtyard the next morning. The cool wind, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and distant rain, stirred the loose strands of my hair around my shoulders, a fleeting caress that did little to dispel the deeper chill that snaked its way down my spine.It wasn’t the bite of the autumn air that made my skin prickle with unease.It was the way they watched me.Alaric.Theron.Ranon.My mates.Their gazes, sharp and possessive, followed my every movement across the bustling courtyard with such focused, unwavering intensity that it felt like a tangible pressure against my skin, a silent, invisible touch that both reassured and unnerved me. Protective. Possessive. Fierce. Their united front was a comforting shield, yet sometimes, the sheer weight of their attention felt like a gilded cage.And now, adding another layer to the already charged atmosphere, Caelu
Theron’s POVThe silence in the grand hall was thick enough to cut with a knife. Every fork clinked a little too loudly, every hushed conversation seemed to die in its tracks. All eyes were on us. On Elowen.I kept my arm possessively around her shoulders, my fingers lightly tracing the curve of her neck beneath the collar of Alaric’s jacket she still wore. A silent warning to anyone who dared to look too long.Ranon’s presence behind us was a palpable weight, a silent promise of retribution to anyone who might consider challenging our claim. I could feel the heat radiating off him, the barely leashed possessiveness that mirrored my own.Alaric, ever the pragmatist, continued eating as if nothing unusual was happening, but his silver eyes flicked around the hall, assessing the reactions, cataloging the threats. His hand, resting casually on the table, was close enough to Elowen’s to reach her instantly.Elowen, bless her oblivious heart, seemed more concerned with the plate of fruit i