Theron’s POVElowen stood rigid by the broken window, her golden eyes fixed on the spot where Victor had disappeared. The weight of everything we had fought for pressed against her shoulders like an invisible force, threatening to crush her.She was trying to hide it.But I saw the exhaustion in the way she swayed slightly, the way her hands trembled just the slightest bit before she clenched them into fists.She was running on sheer willpower alone.And I couldn’t let her.I stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Elowen, you need to rest.”She stiffened but didn’t pull away. “I don’t have time to rest.”“Elowen—”“No.” Her voice was sharp, her body tense. “If I stop now, if I slow down for even a second, Victor will come back. He’ll—”I turned her to face me, gripping her arms firmly. “And what good will you be if you collapse before that happens?”Her gaze met mine, fierce and unrelenting, but beneath it, I saw the cracks. The exhaustion. The pain.I softened my grip. “Pl
Elowen’s POVThe five minutes stretched longer than I intended.Theron’s warmth, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, the way his fingers lazily traced patterns on my back—it was dangerously comforting. For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to believe that things could be this simple.But they weren’t.With a deep breath, I pushed against his chest. "We really need to get up."He groaned but loosened his grip, rolling onto his back. His dark eyes, still heavy with sleep, locked onto mine. "You’re the one who stayed."I scowled, sitting up. "You didn’t give me much of a choice."Theron smirked, but before he could say anything else, the bedroom door burst open."Finally, you're awake," Alaric said, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed. His piercing gaze flicked between me and Theron, and his jaw ticked slightly. "We’ve got a problem."I threw the blanket off and swung my legs over the side of the bed. "What now?""More rogues spotted near the southern border."My stomach
Elowen’s POVThe kiss lingered between us, a fragile moment of warmth in the storm we were about to face. Alaric’s hands tightened on my waist as if he was afraid I’d vanish if he let go.But I couldn’t afford to stay in this moment. Not when war loomed over us.I pulled away, my breathing uneven. "We need to prepare," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Alaric exhaled through his nose, clearly frustrated but nodding nonetheless. "Ranon and Theron are already gathering the warriors," he muttered. "We leave at dawn."Dawn.That left only a few hours.I turned toward the window, staring out at the darkened sky. Somewhere out there, Ezekiel's forces were waiting. They wouldn’t stop coming for me.For my blood.Alaric moved behind me, his warmth pressing against my back. "We’re going to end this, Elowen."His voice was full of certainty. Of promise.I wanted to believe him.I turned in his arms, resting my forehead against his chest. "No matter what happens," I whispered, "promise me
Theron's POVThe forest was a blur of shadows and moonlight as we raced through the underbrush. Ranon cradled Elowen against his chest, her body limp and alarmingly pale. Her blood had soaked through his shirt, staining it a deep crimson that glistened under the faint light. Each labored breath she took was a testament to her fading strength.Beside them, I ran, every step sending jolts of pain through my battered body. My ribs ached, likely cracked or worse, and a gash above my brow sent warm rivulets down my face, partially obscuring my vision. But none of it mattered. The only thing that did was the woman hanging onto life in Ranon's arms.Alaric, slightly ahead, kept glancing back, his eyes filled with a mix of fear and determination. He pressed two fingers to her neck, searching for a pulse. His face tightened."Her pulse is weak," he growled, voice raw. "She's losing too much blood—""Don't say it," I snapped, my voice sharper than intended. "She's not going to die.""Theron—""
Theron’s POV Days bled into nights, and still, Elowen remained confined to the bed, her body slowly knitting itself back together with every excruciating hour. The once vibrant spark in her eyes hadn’t fully returned, but her chest rose and fell steadily, and that was enough to keep me breathing. The scars on her skin were healing, but the silence between us—the way she flinched when she dreamed, the way her hands trembled when she tried to lift a spoon—those were the wounds we couldn’t see. Each of us took turns helping her bathe, eat, walk down the long corridor of the mansion, and each time, we watched the strongest woman we’d ever known lean on us in a way she never had before. Alaric never left her side at night. He sat quietly in a chair beside her bed, his fingers loosely curled around hers as he whispered apologies she couldn't yet answer. His eyes, once hard and unforgiving, had softened in her presence, guilt clinging to every breath he took. “She used to hate being hel
Elowen’s POVThe academy gates loomed ahead, familiar yet foreign.It had been weeks since I’d last walked through them—weeks since blood stained my hands, pain etched itself into my bones, and the world I once knew unraveled at the seams. And now, as the morning sun streamed down, casting a golden glow on the stone path, I felt… off-balance.Not weak. No, I wasn’t that anymore.Just changed.Alaric’s hand hovered close to my back without touching, his gaze scanning the students like they were threats. Theron flanked my right, silent and unreadable, while Ranon walked a step ahead, his arms folded, jaw clenched as always.Their presence was suffocating… but not in the way it used to be.Now it was protective. Devoted. Desperate.Students turned to stare, whispers already rising like a wave."She’s back.""Is that her?""Did you hear what she did to Ezekiel?""That’s the witch with the triplet alphas..."Every whisper hit me like a blade. Not because I cared about what they thought—but
Elowen’s POVThe academy halls were hushed now, lit only by faint moonlight filtering through the tall windows. Everyone had been ordered to rest after the incident, but rest was a foreign concept to me tonight.I found myself drawn to the library—a place of stillness, of worn pages and silent thoughts. The fire was lit in the hearth, casting a warm, golden glow across the shelves.I sank into one of the old leather chairs, arms folded around myself. The moment I closed my eyes, the sound of the summoning echoed again—the screaming runes, the creature’s hiss, the way my magic had clawed its way out of me like it had a mind of its own.A hand gently touched my shoulder.I looked up.Theron.He didn’t say anything at first. Just looked at me, gaze heavy, stormy as always.“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked finally, his voice low.I shook my head. “Didn’t want to close my eyes and see that thing again.”He nodded and lowered himself into the chair beside me, resting his elbows on his knees, hand
Elowen’s POV The afternoon sun was beginning to dip behind the academy towers, casting long shadows over the courtyard. Most students had gone inside, their laughter and conversation fading down the stone corridors, but the four of us lingered.Theron sat beside me, his thigh pressed lightly against mine, his arm stretched behind me along the bench. Alaric was pacing nearby, distracted, while Ranon leaned against the tree, head tilted back, eyes closed—but I knew he wasn’t sleeping. He was listening. Always listening.There was something peaceful about this moment… but there was also a quiet tension brewing beneath the surface. I could feel it in the way Alaric’s jaw tightened with every few steps, in the way Theron’s fingers twitched, like he was ready for a fight.“You’re all on edge,” I finally said softly, glancing between them.Theron didn’t deny it. “It’s been too quiet. After what happened in class…”“They’re regrouping,” Alaric muttered, his voice low. “Whoever tried to trigg
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