LOGINCeleste's povThree years had passed since Zara's warning.Three years of watching Seraphina and Daemon grow from children into perceptive pre-teens who carried wisdom beyond their years in their eyes. They were eleven now—old enough to understand, Lyra had decided. Old enough to know the full truth.We gathered in the private family chambers on a gray afternoon. Not the throne room because that will make it too serious, but the warm sitting room where Seraphina kept her books and Daemon his collection of smooth stones from the river with people who loved these children and would do anything to protect them.Lyra sat beside Seraphina on the sofa, her daughter no longer small enough for her lap. Lady Evara—Daemon's mother—sat close to her son, their shoulders touching. Ronan stood behind his mate, one hand on her shoulder. King Aldric occupied his usual chair, looking every one of his years but with eyes still sharp and clear. And I sat in a chair facing the children, needing to see th
Celeste's povThe party was quickly ended after that, I sent word to get Mira from moonstone despite her condition because whenever something about the stupid prophecy came up, it usually involved all of us.Guards stood at attention, their faces grim as Mira and I walked to the office. I had to ask Aldrich to stay with Maria and make sure she doesn't come out of our room.Lyra met me in the corridor outside the throne room. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her usually neat braid was disheveled. She looked like she had not slept at all."Thank the gods you are here," she said, gripping my arm. "Let's get this over wigh.""Do you think she's just a other scholar?""Something like that." Her expression was impossible to read. "Come."The throne room held more people than I expected. Ronan stood near his throne, Theron beside him with his usual collection of ancient texts. King Aldric sat in a chair that had been brought in for him, looking every one of his many years. And in the cent
CELESTE'S POVKing Aldric appeared, looking older but still sharp-eyed and surprisingly spry. Rowan had transferred from Lyra's hip to his great-grandfather's shoulders, and the old king bore the weight with pride."The whole family together," he said with satisfaction. "Come. Dinner is prepared. Tomorrow we celebrate Seraphina's birthday properly, but tonight we feast like family."The dinner was warm and loud and filled with laughter. Seraphina sat between Daemon and Maria, mediating their debate about whether shadow puppets or painted pictures were better. Rowan threw food with toddler precision. Ronan told embarrassing stories about Lyra's pregnancy cravings. Lady Evara and her husband joined us, and she looked happier than I had ever seen her.This was what peace looked like. What healing created. Families rebuilt, children laughing and former enemies now simply friends.The cult had been silent for five years. No attacks, no suspicious activity, no threats. Theron believed we ha
CELESTE'S POVKing Aldric appeared, looking older but still sharp-eyed and surprisingly spry. Rowan had transferred from Lyra's hip to his great-grandfather's shoulders, and the old king bore the weight with pride."The whole family together," he said with satisfaction. "Come. Dinner is prepared. Tomorrow we celebrate Seraphina's birthday properly, but tonight we feast like family."The dinner was warm and loud and filled with laughter. Seraphina sat between Daemon and Maria, mediating their debate about whether shadow puppets or painted pictures were better. Rowan threw food with toddler precision. Ronan told embarrassing stories about Lyra's pregnancy cravings. Lady Evara and her husband joined us, and she looked happier than I had ever seen her.This was what peace looked like. What healing created. Families rebuilt, children laughing and former enemies now simply friends.The cult had been silent for five years. No attacks, no suspicious activity, no threats. Theron believed we ha
Celeste's povI stood in my study in Moonstone castle, reviewing trade agreements, when Maria toddled in with paint smeared across her face."Mama! Look what I made!"She held up a paper covered in colors that might have been a garden or a dragon or abstract chaos. At three years old, my daughter had inherited my determination and her father's creativity. The combination was simultaneously delightful and exhausting."It is beautiful, little one." I pulled her into my lap, not caring about the paint now transferring to my dress. "What is it?""It is you and Papa and me and Aunt lyra and everyone at the festival!" She pointed at various blobs enthusiastically. "See? That is you. And that is Cousin Seraphina. And that is Daemon making shadow puppets."Five years. Five years since we had bound those children together, and sometimes it still took my breath away how right that decision had been."Speaking of the festival," my husband Aldric said, appearing in the doorway, "we need to leave
Lyra's pov The council chamber felt too small for the pressure of the decision we had to make.Lady Evara sat with her hands folded tightly in her lap, her face pale and tense. She had recovered physically from Daemon's nightmare, but the bruises on her throat—purple and yellow now—served as a stark reminder of how close she had come to death.At her child's hands.Ronan stood at the head of the table, his posture rigid. King Aldric sat to his right, Theron to his left. Celeste had come immediately when summoned. And two magical specialists—elderly scholars who had spent decades studying shadow magic—waited with grave expressions."We have three options," the first specialist said. Her name was Meredith, and her voice was clinical, detached. "The first: a magical binding to suppress the child's power entirely until he reaches maturity.""Suppress it how?" I asked, my hand unconsciously moving to rest on my growing belly. My second child was active today, as if sensing my distress."A







