All Chapters of Welcome to Aetherborn: Crushes, Curses & Creatures: Chapter 121 - Chapter 130

The memory crystal glowed again, flooding the chamber with golden light. Seraphine shielded her eyes as the scene formed, her mother, Selene Emberlain, bound in silver chains, standing before the Thrones. The great hall shimmered with divine energy, the air trembling under the presence of the gods themselves. The Head of the Thrones, draped in robes of star-fire, stepped forward and lifted his hand. “Selene Emberlain,” his voice echoed like thunder, “you have violated the sacred laws of Aetherborn. You crossed the mortal veil, defied our decree, and bore a child with a human.” Selene raised her chin, defiant but trembling. “I did what my heart commanded,” she said. “Love is not a sin.” The hall erupted in murmurs. The Thrones’ eyes glimmered coldly. “Love may not be,” the Head intoned, “but consequence is. Your actions have unbalanced the AetherCurrents. You will answer for this.” Then one of the council stepped forward and touched her forehead. A blinding light flashed. Selene g

Melinda’s scream echoed through the heavens as the bolt of Aether light flung her across the field. She crashed into the marble walls with a thunderous crack, stone splintering under the force. The air trembled, the sky itself rippling with the aftermath of Selene’s unleashed power. For a moment, silence followed, stunned, hollow silence. Selene stood there, chest heaving, her hands glowing with fading Aether light. The realization of what she had done struck her like lightning. Melinda lay motionless on the ground, smoke rising from her robes. “Selene…” Kael whispered, disbelief breaking through his voice. “What did you just do?” “I… she lied!” Selene shouted back, her voice trembling. “She betrayed me! She made me summon that monster!” But before anyone could answer, the Aetherstar roared again. The sound was unlike anything mortal or divine, it was chaos given voice, a thunderous wail that shattered the sky. The earth split open beneath them as the creature stretched its enor

Seraphine sat on the edge of her bed, her hands gripping the sheets tightly. The sky outside her window was still dark, but the first traces of dawn crept through the clouds like a slow, bleeding wound. She hadn’t slept. She couldn’t. Her mind kept replaying every word from the Headmaster, every truth that had shattered what little peace she thought she had left. She whispered to herself, voice hoarse, “How much more am I supposed to take?” The night’s conversation still echoed in her head…especially the last thing she asked before she left the Headmaster’s office. “And what about her… Melinda? What became of the one who started all this?” The Headmaster’s expression had turned grim then. His voice carried the weight of centuries when he answered. “When Selene struck her, Melinda was dying. You must understand, Selene used the Aethercurrent magic. The blow should have ended Melinda completely. But Melinda was not only brilliant… she was dangerous. She had studied forbidden

Cressida stormed down the marble corridor, her heels echoing with every furious step. Her blood boiled beneath her flawless composure, her eyes glowing faintly with the color of her rage, amber gold, sharp and burning. “She?” she hissed to herself, her voice low but venomous. “How can she be the Aetherborn? That bitch? That outsider? She’s no one! She doesn’t deserve it!” She clenched her fists, nails biting into her palms. “I’m Cressida Valehart,” she murmured under her breath. “Student President. Top of my class. The most powerful caster in Aetherborn. Me! That title belongs to me!” Her magic sparked faintly around her hands, scattering fragments of glowing mist as she strode toward the Calling Quarters, a circular chamber lined with mirrors etched with runes. Normally, it was forbidden to use the mirrors except on Calling Days, when communication with the outer realms was allowed. But rules rarely applied to Cressida Valehart. The attendant at the door bowed quickly. “M

The courtyard was quiet, bathed in silver light. Only the sound of steel slicing through the air broke the silence. Kade’s sword arced again, catching the moon’s glow as it spun, then stopped an inch from his neck, perfect form, flawless control yet his focus was elsewhere. His chest rose and fell with uneven breaths, not from exhaustion, but from distraction. Her face wouldn’t leave his mind. Seraphine. No matter how many times he swung his blade, no matter how many breaths he took to center himself, her voice, her laughter, that look in her eyes after the kiss, it all stayed. Like a song stuck in his head, haunting and beautiful. He gritted his teeth, lowering his sword. Snap out of it. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t dwell on it. But it was impossible not to. He remembered how the moonlight had kissed her skin that night, how close they had been, how everything had just… stopped. The world had held its breath. And then he’d kissed her, terrified and desperate. For one per