Liora stretched lazily on the bed, letting out a soft yawn.
Almost immediately, the servants entered, moving quickly and quietly as if they'd been waiting just outside the door.
"Your Highness… you're awake."
She sat up, brushing her hair off her shoulder. "Mhm," she hummed, not really surprised. Just another morning.
The palace walls were familiar. The sheets were velvet. The scent in the air …roses and blood comforted her.
This was home.
She stood and walked to the full-length mirror, her bare feet soft against the polished floors.
Her reflection greeted her.
White hair cascading down her back, even more luminous than she remembered. Her lips were soft pink, her skin glowing smooth like cream, eyes deep and sharp ,a dangerous blue that shimmered faintly in the light.
She smiled at her reflection, and one of her fangs flashed.
A queen.
Not every day a werewolf becomes a vampire …..but for her, it felt like she had always been this way.
She reached for her silk robe and draped it over her body like instinct.
"Prepare my bath," she said calmly, like she'd said it a hundred times before.
The servants bowed instantly and rushed to do her bidding.
She didn't ask where she was.
She didn't wonder why.
In her mind, she'd always been here.
Born in the dark. Raised Royal.
She was royalty.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Selene, what the actual hell?!" Ciara shouted, stomping through thick fog.
"We've been walking in literal circles for hours!"
"Calm down," Vaelna muttered, barely glancing back. "We will almost be there"
Ciara shot her a warning glare. "Almost?! You said that and a long time has gone already!"
Sera trailed behind silently, exhaustion tugging at her limbs. Her thoughts had been torn between tending to Aldric... and the missing Omega who hadn't returned since that night.
"Sera," Ciara said gently this time. "You okay?"
"I'm just… tired. We've done nothing but walk and argue and Selene…" Sera called gently, her voice softer. "We really have been going in circles."
Selene finally stopped and turned. "I told you. Vampire portals don't obey rules. Especially those leading to the deeplands."
Kael and Zyra remained silent, a few steps behind. Kael hadn't said much all day, but his unease was clear. He didn't like this plan and he definitely didn't like trusting strangers.
Vaelna looked around quietly. She was beginning to regret offering help. Ciara had been tense since they started…too emotional, too impatient. She suspected it had to do with Liora and the fact that she likes the true blood.
"We need to stop," Zyra said firmly. "It's too dark, and we've made no progress."
"Set up the tents, Kael. Sera. Ciara."
Ciara whipped around. "Excuse me? Who made you commander?"
"I need to speak to Selene and Vaelna. Alone," Zyra added, ignoring her.
"And why exactly?" Sera asked sharply.
"It's none of your concern, Beta," Zyra replied coolly.
Selene stepped in before tension exploded. "It's okay. We'll talk."
The three of them stepped away from the group, the trees cloaking them in hushed whispers.
"You two," Zyra started, folding her arms. "Where are you really from?"
Selene glanced at Vaelna, who responded smoothly. "We were abandoned. Deep in the forest. We raised ourselves… survived on instincts and luck."
"Right," Zyra nodded slowly. "And how did you learn about fated mates and vampires? You said you love books, Selene. But there are no books in the wild."
"Well…" Selene smiled faintly. "The books were there when we were left behind. Old ruins. And I read everything. Mythology, histories, curses."
Zyra stepped closer. "So tell me everything you know about fated mates."
Selene's expression darkened slightly.
"Fated mates are bound by something beyond this world. A mirror of the soul. They're created for balance. But if broken… it destroys both halves. You and Liora were bonded for a reason. And if a vampire has her, you must take her back."
"Why?" Zyra asked, a flicker of pain in her voice.
"Because if this feud continues," Selene said, voice lowering, "Werewolves might not survive what's coming and might seize to exist."
Vaelna coughed lightly, muttering, "Some vampires aren't bad…"
Zyra's gaze sharpened. "Nice try, Selene. We grew up hearing horror stories. Vampires don't deserve our kindness."
Before either of them could respond, Ciara's voice rang out.
"The tents are ready."
They returned to camp.
"We've got three tents," she said stiffly. "Decide fast."
Selene smiled. "I'll stay with Sera."
Sera nearly choked. "Uhm… fine."
"I'll be with Kael," Zyra said quickly.
Ciara's eyes widened. "Wait, that means…"
Vaelna stepped beside her, lips curving. "Looks like it's just you and me, Alpha."
—------------
Sera lay on her back, arms folded tightly under her head, eyes locked on the fabric above. She was trying really trying not to acknowledge the heat radiating from the woman beside her.
Selene.
The way she moved. The way her scent curled through the tent like warm spice and danger. It wasn't fair.
Selene turned slightly, her dark hair spilling across the mat. "Hey Beta…" her voice came out low, teasing. "Relax. I won't bite…"
Her gaze trailed lazily down Sera's body.
"…Unless you want me to."
Sera's throat bobbed.
"It's not like you could," she muttered, trying to sound unaffected.
Selene smirked. "Oh really?"
In one sudden movement, she rolled closer….closer than she needed to. Her leg brushed against Sera's thigh deliberately, warm and slow.
"I don't carry two daggers strapped to my thigh for nothing," Sera warned, her voice rough now.
"Oh?" Selene murmured. "You'd pull a blade on me... for this?"
Before Sera could blink, Selene's lips brushed the curve of her neck….barely a kiss, more like a threat wrapped in silk.
Sera froze.
Her body betrayed her …..heat surged through her, her breath caught in her chest. Her fingers curled slightly but didn't reach for the dagger.
Selene whispered against her skin. "Dare me."
Sera sucked in a breath and pushed her away, her face flushed crimson. "You're out of your mind."
Selene chuckled, dark and slow, rolling onto her back. "Maybe. But you didn't stop me."
Sera turned away, biting her lip.
And still, her heart pounded like war drums in her chest.
She closed her eyes, trying to sleep, but her body still burned from every place Selene had touched… and those teasing words refused to leave her mind.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ciara sat stiffly on the bedding, arms folded, gaze hard as stone as she glared at the vampire lounging just across the tent.
"You know you could sleep outside," she muttered.
Vaelna chuckled softly, her voice smooth like bloodied silk. "I don't exactly sleep like you werewolves do. I just… rest."
Ciara shot her a sideways look. "So you're going to sit there all night and watch me like some creep?"
"Creep is a harsh word," Vaelna said, leaning back on her elbows, her golden eyes glinting like wildfire. "Let's call it... admiring."
Ciara scoffed. "You're insufferable."
Vaelna's lips curled. "And you're adorable when you're tense."
Ciara rolled her eyes, turning away, but she could feel the air shift as Vaelna was moving.
The soft rustle of fabric. The faint brush of movement. And then ….warm breath, far too close to her ear.
"Or," Vaelna whispered, her voice low, intimate, velvet-drenched, "we could always do something else... to pass the time."
Ciara's eyes widened. She spun, her voice sharp. "Don't you dare touch me."
Vaelna didn't flinch.
Instead, she leaned in even closer, close enough that their lips almost brushed, their heat merged, and the space between them crackled with tension.
She raised a brow, unbothered. Bold.
"Then stop me,"