Deva woke with a new sense of understanding and purpose. Her mind was never more free and never more conflicted. What did the night really unleash? Jaylyn had connected their thoughts and emotions but was she ready for it? Were Darius and Adamarius ready for it?

What did their future look like now?

Deva felt two warm bodies on both sides of her. She could already sense who was which.

The woods were their playground. They played cat and mouse for most of the night. The moon gave off a beam of exhilarating energy. Yet they ended their fun by retreating to one of they family owned villas on the peek of a cliff. It had a tremendous view of the ocean and was far enough away from wandering neighbors.

Deva opened her eyes as the intense sun poured through the open windows. It was a newly remodeled villa with an open concept to everything. The large master bedroom they were in had the entire north wall facing the ocean made of glass sliding doors. It was currently open to let the cool ocean breezes fill the air.

Deva wanted to lay her head back down again and sleep but her thoughts wouldn't let her. She suddenly felt overwhelmed with anxiety. She crawled out of the king size bed and celebrated not waking them by taking a shower.

She smelt like earth and regretted not showering before going to bed. The house was fully stocked with essentials and clothes. She threw on a simple black dress and snickered watching the brothers still sleeping peacefully in bed, covered in cotton sheets.

Her stomach began to rumble and she wondered what the kitchen might have to satisfy her hunger. Pancakes were the winning choice. Her pancakes came out extremely fluffy and her plates easily became mountains. She figured the boys would wake up hungry. She didn't have the patience to wait for them and ate without them.

She was drinking her coffee and sitting on the counter watching the waves in the distance when she heard them coming into the room. Both brothers walked in shirtless and freshly bathed.

She wasn't sure where to look. She wanted to study them both but it still felt forbidden. How would Darius feel if she tried checking out his brother?

She lowered her head and took more sips of her coffee. Darius stood in front of her, lifted her chin, and kissed her.

"Good morning," he was in an incredibly good mood.

He walked around the counter to grab one of the plates of pancakes Deva prepared for them and went to sit at the table. Then Adamarius approached her and she melted. She was scared. How was she allowed to react to him?

He kissed her softly on the lips. "Good morning." Adamarius then proceeded to grab the other plate and join his brother.

They were both at ease and enjoying each other's company. Yet she could hardly breathe.

Darius sensed her fear. "Deva come here."

Her hands were shaking but she did as he said, sitting across from them.

"I won't stand in the way of your happiness. I saw how it ruined my mother and that's not what I want you to go through. I know you love both of us. That's why I won't make you choose. We're here for you. Neither one of us should be punished for loving you."

She couldn't believe what he was saying. It was like a dream. "How-"

"We'll keep it private for now." Adamarius continued. "We don't need anyone's opinion. This is our family. Our mutual agreement. Everything will go as normally as possible. Alcide doesn't need the confusion either."

It was as though they had already discussed it and agreed.

"Sweetheart," Darius had to pull her out of her trance. "We'll figure this, us, out together. This is just new but we'll make it work please don't worry. Do whatever comes naturally. You're my wife but you're more than that for the both of us. I won't be mad or jealous." He laughed. "At least I'll try not to be."

Deva nodded but the entire prospect was still forbidden territory for her.

"Jaylyn was right. Us being united, we could be unstoppable. Maybe it was always meant for us. Our destiny, our fate, was always meant to be together." Darius was open to the possibility.

Deva couldn't believe she could love her husband more than in that moment. "Together?"

Darius and Adamarius both nodded and her heart sank into blissful yet traitorous joy. After finishing their breakfast and watching in silence as they did so Deva stood up from her chair.

"Its late. I think we should get back." She was thinking about Alcide.

The family was on the patio having brunch. It was a slow day after their weeks of preparation for the holiday.

"Don't you make a lovely trio?" Marcus teased directing his gaze at the ascending pair.

"The public seems to think so." Izzy flipped through the morning paper, a large photo of the three of them on the cover. "The media is lighting the world on fire with this story. Everyone wants in on the royal love triangle. Your recent magazine spread has been the best selling coverage of all time."

Their secret arrangements didn't seem so private anymore.

"Everyone loves a juicy ménage à trois." Marcus smirked and Julia smacked his arm. She knew Deva liked keeping her affairs more private even if the masses approved.

"It wouldn't be the first in our royal history." Lucian tried to make light of the moment. "There are also no laws against it."

Deva rolled her eyes. She wasn't ready to open up about it. She walked around the table to steal his coffee knowing for a fact it was spiked with the best liquor.

The sun was scorching through despite the thick clouds. Yet in the distance behind the outline of the mountains there could be seen the purple moon waiting for its moment to shine. With its beauty came a curse.

"Most of the lycans I spoke to adored the idea. Having a soulmate is like a religious act for them. And having a queen with ties on both sides, vampire and lycan, is like a dream come true." Aurora added the insight she acquired from the eventful night.

Deva remained silent and composed. It was too soon to reveal anything, even to her family.

"Where's my son?" She opted to change the subject.

"With his professors." Izzy confirmed knowing just about everything going on in the castle.

"Your majesties, there is a guest at the door." Henry announced looking to Darius for an answer.

"Who is it?"

"Sebastian-"

"Let him in." Darius had a good relationship with the rebellious prince.

Sebastian was just as mischievous as he was as a child. They often got into trouble together. Most of the ideas were Sebastian's but Darius never had to be persuaded. It was through their friendship he met Sheena, which he regretted.

Sebastian was always the one for theatrics. He loved attention and displayed most of his need for adoration through his expensive outfits. He looked as though he were walking off a French fashion runway.

His suit was crisp as a board with matching tie and socks. This shirt had an unique print on it that matched the color of his shoes. His daring smile could only make them assume he wanted something.

He greeted Deva first, kissing her hand, and admired her dress. It laid on her hips beautifully, showing over her curves.

"Beautiful Queen Deva, not only are you the Queen of the moon but also the sun. You glow-"

"What do you want with my wife Sebastian?" Darius was immune to his charms and knew he most likely needed something.

"I think my sister tried to poison me." Sebastian's mood shifted as if he still couldn't come to terms with it.

The family was so used to his melodramatic attitude that it didn't phase them. 

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Marcus spoke what everyone else was thinking.

"I know we don't get along but we're blood. I'd never try to kill her." Even though he didn't let it show Sebastian had a big heart.

They had the same father. Sebastian was way older than Ilsa but he tried to be there for her as much as he could when she was a child.

It was Sheena who prevented that from happening. She kept his sister away from him and she turned into the spitting image of her mother.

"Raphael is retiring soon from the thrown. Maybe she wants it that bad." Izzy didn't know Ilsa well enough but could piece together her own assumption.

"Do you have any proof?" Darius asked logically.

Sebastian shook his head. "No. It's her behavior. She's different. I can't put my finger on it. I mean it's been decades but still. I feel like it was her. The things she says, does."

"I'm sorry." Deva could see it was affecting him. That kind of betrayal stung.

"Why are you here?" Lucian cut to the chase. "Would you like us to investigate?"

Sebastian again shook his head. "Father adores her. And having her back after banishment has blinded him seeing her the way I do. He wouldn't believe me. I need protection."

"You're a prince. You can hire protection." Izzy pointed out.

"Hired people can be bought. I need to be surrounded by people I can trust." He always felt like part of the Ironside family.
"Besides its my mission to become best friends with Deva."

"Why?" Darius raised a peculiar brow. He would have welcomed his oldest friend without hesitation regardless. The family just loved giving him a hard time.

"My life is lacking a particular drama and she looks like so much fun." He smiled playfully in her direction and Deva laughed.

"I used to be fun." Being a queen and mother left her with mostly anxiety.

"I don't believe that. I could also pull my weight. I'll protect you and you can help protect me." Their powers were useful tools.

"She has plenty of protection already." Marcus stated the obvious.

"Exactly. Why can't I be surrounded by power men too?" Sebastian winked at Deva then Adamarius. "We haven't been properly introduced."

Adamarius found the prince oddly amusing. He extended his hand, "Its nice to meet you Sebastian Castel. I'm Adamarius."

"Oh my. A real gentleman compared to these spoiled royal pain in the asses."

The Ironside brothers shook their heads in exaggerated sighs.

"Where's Max?" Deva scanned the faces at the table knowing in her gut someone was missing. Why hadn't she noticed earlier?

"He's working with Ruben today. He should already be at the lycan sanctuary." Izzy answered knowing the word sanctuary didn't quite fit with the lycan community. It was more than a sanctuary.

"I'm going to change and meet up with them." Deva felt obligated but also useful when she operated more of the lycan affairs.

"I'm right behind you." Sebastian chimed as he followed her up the stairs.

"You can wait here. I won't be long." She instructed as Henry and Jonathan tailed behind her doing their duties as trusted body guards.

"Wait before you go Ilsa's invited you over for a garden party." Izzy yelled after her.

Deva turned on her heels. "Just me?"

Izzy shook her head. "The royal ladies were invited so all of us too."

"I'm not going." She continued on her way. "Do I have any meetings today?"

"No, my Queen." Jonathan answered as they entered the hall leading to her room.

"I might visit Derick later this evening." She was curious about the child he spoke of the day before.

"Yes, my Queen."

Deva took longer in the hot shower than she normally did. Her muscles ached and she wondered if it were the cause of the relic moon approaching.

To make up for time Deva put on whatever her hands touched; jeans, shirt, and jacket. Darius had just walked into their room when she finished tying up her hair.

He looked refreshed despite being up almost all night. Darius as if reading her thoughts pulled off his shirt and tossed it on the ground. "Better?"

Deva laughed admiring every defining muscles on his stomach, chest, and arms. "Much."

He raced towards her and lifted her into his arms before claiming her mouth. She thought perhaps with the adrenaline of the night and the potion everything seemed unreal until now, alone with him.

"I love you." He whispered. He wanted her to know nothing would change that. "Everything from now on has no limit. Deva, the three of us are connected for life now. We feel everything physically, everything emotionally. Like as if he were here, right now with us."

"And you're truly okay with it?" The pit in her stomach placed a small doubt within her.

"Its something we'll get used to but yes. If I'm not here for you, he is. We are a team. Double the love for you." He laughed pushing back her damp hair from her gorgeous but concerned face. "There's no need to worry sweetheart."

She loosened the tension in her shoulders. "So if I get mad at you I can run to him now." She teased.

"You'll come back eventually when you get upset with him." Darius laughed again and she tried jumping out of his arms but he wouldn't allow it. "I must say it will be nice having someone help me handle you."

Deva’s temper scorched through her skin and Darius loved it. He loved pissing her off and then making up for it after.

He pressed her into the wall to trap her in place.

"So I need to be handled?" She locked her jaw at the end of the offensive word.

He kissed along her jaw but the tension only made him chuckle some more. "You're a very strong woman my love."

She rolled her eyes and held her breath when he covered her neck with lustful kisses.

"You need 2 men to love you and keep you satisfied."

The thought made her shutter. "Do I?"

He intended to answer but a knock on the door stopped him.

Jaylyn's voice seeped through. "May I come in?"

Deva closed her eyes to banish her nerves. Darius answered and Jaylyn entered as he put his wife down on her feet.

Darius kissed her affectionately. "I have a meeting to go to." Then he disappeared.

Jaylyn helped herself by sitting down on the grey velvet lounge chair. Deva could only assume she wanted to talk about their night.

"How do you feel?" She was less sincere and more critical than anything.

"Good." Deva responded simply.

"I know Adam feels great and your husband seems pretty happy too by the looks of it." Jaylyn glanced in the direction of the door where Darius had just left from.

The look she wore made it seem as though she was waiting for some kind of gratitude from Deva. She swallowed her pride. It was a blessing and in all honesty she had Jaylyn to thank for it.

"Thank you." Deva spoke sincerely.

Jaylyn studied her for the longest moment. It was as though she didn't believe her. Deva wasn't sure if Jaylyn would ever trust her.

"Thank me by keeping my brother happy and feeling loved." Then she got up and left, leaving Deva with added pressure.

Adamarius had already gone to the lycan town to meet up with Max by the time she came back down. Deva took Sebastian with her making the car ride more treacherous than normal. He loved to talk and she could already tell he would most definitely be digging into her more personal life.

"What's it like turning into a lycan?" Sebastian asked her with sweet adoring eyes.

"It feels liberating." She wasn't in the mood to deep dive into anything.

"How often has Darius seen you in lycan form?"

She laughed at the ridiculous question. "I don't know."

"Are you happy to have your soulmate home?"

Deva squeezed the steering wheel and exhaled. It was a complicated subject. "Yes. He belongs here."

"With you?"

"With me and his family." She corrected.

It wasn't Sebastian or the pestering questions. She understood his curiosity. She felt a gut wrenching sensation deep with her body. Something wasn't sitting right with her and she wasn't sure if it was triggered by Jaylyn's little visit.

"I for one am a little jealous of you. You have a wonderful husband and now a hot devoted lycan mate. The best of both worlds my darling."

Deva did find herself lucky on most occasions. She was lucky the brothers found her, she was lucky to have fallen in love not once but twice, and she was extremely lucky and blessed to have the loving family she had and life she got to live.

"Have you ever been in love?" Deva thought it was time to reverse the roles and ask him about his life.

Sebastian paused and began staring off through the window. Deva could have easily forced him to tell her with her ability but the sadness in his eyes prevented that.

"I'll tell you one day my Queen, just not tonight. Tonight is not a sad night."

She only nodded knowing exactly how complicated love could be. When they arrived at city hall most of the streets were quiet. Inside the monumental building they found Ofelia, Zander, and two other council members discussing plans over a round table.

They bowed in Deva’s presence.

Zander was the first to speak. "Last night was a success. Congratulations, majesty."

"We have new members," Ofelia was pleased with the news. "Many outsiders showed up looking for their mates and that they did. Now a good majority of the members in the communities have soulmates which brings up our population."

"The larger the community the more bunkers we need." Zander felt the need to clarify. "I'm here to lend a hand. The moon is fast approaching."

"Thank you." Deva didn't hesitate to show her appreciation.

"Finding one's soulmate is a blessing." Ofelia leaned towards Deva. "I've spoken to most of the new members. They are so honored to be here under your rule."

The added pressure felt like a rope squeezing her insides. So many people looked up to her and Darius. On the outside she was as confident and solid as a rock but on the inside she was afraid. She was afraid of letting her people down.

Lycans had a soft spot in her heart. She loved them and pitied them. She vowed to bring them justice and liberty from all the suffering they endured with Asher as King.

"Adam is gathering with them now. They are by the western clearing. We're going there now."

There were 76 new faces in their community. Male and female lycans were scattered in the edges of the woods and grasslands. They were making introductions, socializing, and welcoming the new arrivals.

Deva wanted to pass through the crowd unnoticed but those that knew her immediately bowed in respect. They remained on their knees until every person knew exactly who Deva was.

She was used to the attention. They did it out of loyalty and devotion to her.

Deva immediately spotted Adamarius standing in the far right of the massive group. His eyes were deeper than the green forest on a rainy day.

'You're here.' He said through their mind link.

She nodded. 'Sorry I kept you waiting.'

'They're all eager to meet you.'

The next few minutes they spent greeting the newcomers. Deva was later inclined to give a speech which she did with encouragement from Ofelia. Deva stood on the top of a tall boulder with a flat surface. She stared into the sea of hopeful faces and the words began to spill out of her.

"I am honored to be standing in front of you. I don't know what it took for you to be here today but know that this journey led you to a sanctuary. This is not only a home but a family. You no longer have to feel alone. Most of you have found your soulmate." Her eyes darted towards Adamarius. "It is a blessing to find your other half. I congratulate you and welcome you to this kingdom."

A roar of applauses rang in the air accompanied by howling.

Deva stepped down and when she turned to meet Adamarius she saw him already engrossed in conversation with a beautiful blonde.

She looked sweet and youthful. Her smile was a lovely accent to her innocence. The way she stared attentively into Adamarius' eyes, latching onto his every word made Deva wonder. Would he be happier with a more devoted soulmate?

She wasn't sure if she could give him everything he needed. A part of her also belonged to Darius.

She wasn't enough for him. He deserved more. He deserved an entire soulmate.

She began drifting off into her old memories when he first showed interest in her. After their fighting and constant back and forth love hate relationship Adamarius was the most devoted person to her. He saved her life.

Guilt twinged her entire body. Adamarius looked directly at her as if reading her thoughts. He clinched his jaw, almost furiously. The girl he was talking with hardly noticed the shifted mood.

Deva never broke eye contact with him as she approached them. The woman turned towards her with flushed cheeks.

"Your majesty," her voice was shaky.

Deva felt a shallow satisfaction to her reaction. Deva knew she looked intimidating.

"Deva this is Mia. She's decided to move here with her son." Adamarius clarified.

Deva rose a brow. Son? Perhaps she already had a mate. "Do you know each other?"

Mia nodded, her green eyes adoringly staring back at Adamarius. "He saved me from an abusive relationship. He saved me and my son years ago. When I saw him in the papers I came to see him again. I guess to thank him."

Deva felt stupid for even thinking badly of the woman she hardly knew and proud of the man she got to call her mate.

"We welcome you. Stay as long as you want."

"Thank you." Her smile seemed brighter than the sun blazing down on them.

Adamarius was a hero. He was a good man and she felt even more guilt for treating him the way she did. If he knew the truth of her deception would he still love her. She was living a lie. She erased his memory.

How could she be so cruel and selfish? How was she going to tell him?

Adamarius deserved someone who would fight for him, fight to keep him with her. Deva let him go so easily. She didn't deserve his love. She didn't deserve him.

Adamarius said his goodbyes in a rush and escorted Deva out of the crowd. She didn't even question their rapid departure, she was far too deep in thought. He took the keys from her hands and opened the passenger side for her. He joined her inside the car and with gentle ease cupped her face. She was leaning over the arm rest as he forced her to look deeply in the pools of his green eyes.

"Don't ever think like that again." He warned. "I would choose this all over again. I'd choose this life. I'd choose you every damn time Deva."

He was swept up in a fierce passionate, possessive sensation. He kissed her. Their lips tingled but yielded in ever sense of the word. They were defenseless against each other.

The fire burning between them ripped through every doubt in her mind. He couldn't be with anyone else. He was hers.

Adamarius pulled away, heavily breathing through his restraint. He wanted to touch her, feel her, explore, and devour every inch of her.

"We're late." Adamarius groaned, kissing her one last time before turning the car on.

Deva's mind was in the clouds. That kiss made her feel powerful, safe, and secure.

"What?" She asked sadly.

"We have a family meeting. Derick has brought us an important visitor."

Deva immediately thought of the mysterious child.

The entire family besides Alcide were already in the family meeting room. King Derick was among them with the 10 year old boy standing calmly next to him.

His pale smooth skin and familiar jaw structure made her mind swarm with possibilities. The boy's hair looked brown in the distance but up close it was red tinted. His grey-blue eyes were the exact pigment of her son's.

There could be no questioning it. The boy was most definitely an Ironside.

"Deva, this is Joshua." Derick made the introduction.

The boy shyed back a bit and Deva bent down to properly greet him. She extended her hand and he took it respectfully.

"Its nice to meet you Joshua. I'm so happy you're here. Have you met my son?"

Joshua shook his head and Deva smiled comfortingly while Izzy left the room to get Alcide.

She came back moments later with the adorable 5 year old prince holding a gaming device.

"Alcide, this is Joshua. Can you show him around?" Deva knew her son wouldn't give up the opportunity to make a new friend.

Alcide grabbed Joshua's hand with a reckless excitement. "Hi. Do you like 4 wheelers?"

A curious smile played on Joshua's face. Deva turned to Zara, his personal protector, granting them permission to use the small vehicles.

Darius went to stand next to his wife. He held her hand while Adamarius backed away. They weren't supposed to show anyone what was happening between them. But yet Deva still felt connected to Adamarius.

"I've done a DNA test on all 3 brothers," Derick explained as the boys were no longer in the room. "And Asher."

"Father?" Izzy scrunched up her nose.

Deva had never even thought of the possibility. Asher was the mastermind but to impregnate Amber himself was a different kind of evil.

"He did have a thing for redheads." Lucian commented.

"What do you mean?" Deva only knew him for the brief time she came to the castle. 

"Rose was his army general but also his lover. That was why she attacked us after his death. She loved him I believe. But father has had his affairs, preferably women with red hair." Marcus finished the statement. Rose was also a redhead.

The attack made better sense now but could he really be the father of Amber's child.

Everyone turned to Derick, waiting for the results. "Asher is indeed the father of Joshua."

"Son of a bitch," Lucian cursed. "He was playing us all. That stupid competition was a joke. Father was controlling it the entire time. He was manipulating all of us."

"No one ever had a choice, including Amber. He might had forced her into it too." Marcus sympathized.

Adamarius stepped forward holding the side of his face as his something pained him. "I'm getting flashbacks."

Deva’s heart sank. Could Marcus' erasing ability already be wearing off? She thought she'd have more time.

"I remember catching Amber wandering the halls one night at a random hour so I followed her. Her pregnancy was showing. I believe it was one of the last times she was at the castle. She went into Asher's study so I knew I had to listen in." Adamarius closed his eyes and rubbed his temples as if remembering the memory hurt him. "She was demanding him turn her into a vampire since Darius decided he wouldn't. She wanted royal blood so she could have abilities. Asher wouldn't waiver. He threatened her. I thought I was being discrete but he knew I was ease dropping. Before I could get away I felt my body on fire."

"Shit," Marcus cursed. "Father could inflict pain that was. He must have targeted your brain to erase the memory. He used to do that on us sometimes. I must have shifted it when I restored some of your memory."

Deva took the deepest breath. Asher had created the biggest mess with his selfishness.

"Joshua is where he belongs now." Izzy welcomed her newest brother. She would deal with the complications from the press when it was time.

Deva nodded in agreement.

"I'm sorry. I should have done the research sooner." Derick apologized.

Lucian shook his head. "It wasn't your fault. None of us cared enough to find out. We are the ones who are ashamed and should apologize."

"We were so quick to forget the past and move forward that we didn't even consider more consequences to our father's actions." Darius looked down at his wife. Deva's expressions remained frozen in time. She was processing too much at once.

"We'll raise him." Elle stepped forward. "Lucian and I wanted to start a family soon anyway. You already have so much on your plate."

Deva hadn't even thought of the details. What was the proper protocol for such situations? She turned to Izzy for the answers.

"Its a delicate implication. He's our brother but in this circumstance I think it's best to hide his true identity and tell him later when he's older." Izzy gave her best solution.

"Our lives are never private. We can say I met Elle before the competition and got her pregnant in order to cover up suspicions." Lucian proposed the hoax.

Elle laughed a bit. "Whatever we need to say to protect him."

Derick crossed his arms over his chest and assessed the scenarios. "There will be questions especially since he looks like an Ironside. Protecting his identity might be the right thing to do for now."

Deva could only nod. Joshua was exactly where he needed to be.

"Thank you for bringing him home." Deva squeezed his hand and then walked out.

She knew it was rude and disrespectful but she felt a strong, piercing pain run down her side. It was like nothing she ever felt before. She wasn't sure what it could be.

Was it her body's way of telling her she needed to slow down or a warning that the relic moon was hours away?

"Deva what's wrong?" Darius came up behind her the second she stepped foot in their room.

"Nothing." She ground her teeth to subdue some of the throbbing pain.

"You're lying," Adamarius entered, shutting the door behind them. "The moon will play tricks on your body. It will feel a little excruciating at moments."

"Its bearable. Don't worry about me." She felt a force crushing her heart in that exact moment. She bent over to hold her chest.

Darius pulled her into his arms and cradled her as the gradual pain subsided. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he sat down on a couch. His warmth and the alluring smell of his blood made her thirsty. She wanted to taste him.

Deva kissed him first to add to the distraction. Then with gentleness bit down on Darius' throat. The sweet nourishment of his blood began to run through her body.

"Careful brother, her claws are out." Adamarius warned.

Deva never felt more hungry. It was like no amount would satisfy her thirst. Typically she only needed a small amount to feel energized but this time she couldn't even stop herself. She craved more.

Adamarius could see and feel Darius weaken by the second. Deva was taking too much.

He touched her face to pull her attention. "Deva, you need to stop. You'll kill him if you don't."

She felt a power possess her. It was his words or voice that commanded her to stop and she felt the urge to obey.

Deva jumped up from her husband's lap. Seeing the damage she had done, to someone she loved more than the world, made her face the reality. She had no control over her bloodthirst during the awaking of the relic moon.

"I'm sorry." She was disgusted with herself.

Darius looked weak and exhausted as he said, "I'll live sweetheart."

He was seduced by her beauty and mere presence. There was nothing he wouldn't give her.

Her guilt maximized and she knew she had to leave for awhile. "I need some air."

Deva went to her closet to grab a black coat leaving Adamarius and Darius to plan their approach to the situation.

"Not alone." Darius couldn't live with himself if he left her vulnerable.

"I'll be fine." She had already made up her mind. She didn't want to be followed.

"Deva, you're not going alone." Adamarius' authoritive alpha voice almost made her comply.

"I'll suck anyone dry you have following me." She warned. She wasn't in the mood for company.

They wouldn't risk putting anyone in danger and Darius wasn't in any condition to go after her. Her only problem was Adamarius.

"I'm going to the human world. I'll keep you linked if anything happens. Just give me some space. Please." She begged before walking up to them and kissing them both on the cheek.

"I won't be long."

They didn't even stop her as she left the room.

Deva knew she didn't have much longer until the relic moon would have her chained underground. It was temporary yet the horrible gut feeling inside her made it seem like nothing would be the same.

Every inch was covered in snow. The white hill tops and white clouds were blinding and enhanced the depth of bitter coldness. Deva was showered with childhood memories of playing in the snow with her siblings.

Every winter was the same. They would stay outside till they could no longer feel their toes or fingers. It was such a blistering cold that day that no human could stay in the weather longer than a few minutes.

Which meant Deva had the entire cemetery to herself. She visited her parents as often as she could, which wasn't much lately. Her priorities had shifted towards her family and kingdom.

Their gravestones were matching. Deva placed the roses she had stolen from one of the vases in the castle next to her mothers name.

She bowed her head and closed her eyes. She tried remembering the happiest moments she had with her. Her fondest ones were in the kitchen. Her mother was a great cook.

Deva hardly ever had time to cook her own meals. Her life was consumed by caring for others.

She felt his presence way before she ever heard him. Adamarius came up behind her. The crackling of the snow against his boots was a welcomed sound although she wouldn't admit it. She was supposed to be mad that he followed her.

"Do you ever listen?" She avoided his gaze.

"How did your parents die?" He asked in wonder.

Deva had a slither of panic. Did Marcus not cover that area of his memory? If Adamarius couldn't remember then that meant he just erased it and didn't replace it with anything. Deva considered lying to him but would he believe her?

"Deva, what happened to them?" He pushed and she couldn't find the strength to speak.

Tears began sliding down her cheeks. How could she be so cruel to him? She wanted to blame him for killing her parents but it wasn't his fault. Asher would have killed them regardless.

"Asher." She finally stood up to face him. His eyes looked greener than ever against the pale sky. "He asked you to convince me to runway with you and when you failed he had them killed."

Adamarius took a moment to process what she just confessed. "Why can't I remember it?"

"Because I'm a monster and I made Marcus wipe your memory. Not because you wanted to leave but because you wanted to stay."

He looked stunned, as if everything she said didn't make sense.

Before she could dive into further explanation Adamarius pulled her into his arms and spun, shielding her from something.

"Run," he whispered as he took her hand.

They sped off with the same speed and in the same direction. They went for the nearest portal. It was hidden down a narrow path behind large trees covered in moss.

They made it home in seconds but instead of continuously running Adamarius stopped. He held his other hand over his chest. Deva also felt a harsh pain spring up from her heart but it wasn't her pain. It was his.

"Marius," she questioned as she searched his body.

His hand was already soaked in blood. He could sense it was more than an average bullet that was shot at him. He couldn't heal himself.

He calapsed to his knees from the physical exhaustion. He felt as though the bullet was sucking the life out of him.

Deva fell to her knees too, calling to Darius for help through their mind link.

Deva cradled his face and tried not to cry. "Stay with me."

In seconds Darius showed up with Lucian.

"What happened?"

"He's been shot."

They teleported back to the castle and as they laid him down on a bed Lucian went to fetch Max. Max would be the only person they could trust and the only one with the skills and knowledge to treat a hybrid.

Adamarius had 2 bullet wounds across his back. One was plunged into his heart making it difficult for him to breath. Marcus dulled the pain as much as he could while Max preformed the operation to remove them.

Typically the body would reject the bullet on its own but for some reason it wouldn't. Max inspected the bullets and concluded they were filled with a liquid silver. The injected silver in his body could have cost him his life but Max knew a way of cleansing the heart.

He worked quickly but still Adamarius would need time to heal and reject the rest of the liquid from his body.

Adamarius slept peacefully in his room while the family came up with possible suspects. Deva could only think of one culprit. Those bullets were intended for her. It has to be Ilsa.

_____________________________

I hope all of you are doing well and staying healthy and safe.

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Can't believe Christmas is around the corner.