The morning broke in hues of molten rose and silver mist, the kind of dawn that whispered of fate. Rhiannan stood barefoot at the bow of Arwen's ship, wrapped in his heavy coat that smelled like salt, steel, and secrets. The breeze tangled her wild chestnut auburn curls as she stared out at the sea, its churning surface reflecting the pink sky like rippled glass.
Perched beside her like two smug sentries sat a fat gray pigeon and an orange ferret with a crooked ear. They'd appointed themselves her self declared temporary familiars, apparently, and were now supervising her morning brooding session.
The pigeon gave a low coo.
"No, I'm not gonna murder that pirate just for looking at me weird," she muttered.
The ferret chittered and bared tiny teeth.
"Yes, I know he's been staring too long. But apparently that's just... pirate behavior?" She made a face. "He's not dangerous. He's just obsessed."
The pigeon fluffed up, looking utterly unconvinced.
"You two are starting to sound like Arwen. Overprotective and mildly homicidal."
This had become her life. Ever since she'd awakened in this realm, animals had just... started showing up. Not normal ones either. Things from storybooks and whispered legends. Creatures that shouldn't exist, or at least shouldn't be able to speak to her mind.
And yet, they did. She didn't know their names. She didn't remember them. But they remembered her.
It unsettled her, how seen she felt.
She couldn't even sulk without an emotional support zoo showing up.
She didn't have the luxury of shirking whatever destiny was calling...not when the stars were crawling up her neck, or when her skin glowed with runes every time she felt something too deeply. Not when she had a goddess mark and the loyalty of a one eyed panther shifting pirate captain who would kill for her with no hesitation.
Speaking of which...
Arwen was keeping his distance that morning. She could feel him, his gaze, his worry, his restraint. He didn't smother her, didn't crowd, but his presence hummed at the edge of her awareness like a magnetic pull. Protective. Dangerous. Hers.
His possessiveness would've scared her once.
Now? She found it comforting. And that scared her more. She also found it highly arousing and every time he growled or snarled her thighs would tremble and her face flushed red. Arwen seemed very pleased he had that affect on her. She was irritated. Sexy as damn sin pirate. She was doomed.
By midday, land came into view....an island jagged and cloaked in thick pine mist, its edges clawed by cliffs and waves. Looming at its crown stood a crooked stone tower, twisted like it had grown rather than been built. Runes glowed across its stones, pulsing with quiet magic.
"Cal lives here?" Rhiannan asked, squinting through the fog.
"'Lives' is a generous word," Arwen muttered, tying off a rope. "He exists here. Sleeps occasionally. Eats when he remembers. The old bastard hasn't washed his balls in at least a century."
She snorted. "I already like him."
"Don't say that out loud. He'll propose."
They dropped anchor and took a small rowboat to shore. Rhiannan clutched a green bird that had taken an unhealthy liking to her hair. Arwen had his blade out before they hit the sand.
"Cal's got twitchy wards," he warned. "If anything glows, hums, or tries to seduce you, don't touch it."
"Noted." She grinned with wide eyes. She was already in love with this place. Action around every corner and magic everywhere. It felt right.
The island reeked of magic. The pine trees whispered. The rocks buzzed underfoot. Rhiannan's skin itched with energy, her tattoos glowing faintly beneath her clothes.
By the time they reached the foot of the tower, her bones felt like they were vibrating.
Arwen raised a fist to knock.
The door swung open before he touched it.
A tiny old man stood there, beard in every direction like a magical explosion had styled it. His robe was tattered, glittery slippers on his feet, and he wore exactly zero pants.
"Well, fuck me sideways," he said in a voice like cracked thunder. "You brought the bloody Moon Child. Took you long enough."
Rhiannan blinked. "Do you always answer the door like that? And what the fuck is a Moon child!?" She did not like the sound of that. Not at all. She frowned.
"Only for goddesses and idiots. Now get your spicy little ass inside. Prophecies don't unravel themselves."
Arwen made a choking noise. Rhiannan just sighed. "He's charming."
"Wait till he starts rhyming." Arwen chuckled.
Inside the tower was a fever dream.
Books hovered midair, flapping like birds. Candles floated in orbit above antique chandeliers. A three headed kitten yawned from the staircase and promptly vanished into a wall. The space bent in ways that made her head hurt....doors upside down, staircases that looped.
"This place is... alive," she murmured, totally fascinated with everything as she floated about inspecting but not touching.
"Sentient architecture," Cal said cheerfully. "The tower chooses what you see. Don't insult it or it'll drop you in the void dimension. It did that to my nephew once. Little shit deserved it." He cackled madly.
Tiny goblin like creatures scampered around Cal's feet, some dressed in doll clothes, some stark naked, some riding flying spoons.
He led them into a grand chamber with a floating table, walls carved in runes, and a skylight that showed a stormy galaxy despite it being clear outside.
"Sit," Cal ordered. "No, not there. That chair eats people. That one's fine. Probably."
Rhiannan sat carefully, tucking a leg under her. Her skin buzzed. Her magic flared. Something in her recognized this place.
Cal didn't speak right away.
Instead, he waddled across the tower's cluttered main hall, grabbing a teapot that had grown arms and was now flipping him off, swatting it with a rolled up scroll until it obediently poured glowing amber liquid into three mismatched mugs. He handed one to Rhiannan without ceremony, then stared at her over the rim of his own cup.
"So. You don't know me. Don't remember me." He sipped. "Hells, that's tragic. I raised hell with your parents before you were even stardust in the womb."
Rhiannan froze mid sip. "My what now?"
Cal dropped into a hovering velvet chair with a groan, his ancient bones creaking. "Let's start from the top then, eh? Proper introductions."
He cleared his throat, dramatically.
"I am Calidorus Everwick the Eternal, First Mage of the Ebon Spire, Former Archon of the Starborne Order, Binder of the Void Wyrm, and once, very briefly, the consort of a goddess of chaos, which I do not recommend. Glitter in places you don't want glitter, love. Just trust me."
Rhiannan blinked wildly, taking it all in. His title was so bad ass.
"I go by Cal," he added, deadpan.
"Yeah, that feels more manageable," she muttered, taking a cautious sip of the glowing tea. It tasted like apple cider and thunder.
Cal's eyes glinted with mischief and something deeper, ancient knowledge, maybe. Grief.
"I was there the day the MoonBlood line was born," he said, softer now. "When the old gods fell and the realms were stitched back together with divine fire. I helped seal the gates. I've seen kingdoms rise and rot. I've watched empires burn because they feared what they didn't understand."
He pointed at her, the tip of his finger glowing faintly. "And then there's you. The last flame. The moon's true heir. Born of prophecy, made of starlight and sorrow."
Rhiannan shifted, uneasy. "You know what I am?"
"I know some," he said, nodding toward the pulse of her glowing tattoos. "Enough to recognize divine tethering when I see it. You're woven into the fabric of this fucking realm, girl. Not just some war asset or chosen one bullshit. You're the thread holding this story together."
She didn't know what to say to that.
"I know your mother," he added, quieter. "She is starlight and storms. Terrifying and beautiful. And your father....he was chaos incarnate. Wild. Brave. Fiercely in love with her, until he sold his soul" He choked back a sob and looked away. "They both love you deeply. Both of them fought what was coming. Fought to protect you."
Rhiannan's chest clenched. Tears formed in her eyes and Arwen sat behind her, holding her gently as he kissed her head. "I've got you little moon." He whispered softly. She choked back a sob.
"I was meant to watch the skies for signs," Cal continued. "And when the stars shifted, when the Silver Star vanished from the sky, I knew. I knew you'd returned. Reborn. Hidden away until it was safe."
Arwen spoke then, voice gruff. "You called her Moonblood earlier. Is that… a title?"
Cal chuckled darkly. "It's not a title, boy. It's a fucking bloodline. A divine one. She's not just powerful, she's sacred. And that makes her a threat to every rotting tyrant still clutching their crumbling thrones."
He stood again, joints popping, and moved toward a shelf cluttered with crystal spheres and bottled lightning. "You want to understand who you are, Rhiannan? Then stay close. Ask questions. Touch nothing without asking. And never never pet the three headed kitten upstairs. He bites liars."
A tiny mewl echoed from above.
Rhiannan raised an eyebrow. "How do you know I'm not a liar?"
Cal grinned, sharp and full of magic. "Because your soul shines like a goddamn nova, girl. And the truth in you burns."
He snapped his bony fingers and an ancient tome landed on the table with a thud. It coughed up dust and maybe a moth.
He flipped it open with dramatic flair. "The Prophecy of the MoonBlood," he said.
She leaned in.
And the silver star shall fall,
Thousands of years into the future,
Where she will bring peace or destruction,
Born of the moon, tied to the elements,
Her power anchored by five true mates,
The goddess blessed shall rise,
And the evil in silence shall hunt her.
Her pulse pounded in her ears. The silver stars. The glowing magic. The mate bonds.
"Five?" she asked softly.
Cal squinted at her. "You've already found one. Maybe two, judging by your aura. There could even be SIX. You'll know. You'll feel like you're being ripped apart and rebuilt from the inside."
She absorbed all of this silently, her eyes wild and full of tears. Her father had sold his soul. She was an actual goddess. Her mother was a goddess. She belonged here. They'd hidden her in the mortal realm. She was home. Shit was hitting the fan. She sobbed as a few memories flitted through her mind. Small glimpses. A beautiful face with silver hair kissing her goodnight. A man with horns telling her to sleep sweet. She sobbed loudly and clutched at Arwen for support.
She couldn't even imagine a future with SIX men mated to her. Something deep in her soul flared when she though this, and she knew instantly there would be six, and that was the way it was meant to be. A small part of her was excited, a larger part was absolutely terrified. What if they hated her? Left her? Hurt her? Her fear of abandonment flared and she felt like she couldn't breathe.
Arwen rested a hand at her back, anchoring her as she inhaled sharply. " Oh six fucking mates, no big deal." Arwen grinned and kissed her cheek. "I've got you little moon." She grinned and snuggled into his chest. But Arwens mind was also feeling with all this new information. He grimaced.
I have to share her with five other men, he groaned inwardly. That would not be easy. What if they were absolute fucks and treated her bad. He growled, he would gut them and hang them from their toes if they so much as annoyed his goddess.
Cal's tone dropped. "You don't remember, do you?"
"No," she whispered. "Not even my last name."
"Your mind's sealed. A divine lock. Likely done to protect you, or to hide something. But it'll start cracking now. Memories will bleed through. Some will hurt. Some will heal. Some may destroy you."
She swallowed. "A few have already started coming back. I think my mother and fathers face. Darkness. A few memories from the mortal realm Id rather not discuss. Can you help with the rest?" She asked softly.
"I can give you truths. I can arm you with knowledge. But you, child, will have to survive the fire."
The tower groaned.
Suddenly, the runes along the walls flared red.
Arwen was on his feet, blade drawn. "Shields up. Something's breached the outer wards."
Cal looked grim for the first time. "They found you. Fucking fae corrupted royals on my last fucking nerve!" He started shouting at the tower to prepare for battle.
The walls shuddered. Dust fell from the ceiling. Outside, shouting. Thunderous footsteps.
"The Royal Guard," Arwen hissed.
Rhiannan stood, eyes burning.
"Well what the fucking fuck! I've been in this realm three days and people are already trying to kill me!?" She growled sharply.
The MoonBlood Heir had awoken and she wasn't putting up with any bullshit.