Liam POV
Blood still stained the ancient marble like a fucking murder art installation. The scent was intoxicating...thick with power, raw magic, and the kind of goddess born blood no vampire had smelled in centuries.
And his court? His court had nearly gone feral.
Liam stormed through the great hall of obsidian and glass, cloak billowing like a storm cloud, fangs bared and rage simmering beneath every step. His dark brown eyes flashed black.
"Clean this fucking mess up," he barked at his night servants. "And if any of you so much as think about sniffing her scent again, I'll personally remove your teeth with holy water and a smile."
The shadowy staff scattered like roaches.
One of the younger vampires, Ayla, wide eyed and still trembling tried to stammer an apology. "Ssire, we didn't.."
Liam held up a hand, and shadows snapped across her mouth like a muzzle.
"No talking. Not until I've calmed down. And by 'calm,' I mean after I've thrown at least one of you into the hell chasm."
He pivoted on his heel, black boots clicking on blood soaked tile, and stormed back into the wing of his private quarters. As he passed the arched doors, he threw a hand out.
The entire corridor shimmered with wards and slammed shut with a magical BOOM.
"Stay. The fuck. Out."
Inside, his rooms were quiet. Firelight flickered across dark stone walls and velvet curtains. She lay on his bed, still unconscious, glowing faintly like moonlight painted across snow. Her auburn hair tangled over his silk pillows. Her body, though bruised and broken, radiated power.
Liam exhaled slowly.
"Don't worry, goddess," he murmured, sinking into the chair beside her bed. "I've got you now. Nobody touches you but me."
Elisha POV
The scent was gone. Poof. Gone.
One second, it had been there...so strong, so fucking intoxicating he thought he might combust on the spot and then it was gone. Like smoke. Like a dream he'd been chasing for centuries.
Now, all he had was her blood in the dirt.
Elisha stalked the edge of the scorched crater where the starship had crashed, smoke curling from his nostrils. He was still in half dragon form, claws flexing, eyes slitted and glowing bright green. His wings twitched with frustration.
Kaleb and Arwen stood behind him, panting, bloodied from fighting off the monsters.
"She was here," Elisha snarled. "I smelled her."
"She was in my arms," Kaleb whispered. "And then... nothing."
Arwen's hands curled into fists. "It was shadow magic. That fucker took her. He's playing with us."
Elisha let out a deep growl that shook the stone underfoot. "I will burn this world down if I have to."
Kaleb stepped forward, placing a hand on Elisha's shoulder. "We all want her back. But rage won't find her."
Elisha jerked away but didn't attack. That was progress.
The golden haired alpha finally shifted fully into his fae form, the air sizzling around him as scales melted into tanned skin. Still breathing smoke, he turned toward his massive obsidian castle rising in the distance.
"Come," he said, voice low and commanding. "You're not leaving until we find her. My home is yours."
As they walked to the castle, their Smart brain bracelets pinged and Sasha sent an alert.
They each opened Faenet. Immediately their feeds were flooded with Rebellion posts, hashtags and a video that has gone viral.
Kaleb clicked it and Elisha and Arwen huddled close. They each watched, horrified, as the ritual took place, and Rhiannan was snatched away from them, and then snatched by the Goddess and flung into the mirror realm.
Elisha roared his frustration. "We can't access the mirror realm. We'll have to wait until she returns. But at least we know she's safe with the damn Vamp King."
Arwen and Kaleb both grumpily mumbled their agreement. They knew she was alive. Their panic faded into pain as their bond stretched, missing her already, as they trugded the remaining distance to the castle.
The castle of the Dragon King wasn't just big it was legendary. Towering spires, carved obsidian halls, lava heated baths, and enough gold to give a god an erection. The inner sanctum pulsed with elemental energy.
Elisha led them through the Hall of Flames massive, roaring hearths lining either side of the chamber, the walls etched with runes older than language.
"We've got archives," Elisha said. "Magical scrolls. Ancient grimoires. If there's a way to contact her in the mirror realm we will find it here."
Kaleb nodded, already pulling a glowing crystal from his belt. "Sasha, our AI...is still compromised. But maybe she can be restored."
"I'll send my own mages to help," Elisha offered gruffly.
Arwen raised an eyebrow. "Thanks... Your Scaled Grumpiness."
Elisha snorted smoke. "Don't push me, pirate."
Later that night, the three men gathered in the war room, an enormous circular chamber with a floating map of the realms, pulsing lights tracking magic activity.
"I still don't get how this all happened," Elisha muttered. "A starship crash? Shadow monsters? A goddess? The Fucking Moon Goddess saving her? Six effing mates? Prophecy!?" He growled low in his throat. "I just want my mate."
"She's not just a goddess," Kaleb said. "She's the Silver Star. The one from the prophecy. The one who will either bring peace or absolute ruin."
"And you're both her mates?" Elisha asked grumpily.
Arwen and Kaleb exchanged a glance.
"Yeah," Arwen said. "And there's more. At least five. Maybe six. We don't know."
Elisha swore under his breath. "So what, you're forming some sort of god tier harem army?"
Kaleb smirked. "Pretty much."
Elisha sat back, folding his arms. "Well fuck. I guess I'm in."
The room fell silent.
Then, the dragon king looked up, eyes softening just a fraction. "She smelled like hope. Like stars and moonlight. I haven't smelled that in 250 years."
Arwen placed a hand on the table. "Then help us prepare for when she arrives." Kaleb nodded gruffly.
Elisha nodded. "We start at dawn."