SERENITY

I was dumbfounded.

Stunned.

We walked hand in hand down black marble stairs as the room opened up into a larger room where an actual throne made out of black marble sat in the middle of the floor. The air smelled like dirt and life. I shivered as Mason pulled me closer.

For some reason, I’d been thinking that we were going to the castle I’d seen in the vision, or maybe to a small village.

Never in my wildest imagination had I thought we would be stepping into pure royalty.

Wolf guards lined the walls as we made our descent, and with each step we took, they bowed out of respect for who Mason was.

How was it possible that I’d had it so wrong? That any immortal was this clueless to the power the wolves held, the responsibility.

Suddenly my chest hurt, because if Mason turned away from this— His grief… it must have been so great, life-altering, destroying…

To walk away from everything.

And have nothing. On purpose.

Because of a choice.

A broken heart.

“I dinna like that face,” Mason whispered in my ear, his Scottish burr tickling my skin. I wanted to point out how he sounded more at home and looked it in this place, but I didn’t want to scare him off before he had to do what he had to do.

And because he still left me in the dark and closed that tether between us out of respect, I let him lead me without knowing exactly what we were walking into.

The throne came closer into our view. It stretched from floor to ceiling, glistening with power, glory, as if it had been dropped from the heavens itself.

Cassius leaned over and whispered, “A gift from The Creator, for the protector of the very earth he created. It was formed out of the rock, and it remains without blemish to honor him until the Heavens meet the earth again.”

I gulped.

More warriors gathered around us, their golden shields held by their feet, spears in their right hands, and masks in the shape of wolves over their human faces.

The sound of thunder rolled through the room.

And then, someone walked from behind the throne and sat.

The man from my vision. The man with dark hair and dark eyes.

At least seven feet tall with muscles surrounding his body.

He was wearing the same armor as the guards, only he had no mask. His expression was more of an angry grimace, as if he was just waiting for the perfect time to attack.

His eyes took in Mason with disdain and then turned to me.

I cringed as they moved over my body with distaste and then flickered away. “You dare bring an abomination into this court?”

“I dare.” Mason growled loudly. “I am the rightful king.” Whisperings commenced, “I once gave you the throne, and I’m here to take it back.”

“Kill the woman, and I’ll allow it.”

“You allow nothing, old man.” Mason’s teeth clenched. “Speak of my mate again like that, and I’ll rip your head from your body.”

His father sighed and then grinned. “You’ve always been so serious… As long as she means us no harm, she can stay.”

“Harm?” I said aloud. “I’m his mate. All I want is his happiness.”

“You’re nae welcome to speak!” He spat.

I jerked back against Mason.

He took a step forward, fists clenched.

“Enough,” Cassius said in a bored tone. “I think this is a conversation that should be held… in private.”

Mason’s father nodded and moved his hand. Suddenly warriors flanked us on every side, and we were escorted behind the throne into a smaller room with a long black marble table and leather chairs. Flat-screen TVs made a banner around the room. Different cameras played areas of the castle and what appeared to be different places around the world.

Children played on some of the screens; others showed remote villages, a few smaller castles.

And then there was one camera set on a forest.

I frowned and took a step closer.

I remembered the vision from earlier. The forest that the goddess had walked out of.

My mother?

The one who had given me life?

A pang I didn’t know possible split my chest in two as I yearned for someone — anyone — to walk out of the trees.

To want me.

To claim me.

And then I remembered I had Mason.

He was all I would ever need.

I glanced back at him and smiled, just as another door opened and the man from the street waltzed in.

He stopped right in front of Mason then pulled him in for a huge hug. He slapped his back multiple times before releasing him. The man had jet-black eyes and dark brown hair that was pulled back into a low ponytail.

I’d always thought men with long hair looked ridiculous.

But the way Mason rocked his shaggy locks…

The way it felt to tug his hair when he pressed into me…

I shivered a bit as Mason growled under his breath next to me, as if I needed to stop distracting him from his purpose.

Cassius gave me a small smile before Mason’s father cleared his threat and said, “Shall we begin?”

“There is nothing to say that hasn’t already been said.” Mason shrugged, his voice cool. “I’m here to lead my people. You are no longer needed.”

Mason’s father slammed his hands onto the table as he looked between his son and me. “And what of her? Do you truly think your people will accept anything other than a human mate? One chosen for you so you can have children?”

I frowned. “Who says I can’t?”

“Lass—” Mason’s brother gave his head a small shake.

Cassius grinned as if it was the best day of his life.

“What?” I crossed my arms. “I’m not just a vampire—”

Mason hissed out a curse.

“Abomination!” his father yelled. “She is both vampire and goddess. She cannot rule by your side. It is forbidden.” Something flashed in his eyes before he turned and stomped off.

Mason’s brother sighed and held out his hand to me. I took it while he kissed the inside of my wrist. “I’m sure his mother would have loved you.”

Mason tensed.

“When did she die?”

He gave me a funny look, “She dinna—” He hung his head. “—she—”

“Tell him.” Cassius leveled Mason’s brother with a glare. “Tell him, Tarick.”

Tarick went completely pale.

Mason frowned. “Tell me what?”

Tarick collapsed into one of the chairs and leaned over the large marble table. “She dinna get murdered, Mason.” His expression was bleak. “She took her own life essence when father pushed you to mate, to become king. His intentions… they were not in the right place, and she knew it, it is what was passed down to me in hushed secrets after her death, after you left.”

“What do you mean?”

Tarick cursed under his breath. “He was trying to prevent you… from finding… her.”

All eyes fell to me.

And suddenly, I was sick all over again.

More pieces of the puzzle came together in a wave of memories, in the dreams I’d had searching for my wolf.

In the dreams every year that had haunted me.

Until this year.

When I’d finally found him.