^“Mona is going to kick ass! I swear she went through so much shit, yet she’s still strong. See, she deserves to be a princess. She puts those useless fairy-tales to shame! Kaden’s my favourite, though.”

I was sitting in Ryder’s bed, reading from some device Marcus brought with him from Earthala. He had gone for a quick visit to meet up with his friend Junho, who was part of a criminal investigation organization.

He had informed Junho about my forced bed rest and how I was bored out of my mind, so his girlfriend, Scarlet, suggested he get me some books. Seeing as I’m a fast reader, she insisted on this contraption.

Apparently, it could hold thousands of books and if I wanted more Marcus didn’t need to travel all the way to Earthala to get me them. All he had to do was use this thing called the Internet, and he could buy whatever he thought I’d like.

I was now reading this book called A Demon’s Blade and was devoted to finishing it before Ryder came to bother me for the twentieth time.

“Nick is better,” Rose declared.

“I like Kaden, he’s hot,” Hope pointed out.

“No, Mason! He loves animals!” Lily combated.

“So y’all are going to ignore Callan here?” I retorted as I pressed the screen to move to the next page, continuing the epic scene developing in my imagination as I read.

“Um, Adam...hello?” Lexi suggested, her voice gave me the impression; she rolled her eyes at our struggle in choosing our favourite guy.

I was so caught up in the story that I wasn’t paying attention to the sound of footsteps.

“I think Ryder’s the best.” The low, husky voice whispered in my ear; the sound induced shivers down my spine as I whipped my head to see him smirking.

“Dammit, Ryder!!! Don’t use your sexy voice on me,” I complained, pushing at his chest, which had no effect on him. Curse him.

He moved to sit on the side of the bed, taking the reader off the blanket where I had dropped it to view the page I had reached.

“Didn’t you just start this?” He pointed at the percentage at the bottom of the screen, the numbering reading 90% in bold font.

“Yes, but it’s brilliant!!! Now, give it back, so I can finish! Don’t distract me!” I reached out for the device, but he held it up, making it too far for my short arms to reach. I glared at him.

“Ryder! Give it! I’ll have you know, I claimed it! My name is on the back of the pink case!” I insisted, continuing my attempt to take back the device.

“There’s something else more important that you’ve claimed,” he informed me, his face stern.

I froze at his changed expression, my body inches away from his; my hand still raised up in the air.

“What’s more important than my re– mhm.” I began to protest, but his soft lips cut me short.

I stared into his bright purple eyes that had regained their captivating glory, before closing my eyes as he deepened the kiss. I allowed my body to relax, lowering myself from my outstretched position to kneeling on the bed; Ryder’s body faced mine as we continued to kiss.

His hand wrapped itself in my long, brown locks, pulling my head back for better access to my neck as he made his way down to my collar bone. I let out a moan as he reached the sensitive spot on my neck, taking his sweet time to nibble and suck on my feverish skin.

“You’ve claimed me Mako baby. I’m at your disposal.” He hummed against my skin as he continued to ravish me with kisses.

“I’m not claiming you until you shave.” I whispered playfully before kissing him lightly on his scruffy chin.

Ryder hadn’t left my side since we returned to our cozy home in Knightwood. Whenever we had the chance, we would have our mini make-out sessions.

I could never get tired of Ryder’s intoxicating smell, let alone the taste of him. I shooed him away multiple times, so the others could attempt to get at least five minutes alone with me. I didn’t mind him being greedy, but he had to learn to share.

Right now, however, I wanted only him. He dropped the e-reader to the unoccupied half of the queen size bed, rotating his body as he pushed me to lay back. He hovered above me, lowering himself so he could continue kissing me; his arms supported his weight on both sides. I hope we can do more than just kissing. I want to feel more of him.

My hands roamed across his chest, reached the waist band of his low black pants, rose up beneath his maroon t-shirt, and pulled the fabric up to reveal his abs. Before I could remove his shirt, a knock came from the door.

“It’s called bed rest for a reason. Lying in bed and making out doesn’t count,” Rose mumbled. UGHHHHH!!! Oh, Starlight’s why?

His lips lingered against mine for a full minute before he released them, leaving me panting.

“Elias. If you don’t have a good reason to be here –“ Ryder began, slowly turning his head to stare at the fairy shifter who leaned against the doorway.

They stared at one another for a moment before Ryder let out a frustrated groan.

“Fine. You’ve been spared,” he concluded, sighing before getting off the bed; his hand ruffled his black locks. I raised my eyebrow at him, sitting up as I stared at his annoyed facial expression. I guessed, I wasn’t the only one frustrated with all the interruptions lately.

Ryder and Elias were involved in a manly war against one another – their ultimate goal to interrupt the other from getting past the kissing stage.

My body did not enjoy this game at all. I craved far more than just kisses; the throbbing had become visibly noticeable down under, needing attention and ached for release.

Just because I was a virgin, didn’t mean I was naïve to anything about sex. I just wondered when I’d get my chance to explore the unknown territory. It did frighten me just a smidge, but now that I knew I’d lose my purity to one of my loyal, sexy, star knights, the idea sounded pretty inviting.

Elias glanced my way.

“Karen said you can go for walks now, but don’t push yourself and absolutely no magic usage. Your body is still recovering, and we don’t want you fainting again,” Elias stressed; his voice stern and commanding.

Oh right, the fainting problem.

Since waking up three days ago, I’d been experiencing faint spells – the guys over exaggerated the ordeal; I had only fainted twice. I could be fully invested in a conversation and then black out without a warning.

When I regained consciousness, the guys would inform me that Midnight, my split personality, made an appearance. So far it had occurred twice; thankfully, both times I was sitting down. Now that I was approved to move around, their concern was more evident.

“Yup. No magic casting. Got it,” I acknowledged, pulling the blanket off my feet; I swung my legs out and stood up to stretch.

I wore grey shorts and a crop top, needing to wear something light thanks to the immense summer heat.

I noticed Elias’ eyes glanced at my markings, the multiple swirls and rose blossoms slathered my legs from where my shorts ended to my ankles; the multiple thorn vines wrapped around in a delicate manner.

I felt my heart skip a beat as I felt a wave of guilt hit me; my eyes landed on his chest – the same place where he got hit by the lightning spear. Even though I had spent time with the others since waking up, Elias had been the least. I wanted it to be less awkward between us, but the sheer fear of him getting hurt again continued to haunt me.

He must have noticed my stare because he walked towards me.

“Mak–“

“Now that I’m off bed rest, I’m going to go out for a walk! Don’t worry I’ll get Marcus to come along!” I reassured them as I headed to the drawer and grabbed a set of clothes, before making my way to the door.

I felt something grasp my hand, stopping me mid stride. I turned to see Elias’ emerald eyes; the green jewels showed me a glimpse of pain.

I felt my heart drop as I contemplated on what to do. I couldn’t face him...or Eli right now. I didn’t have the courage or emotional strength to deal with them at this moment.

He must have seen the fear and guilt in my facial expression because he let go, glancing down to the floor.

“Just, be careful,” he whispered. I turned my eyes to glance at Ryder; who had watched the situation by the side of the bed. He gave me a weak smile, but urged me to leave with his hand. He knew I wasn’t ready just yet.

“I will.” I wanted to leave it like that, to turn around and walk away, but my legs wouldn’t budge. I sighed before leaning forward, pressing a gentle kiss on his smooth lips.

His eyes widened at my actions, but slowly closed as he returned my kiss. I pulled away and gave him a small smile before giving a small wave to them both and heading out the door.

“Mako…”

Rose’s voice was hesitant as I walked into the bathroom, closing it behind me as I pressed my back against the black smooth wood. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I tried to take deep breathes. I can’t Rose...not yet.

I didn’t know how to feel about Elias and EliaseAnne. Not only did I have to witness him – them – dying in my arms because I couldn’t dodge that lightning spear, but to then find out one of the men I cared about and female best friend were the same person.

I couldn’t determine whether I was angry for the deceitful act or relieved to finally know the truth. It’s not like I was completely oblivious to the possibility, but in this short life I’d lived and the multiple books I’ve read, not once had I heard of a male host having a female spirit. It was unheard of. So why was EliaseAnne connected to Elias?

I shook my head as I let out a frustrated huff, and turned the tap on. I splash my face with cold water. I’ll deal with that later.

I changed into the set of clothes I randomly chose; black shorts and a gold top, the words Fairy Queen plastered on front. I glared at the piece of fabric. I swear this is karma at its best. I let out another huff, forcing myself to pull over the crop top

I took a few minutes to brush my hair out, before tying it up into a ponytail. I seriously need to trim my hair...I wonder if Midnight likes it this long?

Since my near-death experience, it seemed easier to communicate with Midnight. It wasn’t like talking back and forth the way I did with my spirits. But there were certain times when I thought about her and wished for her opinion, I’d feel a weird sensation go through me.

After some trial and error, I’d figured out what feeling meant yes and what meant no. I didn’t know what this new development happening between us meant, but it didn’t worry me. It would be nice if Midnight and I could communicate with no barriers.

The YES sensation flowed through me, causing me to smile in happiness.

I could never thank Midnight enough for saving the guys from King Aspen. I would have never been able to develop such a flawless plan in the situation she was in.

I knew she had feelings for Elias, so I could only imagine the amount of fear she had felt awaking to his pale, weak expression; his body surrounded by blood, and the chaos happening around her.

I applied the red gloss that Marcus had picked up, courtesy of Scarlet and looked at the mirror.

My turquoise eyes were vibrant as usual, my pale complexion back to its original shade, my cheeks slightly flushed from my little make-out session with Ryder and my glossy red lips.

I looked much better. I didn’t even want to imagine how bad I looked during those horrendous two weeks of darkness. Just the thought of the dark essence consuming my body, had me shivering as I tried to control my heart rate from escalating. I need to move...need to just get air and sunlight. The sunshine will rid of the darkness.

I walked out of the washroom and slipped on my neon pink runners, heading straight out the front door. Once the door closed behind me, I turned to face the wondrous scenery before me, inhaling deeply.

The sun’s rays felt magnificent against my skin, warming up my soul. I brushed away the negative feelings that lurked in my mind, trying to remind me of my past struggle and enjoyed the blissfulness before me, Mother Starlight’s gift to all shifters.

“Makoto?”

I opened my eyes slowly, turning my head to the alto voice that called me. My eyes landed on my dragon shifter, Marcus.

He wore a pair of black shorts; his caramel, brown hair tied up in one of those sexy man buns. His chiseled chest was on full display, the definition in his six-pack enough to make my insides flip with desire. Not to mention that bloody V line, the lower abdominal muscles making an appearance before disappearing into those black silky shorts. Curse them.

Marcus’ prominent markings were plastered across his chest; the majority of the various swirls and knot work located on his right side. The thick and thin lines flowed around his shoulder and encircled his upper right arm.

If you weren’t aware of what markings were, you’d assume he got a massive tribal tattoo on his chest, spreading out onto his shoulder and ended at a half sleeve. The characteristic I loved the most was his mesmerizing sapphire eyes; the radiant, blue spheres stared at me, worry lines forming on his face.

“Aren’t you on bed rest?” he questioned, walking towards me.

“Karen said I’m allowed to walk around. Still on magic probation though, so no training for now. I miss our morning runs.” I admitted, allowing my voice to fade as the last words slipped out. He reached my side, his hand rose up to brush the side of my face before leaning forward.

His lips pressed lightly against mine; his other hand wrapped itself around my waist and pulled me against him, gently. I melted into his embrace, pressing my glossy lips against his, returning the kiss as we stood in the warmth of the sun. After a minute he pulled away, smiling down at me.

“Cherry flavoured lip gloss. I got to thank Scarlet for the recommendation,” he whispered, licking his lips.

“When we go down to Earthala, will I get to meet her?” I asked. I didn’t know who this Scarlet was, but she sounded super nice. I wondered if she was like Eli.

He smiled; his hand left me cheek to wrap around my waist, securing me in his arms.

“Yes, if you’d like. They’re closing up some case, so when we do go down there, they should have a week or two off. We’ll go on lots of adventures,” he explained, smiling.

“All of us?” I asked. I wanted to confirm if all of us would be traveling down there in celebration of my perfect score with the written exams.

I’d also scored perfect on my 1v1 battle and we’d been given five stars for our performance with the infiltrated practical exam, so I was officially the top student in Knightwood ranking, Elias/Eli and Ryder being tied in second place. Daniel had moved up to third place and Marcus was now fourth. We did excellent for a bunch of shifters pretending to be students.

“Yup, all of us will go down there. It’s been awhile since we’ve had a mini vacation amongst ourselves. With you in tow, it’s going to be entertaining,” he mused, grinning. I rolled my eyes.

“You know you love my company. Hmph,” I countered, feigning annoyance. He pressed his forehead against mine.

“Yes, Firefly. We do love your company,” he whispered.

I lifted up onto my tiptoes to kiss him softly. I could still see the relief on his face when I woke up the night we returned to our home in Knightwood. His hand returned to his side before he reached out and grasped my small hand into his.

“Shall we go for a walk?” I whispered, squeezing his hand and enjoying his warmth.

“I’d be honoured to walk with you, Princess,” he replied, tugging me forward.

“Are you sure you’ll be able to get back?”

I looked up at my dragon star knight, the back of my head pressed against his chest. We sat down in a meadow, watching the clouds go by, the sun high in the sky. The sound of the nearby stream caressed my ears as I listened to the surrounding wildlife roaming the forest.

I sat in between Marcus’ legs; his arms around my waist as I relaxed in his embrace. Nightmare had joined us before we entered the forest; her white, furry body sitting at the entrance path we always took during our morning routines; her tails waved gently from side to side.

She’d been by my side the majority of my recovery, only leaving recently to get some fresh air while I read comfortably in Ryder’s room. Now she chased butterflies while I enjoyed Marcus’ company.

We’d spent so much time sitting in silence, simply enjoying the scenery before us that Marcus had forgot about his apparent meeting with Ryder and Matthew. His body jolted, Ryder probably reminding him of their appointment through their star knight bond.

I could imagine Ryder rolling his eyes and Matthew’s stern look as they stood in the professor’s office, waiting for Marcus to show up.

“I’ll be just fine. Nightmare will keep me company. I won’t faint, I promise,” I vowed.

He shook his head in disapproval.

“Uh huh. This is coming from the girl who can’t even sense when she’s going to pass out. Do I need to remind you of your two faint sessions in the last two days? Your statement totally reassures my worried soul,” he commented, sighing.

“Ugh, that’s different! I totally know when it’s going to happen!” I argued, not wanting to admit how true his words were.

“Would you accept a first-class ticket to hell if you’re wrong?” he questioned, smirking devilishly. I groaned, glancing away. Thanks to my frequent outspoken declarations, he’d picked up on that. Curse this sexy dragon.

“Why thank you, Starlight princess. I feel honoured to be called sexy by you. Though, you have to stop cursing me and the others. We won’t live long enough to bring you home to your pretty castle,” he joked, placing a kiss against my neck, directly on my sensitive spot.

My back arched at the feel of his cool, moist lips, a moan escaped my lips as he continued. After ten seconds, he let out a frustrated groan before pulling away.

“Stupid mental communication...always interrupting me,” he grumbled, his frustration making me laugh.

“You love it, don’t lie! It’s useful, seriously,” I mused.

“Nope, not useful at all. Stryker can scare the living shit out of anyone when he makes an appearance, Azriel just enters to piss off Stryker and oh Starlight, I don’t even want to talk about Elyion,” he rambled, shuffling backward to stand up and brushing off the grass sticking to his round, firm butt. Before my mind was able to ponder on what he just said, I took a moment to appreciate the shape of his butt, ignoring the need reach out and feel how hard it was. I’d love to squeeze those buns.

“My buns are yours to claim,” he whispered. I felt the heat rush to my cheeks as I blushed. Mako – 5, Outspoken thoughts – 54.

“Go away, you’re distracting,” I ordered; my hands crossed across my chest. Wait, who’s Azriel and Elyion?

“Don’t give me that look Firefly. C’mon.” He outstretched his hand to me. I glared at it for a moment before giving in, placing my hand in his as he helped me up. I was ready to question him on his previous statement when he smiled wickedly at me, pulling me forward before slapping my butt.

“HEY!” I shrieked as he laughed.

“Your buns are mine now, Firefly. I get first dibs, okay,” he said turning around to walk away. Oh, not so fast.

I step forward, slapping his ass. He froze; his head slowly turned over his shoulder to stare at me wide eyed, his cheeks growing red.

“You can’t go claiming my butt before I claim yours. Your dragon buns are mine! I’ve claimed them. No one else can have them,” I declared. I could hear Lexi giggling in the back of my mind.

“Hmm, I don’t think Marcus is the only one who liked your declaration,” Lexi stated. What do you mean?

I noticed Marcus’ eyes flicker from his usual sapphire eyes to a red-orange colour, finally settling onto the sunset mixed red. I froze, realizing Marcus’ dragon was now in control. I’d never met him before. He turned around, taking one step before he was face to face with me, his gaze locked on mine. His hand went under my chin, lifting my head up.

“Be careful what you claim sweet Firefly. I agree with Marcus though; we get first dibs on that perky ass of yours,” he seduced.

My body grew hot as desire flowed through me.

He gave me a quick kiss; his hand landed on my left butt cheek, squeezing it gently before stepping back, a smirk on his lips.

“Tell Lexi to come out and play sometime. I didn’t get to say this during that annoying, worry inducing exam, but her dragon form is hot. Anyways, see you.” He winked before turning around, walking towards the forest without looking back.

I stood there in shock as I watched his figure disappear within the thick layer of trees, blinking a few times to determine whether this was a figment of my imagination or whatever just unfolded was truly real.

“He did not just do that,” I exclaimed.

“Give me just ten minutes in a room with him. I can already picture the different positions we coul—” Lexi began, her voice filled with seduction before I cut her off.

“UGH, Enough! Nope. Don’t need to hear it. Don’t you dare give me a glimpse of what you’re picturing,” I protested, brushing my hand through my hair to distract myself as an image of Marcus in his low ride sweat pants and bare, marking-filled chest lingered in my head. Settle down hormones! You get to see Ryder’s naked, top half, too. Don’t need to get all greedy now.

I turned towards the forest, ready to make my way back when I felt a wave of dizziness hit me. I let out a groan, waiting for the spinning sensation to stop. Nope, I’m not going to faint. Totally not go–

My body leaned back as my consciousness began to drift. My body crashed into something soft, arms wrapped around me. I sighed in relief as I allowed my once tense body to relax in the embrace. Mint surrounded me; the fresh, clean scent welcoming.

“I swear; I can’t keep my eyes off you, Mako.”

EliaseAnne’s voice sounded far away, but her high pitch voice was soft and comforting in the darkness that continued to cloud my mind.

Eli. Even though I tried to avoid talking to Elias, they both continued to keep an eye on me.

That was the last thought I had before I submitted to the darkness.