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It’s true. Magic is waning, as he is the lone magic user in this entire Kingdom.

Unless you count the magic of his soulmate, Nix, who was magical in his own way but could not draw on the gifts without Grayson.

They are Soulmates. Two halves of the same whole, destined to be joined throughout time.

Grayson is blessed to have a soulmate as well as six other mates, who were gifted to him by the Goddess. Together, they melded to create the perfect whole.

Eight phases of the moon, a never-ending infinity of love; eight singularly talented men who were blessed to offer protection, knowledge, and defense of the Goddess’s plan in every stage.

This isn’t the first time they have been joined as a pack and as lovers, nor will it be the last.

Grayson can recall, through the immense magic and magnified by his soul bond, many different lifetimes since the dawn of time where he has loved—or will love—these men.

Always with the same face, the same mind, and the same commitment to each other.

He can’t recall every moment, and what he does recall is often easier to see when he walks the spiritual Plain. He sometimes sees the King in other places—as a simple farmer or on the bank of a river, fishing.

He entertains his mates on occasion with the more fanciful moments: where he is cooking over a fire or wearing odd garments made from strange fabrics.

Where he is dancing to or singing strange music for many citizens.

These stories make his mates laugh the most because their King couldn’t crack an egg or make tea if he tried, let alone sing a tune that didn’t make the cats cry.

With that thought putting a smile on his face, Grayson pulls on that place inside him where his gift lies and starts the fire for his tea.

The firewood was laid out—no doubt by ever-thoughtful Leo, who has gone to stand by his King’s side as counselor and voice of reason.

He acts to balance out Jay on the other side, who is less tolerant of ignorant courtiers who whisper dissent in their midst.

Jay is certain they do so for more reasons than entertainment.

There has been the whisper of evil more and more as of late. Citizens bring tales of darkness rising beyond their horizons, and Jay has been harvesting the news like a miner for gold.

He will not let their Kingdom or the Goddess’s Will fall.

Jay’s desire to protect has not changed in millennia. Nor, Grayson believes, will it, once this life has ended, for Jay’s wolf has a fearsome, honorable heart, strong enough to stand through time itself.

The heavy curtains over the balcony doors hold back the light,but not the noise in the courtyard below, and Grayson can hear the clash and clang of swords, as well as laughter mixed with the usual growls of the practice combat.

Slipping outside and into the morning sun, he leans on the railing overlooking the melee.

His soulmate is a miracle to watch. A treasured Omega warrior: faster, stronger, and more cunning than any Were.

He sends a surge of power through their bond, and Nix looks up to wave as he narrowly avoids the two training combatants’ joint attempt to subdue him.

They collide comedically as he flips backward out of the way, and the much larger men fall to the ground at Nix’s tiny bare feet.

His mate is quick to offer a hand to help his soldiers up and slap their backs as they bow in defeat.

Nix just adjusts his tunic over his pregnant belly and bows in return, quick to thank them for their efforts and the exercise.

It takes Nix less time to scale the wall to their castle room than it does for Grayson to make them a cup of tea, and when his mate slips in from the balcony and slides his arms around Grayson’s waist from behind, it feels like two parts of a whole locking into place.

Where Grayson charges his magic under the moon and on the ground, Nix charges his soul like the pure sunshine he is.

Together, Grayson can ground himself in perfect resonance: sun–earth–moon.

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