Page 30 of Bound to Four Alphas (Silverthorn Alphas #1)

The Marble Halls were abuzz with activity, servants and nobles alike dashing from building to building, ensuring everything was ready for the upcoming Winter Solstice celebrations. As new Lord of the Benellane Court, Elian oversaw everything with a keen eye and mischievous glee. For the time being, his home would act as the seat of power for the pack, and their newly appointed Queen.

Selena could hardly believe it. Queen of the First Realm, keeper of the magic, guardian of the forest.

The official crowning wouldn’t happen for quite some time of course, as they needed to consolidate power. Convince the nobles. Play the political game, as Ronan liked to grumble. The Winter Solstice would be a good opportunity to do so.

Selena had only requested that Elian be slightly discerning about the guest list.

Nobody from the Silverthorn Empire.

Old King Dorian had been furious at the death of his son and heir, but he recognized the defeat for what it was. A reminder of the power of the magical beings.

He had not tried to tamper further.

Kaelen and Elian had been keen to press the advantage and reclaim the lands stolen from the First Realm, but Selena had cautioned them. Ronan believed that in a few years’ time, peace and alliance might be possible, and she was willing to hold out for that.

“Selena!” Caeda appeared around the corner of one of the towering bookshelves of the library. That had been Selena’s greatest wish. A huge library, with every book she could get her hands on.

Selena smiled and made to stand, but Caeda shook her hands, “No, no, please! Don’t try to get up on my account.”

“I’m perfectly able to get up, I’m only a few months pregnant,” Selena grumbled but didn’t argue when Caeda instead curled up on the ottoman next to her. She was due in six months’ time, but there was something about magical pregnancy that left her rather exhausted.

“Whatever you say,” Caeda grinned mischievously, the expression eerily similar to Elian’s. “Where are your bodyguards?”

Selena rolled her eyes, “Malek’s reading a few shelves over, and Kaelen’s discussing war strategies with Iveir by the fireplace. Not that we need any war strategies.”

Following the attack, Malek and Kaelen had barely left her side. Malek seemed to only want to comfort her, help her with anything she needed, bring her food and water before she even had to ask. Kaelen was slightly more anxious, fretting over her ever groan and grumble, his protective and domineering facade unable to mask the fear that underpinned it.

Caeda shrugged. “It’s always worth being prepared!”

“I just think it’s an excuse to train the young dragon and wolf alphas together. Unite them under a common cause,” Selena said. “If they learn to fight together, they’re less likely to fight each other.”

“There are still problems?” Caeda’s eyebrows rose, “I thought Ronan and Kaelen had made it clear that we’re all one realm now. No more clans?”

“Those boys have been scrapping for decades,” Selena replied, “and while I think it’s mostly good-natured these days, it certainly doesn’t help that they all now have free rein to sniff around the omegas. Clan protectiveness runs deep.”

“They’ll learn,” said Caeda with a small smile.

“I hope so. We need peace if this whole unification thing is going to work.”

“Does it worry you?” Caeda asked, her voice carefully neutral.

Selena considered, “Sometimes it does. I mean, I was raised as a human. I didn’t even know about the Forest God until I met my alphas. And then to learn that he’s my father? That I’m destined to take his place and unite the realm? It’s a lot of pressure. Especially since I decided not to let the magic take over completely and keep some of my human side.”

She laughed and stroked her stomach, but it came out slightly weaker than she intended. Caeda reached over and took her hand, a fierceness painted over her features.

“Selena, we all know how hard you push yourself. The things that you’ve achieved in just the past few months have been astonishing.”

“It’s mostly been my mates,” Selena said, chewing her lip, “I mean, they’re the ones going and forging alliances, laying down the law. I’ve just been practicing my magic and trying to decide how best to go about things.”

Caeda snorted. “The only reason they’ve been the ones having to forge alliances rather than you is because they were the ones who insisted on fighting for centuries in the first place. They’re just cleaning up their own messes.”

Selena giggled. “Yes, I suppose that’s true.”

“And another thing, there’s no such thing as ‘just been practicing magic,’ it’s ridiculously difficult to get control over magic half as small as yours. And your progress would put any Fae to shame. Don’t push yourself too hard, Selena, nobody expects you to do this all by yourself.”

Selena smiled, tears welling in her eyes, her hormones driving to the extremes due to her pregnancy.

“Thank you, that means a lot. Really it does. Especially since we have to start thinking about relations with the other four realms. We’ve been getting more and more letters.”

Caeda shifted, her expression suddenly shy. “Actually, that's what I came to talk to you about.”

“Oh?” Selena raised an eyebrow.

“I’d like to go traveling. To the other realms, I mean. I spent so long trapped in that palace; I want to see more of the world. And I know it’s dangerous, and I know Elian probably won’t let me, but I want to go all the same.”

Her expression was so determined, so earnest, her young face showing every ounce of stubborn resolution, that Selena knew would be hard to argue against.

“Don’t you worry about what Elian says,” she laughed. “I can handle him. If this is something that you want, then you have my whole-hearted blessing.”

“Really?” Caeda’s expression opened in joy, “You mean that? I mean, as my Queen? Not just my brother's mate?”

Selena wasn’t sure she would ever get used to the title. Elian had wanted her to take the title Goddess, Kaelen suggesting Empress, but in the end she was mated to two kings, a lord, and a leader. She chose to be named Queen. Nevertheless, it wasn’t any less strange on her tongue.

“Of course I mean as your queen,” Selena said. “But you can’t leave right away! We’ll need to make arrangements, ensure you’ll be safe, talk to—”

Caeda wasn’t listening. She had leapt to her feet and was clapping her hands with glee. “Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! I’m going to go tell my friends now, they’re not going to believe it!”

“… Elian,” Selena finished, shaking her head with amusement as Caeda danced away in delight.

“He’ll never agree to it, you know,” Kaelen’s voice came from behind her, and she turned to see him leaning against a bookshelf, a smirk on his face, “and I’m inclined to agree with him. The political situation is still precarious with the other realms.”

Selena quirked an eyebrow, but nevertheless scooted forward slightly so he could slide behind her and pull her into his chest, his hands resting protectively against her stomach. “Kaelen, the King of Embers, agreeing with Elian, Lord of the Benellane Court? Will wonders never cease?”

“Cheeky little omega,” he growled, nipping playfully at her ear.

“I’m not just going to let her fly straight over the border,” Selena sighed, nestling into him, “but I won’t keep her trapped here. If she wants to go, then she should be free to go.”

“A discussion for another time,” he suggested, “now come. It’s getting late, and you need to rest.”

His voice had taken on that domineering tone that left no room for argument, and she wasn’t in the mood to test him. Instead, she let him sweep her into his arms and carry her to their bedchambers.

Elian and Ronan were already there, the former pouring over an experiment of some kind on his workbench in the corner of their private drawing room, the latter polishing a set of weapons in front of the fire. As Kaelen settled Selena into the cushions of a sofa, Malek silently crept in, his arms full of books. He had been as starved of knowledge as Selena, and both adored the opportunity to now spend hours lost between the pages.

He had also begun tutoring some of his own kind, progress was slow, but he was determined. Although he never said it, Selena knew that he was desperately excited to be able to at last communicate with some of his own kind.

“Your sister wants to travel to the other four realms,” Kaelen said to Elian, ignoring Selena as she batted at him in frustration, “and our radiant Queen has agreed.”

Elian glanced up from his workbench, the shock clear on his face, “That is absolutely—”

“ Not being argued about now,” Selena interrupted, glaring at Kaelen. “How has your day been?”

Elian’s jaw worked for a moment before he decided to let the issue slide. “Excellent, thank you. I made huge advancements in the negotiations between some of the noble Fae families, and I’m pleased to say you have even more support.”

Selena gulped, “I didn’t before?”

“Bloody Fae,” rumbled Ronan, “can’t just make things simple. Everything has to be intrigue and plotting.”

“My dear Ronan,” said Elian with delight, “that’s what makes it so fun .”

“Are any of the dragons or wolves planning to come to the Marble Halls for the celebrations?” asked Selena, interrupting them before they could start yet another sparring match of wit.

“Some of them have … reservations about the company we keep”—Elian glanced over at Malek—“but relations between the Fae and the dragons have always been strong. The wolves will follow Ronan. All it will take is a few matings between differing clans and old territory lines will quickly be forgotten.”

“I hope so,” said Selena, groaning slightly as the familiar nausea roiled in her stomach. Kaelen was by her in an instant, his eyes swimming with fear.

“What is it, are you hurt? Is it your stomach? Do you need me to fetch you some ginger root tea?

“Relax, Kaelen,” she said, cupping his taut face even as Elian snickered. “It’s just a bit of sickness.”

Kaelen nodded but didn’t release her from his hold, tucking her further into him.

“I was thinking,” she said, “what do you think the baby is going to be?”

“What do you mean?” asked Ronan, placing down a sword that was probably as tall as she was.

“I mean, you’re a wolf shifter. Kaelen’s a dragon, Elian’s a Fae, and Malek … is Malek. If the baby truly has come from the magic and is part of all of us, what do you think it will be?”

“I think it will be like you,” said Elian without hesitation. “A God’s magic is always the strongest. It seems only logical that it would be the dominant trait. I think our child will have elements of all of us, to be sure, but will predominantly be a pure magical being. Just like you.”

“A good thing too,” Ronan chuckled, “no child of mine will eat nothing but salad leaves and spend their days engaged in petty political squabbles.”

Elian growled, “And no child of mine will have fleas .”

Selena burst out laughing, her sides aching, drawing the quizzical looks of her mates.

“It’s just so funny,” she giggled, “to think that I was so scared of you. In the forest, I mean, when I was sacrificed.”

“Surely you weren’t that scared,” Kaelen’s voice was slightly offended, which just made her laugh harder.

“Kaelen, I was tied to a tree and left alone and then the next thing I knew I was surrounded by a dragon, a wolf, a nightmare beast, and some kind of swaggering peacock.”

“Hawk.”

“Could have fooled me,’ she winked at Elian. “Of course I was scared.”

Kaelen grumbled, but it was Malek who spoke.

“And now?” he asked. “Are you scared of us now?”

Selena leaned back into Kaelen’s warm embrace, shivering under his protective touch. She glanced around at Ronan, who so fiercely defended her, Malek, who was so gentle and kind, and Elian, who she would never get tired of talking to.

All of them. She adored each and every one of them, and knew how much they adored her in return. Their child, and all the children to come, would spend their days in a home filled with nothing but love and laughter. And she would be able to do anything she set her heart to, because they would always be there for her. Protecting her, advising her, loving her. And she them.

She sighed in contentment, letting a smile of pure joy spread over her face.

“There is nowhere else I would rather be.”

*****

THE END