Lienna.
The days flew by, and before we knew it, we were finally drawing to the end of the banquet celebration. The fortress, once filled with the constant hum of activity, was now winding down. I was excited for all the right-and, well, wrong-reasons. Not only would the fortress finally be empty of the crowd that had been there for the past thirteen days, but I would also get their response from the shifter kings. Finally.
I had also spent the last few days catching up with my mother, discovering how alike and different we were. We shared laughter and stories, bonding over our shared experiences. She had revealed to me that I was born through an affair she had with a wealthy human Lord, which made her situation even more precarious.
“After I hid you away,” she explained, her eyes clouding over with memories, “I had to run for my own life, hiding in several places and doing menial tasks to survive.” Her voice trailed off with sadness, but her gaze snapped back to the present as she continued. “Until I received a job in the fortress, and I’ve been here ever since.”
One evening, as she braided my hair into pigtails, she paused, her fingers weaving a gentle rhythm. “I felt a draw toward you when you first arrived,” she said, a soft smile spreading across her face.
“But I never attempted to explore it,” she added, her eyes searching mine. Turning my head, she held my gaze with a warm smile. “Now, I know why. I’m so glad to have you by my side, Lienna.”
I smiled back at her, feeling a deep connection that made my heart blossom. “Me too, Mom.”
It was the last night of the banquet celebration, and Mara’s skilled hands moved with precision as she dressed me up. As she worked on my hair, her gaze lingered on the subconscious smile playing on my lips, reflected in the mirror.
“You seem really happy for tonight,” she observed, her voice tinged with curiosity, as she secured the final pins to hold my hair in place. “Why is that?”
I zoned back in, meeting her gaze through the mirror. A light flush stained my cheeks as I murmured, “Oh… no reason. I just have a feeling that tonight is going to be a special night for me.” The smile grew on my lips, unstoppable.
Mara’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she caught the twinkle in my eyes. “Okay, if you say so,” she muttered, shrugging her shoulders with a hint of skepticism.
A while later, Mara stepped away from me, announcing, “I’m through.” She gazed at me through the mirror, a look of satisfaction on her face.
I stood up, twirling in front of the mirror to check myself. The cream dress, studded with a silver lake that perfectly complemented my skin tone, hugged my figure in all the right places. My corset sat nicely, accentuating my bosom and giving me a more mature appearance.
My hair, adorned with pearls and glittering gemstones, was pinned behind my back, with tendrils falling freely to frame my face. But the main showstopper was the daring slit that ran up to my knees, flattering my legs and adding a touch of sophistication.
“Wow… You really saved the best for last,” I muttered, studying my reflection and the intricate jewelry that completed my look. Mara smiled, her eyes shining with pride.
“I’m glad you like it,” Mara said with a warm smile, noticing I’d finished admiring my reflection. “You’ve been spending a lot of time with the shifter kings lately. I wanted to make sure your last night with them was memorable.” Her gaze lingered on me, a hint of curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
A deep crimson blush began to spread across my cheeks. So she’d noticed.
Just then, the sweet strains of music drifted into the room, signaling the start of the banquet. “I have to go now. I’ll see you later,” I said, reaching out to hug Mara.
She returned the hug, placing a soft, affectionate kiss on my cheek. “Have a wonderful time, Lienna.”
With a final glance in the mirror, I turned around, leaving the room. An escort waited outside, his sharp eyes scanning me before nodding in approval. “Shall we?” he asked, offering his arm.
I placed my hand on his, and he politely guided me to the ballroom. As we walked, I couldn’t help but notice the stares from the people we passed. Whispers followed in our wake, but I did my best to ignore them.
We reached the ballroom, and the doors swung open with a soft flourish. I stepped inside, and once again, the room’s attention focused on me. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd as I made my way down the length of the hall.
The shifter kings, seated at the head table, were not immune to my entrance. Their gazes locked onto me the moment I stepped in, and now, their eyes narrowed and deepened, sending shivers down my spine. Hermes’s piercing green eyes seemed to burn with intensity, Adonis’s blue gaze held a icyness that made my heart flutter, and Caspian’s warm stare made my heart soar through the skies.
Goosebumps rose on my skin as I felt the weight of their collective attention. My escort delivered me to the table, and I took my seat, trying to compose myself amidst the turmoil of emotions swirling within me.
Some people took notice of me and began to strike up conversations, inquiring about my interests or sharing stories of their own. Others attempted to invite me to dance, but I politely declined, my eyes occasionally drifting to the shifter kings’ table. If it weren’t compulsory for me to attend the entire banquet, I probably wouldn’t have been there at all.
Time dragged by, the minutes ticking away like hours, until it seemed the shifter kings were ready to make an announcement. Caspian picked up his glass, the clink of his fork against the crystal echoing through the hall, and everywhere fell silent. The crowd’s attention turned to the shifter kings as I turned, my heart thudding in my chest. My mind reeled with questions: What did they want to say? Was it about me?
All three shifter kings rose to their feet, their gazes sweeping across the hall. Caspian cleared his throat, his deep voice commanding attention. “We welcome everyone to this gathering, and tonight is going to be a very special night for us. Not just because it’s the final day of the banquet, but because we’ll have a special appearance in our midst.”
Murmurs grew amongst the crowd as people exchanged curious glances. Who could that be? Some even cast surreptitious looks my way, but I immediately shook my head, my eyes fixed on the shifter kings.
Adonis took over, his voice filled with reverence. “It is with great honor and pride that I welcome the moon goddess.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd, and I was no exception. The moon goddess? Here? The room erupted into whispered frenzy, growing higher by the second.
Suddenly, a blinding light burst through the ballroom, causing everyone to let out yelps of surprise. Hands shielded eyes, and heads bowed. When we opened our eyes again, we couldn’t believe what we were seeing.
The moon goddess stood among us, her aura and glory radiating like a celestial beacon. I stared at her in utter shock, my mouth agape. It was the first time I’d seen her since the war, and I was struck by her ethereal beauty. Her white, almost translucent hair cascaded down her back like a river of moonlight, the intricate marking on her forehead pulsing with a soft, divine glow.
I was stunned, equally terrified by the realization that this powerful being had once resided within me. The memory of our connection sent shivers down my spine. We locked eyes, and she gifted me with a gentle, knowing smile before graciously lowering herself to our level.
The room fell silent, with every head bowed in reverence. I joined the others, my heart pounding in awe. The moon goddess began to speak, her soft voice weaving through the silence like silk on a summer breeze.
“Thank you all for your warm welcome, for your faith in me, and a special thank you to my vessel, who let me inhabit her until I was ready to return. I am back to fulfill the promise I made to the shifter kings after the war. I said I’d return to bless you and grant whatever request you might have. Please, ask away.”
The shifter kings exchanged nervous glances before Adonis stepped forward, his voice trembling slightly. I wondered what request could make them this anxious.
Turning back to the moon goddess, I waited with bated breath. Adonis’s words tumbled out like a plea: “Dear moon goddess, if it’s not too much to ask… We would like to ask you to make Lienna our mate.”
A strange, heavy hush fell over the crowd, like the stillness before a storm. I furrowed my brows, Adonis’s words swirling around me without penetration. Then, comprehension struck, and I staggered backward, my mind reeling.
What!? The room spun around me, and I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. Mate to the shifter kings? The thought sent my world crashing down around me.
I sought the moon goddess’s gaze, searching for answers, but her expression remained serene, unreadable. The shifter kings’ eyes locked onto mine, burning with an intensity that only added to my turmoil.
My heart began to race, cold sweat beading on my skin as I struggled to process the shifter kings’ request. With a tiny furrow of her brow, the moon goddess spoke, her voice soft and melodious. “You want to make a human your mate?” She asked, her gaze drifting from the shifter kings to me.
They nodded in unison, their expressions firm and resolute. “That is all we want, Your Divinity,” Caspian said, his voice laced with conviction.
I trembled, struggling to draw air into my lungs. My mind reeled with the implications of their request.
The moon goddess pursed her lips in thought, her eyes sparkling with consideration. “Your request is strange, but it isn’t truly impossible…” She muttered after a while, her voice measured. “After all, the person in question did act as my vessel for a while.”
I stared at the shifter kings, my heart pounding, blood roaring in my ears. I wasn’t expecting them to go to these lengths for me. Hell, I hadn’t even thought in that direction before.
The moon goddess’s voice broke through my stunned silence. “Where is she?”
I flinched, my legs moving involuntarily towards the shifter kings and the moon goddess. Soon, I stood before her, my movements awkward and uncertain. The moon goddess smiled at me, her eyes warm and gentle. I managed a small, confused smile in return.
“Your hands, please,” she requested, her voice soft.
I stretched out my hands, and she took them. I gasped as the feel of her fingers on mine sent shivers down my spine. Her touch was cool, like ice.
Turning my hands over, she stared at the fading marks on my palms, a soft smile still gracing her lips. Her eyes sparkled with a knowing glint, and I wondered what she saw in those marks.
The room held its breath, waiting for her next move, as I stood frozen, my heart suspended in anticipation and fear.
As the moon goddess’s fingers touched mine, I watched in awe as they glimmered and glowed, a thin thread of her divine power flowing through me. I shuddered, feeling an inexplicable shift within. A part of my hair turned white, the strands shimmering like moonlit silk.
“By the power vested in me, the moon goddess, I pronounce you mate to the shifter kings!” she announced, her voice echoing through the hall.
Shockwaves rippled through the crowd, gasps and whispers tearing through the air. But I couldn’t tear my gaze from the moon goddess, feeling tears cloud my eyes like a veil.
She folded my hands together, a gentle smile lingering on her face. “They deserve a woman like you,” she whispered, her breath a soothing breeze. Pulling her hands away from mine, she left an imprint of serenity.
The hall erupted into cheers and applause around me, but I was lost in the turmoil of my emotions. I didn’t know when I began crying, tears streaming down my face like autumn rain.
The moon goddess offered more blessings to the shifter kings before dissipating into thin air, leaving the hall once more. The crowd remained awestruck, struggling to comprehend what just happened.
I turned to the shifter kings, tears pouring down my face. Hermes smiled, his eyes shining with warmth. “Is that enough response for you?” he asked, his voice laced with amusement.
I choked on a sob, my voice trembling. “Is that why you stalled?” I managed to ask.
Caspian’s expression turned solemn. “Yes. We wanted to ensure everything was possible before confessing our love.”
I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. I hadn’t thought that far ahead, hadn’t considered the impossibility of us being together even if they had confessed earlier. They had wanted to secure a future for us first. Overwhelmed by emotion, I broke down, surrendering to the tears. The shifter kings closed in, enveloping me in their warmth.
“We asked for that because we love you,” Adonis whispered, his voice a gentle breeze in my ear.
I wept, my heart overflowing with joy and uncertainty, as the shifter kings held me close, gazing into my eyes. “Get ready, after this, it’s our mating ceremony soon,” Hermes announced, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Mating ceremony?” I repeated, sniffing back tears.
“Yes,” Adonis confirmed, his smile warm. “You’re going to be our one and only queen of the realm.”
I stared, my mind reeling. “What!? I’ll be bonded to all three of you?” I blurted, my voice barely above a whisper.
They nodded in unison, their faces radiant with joy.
I trailed off, lost for words. The weight of their love, the depth of their commitment, overwhelmed me.
Without hesitation, I threw myself into their arms, hugging them like my life depended on it. This was truly the best day of my life.
“I love you… All of you,” I blubbered through my tears, my heart overflowing with joy and happiness.
One of them chuckled, the vibrations resonating through my body. “We love you too, more than you’ll ever realize.”
I believed it now. Oh, how much I did.
“Thank you… Thank you so much,” I repeated, my words a fervent prayer.
“Anything for you,” Caspian muttered, his lips brushing against my hair. His gentle touch sent shivers down my spine.
A watery smile grew on my lips as I gazed up at them. I couldn’t wait to be bonded with these three incredible men for the rest of my life.
I truly couldn’t.