Birthright

The night I was born, Talvarna the kingdom of supernatural and mystical creatures, shattered and the Great War began. My parents died as the skies burned and I was carried beyond the veil to a realm forgotten by time, unseen by enemy eyes, a sanctuary for the few who defied the ruin of our world. There, under silver trees and a sky of endless twilight, I grew in the shadow of stories I did not yet understand. I have trained since I was a pup, to become a warrior, to guard this realm. But destiny does not forget its debts, and the world I left behind would one day call me home. My name is Jackson Thorne, son of the late Alpha King Kade and Luna Queen Emilia— the last heir to a throne that burned the night I was born. I am a hybrid species, my father being Lycan and my mother a vampire. The blood of kings runs through my veins, a legacy both feared and forgotten. I was raised by my father’s sister Aunt Theo, far from the ashes of Talvarna, yet the call of my birthright has never faded. It lingers like a scar on my soul, reminding me that even in hiding, a king cannot escape his crown. “Jackson, you need to concentrate. Where is your mind tonight?” “It’s no use, Aunt Theo. I’m not feeling anything.” “Oh, hush, boy! You’ve got Thorne blood running through those veins. Now close your eyes, relax, and—” “Aunt Theo,” i interrupted, frustration seeping into my voice. “I’m telling you, either I don’t have magic in me, or I’m just not ready yet, what’s Thorne blood got to do with it?.” “Not ready?” she scoffed. “Magic doesn’t wait for readiness, Jackson. It awakens when called.” I opened one eye, uncertain. “And if it doesn’t answer?” “Then we make it answer.” She snapped her fingers, and the all the candles around the room roared to light with a golden glow. “Alright, that’s enough for tonight,” Aunt Theo sighed, brushing a stray lock of silver hair from her face. “You’ve got training with the Elders in the morning. Best get some rest.” “Sorry, Aunt Theo,” I muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “I know you’re hoping I’ll show the magic of the Thorne Coven.but maybe I just got Dad’s lycan blood and Mom’s vampire side.” Before she could argue, I offered a faint smile. “Good night, Aunt Theo.” I leaned down, kissed her lightly on the side of the head, and headed upstairs. The old wooden steps creaked under my feet, and for a moment, I thought I heard her whisper something soft, almost like a spell before the sound faded into the quiet of the house. Aunt Theo has raised me since that fatal night. She was the youngest of four siblings—my father, the eldest. Only seventeen when everything fell apart, she saved us and others that night. They say her magic is powerful, pure and unmatchable, the rare gift of a true elemental one who could harness the forces of earth, water, fire, and wind. She has a special gift even though she is Lycan she has magic in her blood. It’s hard to imagine such strength in someone so small. At only five-foot-three, Aunt Theo seems almost fragile, but I’ve seen her in training, she is fearless. Her long silver hair glows beneath the moonlight each night, her smooth olive skin warm against the cold light. And her eyes, those glowing violet eyes mark her as a Thorne through and through. Every member of the Thorne line who reaches their full potential bears that color; it’s the family’s living legend. Being a Thorne, Royal Lycan meant we carried magic in our blood like no other Lycans.. I guess it’s a gift from the moon goddess. Sometimes I wonder what my parents looked like, which of them I resemble more. My hair is short, black as night, with a beard to match. My skin mirrors Aunt Theo’s, so I guess my father had the same olive tone. But my eyes are what set me apart, one a golden brown, the other an ocean green. I stand at six-foot-four, tallest in this realm by far, and I’ve filled out in the last two years of relentless training. I received my Lycan gift on my thirteenth birthday, a grey, powerful, magnificent beast who still hasn’t reached his full potential. That will come only when, or if, I ever meet my mate. My vampire side hasn’t awakened yet. That part of me will rise when I turn eighteen in six months’ time. I can’t say I’m looking forward to that part of me. Sometimes, I wish my mother were here to guide me through it. Aunt Theo does her best, teaching me what she can, but her knowledge only stretches so far. She focuses mostly on my Lycan side and channeling the elements, hoping I’ll awaken the Thorne magic one day. I can’t blame her for not knowing much about vampires she was only twelve when my father met and mated my mother. Before their bond, vampires were enemies to Lycans, werewolves, Fae, and most mystical beings. They stayed in the shadows, with demons and some Dragons. My parents’ union changed that; their bond brought peace, a fragile truce between the two bloodlines. For a while, it worked until my mother’s brother, Rickardo, the head of the vampire coven, died. His son, my cousin Lucian, took his place and with him came bitterness and ambition.