Chapter4
1578 Words
Third Person POV
The door creaked open, and an old figure walked in.
All three heads snapped toward the door. Astraea had fallen unconscious again minutes after waking.
The air thickened as the figure came into view—an old woman with a staff in her hand, an old bag draped over her waist, her hair long and adorned with cowries.
“Nyxara,” Kaelith groaned. “When will you learn to knock?”
“When you learn to respect me. Now, what do we have here?” she asked, advancing closer toward them, the stick sliding across the floorboards.
“Do not make me ignore the fact that you have served this family for decades, Nyxara. You will address us respectfully,” Thalion snapped.
“Check what's wrong with her,” Kaelith cut in, his tone flat and even.
A gasp slipped through her lips
“A hybrid.”
“Thanks. We had no idea,” Thalion snapped. “Do something.”
The tension in his voice was rising.
Dravyn quietly sat by Astraea, his jaw tightened, his hands clenching and unclenching.
“Okay. Out. All of you,” Nyxara said, bringing things out of her bag and arranging them on the table beside the bed.
“No,” they all snarled simultaneously.
Nyxara halted her movements.
“Either get out or come treat her yourself.
Don't block my way.”
“We're your kings,” Kaelith growled, his wolf flashing in his eyes.
Nyxara looked at them, unfazed.
“You know how this works. You can't be here while I work. You have to leave.”
“You—” Kaelith began.
“Kae,” Thalion grabbed his arm, shaking his head. “She's right. We can't be here.”
“At least someone understands. Thank you, my lord,” Nyxara said with a small bow before returning to her earlier arrangement.
Kaelith closed his eyes, still finding it difficult to believe that he had almost lost control because of a bond he wasn't even sure of.
He turned and walked out without another word.
“Dravyn,” Thalion called, his voice edged with warning.
“Mine,” Dravyn growled, not budging.
“Nyx can't work with us here. Let's go,” Thalion said.
“Mine… no,” Dravyn insisted.
“Do you want her to get worse? Be my guest. Maybe continue the treatment when Nyx leaves,” Thalion said before turning and walking out, his voice not betraying the inner battle raging inside him.
Soon after Thalion stepped out, Dravyn followed, his face dark and broody.
The brothers ended up pacing the hallway, unable to sit still, each lost in his own thoughts.
Inside the room, Nyxara focused on examining Astraea, ignoring the hushed argument beyond the door. She needed to fully concentrate.
After some time, the door burst open and the triplets stormed back in, impatience written all over their faces.
“Well?” Kaelith asked.
Nyxara sighed and glanced at Astraea before turning to them.
“She's been drugged with suppression herbs since she was a toddler. Wolfsbane, moonpetal, and something else I can't identify. Her hybrid nature has been fighting to emerge her entire life, which is why she always felt wrong… broken.”
“Can you help her?” Kaelith demanded.
“Her body is at war with itself. If she doesn't complete her first shift soon, it will tear her apart from the inside. I give her two weeks. Maybe three.”
“How do we help her shift?” Thalion asked.
Nyxara gave them a knowing look.
“She needs to bond with her mates. Her beast recognizes you. The mate bond will give her the strength to break through the suppression. But it won't be easy or gentle.”
“You mean she needs to mate with us,”
Thalion said.
“Not just mate. Bond. Full claiming. Marks, blood oaths, the breeding bond. All three of you.”
Silence filled the room.
Then Dravyn spoke.
“She'll never agree to that. She's terrified of us.”
“Then you'd better start earning her trust,” Nyxara said bluntly. “Because if you don't bond with her soon, she'll die. And the prophesied bloodline dies with her.”
“How long exactly do I have?”
All heads snapped toward the bed.
Astraea was awake.
She had heard most of the conversation.
“Hey,” the triplets rushed to her side.
“Easy,” Thalion said gently as he helped her sit up. Dravyn stood beside the bed, watching closely.
“Two weeks. Three at most,” Nyxara repeated.
Kaelith spoke softly, “We won't force you. But those are your options. Bond with us… or die.”
Astraea exhaled heavily. “I need time. Time to think. All this is—”
“Overwhelming,” Nyxara finished for her. “I understand, child. But you must understand that you don't have time. The prophecy is about to unfold. You can't die before it does.”
Astraea furrowed her brow in confusion.
“What prophecy?”
Nyxara reached into her garment and pulled out a long scroll. She untied the red rope holding it together, revealing a faded cover.
Astraea's heart skipped just by looking at it.
“This is the prophecy,” Nyxara said solemnly.
The triplets’ expressions turned heavy.
Nyxara unfolded the scroll and began to read. Other than Astraea’s quiet breathing, the room was completely silent.
“Three Kings will find their Queen in shadow and blood.
She will be their salvation or their destruction.
The last of the Primordial line, hidden and suppressed.
When she awakens, the realms will tremble.
She will unite… or she will burn.
There is no middle ground.”
Nyxara finished reading and folded the scroll before turning back to Astraea.
Astraea looked at the triplets.
“You knew. You've been looking for me.”
They exchanged glances but made no attempt to deny it.
“For fifteen years,” Kaelith said quietly. “Ever since our mother died. You're the only one who can save our bloodline.”
Astraea let out a dry laugh. The sound was hollow.
“So this isn't about me? It's about prophecy and saving your bloodline.” She scoffed. “I should have known.”
Kaelith’s shoulders slumped slightly.
“I won't lie to you. Yes, we began the search because of the prophecy. But you felt it too. The bond is real. We all felt it. The prophecy only told us where to look.”
Astraea laughed again.
“Like hell I'd believe in some stupid bond.”
She threw the duvet wrapped around her body aside.
“I'm leaving. Good luck with your prophecy.”
She stood.
“Astr—” Thalion began, but a glare from her shut him up. His beast whined at the anger rolling off their mate.
She tried to walk away but stumbled, still weak.
Dravyn caught her.
The moment he touched her, electricity shot through both of them. The mate bond flared instantly.
She pulled away.
“I need time,” she said, avoiding his eyes.
“You have two weeks,” Nyxara reminded her.
After the healer left, Astraea stared at the three kings.
“If I agree… What happens to me after? Do I become your property?”
Kaelith did something none of them expected.
He knelt in front of her.
The powerful king lowered himself to his knees.
“You become our queen,” he said quietly. “An equal partner. Not property.”
“I don't even know you.”
“Then let us show you,” Thalion said softly.
She looked at each of them.
Kaelith—cold and commanding.
Thalion—charming and dangerous.
Dravyn—barely restrained savagery.
Monsters.
Everyone said so.
But they were also giving her a choice.
Her father never did that.
“I need time,” she whispered. “To think. To understand.”
“You have time,” Kaelith agreed as he stood. “But not much.”
“This is your choice,” Thalion added. “We won't force you. Bond with us and live. Or refuse and die.”
She looked at all three of them.
These dangerous, powerful males who could take whatever they wanted.
Yet they were giving her agency.
“Two weeks,” she said. “I want to know who you are before I decide.”
“Makes sense,” Thalion nodded.
Kaelith lifted the back of her hand and placed a lingering kiss on it, maintaining eye contact.
The kiss sent tingles through her body.
“I couldn't agree more,” he murmured.
Dravyn hummed quietly, saying nothing, but his eyes were fixed intently on Astraea
“We'll leave you now,” Kaelith said before turning and walking out.
The other two followed almost immediately.
Now alone, all the emotions she had held back finally crashed over her.
How did things get to this point?
How did she go from serving wine to lying on what could be her deathbed?
And the Primordial bloodline… it sounded insane.
But she couldn't deny the power she from earlier.
Whether she liked it or not, this was real.
And these three males—who claimed to be her mates because of some ancient prophecy—were her only chance at survival.
But deep down, a tiny part of her already knew the truth.
Those same males… were her mates.
- Writer
