Chapter 37- Blood & Water

The sun dipped low behind the obsidian cliffs of their rising kingdom, painting the sky in molten shades of amber and crimson. The air buzzed with celebration. The Trial of Valor had been a massive success, and the castle was alive with victory, laughter, and the smell of roasted meat, spiced wine, and magically refilling bread bowls.

The great hall was lit like a festival. Floating lanterns cast golden light over long banquet tables overflowing with food, platters of flame charred boar, enchanted garlic knots that chased guests until they were eaten, candied apples dipped in starlight sugar, and cakes that sliced themselves politely once you whispered the word "please."

The music? Dwarven drums, elven harps, and the occasional bard belting out filthy limericks from the rafters.

And the vibe?

Rowdy. Proud. Feral.

At the head table, Rhiannan sat like the pregnant, exhausted, glowing, slightly murderous goddess queen she was. Her dark green gown hugged her beautifully, and her triplet bump made damn sure everyone in the room remembered exactly who was carrying the future.

Azarion cradled her head in his lap, fingers stroking her thick auburn waves while she growled about back pain. Elisha was kneeling beside her chair, dutifully massaging her feet with slow, firm pressure and the occasional puff of steam to keep them warm. Liam fed her bacon strips with exaggerated flair, fanning her with a sparkly menu he'd enchanted himself.

"I swear to the gods," Rhiannan groaned, "if these three don't stop playing Twister with my organs, I'm going to name them Rage, Agony, and Hemorrhoid."

"You're radiant," Azarion murmured, totally unfazed.

"I'm sweaty and swollen and smell like anxiety," she snapped.

"Still radiant," Liam smirked.

Nearby, Gailia lounged against one of her twin dragon mates, looking smug and serene while gently rocking two tiny baby girls, each wrapped in dragon scale swaddles that sparkled faintly in the candlelight.

"I don't miss being pregnant," she said sweetly. "But I do miss people fetching things for me."

"You literally handed me a diaper and called it a divine offering," one of the twins muttered.

"It was, you ungrateful winged heathen," Gailia sniffed, adjusting her crown.

Further down the table, Reyna leaned toward Rhiannan, sipping a deep red wine. Her Oracle glow was stronger tonight, eyes gleaming with firelight and purpose.

"We've drafted the first phase of the Noble Trials," she said casually. "Obstacle gauntlets. Moral testing. Public speaking under magical stress."

Mo perked up two seats down, covered in pastry flakes. "Can we add a creativity challenge? Like, build a village vision board while under minor hex pressure?"

Mela clapped. "With glitter!"

"You two are banned from the trial design process," Sasha cut in dryly through the nearby comm orb. "You've already submitted three proposals involving ferrets and edible banners."

"I still stand by the edible banners," Riven muttered. "Tasty and tactical."

Dwarves danced on the tables. Someone threw a flaming turkey leg and Barrick caught it in his mouth without blinking. Kazra challenged a unicorn shifter to a scream duel while one of her mates tried to talk her down and the other tried to place bets.

In the chaos, Arwen and Kaleb leaned against the balcony archway, overlooking the festivities with pride.

"We pulled it off," Arwen said. "No riots. No demon infestations. Only mild explosions."

Kaleb raised his goblet. "And only one attempted dry humping of the phoenix statue. We're improving."

Then Liam's smile faltered.

He looked toward the outer doors, scanning the shadows.

Rhiannan noticed. "Still no sign of him?"

Liam shook his head slowly. "Thorne passed. I felt it. But no one's seen him. And the longer he goes without bonding…"

"He slips," Elisha murmured grimly.

"He'll either find his mate or turn full feral," Sable said from behind them, arms crossed. "And if he does that inside these walls...."

"He won't," Liam interrupted softly. "I'll find him."

Reyna's gaze sharpened. "Let me see if the threads of fate are pulling around him. Maybe I can find where he's drifting."

"And what about Selene?" Nahlia asked suddenly.

Everyone at the table paused.

"Oh," Mo said, blinking. "She's gone. Packed up her things and vanished. Probably off sulking in a mirror somewhere."

"She said she was too powerful to play babysitter for a hormonal queen," Mela muttered.

"Well, she's not wrong about the hormonal part," Rhiannan said, stabbing her steak. "But I'd still rather eat this fork than deal with her again."

"To Selene fucking off," Liam toasted.

"To never speaking of her again," Rhiannan agreed.

The entire table raised their glasses.

As the feast roared on, magic swirled through the air. Joy, chaos, purpose.

And above it all, stars gleamed down on the kingdom like they knew something the mortals didn't.

Because tonight?

The kingdom didn't just celebrate its warriors.

It celebrated its future.

The moon hung high above the barracks, casting silver light over the training yard as Liam and Thorne stood in tense silence.

Thorne's body trembled with restraint. Sweat slicked his skin, muscles twitching as if his bones itched from the inside. His black eyes glowed faintly red now, veins pulsing in his throat, and his fangs were out.

"Breathe," Liam said, circling him slowly like calming a beast. "You're not lost yet."

"I can't hold it much longer," Thorne snarled, voice hoarse, teeth clenched like he was about to bite through stone.

"Just give us a few more minutes. Reyna's tracking your bond, one of them. She's close."

Thorne's breath hitched. Hope, laced with agony, flared in his eyes.

Meanwhile, inside the barracks…

Rhiannan stomped her way down the corridor like a divine bloodhound on a mission. Her goddess bump led the way, glowing with barely contained power as Reyna trailed beside her, fingers brushing the invisible thread only she could see.

"There," Reyna whispered, stopping in front of a modest wooden door tucked in the far west wing.

Room 117.

The thread throbbed here, vibrating with raw urgency.

Rhiannan didn't knock...she just opened the damn door.

Inside sat a curvy, stunning water nymph with deep teal skin, thick dark curls cascading down her back, and wide, sad eyes that glistened like sea glass. She sat cross legged on her cot, alone, a book in her lap and a half eaten piece of moonfruit beside her.

She looked up sharply.

Rhiannan's heart ached at the sight of her.

"Lerenya?" she asked gently.

"Yes?"

"I'm Rhiannan. This is Reyna." She stepped forward slowly. "You don't know us, but... this is important."

Lerenya's breath caught. "Goddess and the Oracle, i would know you anywhere!"

She bowed low.

"I… I feel something," she whispered. "I've felt something all day. In my chest. In my blood."

"You're not imagining it," Reyna said, glowing brighter. "You have no clan. No bond. But someone was made for you. And he's outside. Barely holding on."

"His name is Thorne," Rhiannan said softly. "He's a vampire. Dangerous. Raw. He's... coming apart. And he needs you. Right now."

Lerenya shot to her feet.

"Take me."

Rhiannan's eyes widened. "He may not be gentle..."

"I don't care," Lerenya snapped. "He's mine."

And then?

She sprinted.

Past the startled guards. Through the open barracks door. Barefoot and glowing with water wrapped power, her curves bouncing with every stride and her heart pounding like thunder.

She burst into the courtyard like a tidal wave of purpose.

Thorne turned at the sound.

And froze.

Lerenya didn't hesitate. She didn't ask. She didn't speak.

She walked straight up to him, thrust her neck toward his mouth, and whispered, "Feed. Please. Before I lose you."

Rhiannan barely managed to shout, "Wait, wait, he might be..."

Too late.

Lerenya grabbed his shirt and pulled him to her skin.

Thorne's eyes snapped wide, his fangs lengthening as the scent of her hit him like divine lightning. Water magic, womanly warmth, and pure belonging.

"Mine…" he choked.

Then he snapped.

His mouth latched onto her throat and he bit deep, hard. Not cruel, but desperate, like a starving man finally given salvation. His arms wrapped around her curvy form and lifted her clear off the ground like she weighed nothing. Her moan echoed through the yard, raw and full of relief.

And then they were gone.

A blur of vamp speed and watery magic.

Faenet fucking detonated.

💬 "IS THIS A SPICE NOVEL OR REAL LIFE"

💬"HE ATE HER LIKE A HOLY SNACK OMG"

💬"TRIAL WHO? I WANNA BOND LIKE THAT."

💬"Someone get that man a wedding veil and a leash."

Liam blinked, stunned. "Well… fuck me gently with a crucifix."

Rhiannan leaned on a wall, panting. "Triplets, rage, and now a blood hungry vampire and his sea goddess. What the hell is this kingdom becoming?"

Reyna just smirked. "Divine."