Chapter 346: _The First Crack

Aurora’s POV

*****

"Here you go, babe." Seraphyne’s soft voice snapped Aurora out of her thoughts.

She spun her neck to her mate as she brought her a cup of... something. She grabbed it hesitantly, taking a small whiff as Seraphyne sat on the bed beside her.

"Thanks." The Princess’ face lit up. "Is this some kind of tea?"

"Yeah, I made it for myself mostly." Sera rubbed the back of her neck. A simple motion. Yet the way it exposed her cleavage until there was little left to imagine made Aurora swallow hard. "Tonight was... something."

"Was I too rough?" Aurora immediately moved to grab her shoulder. "I’m... sorry. It’s my first time with a woman and I—"

"No, no, no." Sera immediately shook her head, her lips curving. "You were amazing, babe. If anything I should be the one asking if I was too rough."

"Yeah—but I’m an Alpha. I’m naturally going to be used to rough sex."

"So the other people you’ve slept with were rough, eh?" Sera teased, taking a sip from her tea.

The question made Aurora’s expression twist like she tasted something bitter. All of a sudden she remembered a detail from her past.

Seraphyne noticed instantly. "Did I say something wrong?"

Aurora shook her head. "No, it’s just... other than you," she paused, wondering if saying this was right considering the context. "The only other person I’ve slept with was Magnus."

The mention of her ex-mate soured the mood in the room in a heartbeat. Seraphyne’s eyes lowered alongside her teacup.

"Oh." She smiled wryly.

An awkward silence stretched between them.

The princess’ wolf whined in her chest as she scolded herself. ’Why do I have to let that rat of a man ruin my mood every damn time?’

Her fists clenched so tight she nearly broke the cup between them.

"Babe," Seraphyne’s warm hands clutched her’s between them, forcing her to raise her head. Those soft eyes fluttered with pure warmth. "It’s okay to... still be hurt about him. Really. You don’t have to feel any guilt."

Aurora’s eyes widened. "Guilt?"

"We’re mates, silly. I can feel it radiating off you like it’s mine."

That earned her a laugh from the princess.

Aurora covered her mouth for a beat before sighing. "I guess I do feel guilty." She began. "Anytime I bring up Magnus in one way or the other."

"And I’m telling you you shouldn’t feel that."

"B–But isn’t it weird?" Aurora arched a genuinely curious brow. "Knowing before you I had someone I was mated to?"

"Aurora, I had a mate too, remember?" Seraphyne gave her hands a gentle squeeze. "That doesn’t make me love you any less."

Time seemed to come to a grinding halt.

Aurora blinked at Seraphyne, letting herself take in everything from the way her black hair complemented her smoky eye shadow, to the ample curves of her chest.

"D–Did you just—"

"You don’t have to say anything—"

"I love you too." Aurora didn’t waste another second as any pressure she felt disappeared. "Very much, Sera. And that’s what makes all this scary. We’re moving so fast in a world that... that’s honestly so uncertain."

"We can always slow down." Seraphyne shrugged, giggling a bit. "Aurora, as long as we have each other, none of it matters. Our pasts. The chaos in the world. Nothing at all."

The both of them kissed.

It was tender. Sacred. Not at all rushed or needy.

Once they pulled away, Aurora finally took a sip from her tea. "Gods. I don’t know what I did to deserve you." She chuckled, setting the cup aside. "I think I’m ready to sleep now. It’s getting... late..."

The corners of her vision blurred just then. She frowned as the room began to spin around her.

"Aurora? Are you okay?"

Aurora tried to answer but her lips suddenly became too heavy to move. Before she could begin comprehending what was happening to her—the world shattered around her, devolving into darkness.

When she opened her eyes again she was standing right outside the Lunarian palace. Its golden spires glistened like swords under the light of the full moon above.

She didn’t get the chance to marvel at the palace she grew up in for long.

BOOM!

An explosion followed by a pillar of silver light shot out of the palace’s very top. It went higher and higher until it connected with the night sky.

Clouds dispersed before the light pillar which emitted a pressure so powerful that Aurora stumbled backwards despite the distance.

Horror contorted her features as she brought her gaze to the moon.

It slowly blackened like a god was spilling ink onto its surface. Cracks spiderwebbed across it, so large that they were visible from Solara.

Her heart hammered against her ribs as another explosion rocked the palace hard enough for its wards to flare visibly.

"S–Seraphyne?!" She screamed, rushing toward the palace without thinking twice. "Lucian?! Mom? Elian, where is everyone?!"

She grabbed her communication necklace, attempting to contact any of them at all.

"It’s too late, Stormborn Princess." A silvery voice resounded from the very depths of her mind. "You’re too late. You’ve all already lost."

Just when she got close to the palace’s front entrance—its pillars began crumbling first. Then its walls collapsed, cracks reaching the courtyard.

Aurora stopped in her tracks.

Chills crept to her soul as an explosion of silver light swallowed the palace whole.

"Aurora!" Seraphyne’s concerned shout pulled her consciousness out of the vision.

The Princess shuddered, realising in reality she was still sitting on the bed beside her mate, drenched in sweat and fear.

She swung her neck to Seraphyne so quickly it nearly snapped. "I–I had a vision." Her voice cracked as she fought to regulate her breathing. "T–The palace. The moon... she said we’ve lost..."

"Aurora, breathe." Seraphyne rubbed her shoulders as her brows knitted. "You can explain it slowly. Okay? Or maybe wait till tomorrow when you’re calm—"

"This can’t wait till tomorrow," Aurora hopped off the bed, clinging tightly to the night robe hanging loosely on her. "I have to warn the others. Something terrible is going to happen."

.

.

Aurora didn’t even bother changing.

She stormed out of her room barefoot, the loose night robe flapping around her legs as she hurried through the palace corridors.

"Aurora!" Seraphyne called after her. "Slow down!"

"No." The answer came instantly.

Her pulse thundered in her ears as she rounded a corner. Guards stationed throughout the palace straightened when they spotted her, but one look at her face seemed enough to stop any questions.

"Aurora, please." Seraphyne finally caught up, grabbing her wrist. "You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

"I wish it was a ghost." The princess yanked free and kept moving.

Within minutes she was standing outside Elian’s chambers.

She didn’t hesitate.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The knock echoed through the hallway.

Nothing.

Then she knocked even harder.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Aurora, gods above," a familiar voice groaned from inside before the door swung open.

Lucian stood there wearing absolutely nothing except a pair of black underwear.

Aurora blinked.

Lucian blinked back.

The siblings stared at each other for several seconds.

"... Do you know what time it is?" Lucian finally asked.

Aurora folded her arms. "Do you know how much therapy I need after opening a door and seeing my brother half naked?"

"Then stop looking."

"Put on a shirt."

"No."

"Lucian."

"Aurora."

She groaned at the same moment when Lucian’s expression shifted. Because despite the bickering, he finally noticed the fear on her face.

His brows furrowed immediately. "What happened?"

The humour vanished as Aurora swallowed. "I had a vision."

That was all it took.

Lucian stepped aside instantly. "Come in."

The moment she crossed the doorway, the scent hit her.

Sex.

A lot of it.

Aurora’s face heated.

Nope. She was not touching that subject. Not tonight.

Kyren sat upright on the opposite side of the bed, white hair dishevelled while Elian remained bundled beneath blankets.

The omega cracked open one eye.

"Huh...?" he mumbled sleepily.

Seraphyne entered a moment later and quietly shut the door behind her.

Aurora wasted no time, going ahead to share everything.

The silver pillar. The exploding palace. The blackened moon. The voice.

The feeling of absolute hopelessness.

As she spoke, Elian gradually sat up straighter while Lucian’s expression darkened.

Kyren listened in complete silence.

When she finally finished, the room fell still.

"So..." Elian rubbed his eyes. "What does it mean?"

Aurora laughed nervously. "I wish I knew."

Nobody responded.

Then something caught her attention.

A strange glow shone through the windows.

Aurora frowned. "Wait."

She turned toward the nearest window.

The moon hung high above Moon Haven.

Nothing out of the ordinary at first.

But then she stepped closer and saw something that made her breath stop.

"No..."

Lucian immediately joined her. "What is it?"

She didn’t answer. Because she could see it now.

A single tiny crack. Barely visible against the moon’s silver surface.

But it was there.

Her hands began trembling as Elian appeared beside Lucian. Then Kyren and Seraphyne.

All five of them stared upward, saying absolutely nothing.

Aurora felt cold terror crawl up her spine as she remembered something.

The moon in her vision hadn’t started shattering. It started with a single crack.

"The vision," she whispered, her voice trembling. When she finally looked at the others, genuine fear reflected in her eyes. "The vision wasn’t a warning."

Silence.

"It’s already happening."