Celeste’s POV

*****

Bloodoak Pack, Pack House, 2:51 AM

It’s been hours or so since that steamy session with Azrael. He’d fallen asleep not quite long ago, an arm wrapped around my waist while his face was angled at the ceiling.

It was my first time actually watching him sleep. No glasses. No restrictions. No rules. Just him and me, naked and alone on my bed.

I lay on his chest, feeling the way it rose and fell with each breath. I absentmindedly placed a hand on his stomach, exhaling with him.

"I wish moments like this could last forever," I muttered, more to myself. "No magic battles. No Vein chaos or death... just me and the men I..."

The last word I was about to say caught in my throat. I wasn’t sure if I’d explicitly mentioned it to him before. Or if this would be my first.

If it were the latter, would I really be cool saying it for the first time while he was asleep?

I swallowed, lifting my head enough to peer directly at his face. My fingers on his stomach curled. "... And the men I love. Including you, Azrael," I kissed his chest. "Especially you."

I rubbed my hands down and up his chest, eyes fluttering shut as a relaxed sigh left me. I snuggled closer to him. His warmth.

Suddenly, he shifted—mouth twitching as his head bobbed to my direction. His eyelashes shook, taking a while to reveal the burning red orbs underneath.

When they did and he now had his half-lidded gaze on me... a small smirk played on his face.

"Say that again."

Embarrassment flushed my cheeks. "You were... You were supposed to be asleep."

"I was," he nodded. "But then all your rubbing and whispering woke me up. And I was curious," his grip on my waist tightened, "to hear what the woman I love had to say."

There was a slight tumble at the word ’love’. Yet he said it. And his eyes gleamed with a warm light that suggested he meant it.

"I said," my fingers inched higher until I found his chin, "I would love to live life with no troubles. Just me and the men I love."

"Especially me." He added, tone smug. "Interesting. I was led to believe Luther was your first love, no?"

I shook my head at the pettiness. "He is—"

"But it’s not ’especially him’... It’s me," he turned, hand lowering to my ass. His grip made me gasp, my teeth biting lightly into my bottom lip. "I want to hear you admit it, little miss."

"Admit what?"

"That I’m your favourite mate."

I chuckled, looking away for a beat. "Damn. For a man who’s lived for centuries, you can be astonishingly petty," a sarcastic smile stretched my lips. "... I can’t... say you’re my favourite."

"Then who is?"

"... I don’t have one. I love you four equally."

He snorted, pulling me closer until I almost rolled onto his chest. "Whatever you say, little miss," he pressed a kiss on my temple. "But deep down you can already feel an answer."

I struggled to keep my face hidden from him, the burn on my cheeks refusing to leave.

Low blow, Azrael Vaelmont.

"I’ve been meaning to ask you something, by the way," I murmured, adjusting on the bed. "Okay, scratch that... a lot of things really. Since I found out you’re a vampire and all."

He arched his brow for a moment before shrugging. "I’m all ears."

I didn’t hesitate. "So... Nyx created you?"

"Yes."

"And others like yourself?"

"Correct."

"How many vampires are there? Do you guys like... turn people and stuff like that?"

"There are exactly twelve of us. Many are scattered across other continents... the High one—Nyx, I mean—stopped us from turning people centuries ago."

My interest instantly got piqued. "So you CAN turn people?"

"Mmhm."

"Just humans?"

"There have been cases of wolves and witches getting turned. That either ends with the vampiric nature completely consuming them or... them still being the race they were born as while also being a vampire."

I was on a roll with my questions. "What about sunlight? That whole thing on TV shows where it can kill you?"

"My brethren and I outgrew that weakness centuries ago as our powers increased."

"... How can you turn people?" My mind trailed to something. "You need to bite them first, right?"

"Basically," he trailed lines around the small of my back. "Every living person we bite is left with a mark. Traces of the Vein magic that created us. So if they die and drink our blood... they become reborn. As a child of the night."

I didn’t know when my hand rose to my neck. When it did, my fingers brushed over the marks he left there tonight. They still tickled when I touched them but had already begun healing up.

He noticed my apprehension. "I’ve never heard of hybrids getting turned. The mere idea sounds... chaotic," he threaded his fingers through my hair. "All those sides. Fighting for dominance. Placing so much pressure on one body."

"Yeah," I spoke too quickly, my voice on edge. "It’s... It’s crazy to think about."

More questions swirled in my head.

If Nyx could do this—if she could conquer death and make immortal, powerful beings with the Vein’s magic. What could I be capable of?

Maybe... maybe I can bring back people fully.

Azrael seemed to notice the heaviness in my thoughts. "Hey," he brushed his hand from my hair down my back. "We were about to sleep, weren’t we?"

My face scrunched. "But... Atlas is still in the academy and he could call either of us any—"

"If he calls, we’ll wake up." He hushed quietly. "Rest, Celeste. You need it."

Like magic, my eyes became heavier, his presence feeling more grounded. Safer.

I clung tighter to him, huffing a breath. "... I love you, Azrael."

He stilled. Just for half a second. Then his grip on my waist strengthened. "I love you more than mere words can describe, little miss."

I drifted off eventually, his warmth against me like a shield, wrapping me in that rare feeling of peace. My thoughts slowed. My chest rose and fell with his.

For a while, the world outside—the Vein, the chaos, the battles—felt like it didn’t exist.

Until the shrill scream of my phone cut through the night.

My eyes shot open, heart hammering in a way that wasn’t from desire this time. I scrambled upright, fumbling in the dark for the phone on the nightstand. The screen lit up with Atlas’ name, flickering in the blue glow.

I answered on instinct.

"Celeste... don’t panic," his voice was ragged, breath hitching like he’d been running. "But you need to warn your parents. Now. The wards—"

I froze, pulse spiking. "Atlas? What do you mean? The wards?"

"They weren’t just twisted. They’ve been turned into a weapon," he said too quickly. "The professors who waited behind... the Dean... they’re possessed by the Vein’s magic. They’re coming after me. I—I barely escaped."

A chill rushed through me, and fear curled in my stomach. "By the gods... Atlas." My voice shook. "Where are you?"

He groaned, shoving words out quickly. "No time... just listen. Don’t go alone. Don’t—"

"I’m coming," I interrupted, adrenaline ripping through me. "I’m not waiting."

There was a pause. I could almost hear him trying to breathe through his panic. "Celeste, don’t—"

"I’m coming with Azrael," I insisted, grabbing for him instinctively. "He’s awake and with me—he’ll protect us both. We’ll get there faster together."

The line went dead before he could protest, the connection snapping like a wire under tension. I stared at the black screen for a moment too long, chest tightening. Then I swung my legs off the bed, adrenaline pushing me forward.

Azrael stirred, lifting his head and raising a brow at the urgency in my movements. "What is it?"

"I need to go," I said, voice shaking just enough to betray my panic. "Atlas—he’s in danger. The academy... the wards... the professors—they’ve all been twisted. We have to get there."

He was already on his feet, sliding into his clothes with a speed that belied centuries of experience. His eyes were dark, focused, and ready. "We’ll handle it."

I dressed quickly, pulling on layers, grabbing the essentials, my fingers brushing against his as I reached for him. "Let’s leave now."

Azrael’s hand caught mine, gripping tight. "Hold on." His red eyes flickered for a second, scanning the shadows outside the window, then met mine. "Ready?"

I nodded, heart hammering. "Ready."

His fingers entwined with mine, and the familiar tug of my magic hit us both.

The world around us dissolved into a blur of silver light and motion. The Bloodoak Pack House vanished. The wind of the night whipped past me, but Azrael’s grip held steady.

In the next heartbeat, we were gone.

The academy awaited. And I knew whatever danger lay ahead was unlike anything we’ve faced so far.