Chapter 146 - The Beginning of the Crown Trials

Chapter 146 - The Beginning of the Crown Trials
Chapter 44 - The Beginning of the Crown Trials

Lyrielle POV

The war room hummed like it was alive.

Magic rippled across the walls, shimmering with wards so thick not even a rogue god could sneeze their way in.

Every single person who mattered stood inside, our family, our allies, and our guardians. All packed so tight with tension the air practically vibrated.

Nyxaria stood beside me, her violet and gold hair sparking with power every time her dragon Vhalra huffed in her head. Rhaen clutched my hand under the table, his thumb drawing circles softly. Lucen did the same to Nyx’s hand, though he pretended he wasn’t.

We all pretended we were fine. We weren’t.

Mom wasn’t coming back.

Selene had said it so gently. Mom said it with a shaking smile. But the truth hung in the room like fog. My mother belonged to the divine realm now. She was too powerful to live here. Too dangerous. Too necessary.

And that left us. All of us.

Drayen stood at the head of the table.with his arms crossed, his storm-grey eyes flashing as Alpha Draven paced behind him barking into his comm crystal like a man possessed.

“We are expecting the bear clans, the fox shifters, and the lion pride within the next twelve hours,” he growled into the crystal. “Set up perimeter teams, reinforce the wards, and put the dryads on medical rotation.”

The crystal glowed in acknowledgment.

Fox shifters. I swallowed hard. They’d nearly been wiped out by the Hollow Creed before Mom destroyed them. And now, thanks to Soltharion’s blessing, the foxes were powerful again, they had bigger forms, stronger magic, and were lethal as hell.

Good. We needed lethal.

Noctara rubbed at her temple, her fangs flashing. “We need clarity. If Elowen and her mates remain in the divine realm, who rules Aetheros?”

The room fell silent. Nyxaria and I shared a look. We knew where this was going.

Jace leaned forward. “Traditionally, the throne passes to the heirs. That means Drayen… or the twins.”

My jaw locked. Here it came.

Taya flicked her wild red hair over her shoulder and her wolf Zuki snarled in her head. “Well? Who wants the throne?”

Drayen stared at us. We stared at him.

Nyx lifted her chin. “Drayen can have it.”

I nodded. “We agree. He’s older. He’s ready.”

Drayen’s eyes widened, and then slid straight to Gisella, who sat beside him looking like a startled, very pretty deer.

Her dragon spirit shimmered beneath her skin as she tucked her bright pink hair behind her ear. She smiled softly.

“If you want it, Drayen,” she said, “I’m ready if you are.”

The way he looked at her… stars, the boy was done for. Fully enchanted. My heart pinched in something between pride and teasing fury.

Taya clapped her hands.

“Well this sounds like a good time for a trial, ya?” she said, grinning like a lunatic. “Winner gets the throne?”

Chaos erupted.

Maeve perked up. “Like a tournament?”

Finnian snorted. “Or like a death match?”

“No one is dying,” Rivena said flatly.

“That depends on the fox shifters,” Rowan muttered.

Taya rolled her eyes dramatically. “No one is dying. But yes, a royal trial. A test of strength, leadership, intellect, combat, magic, diplomacy, survival...”

“Everything,” Noctara finished.

Eryk grinned fang sharp. “This is going to be fun.”

Alpha Draven slammed his crystal down on the table. “This realm will have a ruler, and it will have one soon. A trial is fitting.”

Jace nodded. “The throne should go to the strongest. The most worthy.”

Nyx leaned into me. “We are not doing this.”

Lucen squeezed her hand. “We kind of are.”

Rhaen looked ready to explode. “Why wouldn’t you try? You two are the strongest dragons of your generation.”

Nyx glared. “Because we don’t want the throne.”

“That’s exactly why you’d be good at it,” Drayen said quietly.

Ugh. I hated when he made sense.

Taya’s smile sharpened. “So the competitors are Drayen and Gisella… the royal dragon twins and their mates… who else?”

Rowan raised his hand.

“Is this open to anyone?” he asked.

Drayen turned slowly, his eyes narrowing. He knew exactly why Rowan asked.

Rowan stood tall with his jaw set, his eyes flicking to Maeve, whose cheeks burned red and whose mage aura flared like a tempest.

Taya arched a brow. “Well?”

I looked around the table, and one by one, every kid nodded.

Maeve. Seren. Kaelen. Finnian. Theo. Eryk. Azara. Saphira. Kerra. Mae. Rowan. Drayen.

All of us.

“The realm deserves the strongest ruler,” Finnian said. “Not the one born into it.”

Maeve lifted her chin. “We should all have a chance.”

Azara smirked. “Besides, watching you idiots fight will be hilarious.”

Taya grinned, her eyes gleaming with pride. “So it shall be. All eligible heirs may compete.”

Noctara’s lips curved. “A new tradition, then.”

Jace leaned back. “A trial worthy of Aetheros.”

Alpha Draven snorted. “It needs a name.”

Everyone talked at once.

“Trial of Kings?”
“Trial of Storm and Scale?”
“Rite of Ascension?”
“Battle for the Crown?”
“Dragonblood Trial?”
“Trial of the Seven?”

Nyx muttered, “Trial of Please Gods Don’t Make Me Do This.”

I snorted. But I couldn’t deny the rush in my chest. The fear. The adrenaline. The spark of destiny.

Whatever this trial became…it would decide the fate of our entire realm.

Drayen met my gaze, then Nyx’s, then Rowan’s and Gisella’s.

“We’ll fight fair,” he said. “But we’ll fight hard.”

My dragon Seiryn purred. Nyx’s hissed excitedly. Rhaen squeezed my hand. Lucen leaned into Nyx’s side.

This was happening.

The battle for the crown of Aetheros had begun.
___________________________

Nyxaria POV

The war room felt too small, like the walls were holding their breath. Everyone talked at once, arguing over heirs, over thrones, and over who should stand where in the gaping Elowen-shaped hole left in Aetheros.

My pulse hammered. Vhalra hissed in my head, she was pacing and restless.

"We are not letting them crown a ruler without us," she snapped. "We didn’t train our whole damn lives to sit quietly like ornaments."

I exhaled slowly and stood. Everyone went silent.

Drayen’s eyes widened. Lyrielle squeezed my hand under the table.

And I said it.

“You’re all being ridiculous.”

Dozens of supernaturals blinked at me.

Good.

I continued, "Why is this even a limited list? We literally all grew up training together. We all survived together. We all sparred in the same pits, and bled on the same floors.”

My voice rose, and with it my magic, sparking gold and violet across the table.

“We are all ridiculously powerful.”

I turned first to Azara.

“Azara is a demi goddess for fuck’s sake. If anyone here is qualified to rule, it’s her.”

Azara grinned, her golden eyes glowing. “Finally someone says it.”

I pointed to Theo, who had been quietly rocking back and forth at the end of the table, humming to himself.
“Theo is so strong he’s probably alpha, not beta.”

Theo beamed and gave me a little wave.

I swung to Eryk next.

“And Eryk is the fastest vampire alive. Literally. He outran them all last year.”

Eryk flicked his long hair back and smirked smugly.

Then I looked at Kaelen, my massive bear brother with the quiet mind and terrifying battle instincts.

“And Kaelen…” I softened. “Kaelen is the smartest strategist in Aetheros. Half the time he beats Drayen in war games.”

Kaelen blushed. A mountain-sized bear blushed. The room melted.

“And Seren is the only vampire who can control shadow-wrath. Finnian and Maeve can create elemental spell loops no one else can replicate. Saphira can outrun half the lycans in the realm. Rowan can take down grown alphas.”

Rowan puffed his chest out a little. Maeve elbowed him and he flushed bright pink.

I spread my hands.

“Why are we pretending this throne has only two or three rightful heirs? No matter who rules, we’re all going to be fighting beside them. So I think every single child should be eligible.”

Lyrielle smiled at me like she was seeing her big sister again, the one who fought bullies for her.

Taya nodded slowly. “She’s right. Completely right.”

Zuki, her wolf, snorted in her mind loud enough for all of us to feel the ripple. "Finally," the wolf muttered.

Rivena rested her elbows on the table and smiled. “I agree. Aetheros deserves the best, not just the bloodline.”

Jace nearly bounced in his seat. “This is amazing. All of you against each other? This is going to be legendary.”

Rylen pointed at us. “Hell yes. Chaos and training. My favorite.”

Amaris clapped her hands together. “You kids are going to make history.”

Across the table, Alpha Draven stood, and his shoulders were shaking. Then he spoke, and his voice was thick.

“I consider you all my grandkids. Every single one of you. And I am so damn proud of the warriors and young adults you’ve become.”

My throat tightened. Lyrielle leaned into my shoulder. Eryk wiped his eye discreetly. Rowan muttered something about dust.

Even Azara looked choked up for a second before coughing aggressively.

I held Draven’s gaze.

“This is our realm,” I said quietly. “Mom might not come back. So we stand together. All of us. And whoever wins… we’ll follow them. Because they’ll have earned it.”

Vhalra purred in my chest, warm and proud. Drayen straightened. Gisella took his hand. Lucen squeezed mine. Rhaen kissed Lyrielle’s knuckles.

And in that moment, the future didn’t seem terrifying.
It felt powerful. It felt right.

Taya grinned wickedly.

“So it’s settled. Every kid competes. The Crown Trial begins.”

The room erupted with cheers, magic, and the sound of a new dynasty being born.
________________________

Elowen POV

I stood at the edge of the divine balcony, with the view of Aetheros stretched out below like a living tapestry. Every thread was humming with my children's magic.

The gods stood beside me on the luminous terrace, their faces bright with shock and pride as the news of the Crown Trials rippled through the realm like wildfire.

My heart swelled.

“They did this themselves,” I whispered, my hand pressed over my chest as Lyssira purred fiercely in my mind. "Our cubs. Clever. United. Powerful."

Selene smiled softly. “They carry your spirit. All of them.”

Behind me, the men had already devolved into pure chaos.

Daxon crossed his arms, looking smug. “My son is absolutely taking the crown. Drayen’s got the wolf, the instincts, the leadership.”

Lachlan snorted. “Ye’re daft, wolf. Maeve has strategy, grace, and power. My money’s on her.”

Vaelrix leaned back, his wings half spread in haughty pride. “Nyxaria will crush them all. She has my fire. She’s unstoppable.”

Ashrian raised a brow, calm as ever. “Seren could win this. She’s powerful. Calculating. Vampires do not often play fair.” He smirked. “I approve.”

Bram boomed, “Kaelen will outthink all of them. That boy is a mountain with a brain! The bear wins!”

The gods stared at them like they were deranged.

Soltharion muttered, “Is this normal for them?”

Verenya chuckled. “Yes. They argue like this often.”

Vaelrix flicked his tail. “Bet one hundred gold on Nyxaria.”

Daxon growled. “Two hundred on Drayen.”

Lachlan slammed his hand down. “Three hundred on Maeve.”

“Five hundred on Kaelen,” Bram laughed.

Ashrian gently lifted a finger. “A thousand on Seren.”

I burst out laughing. “Are you all seriously gambling over your children?” I half shrieked.

Vaelrix looked offended. “It’s encouragement.”

Daxon nodded. “Motivation.”

Ashrian murmured, “Healthy competition.”

Lachlan winked. “Morale building.”

I laughed harder, leaning into Daxon’s chest as relief and pride filled me so deeply it almost hurt.

Selene stepped closer, her voice soft like moonlight. “They’re ready, Elowen. More ready than you realize.”

I swallowed, watching my children, my legacy, prepare to rewrite what a crown even meant.

“They’ll change the world,” I whispered.

Lyssira purred. "Yes. And they’ll win it together."

“The Crown Trials,” I murmured. “My brilliant babies.”