Chapter 246

SEBASTIAN'S POV

I scoffed, the sound cutting through the festive atmosphere like a blade. "If you actually wanted to surprise me, Heaven," I said, my voice low enough that only those in our immediate circle could hear, "the surprise was supposed to be in the bedroom. Alone. Without any third parties who apparently think I betrayed them."

Heaven's amber eyes flashed with that familiar mix of exasperation and affection that had captivated me for centuries. "It's been a long time since we've had a gathering like this, Sebastian," she countered, her fingers lightly tracing patterns on my arm. "Everything has been about wars and more wars lately. Besides," she added with a meaningful glance toward my brother, "this was all Ethan's idea."

I turned to Ethan, unable to mask my surprise. My brother had never been one for celebrations, preferring solitude and strategy to social gatherings. "This is strange coming from someone who just lost his powers," I remarked, studying him with newfound curiosity. "Feeling unburdened, are we? How does it feel to be so... useless while your fiancée-to-be carries the upper part of it?"

The barb was deliberate, a test to see how much of the old Ethan remained beneath this new, seemingly relaxed exterior. The Ethan I knew would have bristled at the suggestion of weakness, would have reminded me....forcefully....of his position as king regardless of his current power levels.

But this Ethan merely smiled, a cold, calculating expression that reminded me we were still predators at heart, regardless of how civilized we pretended to be.

"By the time I'm done with whoever did this to me," he replied, his voice silky with promised violence, "it's going to end in blood. But for now, we need to plan and devise something that will bring our enemies together to end this trivial war at once."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. "And what exactly is this plan of yours?"

Ethan glanced around, ensuring no unwanted ears were listening in. The celebration continued around us, vampires and werewolves mingling in a way that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. Music played, glasses clinked, laughter echoed....all providing perfect cover for our conversation.

"I believe the loss of my power might not even be because I mated with Malia," he said, his voice dropping even lower. "But because someone is jealous, or someone around me has devised something illegal."

"Someone close to you?" I asked, my mind immediately cataloging potential suspects. The court was always full of ambitious vampires seeking to climb higher, to gain more power. Any one of them might see Ethan's temporary weakness as an opportunity.

"Perhaps," Ethan nodded. "Which is why I want to get married to Malia openly."

I blinked, certain I had misheard. "You want to what?"

"Get married," he repeated, as if it were the most natural thing in the world for the Vampire King to wed a human who was carrying his child. "A very big and mighty event where everybody will come together."

"You're using your wedding as bait," Heaven realized, her expression shifting from confusion to admiration. "Brilliant."

"And suicidal," I added, less impressed. "You're inviting your enemies to attack you at your most vulnerable moment."

Ethan's smile widened, showing just a hint of fang. "That's exactly what I'm counting on. There's something I'm going to do during the ceremony that will make my power return."

I studied my brother, trying to discern if this was confidence or delusion speaking. "And what might that be?"

"The Blood Bond," Malia interjected, joining our conversation. She had been speaking with her mother across the room but had apparently sensed the intensity of our discussion. "An ancient ritual that binds vampire and mate in a way that goes beyond the physical."

I frowned, searching my memory for references to such a ritual. "I've never heard of it."

"Few have," Heaven said softly. "It's mentioned in some of the oldest werewolf texts, but I always thought it was just a legend."

"It's real," Ethan assured us. "Atleast the bratty priest has said something like that and confirmed it. The ritual allows a vampire to share their essence with their mate, and in return, the mate shares theirs. In most cases, it simply strengthens the bond between them."

"But in the case of a human..." I began, understanding dawning.

"In the case of a human," Malia continued, her hand finding Ethan's in a gesture that spoke volumes about their relationship, "the ritual creates a perfect balance. My power flows into Ethan, his into me, creating a circuit that amplifies both."

"And whoever stole your power won't be expecting it," I concluded, impressed despite my reservations. "They'll come to the wedding thinking you're weakened, only to find themselves facing a fully-powered Vampire King."

"And a fully-empowered Human" Malia added with a smile that held more than a hint of predatory anticipation. She was adapting to our world faster than I would have thought possible for someone raised human.

"It's risky," Heaven cautioned, ever the voice of reason. "If something goes wrong during the ritual..."

"It won't," Ethan said with absolute certainty. "Elena, Malia's mother has been researching it for weeks. She knows more about this settings than anyone alive."

I glanced across the room to where Elena stood in conversation with Liam, the Northern Pack Alpha. She appeared entirely human....a middle-aged woman with streaks of gray in her dark hair and laugh lines around her eyes. Yet there was something in her bearing, a quiet confidence that spoke of hidden depths.

"And you trust her?" I asked, unable to keep the skepticism from my voice. "A human?"

"She's Malia's mother," Ethan replied, as if that explained everything. And perhaps it did. "And she's been keeping Malia's nature secret her entire life. If she wanted to exploit it, she'd have ample opportunity."

I conceded the point with a nod. "So, a wedding. When?"

"Three days from now," Ethan said. "The invitations have already been sent."

"Three days?" I repeated, incredulous. "That's hardly enough time to prepare for a royal wedding, let alone set a trap for enemies we haven't even identified yet."

"The short notice is deliberate," Malia explained. "It gives our enemies little time to plan, forces them to act hastily. And it gives the impression that Ethan is desperate, that he's rushing the wedding to secure his claim to my power before someone else can."

I had to admit, the strategy was sound. Create the appearance of vulnerability, lure the enemy into the open, then strike when they least expect it. Classic vampire tactics, applied with a modern twist.

"And where will this grand event take place?" I asked, already mentally cataloging the security measures that would be needed.

"Here," Heaven answered, gesturing to the great hall around us. "Neutral ground, protected by both vampire and werewolf magic. No one would dare launch a direct attack on my territory without facing the combined wrath of both our kinds."

"Unless that's exactly what they want," I pointed out. "To pit a vampire against a werewolf, reignite the ancient feud."

"All the more reason to stand united," Ethan said firmly. "To show that the old ways are changing, that new alliances are forming."

I studied my brother, seeing him with new eyes. The cold, calculating king I had known for centuries was still there, but tempered now by something else....a capacity for love, for connection, that I had never thought him capable of. Malia had changed him, just as Heaven had changed me.

"Very well," I said finally. "A wedding it is. But we do this properly....every security measure, every precaution. I won't have my brother's wedding day turned into a bloodbath."

"Unless it's our enemies' blood," Ethan amended with a grim smile.

"That goes without saying," I agreed, matching his expression.

Heaven rolled her eyes at our bloodthirsty banter, but there was fondness in her exasperation. "And this is why I wanted a celebration tonight," she said. "One last moment of normalcy before we plunge into whatever chaos awaits us."

"Normalcy," I repeated, glancing around at the improbable gathering....vampires and werewolves, ancient enemies, dancing and drinking together. "Is that what you call this?"

"It's our normal," she replied simply, taking my hand. "Our family, our allies, our strength."

Family. The word still felt strange on my tongue, in my thoughts. For centuries, family had meant only Ethan....my brother by blood, my rival by circumstance, my king by duty. Now it encompassed so much more: Heaven, my werewolf queen; Malia, the Nexus who carried the future of both our kinds in her womb; even Elena, the human woman with secrets in her eyes.

"Speaking of family," I said, a thought occurring to me, "what about Gideon? If he left that message here, he knows where we live. He could return."

"Let him," Heaven said with a confidence that reminded me why she ruled her pack despite her unconventional choice of mate. "This house is protected by magic older than either of our kinds. And now that we know he's a threat, we're prepared."

"Besides," Ethan added, "if he's working with Salvador as we suspect, they'll be more interested in the wedding. A chance to strike at me, at the heart of vampire power, would be too tempting to pass up."

I nodded, conceding the point. "And the witch queen? The one who deceived me?"

"We will find her," Malia said firmly. "Before the wedding, if possible. She's the key to understanding what we're facing."

"I'll put my best trackers on it," Heaven promised. "Werewolves can follow magical traces that even vampires can't detect."

"And I'll have Craig analyze the items we salvaged from the White Cave," I added. "There might be clues to her whereabouts, her true identity."

Ethan nodded, satisfied. "Then we have a plan. Find the witch queen, prepare for the wedding, and be ready for whatever our enemies throw at us."

"And in the meantime," Heaven said, her expression softening as she looked around at the celebration, "we enjoy this moment. We dance, we drink, we remind ourselves what we're fighting for."

She was right, of course. Heaven was often right, a fact that had taken my pride some time to accept. In our world of immortal politics and ancient vendettas, moments of joy were rare and precious. To waste one out of fear of what tomorrow might bring would be a different kind of defeat.

"Dance with me, then," I said, offering my hand to my wife with a formality that made her laugh. "Show these youngsters how it's done."

Heaven took my hand, her warmth a stark contrast to my natural coolness. "With pleasure, my prince."

As we moved to the center of the hall, other couples clearing space for us, I caught Ethan's eye over Heaven's shoulder. My brother raised his glass in a silent toast, Malia at his side mirroring the gesture. For a moment, the four of us were connected by something deeper than blood or politics or power....a shared understanding, a common purpose, a bond that transcended the ancient divisions between our kinds.

Then the music swelled, and Heaven was in my arms, moving with the fluid grace that had first captivated me centuries ago. Around us, the celebration continued, a brief respite before the storm we all knew was coming.

Three days until the wedding. Three days to find the witch queen, to identify our enemies, to prepare for a confrontation that could change the course of our world forever.

But for now, for this one night, we would celebrate. We would remember what peace felt like, what joy taste

d like, what love meant. And tomorrow, we would begin the hunt.