Chapter Eighty-Four
Molly and Kael emerged from the bedroom with silly grins and soft whispers still clinging to them. The scent of food hit them almost immediately, and whatever private conversation they’d been having was forgotten. Molly’s eyes lit up, and Kael’s wolf practically purred as they both gravitated straight toward Avery and the counter piled high with takeout.
Riven, ever the patient one tonight, leaned back and let them swarm the food first. He slipped into the living room, flicked on the TV, and turned the volume up just enough that the familiar sounds of the game filled the suite.
It worked like a charm.
The others, plates in hand, followed the noise like moths to flame. Lucien and Kael carried the bags and trays into the living room, laying them out across the coffee table until it looked like a feast fit for royalty.
Avery squealed, her eyes sparkling as she spotted her favorites among the spread. She plopped down onto the couch, balancing a plate in her lap, and looked straight at Riven with a mischievous grin.
“No one,” she declared, her voice ringing with mock-regal authority, “is taking my crown.”
Riven smirked, controller already in hand. “We’ll see about that.”
Molly laughed, curling up beside Avery. “Oh, this is going to be good.”
Lucien arched a brow, his competitive streak already flaring. “You’re all going down.”
Kael cracked his knuckles, wolfish grin wide. “Not a chance.”
The game began, and with it came the chaos.
Shouts of triumph, groans of defeat, and endless smack talk filled the suite. Avery’s laughter rang out as she pulled off a surprise win in the first round. Riven cursed under his breath, determined to reclaim his pride. Lucien muttered strategies like a general at war, while Kael played with reckless abandon, and Molly quietly racked up points until everyone realized she was a far more dangerous opponent than she let on.
The food was forgotten for stretches at a time, controllers clutched tight, the crown of victory passed back and forth with every round.
For the first time in what felt like forever, there were no factions, no prophecies, no looming threats.
Just five souls, tangled together in laughter, rivalry, and love.
And Avery, crown firmly in place — for now.
The living room was a battlefield of laughter and crumbs. Controllers lay scattered across the couch, the coffee table was half-buried in empty takeout containers, and Avery was sprawled across a pile of pillows with a triumphant grin.
Her crown — figurative but fiercely defended — remained intact.
Molly was still giggling, leaning against Kael, who was muttering about “cheap shots” and “unfair tactics.” Lucien sat stiffly, arms crossed, his pride wounded but his eyes betraying the faintest twitch of amusement. Riven, sprawled on the floor, shook his head in disbelief.
“You cheated,” he accused, pointing at Avery.
She smirked. “No. I won. There’s a difference.”
Silver and Violet flitted above them, glowing with shared amusement, their tiny voices chiming in with commentary that only made the group laugh harder.
Eventually, the laughter softened into the comfortable quiet of full bellies and tired bodies. Avery stretched, her hair tumbling loose, and looked around at her circle.
“This,” she said softly, “is what I needed.”
The bond hummed with agreement.
But then her expression shifted, her voice steadying. “Tomorrow, the council will expect updates. We can’t forget what happened today. Shannon wasn’t just a girl with bad intentions — she was a test. The faction is watching us, waiting for cracks.”
Lucien nodded, his sharp mind already cataloging. “I’ve been keeping track of the whispers. Who’s stirring them, who’s repeating them. It’s more organized than gossip. They’re probing.”
Kael’s wolf stirred, his jaw tightening. “Then we don’t give them anything to use.”
Molly’s hand slipped into his, her voice calm but firm. “We keep living. We keep laughing. We keep showing them that nothing they do can unravel us.”
Riven leaned back, his gaze steady. “And when the time comes, we’ll tighten the noose.”
The room fell quiet again, but it wasn’t heavy. It was resolute.
They had faced worse. They would face worse still. But tonight, they had each other, and that was enough.
Avery smiled, her crown secure, her heart steady.
Tomorrow would bring council chambers and strategy.
But tonight, they were home.
Midterms had arrived like a storm.
The weeks leading up to them had been anything but quiet. Minor altercations, whispered rumors, and the occasional ambush during training or solitary runs had forced the five of them into a new rhythm — never walking alone, never without a guard. What had begun as petty attempts to wedge them apart had escalated into something sharper, more deliberate.
The faction’s hand was everywhere, subtle but constant.
And yet, the five endured.
Now, with exams looming and the weight of constant vigilance pressing down, they had something to look forward to: a trip to dragon country.
Riven’s parents had extended the invitation weeks ago, insisting on time with their new daughters-in-law. The family cabin, hidden deep in the forest of their pack lands, was a place of tradition — a retreat where Riven’s father hosted hunting trips, gambling nights, and contests of strength and skill.
But this time, the cabin would be transformed.
Riven’s mother had planned an entire week of fun for Avery and Molly, her theme nothing less than Gatsby. Glittering gowns, roaring-twenties games, and evenings of champagne and laughter beneath enchanted lanterns.
Avery and Molly were already buzzing with excitement, whispering about costumes and music, their fairies glowing brighter with every mention of sequins and pearls.
For Riven, Kael, and Lucien, the trip promised something different. A chance to breathe. To step away from the constant eyes of the campus, the endless rumors, the faction’s probing. To be with family, in a place where the wards were strong and the forest itself seemed to guard its secrets.
It was more than a vacation. It was a reprieve.
As Avery packed her notes from her last lab session, she smiled at Molly. “A week of Gatsby. Can you imagine?”
Molly laughed, her eyes sparkling. “I don’t have to imagine. I plan to win every contest your mother-in-law throws at us.”
Riven, overhearing, smirked. “Careful. My mother doesn’t play fair.”
Lucien groaned, already anticipating the chaos. Kael just grinned, his wolf eager for the contests promised by Riven’s father.
Midterms would pass. The rumors would continue. The faction would keep watching.
But for one week, in the heart of dragon country, they would have laughter, family, and the glittering chaos of Gatsby nights.
And that, Avery thought, was exactly what they needed.