The room was still holding its breath when Alaric turned, eyes narrowing, voice low and tight.
"Care to explain everything?" he asked, locking his piercing gaze on Caveen. "What is happening between the two of you?"
Caveen cleared his throat, visibly nervous under the rare authority in Alaric's tone.
"It's… a long story," Caveen muttered, glancing sheepishly at Lysandra.
He looked like a soldier being called to report to a general—and a brother terrified of disappointing someone he deeply respected.
Alaric folded his arms. "We have time."
Caveen sighed, shoulders slumping as he ran a hand through his tousled hair. "Alright, fine. I'll say it plainly." He inhaled. "It started when I was working in the human realm—as a doctor. I'd just finished a brutal shift. I was exhausted. Burned out. I decided to unwind in a bar—just a drink and some peace, you know?"
Lysandra coughed lightly, cheeks red. "He wasn't entirely sober. I may have… um… helped that along."
Alaric blinked. Carlos's brow rose.
"Helped?" Alaric echoed, suspicious.
Lysandra looked mortified. "I… I cast a spell on him."
Seraphine gasped. Carlos choked on air.
"You what?" Alaric's voice turned dangerous.
Lysandra held up her hands quickly. "I thought he was human! He was wearing a suppression bracelet. No aura, no presence. Just… a hot, overworked doctor. I didn't know he was the Caveen, the Nexus legend himself!"
She buried her face in her hands. "It was supposed to be a one-time spell. I just didn't want to be added to the bride pool for the elite clans. I figured if I got pregnant, I'd be exempt."
Seraphine looked scandalized. "So… you stole his seed?"
Lysandra groaned. "Please don't say it like that!"
Caveen, face flushed and grim, added, "To be fair, I didn't know anything until much later. We didn't even see each other again after that. Then… I started feeling it. A tug. A bond. And when I finally found her—" his voice lowered, "I realized she was carrying my child."
Alaric looked between them both, stunned.
"And the Landons?" Carlos interjected.
Lysandra nodded. "The Landon Tree sensed the child's conception—a new generation. They found me quickly and brought me to their estate. But the child was bonded to Caveen. I started to weaken. I didn't understand at first… until Lady Maika discovered what was going on."
She turned to Seraphine and Alaric. "She cast a concealment spell to hide the baby's aura from the elites—especially from the Council. None of you could sense her."
Alaric's gaze darkened with thought. "So when I awakened… you remembered."
"Everything," Lysandra said, voice soft. "Serene's memories. Her rage. Her regret. The truth of what I had done to you… to Karena… to your children. I panicked. I fled. I didn't even think of Caveen or the baby. That… that was unforgivable."
She reached for Caveen's hand, trembling.
"I was reckless. I've always been reckless. Even as Serene. I threw arrows at my own brother, never knowing he had sealed his vampire nature to live in peace. I thought he could survive anything… I didn't think they'd all die. And I made the same mistake again with you, Caveen. With our daughter."
Caveen took her hand without hesitation, intertwining their fingers. "You are safe. That's what matters."
Alaric stared at them, the silence stretching. His eyes, though stern, held a softness at the edges.
"This child," he said finally, "is a convergence of three of the most dangerous bloodlines in our history—Carello black magic, Moonwell witchcraft, and Nexus balance."
Carlos added with a grin, "Basically, she's going to burn down the world—or save it."
Seraphine nodded slowly, her tone calm but grave. "The Council won't sit still if they find out. They've already made a move to separate me from Alaric. They'll come for you both next."
Lysandra looked at them all. "Then what should we do?"
Alaric's eyes narrowed, his voice low and lethal.
"You two cannot stay here."
Caveen's eyes flared in protest. "But—"
Alaric raised a hand. "Listen. The Council already knows. They sent the letter disapproving my union with Seraphine. That means they've confirmed her identity—Elira, the lost Nexus. And now, they will move fast. They'll try to separate us. Replace her." His jaw tightened. "They'll push Celestine forward as my 'suitable' bride."
Lysandra's voice trembled. "And if you refuse?"
Alaric looked at her with eyes that no longer held the calm of yesterday. Only steel. "Then they will declare war. Not just on me—but on all of us. And we are not ready. Not yet."
Carlos leaned forward, eyes sharp. "So what do we do?"
Alaric turned to Caveen. "You'll take Lysandra to the Landons. Hide her in their stronghold. It's the only place the Council won't dare invade outright. Not with King Carl and Lady Maika protecting her."
Carlos blinked. "You trust them that much?"
"I do. They are Caveen and Seraphine's parents. They will protect sure protect their valued grandchild. That child… is too important to fall into the hands of those who only want to use her."
Lysandra bit her lip, whispering, "But the Landons may not accept me."
Alaric looked at her. "Then you remind them who you are—not just Lysandra Moonwell, but Serene Vellaria. The sister of Alaric and Carlos. Your blood alone is enough to claim sanctuary."
She swallowed hard and nodded.
Alaric walked toward the window, his hands behind his back, the light hitting the side of his face like a king carved from ancient marble.
"We lie low for now. We comply. We give them what they want—at least in appearances." He looked at Carlos meaningfully.
Carlos tilted his head. "You want me to play along with the Council?"
"Yes. You're still under their radar. They don't know you've awakened as Victor. You'll act the part of the blacksmith here. We keep the truth of our return buried until the time is right."
Seraphine stepped beside Alaric. "And then what?"
His gaze met hers.
"Then we gather our allies. One by one. The Moonwell coven. The Landons. The Carello mages and the Vellaria. Even the dwarven lords, if they still owe us a favor. When we are strong enough, we strike."
Caveen's fists clenched. "We disband the Council."
Alaric nodded slowly. "We burn it to the ground. So that no more children will be born into a world of arranged power marriages. So that our children… can be free."
Lysandra touched her stomach.
Carlos let out a low breath. "And what of Celestine?"
Alaric's voice dropped to a chilling whisper.
"She is a pawn. Nothing more. The Council will use her to bind me. But I will never let her wear the title that belongs to Seraphine. Not while I draw breath."
A pause. Then Alaric turned back to face them all, his brothers and his beloved.
"We have survived betrayals, curses, and death itself. Now we prepare for the final war—not just for love, or blood—but for freedom."