Page 128 of The Aurora Marelup Complete Saga Omnibus

I step free of my bond brothers and walk towards my overly-jolly mate. Gently, I caress Aurora’s arms and feel the power pulsing under her skin. Lightly, I kiss her full lips then smile at her. “I know what’s happening; you’re infused with the power of the ancients. It will take time for you to adjust to it, my love.” Softly, I kiss her lips, then take her hand and start to lead her back to the camp.

We reach the wood line, and she looks out over all those that gather. Her presence alone, the dragons instantly kneel before Aurora. Klaus and Dominik come alongside her and take her hands, and the wolves kneel simultaneously. Aurora looks to her two wolven mates and kisses them in turn. “We have a war to wage and an army to lead. We march on my mother’s castle in the morning. For now, wolves hunt and bring back tasty meat. Water Dragons fly to the closest water and bring back fish. We must eat well; the battle will be tough.” Aurora stretches out her Alpha power, and the wolves can feel her beast back where it should be, their smiles evidence enough.

Our people depart as soon as the orders are issued. Aurora slowly turns to face us and smiles. “We will have a night to end all nights. We feast and enjoy our time together. Then tomorrow, we follow the plan we laid out.” She smiles so sweetly between the six of us.

As Aurora and Jayce guide me back to our usual spot beneath the weeping willow tree, a sense of foreboding settles over me like a suffocating blanket. The air crackles with tension, every movement and sound amplified by the weight of anticipation.

Perched upon my lap, Aurora’s presence feels both comforting and oppressive, her grip on my hands like a vise. Beside me, Jayce’s lean form radiates an aura of quiet intensity, his eyes scanning the surroundings with unwavering focus.

As we watch the preparations unfold, each passing moment is fraught with suspense. The return of the wolves with their bounty of meat and the dragons with their haul of fish only serves to heighten the tension in the air.

The feast unfolds around us, a symphony of sights, sounds, and smells that threatens to overwhelm the senses. Yet, amidst the chaos, we remain huddled together, our proximity a shield against the looming uncertainty.

Offerings are brought before us, each morsel scrutinized with meticulous care by Dominik and Jayce. Every bite we take is laced with apprehension, each swallow a leap of faith in the safety of our surroundings.

The peace we feel is strange, all things considered. We almost lost Aurora twice, to only have her back in the flesh as she is now. I watch my mate closely; she’s shifting her hands to her gauntlets. The scrutiny she’s putting them under is quite intense. “My love? Is everything okay?” I ask softly, only gaining the attention of my bond mates.

Aurora’s eyes shift to her dragon for a moment, then back to human before she looks at each of us in turn. “I think so. I mean, it’s a lot to process. One minute I’m in between worlds—dragon and Lycan. Then my wolf is targeted and almost murdered, leaving me no choice but to take into myself the ancient life force and have him rejuvenate my wolf. He changed my dragon side too; she’s stronger than before.”

Aurora draws in a deep breath and sighs softly before continuing. “I don’t regret passing on some of my Lycan legacy to Dominik and Klaus. After all, they need it more than me now.”

Aurora drops her gaze for a moment, then looks back up. “I feel every dragon I’ve ever come in contact with. I feel my children as if they are next to me. I feel you, Alaric, just as intensely. I feel every single wolf here, Lycan and Dire alike, and it’s absolutely amazing.”

Aurora smiles the sweetest and most affectionate smile I’ve ever seen from her. Slowly, she touches each of us, and I feel a warmth move over my body like a loving embrace. “I feel everything from each of you. I hear your whispers in my mind, and I see your animals when I close my eyes. It’s a wondrous feeling to be this at peace finally.”

Her facial expression changes abruptly. “When we go to war, and I tell you to retreat, go. My new advantage, we shall call it, will decimate anything in its path. Pull your troops back and run. Don’t look back. I’ll send the dragons to help evacuate everyone. I love you all too much to risk harming anyone.”

Suddenly, Aurora stands and looks at us. “Klaus, the team that was supposed to go with me, will remain with the main army. I don’t need them trapped in the rubble if I decide to rip my mother’s castle apart.”

“Aurora, no!” Dimitri says forcefully.

“The castle isn’t safe, Dimitri, and practically in ruins already.” Aurora gently cups Dimitri’s cheek before kissing him softly. Dimitri’s eyes slam shut, and fur ripples over his bare arms.

He nods slowly then kisses Aurora’s forehead. He smiles. “I understand, my love.” Then he goes to talk with the bears, including Ellis’s team.

“What did you show him, my love?” Jayce asks as he slides up alongside her and snuggles Aurora against him.

As Aurora’s hands extend towards us, a palpable tension hangs in the air, thickening with each passing moment. We exchange wary glances, uncertain of what awaits us in the depths of her vision. Yet, with a sense of trepidation, we reach out and touch her bare skin, bracing ourselves for whatever revelations may come.

In an instant, we are engulfed in the swirling currents of Aurora’s vision, drawn into the depths of her consciousness. Thescene unfolds before us like a nightmare, each moment dripping with suspense and foreboding.

We watch in awe and horror as Aurora navigates the labyrinthine corridors of the castle, her every movement fraught with danger and uncertainty. The tension mounts with each encounter, each confrontation with the Strigoi sending a shiver down our spines.

As Aurora unleashes her newfound power, a sense of dread washes over us, mingling with awe at the devastation she wreaks upon the castle. The air crackles with electricity, the suspense building to a crescendo as the vision reaches its climax.

Then, as suddenly as we were drawn in, we are violently expelled from the vision, torn away from the chaos and carnage that unfolded before our eyes. Gasping for breath, we are left reeling in the aftermath, the tension still hanging thick in the air like a heavy fog.

“I love you guys too much to chance anyone being harmed.” She tries to convey with a look just how much we mean to her.

“No one will expect me to go in alone. I plan to signal everyone when I’m ready to bring down the castle. I’ll wait until everyone is clear to destroy everything.” Aurora smiles sweetly at us then walks off to talk to our people in the camp to ease their minds.

Honestly, I’m not sure if I’m more concerned about her safety or for ours. The visions she shared with us were some next-level shit. My sick side can’t wait to see Ellis’s reaction to Aurora’s latest upgrade.

CHAPTER 104

Arnulf

The last seventy-twohours have been the most intense days of my life. I almost lost the mate I just found. We get her back, and she’s still not whole. Then the world’s biggest mind fuck happens; an ancient dragon calls for her, and she leaves.

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