Page 3 of Owned By Four Alphas

“It’s okay.” She took his hand and leaned into him, breathing in the familiar scent of oak and moss, shivering slightly as his clawed hand caressed her back. “I’m here for the storytelling. Would you like to listen with me?”

He glanced over at the Keeper, his mouth a tight line as the Fae around them whispered and pointed. “Maybe I shouldn’t.”

Selena turned slightly, looking at the three children, who were clearly scared, yet too curious to run. “Children, this is Malek, one of my mates. Wouldn’t you like it if he stayed and listened with us?”

The boy, the one who had glared, stepped forward. “What are you?” he asked, his head tilting.

Malek blinked, his face carefully neutral. “I am the King of the Nightwalkers,” he said, “creatures made of magic.”

“Creatures can’t bemadeof magic,” the boy argued, his eyes rolling, “theyusemagic.”

“I don’t know how to respond to that, child. I am what I am.”

The girl giggled at Malek’s gentle distress, elbowing the boy, the tension broken. “Don’t be horrible, Septas. Remember what our tutor said. Malek helped defeat the humans. We should be welcoming.”

“You’re so bossy, Nalaea. I am being welcoming. I was just asking him what he is!”

“No, you were being rude.”

As the pair continued bickering, the smallest boy stepped forward, his brown eyes wide with wonder as he looked up at Malek’s antlers. “Areyou made of magic?”

Malek glanced at Selena, and she gave him a gentle nod of encouragement. “Yes, child,” he said, “the magic of the Forest.”

The boy’s eyes widened with awe, and Selena smiled up at Malek, her heart filling with affection. He glanced at her, his eyes full of adoration as his hand laid protectively over her stomach. Over the child growing within her.

“Nightwalkers?” she asked quietly, an eyebrow raised.

Malek’s throat bobbed. “I thought it was time that my kind had a name. An actual name.”

“I like it,” she said. “Are you having any luck with the others? Have any more learned to talk?”

“A few,” he replied, his expression growing hard, “but they still struggle with the bloodlust. It had been my hope to introduce a few at the feast tonight, but I don’t think they’re ready yet.”

“Give it time,” she said, “I have every faith in you.”

His reply was cut off as a hush fell over the crowd.

“Welcome, welcome.” The booming voice seemed entirely too large to come from the diminutive frame of the Keeper.“Welcome. As we celebrate another end to winter, and look forward to the beauty of spring, let us not forget what else we celebrate this day.”

His arm swept upwards, gesturing to the fountain behind him, “For it was on this day, some five thousand years ago, that the Forest God defeated Theldir and saved us all from a world of fire.”

Selena stiffened as memories of the inferno engulfed her. Malek glanced down with concern, but she was swept away in the Keeper’s words.

“As many of you know, our Forest God was not the only god roaming the Five Realms. Although he set his throne in the First, there were many that sought to challenge him. From the sand-beasts to the south, the great Phoenix God of the Fourth Realm, to the Goddesses of Storm in the north, many turned their eyes to our verdant forests. But our god was strong, and he defended his lands well. Word was spreading, however—word that the human threat was growing, and the magical beings became restless.”

Selena could feel the eyes raking up and down her, from questioning and curious to downright hostile. Malek shifted slightly, the thick muscles of his arms shielding her, all self-consciousness forgotten in the face of a possible threat.

“There came a time of long summer, where the sun rained heat down onto the land for near a decade. The crops withered, the people thirsted, and the Forest God poured forth a mighty river so that his land would not die. And while his attention was diverted, a power grew to the north of the First Realm. The mighty mountains, soaking in the power of the sun, spat forth a god of fire and death. Theldir was his name. And he promised the people freedom and might over the humans.”

A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd, and Selena swallowed, her heart racing faster.

“With the support of the great Dragon Kings and fire-bending Fae, Theldir made his attack on the First Realm. The Wolven packs joined forces with the southern Fae to defend the Forest, to defend their god. The war was long, and many perished. It soon became clear that Theldir would not stop at defeating the humans. He would massacre them, massacre the Forest itself, for he desired nothing more than power. And so, the Forest God surged forward in one final stand. His rivers ran red with blood. But Theldir was defeated.”

The Keeper’s eyes, clear blue despite his age, landed on Selena.

“The Forest God bound Theldir in chains and imprisoned him in the heart of the mountain from whence he was born. Some say the ages turned him to stone. Others say he still lingers on, his madness and magic erupting from the mountains. And that, my children, is why the volcanoes spew lava.”

The trio behind her whispered in delight over the tale, but Selena’s skin shivered with icy cold as the Keeper’s eyes narrowed.

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