Page 34 of Owned By Four Alphas

“Tell me, you’ve got to tell me! I’ll just translate it myself if you don’t!”

He looked at her, his warm brown eyes filled with pity and sadness.

“It says why he had to give up his magic to his child. It talks of an ancient power rising from the depths. A being of fire and death. A being that he defeated once, but cannot defeat twice.”

Her eyes widened. “You don’t think…it’s not Theldir, is it?”

Castien sucked in a breath. “It goes on to say that the Forest God’s child is prophesied to conceive her own babe with four beings of strength and power unmatched. And that this babe is the only being capable of destroying the ancient power that would plunge the world into darkness.”

Selena frowned, her hands flying to her stomach, cradling her baby, panic coursing through her. “This child? My child?”

“Selena,” Castien said, his voice thick, “it says that the babe will either destroy the ancient power. Or join it.”

Chapter 14 - Elian

When Selena crept into the grand hall, eyes red and skin pale, Elian had to fight the urge not to run to her there and then and sweep her away. But as she took her seat between Malek and Ronan with a fortifying breath, hands cradling her stomach, he stopped himself.

There were too many enemies around the table, their gazes wicked, hunting for any sign of weakness. As it was, they looked at her with critical intent, their lips curling slightly, their displeasure clear.

Elian and Kaelen had worked for weeks to get these people into a room together. It could not go wrong. Ordovic was there, loud and brash, with some of his most ardent and stupid supporters. Fae delegations from other courts. Several dragon nobles with lineages suitable to pose a threat to Kaelen’s throne.

None of them wanted Selena to rule. All of them had to be reminded of their place.

But the situation was delicate. Gathering them all together was meant to show the strength and unity of the pack, instilling a healthy bit of fear. But when Malek and Ronan’s flaring scents were enough to tip even a human off that they were furious at Selena’s state, it was inviting skepticism.

Elian, draped casually over his chair in his typical expensive silks, a lazy grin painted on his face, secretly agreed.

He hated seeing his mate so upset, so withdrawn. For weeks she had barely emerged from the library, all that fire and wit he loved so much fizzled out into exhaustion and melancholy. Even now, her gaze was faraway and dejected, her knuckles white and shaking from gripping the fabric of her dress above her stomach.

Ronan placed an arm around her shoulders, murmuring something into her ear. She bit her lip, shaking her head, offering him a small, watery smile.

The wolf’s scent spiked in anger, his yellow eyes flicking over to Kaelen with narrowed suspicion.

Kaelen met his gaze with steady, uncompromising authority.

Elian sighed. At this rate, it would be an all-out war between Kaelen, Ronan, and Malek. Elian supposed he’d have to get involved too, if only to convince Ronan and Malek to back off for just long enough that he could finish his plans.

Kaelen’s actions, harsh as they were, kept their mate safe. And Elian needed her safe and sheltered while he was carrying out his…research.

It was a delicate project, involving more than one unsavory figure. But if he figured it out, it would mean absolute power for Selena. Then, she could do as she pleased. Including putting Kaelen firmly back in his place.

The dragon stood, his shoulder-length red hair tied back from his face, his signature curved blades at his side. The room fell silent.

“Welcome, everyone. We thank you all for making the journey here to discuss the human threat with us today.”

Ordovic snorted, and Ronan snarled at him.

Flicking a blond curl out of his face, Elian observed the rival alpha. As massive as Ronan, with shaggy black hair and a vicious sneer, he was every bit the swaggering threat Ronan had described him as.

“Forgive me, Kaelen,” Ordovic said, his eyes flicking to Selena. Elian’s jaw tightened. “But I rather expected that thequeenwould be making the address today. After all, isn’t it her job to lead on such matters?”

All eyes in the room flickered to Selena, and she shrank further into her chair, her scent spiking with unease. Kaelen’s amber eyes, distinctly shadowed, lingered on his mate’s form before turning back to Ordovic.

“As I’m sure you can see, the queen is approaching the final weeks of her pregnancy. It is a demanding process, and she has not been sleeping well as a result. I will speak in her place.”

Selena chewed her lip, her shoulders tensing. Malek tapped a claw against the wood of the table, his other hand resting on her thigh. Ronan pulled her closer. The threat was clear. Ordovic averted his gaze, but his grin only widened.

“Of course, dragon, we all know how hard pregnancies can be to such young, delicate omegas like your mate. It seems unfair to give any responsibility at all to one such as she.”

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