Page 110 of His True Beloved

“Sebastian.” Adrien nodded. “Good to see you found her. She’s gorgeous.” Christine blushed, smiling shyly.

“And you still don’t know when to keep your mouth shut about other people’s mates, do you?” I growled playfully.

“Ah no, as long as Princess—I mean, Queen—Clara and King Kane don’t come around, I should keep bruises off my neck,” he laughed.

Shaking my head, I led Christine forward. Her hand touched the glass, and it gently fell through. “Amazing,” she whispered until I pulled her arm, having the glass surround us. As we walked, the dark silence enveloped the long line to the other side. The brightness filled only a few feet in front of the portal. The darkness was so dark, that even the evilest of creatures dared not look.

Only the gods were said to use the darkness to transport between realms, and even they feared it.

No whispers, no murmurs until we reached the other side. Christine shaded her eyes until I pulled dark sunglasses from my chest pocket. “Here,” I muttered as we stepped away.

Christine gasped, taking in the surrounding sight. Dragon shifters hovered over the portal, the sky still dark but quickly healing by the dragons that had taken flight in the air. The land was bare compared to when I left it, but the trees were growing. Using my vision, I could see the small blades of grass underneath growing faster than that at their normal rate.

“Come.” I led Christine away. The pink and blue sky was close to what I remembered it. The light sources hover above us. “It’s midday, we should get going, and we can be at the Crimson Shadow’s pack closer to dinner.”

Christine’s face brightened, her smile showing off her beautiful fangs. “Sebastian, it’s better than books I’ve read about it. Are their unicorns here? I feel like there should be unicorns.” Werewolves around us chuckled, shaking their heads.

“No, but then again, this is a magical place. There are many other forests that have not been entered because of superstitions. I wouldn’t be surprised if we found one day.” Christine continued looking over the cliff, her eyes trailing to the Cerulean Moon Kingdom palace. Most of it was boarded. The only lively activity we could see below was that of the Crimson Shadow’s pack.

With our luggage put into carts, we walked ahead while the horses carried the heavy load. Christine touched each horse, seeing their massive forms. Animals of Bergarian were stronger, faster. It was only necessary for the gods to create such large species to help us.

As we traveled, Christine asked questions about the land and watched pixies repairing dead flowers and broken branches. Her hands squeezed tighter, her amazement making the other werewolves chuckle.

We approached the Crimson Shadow’s pack, and a familiar face lit up as soon as we came into view. Rowan and Adaline stayed behind us, taking in the sights of land they only got to visit every so often.

“Sebastian!” Rebecca cried, running toward us. Her mate, my friend Dean, was with her. They both ran, slamming into me and giving me the biggest hug. Christine laughed at how Rebecca screamed, and Dean slapped his hand on my back.

“You found her!” He let go, finally breathing. “I’m Dean, this old fart”—he hooked his thumb to point at me—“took me under his wing when I was captured in Darius’s army. He helped me keep my hopes up so I could find my mate.” Rebecca smiled at Dean, still blushing as Dean pulled her in for a kiss.

My widened smile faltered when I asked about Kyler. Both of their faces softened, Rebecca shedding a tear. “They didn’t make it,” Rebecca said softly. Dean pulled me into a hug, gently patting my back.

“Gods.” I gripped him tighter. Kyler was a lost soul when I found him. He was worn, broken. The army had beaten him down. Dean and Kyler became my brothers, looking out for one another, and now one of my brothers was gone.

“Clara tried to help, but they were in shadow form, and she couldn’t.” Her breath hitched.

“He is in a better place.” I cleared my throat. “What of Leia?” Rebecca nodded silently again. Kyler often spoke of having children as soon as he found his beloved. Maybe the gods had other plans for them in the afterlife, and that was why she was not with child. With no young child to care for, their bond would have taken her through the veil of death along with her mate.

“I’m sorry for your loss.” Christine grabbed Rebecca’s hand. “I’m sure they were both lovely, and I’m sad I didn’t get to meet them.” Rebecca leaned in, smelling Christine’s scent.

“She would want us to be happy that the war is over.” Rebecca composed herself. “Come, Clara will be so happy to have you both here.” Rebecca wiped away a tear, straightening herself.

The pack house of the Crimson Shadows was streaming with life. Many packed up their things, leaving and some coming into new dwellings of cabins and other dormitories. I held onto Christine’s hand as we walked inside the extensive structure of the pack house.

It was being remodeled. The cracks in the walls were being repaired, and the marbled floor was being waxed. Clara spent no time waiting to fix her broken pack. “Wait here. I’ll go get her.” Rebecca waved, taking Dean with her.

“Are you sure about this?” I pulled Christine’s hands up to my lips. “Are you sure you want this, to help a land you know nothing of, have no ties to?” My beloved chuckled, pushing a piece of hair behind my ear.

“Of course, I have ties with it because you found this to be your home. The goddess Artemis helped me realize that you have a big part in this, and we are one, Sebastian. We are one in spirit, and where you go, I go. I have no ties to Earth. Here, I’ll find my siblings, create a new home with you, have a family,” she muttered. “Everything I want is right here, and with each passing day, it’s only going to get better.”

Gods, I hope so.

“I love you.” I pulled her in by her waist. My lips tickled hers, her own parted, and she began kissing me with such devotion. “And you will have a family with me?” I whispered in her ear. She giggled, kissing down my neck.

“Well, of course, I didn’t get my IUD out for nothing, you know?” she chided.

I almost killed the physician when we were at the Black Raven coven. When I was told what the procedure entailed, that he would have to insert his fingers into my beloved to pull out the device, I went crazy. Luckily, a female nurse stepped in and could perform the procedure.

I still didn’t like it.

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