Chapter 1 A Seat At The Table

Lyric POV

When I pictured myself finding my mate, I can assure you it did not include me being pregnant again with six-month-old pups, a six-year-old, and a nine-year-old. If someone had told me a year ago that this would be my life, I would have laughed in their face.

Now I couldn’t imagine it any other way.

To say the last couple of months have been peaceful would be bullshit.

Every day seemed to bring something new. One minute I was helping rebuild the packs destroyed by the war, the next I was learning how to rule two kingdoms without accidentally offending someone.

Then there was my magic, which still found new ways to surprise me, and five kids who somehow kept me busier than running an entire kingdom ever could.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, going from one mate to two had stopped feeling complicated and started feeling… normal. Like this was how my life had always been meant to be.

Now, with twins growing inside me, our already chaotic house was about to get even louder.

Today is the first meeting for the supernatural council, and Nova has been on edge all morning about it.

I feel sparks across my belly as I stand in the closet.

“Hey, baby, you okay?” Kairo asks, his smooth voice sending chills through me.

He chuckles.

“None of that, mate. We have a long day.”

I slap his chest.

“I am not doing anything,” I say.

He laughs.

“Tell that to your arousal that I smell in the air.”

“You know my body just responds to you two on its own, so not fair. These babies are traitors,” I say.

He nuzzles my neck.

“If that helps you sleep at night,” he says.

“Where’s Cole?” I ask.

“He’s downstairs receiving the Fae King as well as James,” he says.

I have heard so much about the Fae King, and I am excited to meet him and his mate.

I’m excited to see James again.

“Why didn’t he wait for me?” I ask, annoyed by Cole again for the second time this morning.

“He thought you would need more time to get ready, and Dominic said they were here. Do you need help putting on your dress?” he asks.

“No, Kairo. I’m pregnant, not crippled,” I say, rolling my eyes.

He smirks.

“Okay, fine,” he says, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe.

I settle on a peach sundress that zips on the side.

I slip the dress on, and he watches with amusement as I try to reach it but can’t.

He smiles.

“Need help?” he asks lightly.

I glare before using a bit of magic to slowly pull the zipper up.

He sucks his teeth.

“That’s cheating.”

I smile.

“Never.”

I walk out of the closet.

Hannah runs into the room just as I grab my shoes.

“Hannah, what did we say about barging in here?” I ask.

“I’m sorry, Mama, but Daddy said to come get you,” she says.

I roll my eyes.

Of course he would send her.

I sit on the bed, and Kairo bends down and puts my shoes on for me.

“Ready?” he asks.

“To host the leaders of every supernatural race and talk unity?” I ask.

“Absolutely not.”

I squared my shoulders and took a deep breath.

Today wasn’t just another meeting.

History was about to be written.

I just hoped we all survived it.

When we step out of the room, Hannah skips down the hallway in front of us. The palace has finally started feeling lived in again. Guards nod as we pass, servants hurry through the halls carrying trays of food and fresh flowers, and laughter echoes somewhere in the distance. A few months ago, these halls had been filled with grief. Hearing children instead is a sound I’ll never take for granted.

“How are you feeling today? Are you hungry?” Kairo asks.

“Nauseous, and no. The idea of eating makes me sick,” I say.

You would think being this close to the end of my pregnancy would make things easier. It doesn’t. These two have made every symptom worse. My back constantly aches, my feet swell by lunchtime, and they’ve somehow figured out that my bladder isn’t nearly as big as they need it to be.

Hannah turns around.

“Mama, is the bad man that killed Papa Kai’s family going to be there?” she asks.

Kairo’s entire body stiffens.

A deep growl rumbles from his chest.

Hannah flinches.

I smack him on the chest.

“You scared her.”

His wolf disappears just as quickly as it surfaced.

His shoulders relax, and guilt flashes across his face.

He walks over, scoops Hannah into his arms, and kisses the top of her head.

“I’m sorry, Princess. Papa didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I just really don’t like him,” he whispers.

She giggles, wrapping her little arms around his neck.

Seeing Kairo with the kids still catches me off guard sometimes. The man who once carried grief on his shoulders now carried sleepy babies, braided Hannah’s hair when she asked, and somehow convinced Ezra that reading before bed wasn’t torture. He’d slipped into fatherhood so naturally it was hard to remember there had ever been a time he wasn’t part of this family.

“Where are you two?” Cole links us.

You sent Hannah to come get us, now wait, I link back before shutting the link.

We find them in the conference room.

The moment we walk inside, James grins.

“The last time I saw you, you were pregnant. Now you’re pregnant again.”

“I know, right? Selene has a shitty sense of humor.”

I turn toward Kairo.

“James, this is my second mate, Kairo. Kairo, this is my cousin James, the Bear King.”

He raises a brow.

“How is the Bear King your cousin?”

“It all started with Eloise’s son and a bear princess.”

Cole walks over.

“Hello, my mates.”

His eyes settle on me.

Are you in a better mood? He links.

Don’t push it, Your Majesty, I link back.

The corner of his mouth twitches before he reaches for my hand anyway. He knows exactly how annoyed I am, and apparently he’s decided to test his luck.

He leads me over to a tall, lanky man standing by the window.

“Oliver, I would like to introduce you to my mates, Lyric and Kairo,” Cole says.

He turns to face us.

His eyes are an almost white shade of blue, his ears pointed, his skin a milky pale color that almost seems to glow in the morning light. Long silver hair is pulled neatly into a ponytail down his back.

There is something ancient about him. Peaceful. Like the oldest tree in the forest decided to take human form.

He smiles.

“You look just like Eloise. I met her when she first became Queen.”

He gently takes my hand.

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty,” I say, bowing slightly.

“Oh please, child. When you carry her face, I should be bowing to you.”

He turns toward Kairo.

“The lost Lycan King. I am sorry about what happened to your family, and I am glad you have found your way back.”

“Thank you, Oliver. How is your mate?”

His smile softens.

“She is well. She is also pregnant, so she is currently resting in the room provided to us.”

“I’ll probably be joining her soon,” I admit with a laugh. “I wanted to meet everyone first.”

He bows his head again.

“I am honored.”

His gaze drops to my stomach.

“Have you seen what they are?”

I place a hand over my belly.

“No. Not yet.”

He laughs warmly.

“Ah… your wolf is keeping secrets from you.”

Nova gives nothing away, only huffing in amusement before curling back around the twins.

The conference room doors swing open.

Dominic steps inside first.

Behind him walks another man.

Kairo’s entire body goes rigid.

A growl tears from his chest, louder than before.

The man smiles like they’re old friends.

“My, my… if it isn’t my favorite Lycan King. Good to see you less furry.”

Kairo’s growl only deepens.

The warmth that filled the room moments ago disappears. James straightens beside us, Cole subtly steps closer to my side, and Oliver watches the exchange with quiet curiosity. Even without knowing their history, I can feel the hatred between them.

If I thought forming this council would be easy knowing their history…

I was wrong.

And the meeting hadn’t even begun yet.