Hakeem tightens his grip. “Can we stay like this a little longer?”
Jackson rubs his cheeks against the top of Hakeem’s head. “As you wish.”
* * *
“Don’t hurt them!” Jackson gasps, sweat matting his hair to his forehead, springing upright in bed. His breathing is quick and erratic, a hand pawing over his heart. Shadows swirl around his bare shoulders, the comfort of an old friend after years of disdain.
“What’s huh who?” Hakeem scrambles in the sheets besides Jackson, reaching for his wand. The quartz flares to life, silver light piercing the dark of the night as he points it at non-existent enemies.
Chuckling, Jackson wraps his hand around Hakeem’s, lowering the charged wand. “I’m sorry my love, just a nightmare.” They’ve been few and far between over the past months, and thankfully non destructive, yet they still rattle Jackson. “Let’s go back to bed, bun.”
Shadow tendrils pull the sheet back around them. “Oh, okay. No one to blast?” Hakeem asks sleepily.
“No blasting needed, my fierce mage.” Jackson kissed Hakeem’s forehead.
Jackson rests his head on a plush pillow with Hakeem settling on his chest. He stares at the ceiling of Eddie’s room, though truly the boys just cycle through the beds depending on which has the cleanest sheets. Their sexual appetites were the reason Jackson picked up spare bed sheets to use whilst the others were in the wash.
Jackson laughs softly, thanking whatever twist of fate that brought these men, and the spoiled raccoon sleeping at the foot of the bed after a day with Wendy, to him. He never imagined this is what his life could be after years of heartache.
As he watches Hakeem sleep soundly on his chest, he makes a promise to show both of the men he loves and the world how much they mean tohim every way he can.
Jackson smirks when a thought crosses his mind. He has a call to make in the morning.
Chapter 36
June 21st, Gregorian Year 2030
Midnight
The Winter Realm, where the moon eternally dominates the sky. The throne room in the heart of Castle Nocturne is deadly silent, not even the wind outside dares to scrape against stone. The waning gibbous moon slowly turns from a brilliant silver, into a vibrant crimson. The blood moon’s glow bleeds over the eternal night of the Winter realm. A royal procession begins to arrive at the castle gates. The Jeans lead the esteemed guests into the depths of the castle.
The fairies of spring, Sasha and Marina Primavera arrive first. The dragons of summer, presenting human forms, Hiro and Lucy Natsuryu follow suit. The Centaurs of autumn, Aidoneus and Percival Dendrikos arrive last at the Gothic estate. The royals of the fae realms and their families arrive one by one to welcome Jackson Nocturne into their ranks.
The throne room flairs to life, sconces on the wall erupting in crimson flames. Both sides of the room fill with only fae royalty and their direct family. Annabella Nocturne, Joseph Underbush and Lady Eloise Nocturne wait on thrones of carved obsidian adorned with plush ruby velvet at the end of a long carpet that stretches the length of the throne room, leading to two grand doors of ancient oak that reach the ceiling. Up in balconiesoverlooking the throne room, Eddie and Hakeem’s families, and the boys’ closest friends, wait with bated breaths. In the balcony nearest to the thrones, Hakeem and Eddie wait hand in hand, throats dry and sweat shining on their brows as they watch the doors to the room.
Eddie had returned to them a week prior, exhausted beyond belief. He spent a cruel month training on the grounds of his family home, fighting for control over his wolf. The power that exploded out of him the previous month had faded, his dominance as Alpha slipped from his grasp. He sparred with his father everyday for that grueling month, many rolls of bandages and gauze used on both of them. Two werewolves clashing, magic dueling, claws sparking like flint as they trained tirelessly. Eddie was determined to tame the beast that ran rampant in his soul, if not for his sake for his families. For his mates. The men he loved. Their voices his tether, their love the light at the end of the tunnel.
And finally, after weeks of aches and hardship and letting his wolf run free, he came back to them. He would still train to master the power of the Lycan, but no more was he at risk of hurting the ones he loved.
Hakeem was the first to jump into Eddie’s arm, wrapping himself around the larger man. Eddie joyfully spun his mage in his hold before locking eyes with Jackson, lovingly staring at him, waiting for him to come home. His lips were able to taste theirs once more, the sensation sweeter than ever before. His hands allowed to once more explore their bodies, basking in their warmth. He had come back to them, just in time to stand by Jackson’s side as he claimed his birthright.
The boys’ eyes dart to the towering doors as they begin to make way for their Jackson. Their fingers intertwine, nervous mana sparking between their grasps. The crowd turns its attention to the figure clad in robes of ruby and obsidian, each footfall echoing through the chamber. Curtains burst open around the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the room in the glow of the blood moon. Jackson takes a knee as he reaches the thrones at the chamber’s edge, his hands slowly removing the hood from his dark hair, tips red like blood, as he levels his gaze to his family before him.
Annabella’s voice echoes with power across the land. “Jackson Nocturne,first of your name, you come here today to claim your right to the throne of House Nocturne.”
Jackson bows his head, eyes closing gently as he regards his mother. “I have.”
“From this day forward, witnessed by blood and magic royale from across the realms, do you swear to uphold your title with the honor and respect it deserves?”
“I do.”
“Will you fight for those you love and for the peace of the realms, magical and fae?”
“I will.”
“Even if your body breaks, your spirit shatters and your mind falls into despair?”
“I shall.”
