The Sceptre still vibrated in Rhiannan's palm, warm with divine fire, humming like a living thing.
Ash and ichor littered the chamber, glowing embers of victory crackling on the stone. The others stood around her, battered and bloodied, but alive, every single one of them.
And then the air stilled.
A hush swept the cavern, thick with reverence. Light shimmered down from nowhere, illuminating Rhiannan in a soft golden glow. Time... slowed.
From the center of that light, a woman descended.
She didn't float, she commanded the space. Her presence was vast, eternal, fierce as the sun and gentle as moonlight. Skin carved from galaxies, eyes that mirrored eternity, and hair like a fall of silver flame.
Rhiannan froze. Her heart seized, her breath caught.
"Mother?" she whispered.
Nythera. Goddess of Origins. Keeper of Fate. Rhiannan's divine mother.
Nythera landed softly, her bare feet touching the cracked stone like she was blessing it just by existing. Her expression, pure love and pride, took Rhiannan's knees out. She dropped to the ground, sobbing.
Nythera knelt with her.
"My sweet daughter," she said, voice rich with stardust and storms. "You've done it. You have united the relics. The world watches you now, not as a warrior, or a vessel, but as the chosen rebirth of the divine line."
Everyone fell to their knees. Even Elisha bowed his head.
"The Crown of Memories, the piece you claimed first, binds you to the past, to every soul, every sorrow, every lesson your lineage ever carried."
"The Chalice of Truth, second to be found, holds the unvarnished essence of your spirit. It cannot be wielded by liars. It only empowers those who walk in radical honesty."
"And now, the Sceptre of Power, forged before time, awakened by will, and answering only to those who will not break."
She stood, her hand resting on Rhiannan's shoulder as she turned to the others.
"Together, these three relics form the Triune of Ascension. They do not grant godhood. They reveal it. And you, all of you… you've passed every trial placed before you. You've loved fiercely, sacrificed deeply, and bled for a world that forgot how to hope."
Nythera's eyes glistened as she met the gaze of each of Rhiannan's mates, her voice soft but weighty.
"Protect her. She carries my legacy, and yours. The darkness knows what she holds now. He will come faster. Meaner. And he will try to unravel her with fear."
Nythera turned back to her daughter, brushing Rhiannan's cheek with her thumb.
"You have four months, my child. Four months until the birth of the first divine born in this realm in a thousand years. The Triune's power will crescendo with your labor. Until then... gather your forces. Unite the realms. And prepare to strike."
"The Forgotten King is building an army of the undead. But you? You're building a fucking legend."
She leaned in close, pressing her forehead to Rhiannan's.
"And I'm so fucking proud of you."
The light flared, and just like that, Nythera vanished.
But the warmth stayed. In Rhiannan's heart. In the grip of her Sceptre. In the crown woven through her curls and the chalice tucked safely in her pack.
The Triune of Ascension was whole.
And war was coming.
The moment they stepped through the glowing portal and back into the courtyard, a hush swept across the grounds… followed by an eruption of cheers, sobs, and the thunderous stampede of boots and bare feet as loved ones ran forward.
Rhiannan clutched the Sceptre tight in one hand, the other wrapped around Kaleb's waist for support as they all limped through the portal, bruised, battered, but victorious. The crown gleamed from her hair, the Chalice tucked safely into Torvax's warded satchel. The Triune of Ascension was finally whole.
Everyone moved with purpose, collapsing into arms, kissing their lovers, heading toward the baths to scrub away ash and monster guts. The gates shut behind them.
And then…
"Mate!"
The voice was sharp and melodic, slicing through the buzz of the courtyard like a spell.
"My mate is here, I can smell him!"
All heads turned as the mermaid emissary Neressa from Solarian burst through the portal behind them, her scales glowing a brilliant opal, her long seafoam hair streaming like ribbons behind her. Her bare feet skimmed the grass as she ran, eyes wild with excitement, body pulsing with magic.
"Mate! MATE!"
She spun in a wild circle, nose flaring, heart pounding, and locked eyes with Iriel Dawnreaver, the void elf sentinel with shadow in his blood and quiet in his soul.
The world. Stopped.
Iriel dropped to his knees like he'd been shot.
"...Goddess. It's you."
His voice cracked, and he stared up at her with a reverence that shattered everyone watching.
The mermaid surged forward, cupping his face with trembling hands.
"I'm Neressa. I've waited lifetimes to find you."
Iriel closed his eyes, emotion pouring from him in waves. He leaned forward and kissed her fingers. Slowly. Reverently.
"I'm yours," he whispered. "Always."
The courtyard exploded again, this time with wild cheers, whistles, and FaeNet lighting up so fast, Sasha groaned from somewhere overhead, "I'm gonna need ten more processors to handle this horny chaos."
Mo grinned from ear to ear, arm around Mela, and loudly declared, "OKAY BUT WHEN THE FUCK DO WE GET OUR SECOND MATE?!"
Mela gasped, eyes huge.
"We get a second one?!"
She squealed with delight and smacked Mo's arm. He just puffed out his chest like the proudest little chaos gremlin in the multiverse and kissed her on the temple.
Rhiannan doubled over laughing, hand pressed to her belly, her Sceptre still humming in her grip. Her six mates surrounded her in seconds, steadying her, doting, eyes full of awe.
She looked around at the reunited crew, the relics safe, the bonds deepening, the legends forming in real time.
"Let's get cleaned up," she said, smiling through exhaustion. "Tomorrow… we plan for war."
Neressa slammed the chamber door shut with a flick of magic, then launched herself at Iriel like a spellbound whirlwind. He caught her mid air, stumbling back with a laugh that dissolved into a growl as her lips crashed into his.
"Mine," she whispered against his mouth, voice shaking with need. "You feel it, don't you?"
He spun, pinning her to the wall so hard it rattled the sconces. His hand gripped her chin, forcing her gaze up to meet his glowing void kissed eyes.
"You don't tell me you're mine," he rasped, tone lethal. "You ask for the privilege."
Her breath hitched. Her eyes fluttered.
"Yes, Daddy."
His pupils dilated. The air snapped with magic.
He yanked her wrists above her head, binding them with invisible threads of void power. She writhed, testing it, giggling when they held tight.
"You're gonna listen to every damn word I say, little mermaid," he growled into her neck, biting just enough to leave a mark. "And if you behave…" His hand slid down her side, cupping her like she was treasure. "Daddy might let you break."
She gasped, wild and breathless, as he sank to his knees.
With wicked patience, he dragged her skirt up and began to devour. His tongue moved in circles, teasing her sweet spot until her knees buckled. He didn't stop. Not when she begged. Not when she screamed. His fingers curled inside her with slow, merciless precision, press, curl, stroke, each motion aimed like a weapon.
When he slid a second finger into her tighter hole, her legs nearly gave out.
"Too much," she whimpered.
"Not even close," he snarled, voice hoarse.
She shattered the first time on his mouth, hard enough to see stars, and he just kept going. He coaxed another orgasm out of her with only his fingers and voice, whispering, "Come for me, slut. I want to taste how sweet you get when you obey."
When he finally stood, towering over her, she saw it. His cock. Pierced. Veined. Thick as sin and proud as hell.
"You're gonna take it all," he warned.
"Yes, sir," she moaned, trembling.
He slid into her inch by inch, growling as she stretched around him. She was slick, pulsing, desperate. Her hands gripped his back like claws, her hips bucking for more.
"Faster," she begged. "Harder. Please, I want your cum. I want it all."
He flipped her, pounded into her like a storm, and slapped her ass until she sobbed. He pulled her hair. Whispered filth. Bit her shoulder.
And when she exploded again, screaming his name, he didn't stop. Not until he spilled inside her with a roar and held her there, watching his essence leak before pushing it right back in with his fingers.
"No wasting it," he said darkly. "You keep what's mine."
She giggled, breathless and glowing. "Yes, Daddy."
They collapsed in a mess of heat and panting. And only after the storm calmed did she whisper, curled up in his arms:
"I'm Neressa Tidewhisper of the Moonbreak Tide. Royal emissary. Mermaid shifter. Chaos gremlin. And yours."
Iriel smiled, brushing a kiss to her forehead.
"My perfect little wild thing."