Chapter 123

**Avery**

I decided to do the spell Draven taught me. The air in the grand hall of the Naga palace is thick with anticipation as I stand in the center, my heart pounding in my chest. The ancient spell Draven taught me glows faintly in my hands, a delicate orb of light that holds the weight of my future. I take a deep breath, my fingers trembling as I whisper the incantation. The light swirls, shifting colors from soft pink to deep blue, and then—it splits into three distinct orbs. My eyes widen, and my breath catches. Three. Not one, but three. The realization hits me like a physical blow, and I stagger back, my vision blurring as the room spins.

Cassius is the first to reach me, his strong arms catching me before I hit the ground. “Avery, what is it? What’s wrong?”

His voice is laced with concern, his piercing blue eyes searching mine for answers. Clint and Conner are close behind, their faces etched with worry as they crowd around me.

“I—I don’t know,” I manage, my voice shaking. “The spell... it showed three. Three eggs.” The words feel like a foreign language, heavy and unreal on my tongue.

The Trio exchanges a glance, their expressions shifting from confusion to awe. Clint’s green eyes soften, and he takes my hand, his thumb brushing against my knuckles. “Three? Are you sure?”

“Positive,” I whisper, my mind racing. Three. Three lives growing inside me. The thought is both exhilarating and terrifying.

I hadn’t even fully adjusted to my new life with my mates, let alone prepared for motherhood—multiplied by three.

Conner steps forward, his usual reserve cracking as a rare smile touches his lips. “That’s... incredible. We’re going to be fathers.” His voice is laced with wonder, and for a moment, I allow myself to feel the joy radiating from him.

But the weight of it all crashes back down on me. “I—I don’t know if I’m ready,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper.

“What if I mess up? What if I’m not enough for them?”

Cassius pulls me into his embrace, his warmth enveloping me. “You’re more than enough, Avery. We’re in this together.

You won’t have to do it alone.”

His words ease some of me fears, but the nerves remain. I need to tell them individually, to see their reactions, to ensure they’re truly on board. “I—I need some time,” I say, pulling away slightly. “I want to tell you all separately. It’s... important to me.”

The Trio nods, their understanding evident in their eyes. Clint squeezes my hand. “Take all the time you need. We’re here for you, no matter what.”

Later that evening, I seek out Clint first. I found him in the training yard, his muscular frame glistening with sweat as he spars with a practice dummy. His movements are fluid, powerful, and I watch him for a moment, my heart swelling with admiration. When he finally notices me, he pauses, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. “Hey,” he says, his voice warm.

“What’s up?”

I take a deep breath, my hands twisting together nervously. “Clint, I—I need to talk to you.”

His brow furrows, and he steps closer, his blue eyes searching mine. “What is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I—I used the spell Draven taught me,” I begin, my voice trembling. “The one to detect pregnancy. It... it showed three eggs.”

A slow smile spreads across his face, and he pulls me into a tight embrace. “Three? That’s... amazing. We’re going to have three little ones, Avery. Three little dragons running around.”

His joy is infectious, and I feel her fears easing slightly. “I’m scared, Clint. I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”

He holds me at arm’s length, his gaze intense. “You’re going to be an incredible mother, Avery. And I’ll be there every step of the way. We’ll figure it out together.”

His confidence boosts me, and I nod, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Thank you. For everything.”

Next, I seek out Conner. I found him in the library, his nose buried in a thick tome, his brow furrowed in concentration. He looks up when she enters, his blue eyes softening at the sight of me. “Avery,” he says, setting the book aside. “What’s wrong?”

I take a seat beside him, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. “I—I need to tell you something. Something important.”

His gaze sharpens, and he leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “Go on.”

“I used the pregnancy detection spell,” I begin, my voice steady despite my nerves. “It showed three eggs, Conner. Three.”

His eyes widen, and for a moment, he’s silent. Then, a rare smile breaks across his face, transforming his features. “Three?

That’s... incredible. We’re going to be parents, Avery. To three little ones.”

His reaction is so genuine, so full of wonder, that my heart aches. “I’m scared, Conner. I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”

He takes my hand, his touch grounding me. “You’re going to be amazing, Avery. And I’ll be here, every step of the way. We’ll figure it out together.”

His words echo Clint’s, and I feel a surge of gratitude. “Thank you. For everything.”

Finally, I seek out Cassius. I find him in the gardens, his broad shoulders tense as he paces back and forth, his hands clasped behind his back. When he sees me, his expression softens, and he approaches me, his blue eyes searching mine.

“Avery,” he says, his voice deep and steady. “What’s wrong?”

I take a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. “I—I need to tell you something. Something important.”

His brow furrows, and he steps closer, his gaze intense. “Go on.”

“I used the pregnancy detection spell,” I begin, my voice trembling. “It showed three eggs, Cassius. Three.”

His eyes widen, and for a moment, he’s silent. Then, a slow smile spreads across his face, and he pulls me into his embrace. “Three? That’s... incredible. We’re going to be parents, Avery. To three little ones.”

His joy is overwhelming, and I feel my ears melting away. “I’m scared, Cassius. I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”

He holds me at arm’s length, his gaze intense. “You’re going to be an incredible mother, Avery. And I’ll be here, every step of the way. We’ll figure it out together.”

His confidence buoys me, and I nod, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Thank you. For everything.” I am glad that they let me do this my way and I am grateful how easily they accepted this unexpected news. **Avery**

As the days pass, the household buzzes with excitement. Clint, Cassius, and Conner hire a cook named Michelle, who was one of those that I freed from Nightshade, to help manage the increased workload. At first, Michelle seems competent and efficient, her raven hair and emerald eyes adding a touch of exotic beauty to the household. But as time goes on, I begin to notice a shift in Michelle’s behavior. She becomes increasingly resentful, her smiles tight and her words laced with bitterness.

One afternoon, I overhear Michelle muttering under her breath as she prepares a meal. “She thinks she’s so special, doesn’t she? The great Avery, the leader of the household, Naga’s Queen. She has no idea what it takes to truly run things.” My stomach churns at the venom in Michelle’s voice. I had sensed something off about the cook from the beginning, but now, my instincts are screaming that something is deeply wrong.

As the days pass, Michelle’s behavior grows more manipulative. She begins to undermine my authority, subtly suggesting that she would be better suited to lead the household. She charms Clint, Cassius, and Conner with her culinary skills and flattering words, slowly driving a wedge between me and my mates. I tried to warn them, but my concerns are dismissed.

“Michelle’s just doing her job, Avery,” Clint says, his tone dismissive. “She’s a great cook, and she’s helping us out a lot.”

Cassius nods, his expression unreadable. “You’re probably just stressed with the pregnancy. Michelle’s not a threat.” But I know better. I can feel the tension building, like a storm cloud gathering on the horizon. Michelle’s true intentions are becoming clearer with each passing day, and I know that a confrontation is inevitable.

One evening, as the household gathers for dinner, the tension reaches a breaking point. Michelle serves a lavish meal, her smile tight as she watches me and my mates enjoy the food. But as I take a bite, I choke, my eyes widening in shock. The food is laced with a potent sedative, and within moments, Clint, Cassius, and Conner are slumping in their seats, unconscious.

My heart pounds in my chest as I realize Michelle’s plan. The cook steps forward, her emerald eyes gleaming with triumph. “Finally, the household will have a true leader. One who knows how to run things properly.”

My mind races as I try to think of a way to stop Michelle. With a surge of determination, I reach for my dragon magic, feeling the familiar heat building within me. “You won’t get away with this,” she snarls, her voice laced with power. “I won’t let you hurt my family. You messed with the wrong bitch. I will enjoy killing you!”

Michelle’s smile falters, and she takes a step back, her confidence wavering. “You think you can stop me? You’re just a pregnant weakling.”

My eyes narrow, and I unleash my magic as Draven taught me. I wish he was here but he is off enjoying time with Rory before Christmas and our trip to Talos. “Prepare to die,” I say as a blast of fire erupts from my palms. Michelle screams as the flames engulf her, but she’s quick, dodging the attack and lunging at me with a knife.

I laugh because a normal knife like that one can’t harm me and neither can a Dragon Blade. “You are a crazy bitch,” Michelle yells. The two of us grapple, our movements frantic as we struggle for control. My heart pounds in my chest, my mind racing as I try to think of a way to overpower Michelle. But the cook is strong, her movements fueled by desperation and rage.

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Just as Michelle lands a blow, a loud roar shakes the room, and James Balans bursts through the doors, his bright green eyes blazing with fury. “What’s going on here?”

Michelle freezes, her eyes widening in shock. “You—you’re supposed to be dead!”

James’s lips curl into a snarl, and he transforms into his dragon form, his massive wings unfurling as he towers over Michelle.

“You’ve made a grave mistake, Michelle. No one threatens my mate and gets away with it.”

Michelle’s face pales, and she tries to flee, but James is too fast, his claws closing around her as he lifts her off the ground. “Please—please don’t kill me!” she screams, her voice laced with terror.

James’s eyes narrow, and he snarls, his breath hot against Michelle’s face. “You’re lucky. But make no mistake, Michelle. If you ever threaten Avery or her family again, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

With that, he drops Michelle unceremoniously on the ground and turns to me, his expression softening. “Are you alright? Did she hurt you?”

“No! She must die! She was a dragon masquerading among wolves, she is an ally with Cora!” I used what magic I had left to send a shockwave followed by a barrage of elemental spells. Her lifeless body fell to the floor inches from the exit. I look at the familiar man and nod, my body trembling as the adrenaline wears off. “I’m fine. Thank you, for everything, but how did you get here?.”

James transforms back into his human form, his bright green eyes searching mine. “Always. You’re my mate, Avery. I’ll always protect you. You have dreamed of me as I have you. Ty’s temporary mark became ineffective the moment you entered Naga’s territory. I had no clue where you were until Tim found you at the mall. I have watched ever since. I would have helped you at Nightshade, but Michelle had tried to poison me when I was last there, when one of Warwick’s wolves went missing. I have been able to get through Naga’s enchantments since you brought Tim here. I used the enchantment you left on him. I will give it back to him when I return to Talos.”

I smile, “I am why she went missing. You can keep the enchantment. Tim and Trisha will mate soon and he won’t need an enchantment to see his mate anymore.”

He chuckles, “Of course you are.” Maybe all of those rumors about him are just that, rumors.

As the household begins to stir, Clint, Cassius, and Conner waking from their sedated state, I feel a surge of gratitude. I know that Michelle’s betrayal has left a mark, but with James by my side, I feel stronger than ever. But as I look into James’s eyes, I see a flicker of something—a shadow of uncertain