h4Chapter 335: Broken No More/h4

    strongSebastian~/strong

    In that split second, as Cassandra’s hand slipped from mine, limp and lifeless, my entire world shattered like fragile ss under a hammer’s blow. The grand hall, still echoing with the remnants of Kalmia’s dying screams, blurred into nothingness.

    My knees buckled as I caught her crumpling body, pulling her close to my chest, her head lolling against my shoulder. Her skin felt unnaturally cool against mine, and panic surged through me like wildfire—raw, unrelenting, choking the air from my lungs. "Cass! Cassandra! No, no, wake up!" I shouted, my voice cracking, desperate. I shook her gently, my fingers trembling as they brushed her pale cheek. "My love, please... Cassy, darling, open your eyes!" I’d called her every name under the sun in our intimate moments—fierce warrior, my rogue queen, my everything—but now they tumbled out in a frantic plea, each oneced with terror. My body shook so hard it felt like it might explode, visions of losing her shing before me: the hunts, the battle we survived, the nights we’d stolen from fate. Not like this. No.

    The rush of footsteps thundered closer, but they barely registered through the haze around me. Jacob and Natalie were the first to reach us, both dropping hard to their knees on the cold stone floor. Jacob pressed a firm, steady hand against Cassandra’s forehead, his face set in that unreadable calm he wore when everything around him was a storm. Natalie knelt opposite him, her pale blue eyes sharp with worry as she reached for Cassandra’s wrist, fingers trembling slightly as she searched for a pulse.

    "Sebastian, brother, take a breath," Zane’s voice cut through the haze, his strong hand mping down on my shoulder like an anchor. He was there in an instant, his enigmatic presence a mix of kingly authority and the best friend who’d saved my life all those years ago. Zane kept his panic reined in unlike me. "She’s tough as nails. You’ve seen her take down worse than this."

    Fox slinked up beside him, his hair practically crackling with energy, a mischievous grin fighting through his worry. He was Fox, after all—always ready to ignite augh even in the darkest moments. "Yeah, vamp-boy, ease up. You’re squeezing her like she’s a stress ball. If she wakes up with bruises, she’ll me me for not stopping you."

    I shot him a re, but it was half-hearted—Fox’s humor was his way of lightening the load, and damn if it didn’t help a fraction. Still, my voice came out hoarse,ced with fear. "How can I calm down? She just... copsed. One second she’s standing strong, calling out that demon bitch, and the next—" I trailed off, stroking Cassandra’s hair, my thumb tracing the curve of her jaw. "Jacob, please... what’s wrong with her?"

    Jacob’s hand lit with a faint glow, that strange celestial energy humming in the air like it carried the weight of something ancient. He closed his eyes, steadying himself, and when they opened again a crease of thought pulled at his youthful face.

    "Just as I figured," he said, his voice low and heavy, the kind that carried like distant thunder. "Kalmia didn’t just use and manipte Cassandra—she started her soul transferring process a long time ago, back when Cassandra was still under her control. It was quiet, hidden... a thread of darkness stitched in deep. And when we ended her just now, she made onest desperate move—trying to survive by hijacking your mate’s body."

    My blood ran cold, colder than any vampire chill I’d ever felt. The thought of that demonic hag inside Cassandra, twisting her from within... "Did she seed?" I demanded, my voice rising in pitch, gripping Jacob’s arm without thinking. "Tell me straight, Jacob—did that monster get inside her?"

    Jacob met my gaze steadily, then ced his hand back on Cassandra’s head, a soft white light pulsing from his palm. After a tense beat, he smiled—that rare, warm smile that could calm a storm. "No, Sebastian. She didn’t seed. The bond you two share, your mate connection—it’s stronger than her shadows. But the attempt... it hit her like a bolt of lightning. Knocked the wind out of her sails, that’s all. She’ll wake soon. Trust me."

    Relief flooded me, but it was short-lived, tangled with the worry that had been gnawing at me for days. I exhaled shakily, still cradling her. "Thank God... or the Moon Goddess, or whoever’s listening. But Jacob, I’m still worried sick. She’s been looking so pale this past week—like the color’s drained from her face. She brushes it off every time I ask, says it’s just the stress from all this Kalmia crap. But werewolves don’t get sick, right? Not unless it’s something exceptional. Vampires like me, sure—we’re dramatic about sunlight and stakes—but her? This isn’t normal."

    Natalie ced a gentle hand on my arm, her touch warm and reassuring, like a sister’s. She’d transformed so much from that shy, broken girl Zane had found; now she was this outspoken force, her voice carrying that sarcastic edge when needed, but soft with kindness here. "Sebastian, hey—calm down, okay? Everything’s going to be fine. I promise. Kalmia was feeding on Cassandra’s energy for years. It was sneaky, just little sips here and there, so no one noticed. But recently? It doubled. Tripled, even. That’s why she’s been pale."

    I blinked, confusion mixing with the panic. "Why? What changed? Was Kalmia getting her revenge because we offended her?"

    Natalie’s eyes sparkled with a knowing glint, and she grinned—that sweet, in-love smile she usually reserved for Zane, but now it was all joy for us. "Oh, Sebastian... congrattions. Cassandra’s pregnant. And not just any pregnancy—this little one’s a vampire-werewolf hybrid. They’re going to need more energy than a normal baby, drawing from her reserves like a tiny powerhouse. That’s why the drain hit hardertely."

    The words hung in the air, and for a moment, I couldn’t process them. Pregnant? My mind reeled, shock freezing me in ce. Zane’s eyes went as wide as saucers beside me, his usuallyposed kingly facade cracking into pure astonishment. Me? A father? With Cassandra? The rogue hunter who’d once terrified the world, now carrying our child? A hybrid, no less—part vamp, part wolf, all miracle. I felt a grin split my face, wide and disbelieving, even as nonexistent tears pricked my eyes. Shock and joy crashed together like waves, leaving me breathless.

    Zane burst outughing—a deep, hearty sound that echoed through the hall—and pulled me into a bone-crushing hug, careful not to jostle Cassandra. "You sly vampire! A dad? Ha! This calls for a celebration. Sebastian Lawrence, co-founder of our empire, best friend extraordinaire, and now... diaper duty? I can’t wait to see you in action."

    Iughed too, the sound shaky but genuine, hugging him back one-armed while still holding her. "Shut up, you overgrown puppy. But... yeah. A dad. Holy hell. I’m gonna be a dad! "Then doubt crept in, my vampire senses straining. "Wait, Natalie—why can’t I hear a heartbeat? I’ve got enhanced hearing; I should have picked up something, right?"

    She shook her head, still smiling. "The baby’s still young, Sebastian—like three weeks old. No heartbeat yet; it’s too early. But I can see it right now, through her body. My powers lets me peek in—celestial perks and all. Trust me, it’s there, healthy and growing."

    Just then, Cassandra stirred in my arms, her eyelids fluttering open. Confusion clouded her brown eyes as she blinked up at me, her voice weak but steady. "Sebastian? What... what happened? Why am I on the floor? Did we win?"

    Relief exploded through me like fireworks. I scooped her up effortlessly—vampire strength had its perks—pulling her into a tight embrace, burying my face in her hair. She smelled like wild mangos and home, and I whispered against her ear, "Thank you, thank you, thank you. Gods, Cass, I love you."

    She pulled back slightly, still in my arms, her brow furrowed but a small smile tugging at her lips. "Okay, dramatic much? What’s going on? You’re hugging me like I just came back from the dead. Spill it, handsome."

    I cupped her face, my thumbs wiping away imaginary tears, my voice thick with emotion. "Natalie just confirmed it. You’re pregnant, Cass. We’re having a baby."

    Her eyes widened, disbelief shing across her features, and then the tears came—real ones, streaming down her cheeks. She shook her head, a sob escaping. "Pregnant? Me? But... how? I mean, I know how, but... a baby? Our baby?"

    I held her closer, rocking her gently as the others watched with soft smiles. "Shh, love, it’s true. A little hybrid miracle. I’ve always wanted a family and you’ve always wanted the same thing—I know you have. Remember thosete nights, whispering about dreams we thought were impossible? This is it. Our family."

    She clung to me, her tears soaking my shirt, but her voice was filled with raw joy amid the sobs. "I... I always wanted this. A real family, not the shadows Kalmia promised. With you. But I was so scared it’d never happen. We’re both broken people. Sebastian, we’re really...?"

    "Yes," I whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "We’re really going to be parents." Her tear-filled eyes locked on mine, searching.

    "And Cass..." I breathed, voice breaking as the tears spilled over her face.

    Brushing them away with my thumb, my chest tight. "We’re not broken anymore," I told her softly. "We’re whole now."

    The hall seemed to hold its breath around us, the weight of battles past lifting into something brighter. For the first time in forever, peace felt real—not just for the realms, but for us.