"Fifteen million views and seven point eight million likes in 2 days,"

Serenity's eyebrows rose at the numbers that were presented to her. She only released the single forty three second video to TikTok two days ago and its garnered more attention than she anticipated. Alana— the shy girl from the council— seemed pleased with the results as she read off the rest of the statistics from the video.

"What are our options here? I'm fully prepared to make this as official as possible but we can't do that if we restrict ourselves to this app." Serenity said as she sat perched in her chair at the head of the council table with her chin resting on her hand.

"Perhaps a live demonstration. By live I mean either in person with a large group of people, or a live stream of some sort." Alana replied from her seat. The rest of the chairs were vacant as Alana and Serenity brainstormed on their own. Serenity didn't trust any of the council besides Zavarius and zylan, but this woman was hard to read. Serenity couldn't tell if Alana had her own agendas or motives, or if she was simply just dedicated.

"That actually sounds perfect. Maybe if we start with the live stream we could use that to set up a in person demonstration somewhere, the real question is where." Serenity said as she furrowed her eyebrows in thought.

"So you intend to do a demonstration on live stream and in person?" Alana asked confirming her words. Serenity nodded as she rose from her seat.

"Precisely Alana. I'll take my leave now, you can sort out all that paperwork." Serenity said dismissing herself as she gestured to the papers scattered across the table. Alana nodded as she quickly rose to her feet, trying to keep up with the abruptness of her departure.

"O-of course." She stuttered out as Serenity made her way out the door. She sighed as she stepped outside the council room and headed for her room. She received various greetings from the people she passed as she made her way in long strides.

Serenity pushed her room door open, expecting to see Amanthy in the vicinity and found that she was no where in site. Her eyebrows furrowed as she turned swiftly on her feet to go find her mate.

——

"Amanthy"

Zavarius broke her from her thoughts as he leaned forward across the table to get her attention. She met the gaze that was extremely similar to her own as she shook her head.

"Sorry, I'm just thinking about a lot." she replied as she swept the strands of hair that framed her face back. Zavarius met her eyes with a concerned expression.

"You know you can talk to me, right?" He said. Amanthy looked around at the various faces that also occupied the room, ears that were practically as good as hers.

"My problems are beyond my reach, ones I don't have the jurisdiction to fix" Amanthy said cryptically, knowing that her brother would likely be smart enough to get the idea. She watched a look of confusion be replaced with realization as he processed her words.

"I see" he muttered leaning back in his chair. Amanthy watched the reels turning in his head as he crossed his arms and rose two fingers to rub his temple— a habit she noticed he hadn't shook after all this time. Zavarius changed in the years she's been gone, more tattoos and a nose piercing, not to mention he cut all his hair off leaving his hair shaved low and lined.

The two sat in silence as they each got lost in their own thoughts. Amanthy couldn't stop thinking about Serenity and what it would mean if she continues with her obligation. She wanted to call Mgs bluff badly, but she also knew she couldn't take that risk. Amanthy saw the video Serenity posted and she knew if she continued there was only so long until everyone realizes it's not just some internet prank— she needs to do something about this now.

Amanthy rose from her seat with a newfound determination as her eyebrows furrowed. Zavarius took in his other half as storms raged on in her head.

"I'll catch up with you later, I have a few things to handle" she said barely giving her brother a chance to reply before taking long strides to exit the dining hall and immediately bumping into someone on the way out. If she wasn't so distracted by her thoughts she would've heard the approaching footsteps. What alarmed her was the immediate tingles she felt when contact was made.

"I've been looking for you." Serenity said tilting her head as she took in the older woman's expression. Amanthy was conflicted and they both knew it as they held eye contact just outside the dining hall.

"Oh no sweetheart, I've been looking for you," Amanthy said taking a step further into Serenity's personal space. She could hear the hazel eyed woman's heart beating rapidly in the confinement's of her chest as she dared to lean closer. "You and I need to have a conversation" she added to her statement as she took a step back and Serenity released a audible breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

"Lead the way, Amanthy" Serenity replied after regaining her composure. It almost made her sick how much power Amanthy actually had over her— how all it took was a look, or just simply her getting close enough.

The two walked in silence as they made their way through the halls. The silence proved to be comforting as they each collected their thoughts, thinking of what to say or ask the other. Serenity had a good idea as to how she could get Amanthy to talk— to get actual answers from her, she also knew it didn't matter to her, she would get her answers whether Amanthy told her or not although she wouldn't prefer the latter.

Meanwhile Amanthy was cooking up a plan to stop her mate from completely exposing her kind, if she could just do that then they're home free, right? If only it were that simple she thought.

Amanthy stopped at the double doors that led to the garden. A small smile tugged at their lips as they took in the memories that came with entering this room. Back when Serenity was just a girl and Amanthy was simply a much older one. Back when Serenity didn't know about energy, or the fact that it was what powered the entire palace.

They entered the room slowly as they took in the glow of the room. It was just as Amanthy remembered. She reached her hand out to touch one of the plants that seemed to come alive the closer her flesh got.

Serenity observed her with an unintentional smile that she couldn't help as Amanthy took in the room that was once hers too. To think that a decade later— Serenity would be the one sharing her world with Amanthy this time around. She didn't want it to only be her world, she wanted it to be theirs.

"So, I've seen your little video" Amanthy said breaking Serenity from her stare.

"And what about it, did I look good or something?" Serenity inquired with a teasing smile. She knew this conversation could get heavy and fast so she decided to keep it as light as possible for as long as she could manage.

"Yes my love, as always, but of course that wasn't my true concern." Amanthy replied fighting off her own smile as she faced Serenity and once again stepped forward to invade her space. The mate bond was like fire between them, beckoning them closer to the heat and it proved to be infuriating especially during situations like these.

"Oh? Was it the smirk, I may have overdid it with the charm." Serenity bantered again as she avoided the real reason for the subject being brought up. Amanthy gave her a look as the seriousness of the conversation began to kick in.

"How about you exposing supernaturals, let's talk about that" Amanthy said, deciding to just go with being direct although she knew Serenity was kidding.

"Let's talk about it then. We have a overpopulation problem Amanthy, this is me solving it." Serenity said unapologetically as she shrugged.

"No you don't get to just brush something like that off, overpopulated or not— this is something that we've kept to ourselves for well over two thousand years, it's not to be taken lightly." Amanthy said as she restrained herself from raising her voice.

"I'm not brushing it off, I'm saving myself the stress. Whether you like it or not, eventually there will be too many of us and when there is, someone will slip up and say something or expose themselves. Hell I'm surprised it hasn't happened already, do you have any idea how much our numbers have gone up? The vampires and werewolves especially." Serenity replied with a growl, matching the impatient tone that was given to her.

"There are other solutions." Amanthy said, knowing she couldn't even think of one. Perhaps she was wrong, perhaps she wasn't, but she knew the consequences if she didn't get somewhere with this debate.

"Like what Amanthy, please enlighten me because I've thought of everything! You're trying to make me out to be the bad guy who just wants to throw everything out the window and say fuck it right?" Serenity said heatedly as she lessened the distance between them.

"Serenity what makes you think humanity is ready for something like this?" Amanthy asked keeping her voice much more leveled then her lover.

"I don't know Amanthy, but what's done is done." The other woman replied controlling her tone this time.

"I can't sit by while you do this, to jeopardize everything I've built!" The emerald eyed woman replied as she raised her voice for the first time during their argument.

"Well that's too damn bad Amanthy" Serenity replied with an unwavering gaze. The tension in the room could be cut with a knife, and if looks could kill— Serenity would most definitely be six feet under right now.

For the first time in ages, Amanthy theoris was seething as she inhaled and exhaled ragged breaths. Serenity could proudly admit that she was loving every second of it— Amanthy was a fine specimen especially when she was angry.

"You know love, you're quite attractive when u do that thing with your eyebrows." Serenity said with a smirk as she guided their bodies closer. She furrowed her own eyebrows as her smirk slowly dissipated. "But let's not forget about our other little problem with you being dishonest and all." She finished with a shrug. Amanthy tried to ignore the first comment but of course she felt heat rise to her cheeks as she took in everything else.

"Withholding the truth is not always equivalent to lying, especially when there are circumstances behind it." Amanthy replied defensively at the change of subject.

"It is to me Amanthy. How long will you keep this up for? We can't go on like this forever." Serenity said meeting her mates eyes with a heavy intensity.

"I truly wish I could tell you Ren, I do— but there are reasons I can't do that." Amanthy said sternly. Serenity felt her own anger rising as she processed her words. If Amanthy was this adamant about keeping her little secret, that simply meant it was beyond her control— but that's where Serenity found the opening.

There was only one simple explanation Serenity could come up with in her thought process— if Amanthy had no control over this particular situation that meant only one person could be involved, the only person who has a jurisdiction over Amanthy, or even the power to threaten her.

"Mg" Serenity said more as a statement than a question. No one else would've noticed the crack in Amanthys' stoic expression, but Serenity saw it all— the way her lips slightly went downward into a subtle frown, or how her eyes widened by the tiniest bit— effectively telling Serenity everything she needed to know, and now that she does, she'd Make sure there would be hell to pay

————

A/N: idk wassup with everyone reading the first book all of a sudden but I'm not complaining. Thanks for the support.

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