#lets go with they heard everything because ahhhhh 👀

[siderealxmelody]

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The Barrens were desolate, the smell of salt and sulfur in the air. The Venin were known for their magic, their weaponry.

He looked to Vale.

"So what do you have to give them?"

Vale stilled, looking to where Xaden and Violet were, looking back to Sebastian. His eyes shut and he stepped backwards.

"Just don't kill me in front of my daughter."

Sebastian rose an eyebrow at him, stepping toward him.

"Why would I -"

"I know who sent those Changelings to Terresan Sebastian."

Sebastian's mind went quiet, all those calculations freezing in his head. He latched onto Natalia, his mental grip tightening on his mate.

"Who?"

The hiss sounded like wind through the grass. He didn't reach for a weapon, too shocked. He knew Vale didn't like him, didn't like his tactics. But they'd all survived because of them, becuade of him and Natalia.

The children were forgotten for a moment, he remembered that night. It had felt like this, shock. Azriel and Aleksander had been terrified, hiding under their bed as the assassin had come to slit their throats.

If Xaden and Zimri hadn't jumped into action to get the boys out. If he and Natalia hadn't pinned the four of them away with Sarek's help....would he have mourned his youngest? Would he have lost more of them?

"My boys could have died Vale!"

Vale flinched and stepped back. He didn't look at him, couldn't meet his eyes.

Fucking coward.

"I know. Sebastian I know. I -"

"Why? Do you hate me that much -"

"Rhain. Rhain and Oraya hate you that much."

He blinked, taking a step back. It felt off balanced. Sure he and Rhain weren't the best friends, but he thought it all the past. Oraya was family, and maybe he thought that was important to them. To her.

"Why? Is this about Jona? Look I couldn't stop Bram from changing her or taking her away from -"

"Celestina. You and Natalia sent her back to her abuser Sebastian! Did you honestly think that wouldn't have consequences?"

Vale's voice held no heat, just exhaustion. Sebastian sneered, his magic finally sparking to life.

"All this over a bitch Rhain didn't even fuck? They knew her for all of a couple months Vale -"

"You sent her back to the male who Mated her without telling her! You sent her back to -"

"I sent her back to a Valg Prince who had a fucking army! You wanted to win your thrones or not? Morals don't exist in war Vale. You know that, you -"

Sebastian cut off, looking away from his glare. He didn't know how much the children heard. He didn't know what Violet told her father. He hoped that she loved him, he hoped that it was that she'd found her match.

Anything else was unacceptable.

Sebastian turned away, stalking forward.

"I won't kill you, I'll just turn your girl against you."

He looked back to Vale, thunder slamming above them. Neither moved, he'd lost the heat in his eyes.

"Sebastian -"

"We're given them the Nightborn kingdom. Do they have children?"

Vale shook his head, Sebastian tisked. He looked to the sky.

"I hoped they did. I hoped they would feel the fear Natalia and I did that night. I hoped they had to watch as their children were butchered before their eyes."

I need you here.

Vale sighed, touching her cheek.

"I suppose it's fine if you're coming with us."

He watched Sebastian and Xaden walk away. His lips thinning. He looked back to his youngest.

He couldn't think too long of his girls with a male, he didn't like dwelling on it. But he knew Tairn and Sygael were mates. And well, he wasn't an idiot.

"Is there anything going on between you two? Do you trust him?"

Because he wasn't a fan of Xaden but he'd heard nothing about him. He wasn't reckless or wild. He remembered how that boy had been in Kavalla, earnest, gentle, trusting.

Still that place had been a nightmare. He just - he hated that he would be okay with this if Xaden was sure. Because he knew his baby girl fell hard. But knew Sebastian's reputation, he was loyal to a fault. He hoped that was passed down to his son.

------

Sebastian ruffled his hair, beaming at his son.

"You did good. See I told you had nothing to worry about. Vale is asshole, he's just protective."

He shifted, focusing on putting his vambrances on. Sebastian was so damn proud of the malehe was becoming, both of them.

"You make me proud Xaden. Truly, you're coming into your own. We'll have to fly the natural way to get to them. I don't know if the dragons will want to take us."

The Vennin were rare among Changelings for their enslavement tactics. They raided hives, taking their young to be raised as slaves for them. They had a number of the Wyvern that way, it's how he'd been able to strike the deal with Tairn and Sygael all those years ago. Their own Natal hives had been targeted by Venin and taken over. Tairn and Sygael had been away in Doranelle with a few of their kin when it happened.

[baekhvuns]

Myeong-dong is HEAVEN or maybe it's actually hell lmao for people who love spending money (me). Seoul is really fun, it's not my first time visiting but this time I will have more opportunities to see all the places in peace - at least I hope so. I'm also planning on visiting some spots I've seen in Korean variety and dramas.

Okay, well I'm a Stay too, so let me 👀 that fic even though I don't read for SKZ often.

DL was a video game at first and I tried playing because VAMPIRES, but it was awful truly, it's not only bad but just very gross and toxic. I know the girl ended up with one of the guys eventually - ofc she did.

I hate my mind, because I will never write those stories and I can't just force other people to write them for me. 😭

Btw I started reading Pharaoh's Concubine even though I have other webtoon updates to catch up with. So far so good, I've always been into ancient history but I don't see many stories taking place in that period of time. So many of the fanfiction I'm reading remain not updated wtf is this a curse, lol? I was spoiled for a while, I got used to weekly updates I guess. 😭 I'm impatiently waiting for you to drop your Hwa fic! - DV 💖

HIHI <3

Myeong-dong is HEAVEN or maybe it's actually hell lmao for people who love spending money (me). Seoul is really fun, it's not my first time visiting but this time I will have more opportunities to see all the places in peace - at least I hope so. I'm also planning on visiting some spots I've seen in Korean variety and dramas.

IVE HEARD SO MUCH ABT IT !!!! omg but that’s so fun,,, no bc same id spend so much bc everything there is packaged so prettily ,,,,,, one of my friends is going there for the exchange and i have a few friends in sk and i ALWAYS see them at myeong-dong or hannam-dong side (as in posts) & they’re always dressed like next level— and it excites me bc they look so pretty BESTIE IF U GO HANAM DONG UN VILLAGE I WILL WRITE U THAT HWA FASHION DESIGNER FIC WITH THAT BAEK SONG I WILL !!!!! I WILL!!!!

AAAAAAAAA KDRAMA SPOTS IF U GET A CHANCE PLS GO TO THE MOON LOVERS ONE 😭😭😭😭 live the yn there where ur king hwa patiently waits for u to return <3 i think the place is baekje land? it has a museum inside (u will literally live the y/n im writing atm omg)

Okay, well I'm a Stay too, so let me 👀 that fic even though I don't read for SKZ often.

YES OFC here’s the collab post so many good ones here 🤌🏼🤌🏼 omfg there’s a hwa x reader x yunho oruan high schio- im gonna- cry

DL was a video game at first and I tried playing because VAMPIRES, but it was awful truly, it's not only bad but just very gross and toxic. I know the girl ended up with one of the guys eventually - ofc she did.

aWFULL the anime idk how ppl like it i can’t even stand it,, downright disgusting tbh 😭😭 like she just??? gave herself up???? 😭😭😭 i debated for a long time if it was just pwp i think it is— SHE ENDED UP WITH A GUY???

I hate my mind, because I will never write those stories and I can't just force other people to write them for me. 😭

HFKWHDKWDHKW ME TOO BUT I GIVE MY PLOTS AWAY TO PPL SO THEY CAN WRITE bc sometimes i be wanting to see them just not from my writing also bestie ik u like it when the roles r reversed in a fic, i forgot to mention i have a san wip! it’s where he’s reader’s younger brothers friend (3 year age difference) and san has had a FAT FAT crush on the reader fbwmfjsk

Btw I started reading Pharaoh's Concubine even though I have other webtoon updates to catch up with. So far so good, I've always been into ancient history but I don't see many stories taking place in that period of time.

AHHHHH IM SO GLAD U DO ITS A RLY GOOD ONE 😭😭😭😭 yeah me too!! it’s i think my first and only story that took place in like egyptian period of time,, plus it’s all finished so even better !!!!

So many of the fanfiction I'm reading remain not updated wtf is this a curse, lol? I was spoiled for a while, I got used to weekly updates I guess. 😭 I'm impatiently waiting for you to drop your Hwa fic! - DV 💖

NAURRR LITERALLY IM SO USED TO THE WEEKLY UPDATES THESE ONES GET ME SO IMPATIENT 😭😭🔫 omg bestie i will deliver this like very soon bc it’s almost near the end thank u 😭😭😭💓✨💓