Nytherael room in the inn that Yiwa booked for him was cold and dimly lit. All the curtains were drawn, and Nythereal didn’t have the energy to pull them open.

He felt a sense of accomplishment when he set the decree on fire. After hearing what Sseraphis had to say about the world’s reaction to his decision, he no longer felt as guilty as he’d been at the start.

None of the beastfolk that were harmed were innocent. They suffered because of their deeds, it had nothing to do with him and for every beast to pin the blame on him entirely like it was his sole doing and his sole purpose to fix... tsk.

Nytherael clicked his tongue. He hated being told what to do and hated it even more when being manipulated.

He admitted that he was responsible for creating the drama and giving the world something to gossip about. But they were the ones who chose to talk about it, they chose to celebrate it and they chose to take trump in others’ sorrow.

Their toxic mindset had nothing to do with him. And they couldn’t blame him as he wasn’t even present while they threw a dynstany-wide party to celebrate the fall of their bond.

He lay flat on the thin bed. For the first time since waking up, his chest felt light. The burden of the world didn’t feel his to carry, and his husbands had been nice to him.

His fingers touched his cheek where Sseraphis had rested his face while asking him to pay the bill. He jiggled his foot and rolled around the small bed like the happiest beast in the world.

"Last night was present enough," Aeltharion’s admission of the previous night resonated and echoed deeply in him.

Nytherael acted like a youth falling in love for the first time. Thousands of butterflies flapped inside him.

The world was like a fairytale, and a happy ending at the end of the road didn’t seem like an impossible foot.

"I wish that we could reunite one day under the stars. I will await such a day," he said, getting to his feet.

Barefoot, he twirled around the room, hearing a non-existent love song in the background and imagining Aeltharion right in front of him.

"Lightning," he gave a curtsy. "May I have this dance?"

Aeltharion took his hand and clasped another about his waist while he wrapped his hands around his dragon’s neck.

They twirled and swayed around the room. Enjoying the moment as time froze still and watched them dance under the moonlight and stars.

Nytherael’s cheeks hurt from smiling too much. He enjoyed every moment of his daydream as he built new dreams in the clouds of the life he wanted with his husbands.

A life away from lume dynasty. It can be in the Abyssal Coil or the Western Skyrift. He didn’t mind as long as it was with them.

The first thing he’d do is resign. He no longer wished to work for ab Emperor that would celebrate his mistakes like he’d wishes for him to fall from the start.

After letting go of the title, he’d set off to find his husbands and kiss up to them endlessly until they agreed to keep him by their side.

Just then, Sseraphis cut in. "May I borrow, my beloved, for a moment, Aelthie?" He asked.

"You’ll have to ask him," Aeltharion said, giving Nytherael the choice to decide if he wished to end their dance and accept Sseraphis have a turn.

"May I have this dance, beloved?" Sseraphis’s soft eyes narrowed at him as he made the request.

Who was he to refuse? Nytherael broke free from Aeltharion and gave him a polite curtsy as Aeltharion offered him a bow before taking Sseraphis’ hand and picking up the dance, following the beautiful tune.

"I’ve missed days like this, Nythe," Sseraphis confessed.

"As have I."

"Do you recall the random dance parties we’d throw at home. They were so much fun because it was our way of unwinding, together."

How could Nytherael forget? In the days when Sseraphis would notice that either he or Aeltharion were upset or overworked, he’d have the servants play music and insist on a dance party.

The rules were simple, once someone calls out ’dance party’, they had to stop what they were doing, and all three of them would dance around the house like they were the only ones around.

There were never any rhythms or choreographed moves during such moments. As long as you moved your body and swayed to the music, it counted.

Nytherael smiled so hard, tears flowed down his eyes. The sweet memories were another lingering reminder that he’d messed up and had to work hard to win back Sseraphis and Aeltharion’s trust.

"How did I ever stop to think that this marriage wasn’t for me? How could I have invoked for divorce?" He asked.

"Those are questions that you have to answer for yourself."

"How in the world did I think to leave you both and settle for Ilyrien? Why couldn’t I see that the little moments were all the love I needed?"

"I can’t answer that for you. No one but you can," Sseraphis said and disappeared.

Nythereal was left standing in the middle of the room. The music died down as he pondered on what factors led him to think that their bond wasn’t for him.

Back then, he’d pursued Ilyrien for two years without break, but the beast rejected him each time with excuses of pursuing his career. Then, one day, Ilyrien left Lume dynasty and went to Kaftar.

After months of mourning his absence, his mother forced him to attend the fate banquet. A ceremony that takes place once every nine years. Where a window of fate is opened and fated mates would recognize each other.

He didn’t wish to go at first as Ilyrien wasn’t around, and he’d truly believed thar Ilyrien was his fate soulmate. So when the strings of fate chose the unlikely characters, a nine-horned dragon and a nine-headed snake as his mates, he was completely stunned.

Two moons appeared in the sky out of nowhere, and the world saw it as auspicious. Without waiting, their families urged them to get married with the promise that they’ll fall in love after and in haste, their rare trio-soul wedding/mating ceremony took place.

So when Ilyrien returned, he got lost and thought his marriage was just a compromise, and the one he loved was truly Ilyrien.

"I was wrong."