#lamrian

[nightboundfanfiction]

Mod dotm, you are the best!!! Thx!!! FINALLY CONTENT!!! Thanks for the treat. If you could tell how the progress of the new Pre-Sequel is going and when it might Release...? That would be perfect. Thx. Kisses.

You happy makes me happy 🥰… and motivated!

(You might become my favorite anon if you keep this up 😂)

As of progress. Can’t share too much sadly. But I have done a big chunk of a particular challenging scene. A lot of my time goes to lore building and expanding atm. (More than I initially planned) It has to be logical in terms of NB 1 & 2. Sometimes I get a little bit too excited about my ideas and get carried away 🫣, making a scene longer than planned. Let’s just say it is becoming a wild web of connections! Genius and madness, two sides of the same coin. That’s why it takes some time. 🐉

But fyr not, I’ll have same treats still left in my basket for the future. 🧺—>🍭🍬

The night is still too young to be bound…or some other cryptic saying…

[rosesnink]

CHOICES MC AW 25; TERRIFIC HEROES, OTHER BOOKS EDITION

nightbound

bloodbound

immortal desires

kindred

the elementalists

wake the dead

[garrusknight]

[ladylamrian]

Royal Fae Wedding in Lamrian 👑

Lady Alexis of Lamrian 💍 Nik Ryder (finally!!)

Thanking wholeheartedly the talented artist @pilitella for creating this & @indiacater commissioning. It's such a wonderful gift and I feel very honored. I really adore the golden-white wedding theme colors. Thanks for making my (and Alex's) dream come true. My babies deserve each other. Hopefully one day, I will write a fanfic about it since it's hard to imagine Nik getting married, but she changed him. After several challenges and difficulties to face... They'll find each other. It'll be a long journey for her to become his Mrs. Ryder.

[choicesjanuary2025]

WELCOME | PROMPTS | RULES | HOST | MASTERLIST

@cadybear420

Rolling On Forward (HSS fic, Aiden x MC)

Seasons of Life - A Poem for Evie (HSS poem, MC)

Evie-loution AKA Evie's Series of Appearance Glow-Ups from Elementary School to Berry High (HSS edits, MC)

Evie-loution Headcanons (HSS headcanons, MC)

@choicesmc

First Meetings (ID fic, Cas x MC)

flowers for friends (BOLAS fic, MC)

@endlessflame

Riley and Basia Ryenne enjoy a picnic in the snow (TRR, TRH edit, MC & OC)

@jerzwriter

A Night to Remember (OH fic, Ethan x MC)

First Date (COP fic, Trystan x MC)

A Not So Chance Encounter (OH fic, Tobias x MC)

Strictly Professional (or not...) (OH art commission and fic, Tobias x MC)

Poe & the Purring Tyrant (OH fic, Tobias x Casey)

@ladylamrian

Clara and Her Nutcracker (D&D fic, Ernest x MC)

Lamrian's Sleeping Beauty (NB fic, Nik x MC)

@liaromancewriter

Winter Wonderland (OH fic, Ethan x MC)

After the Party (OH fic, Sienna x OC)

Alternate Universes (OH fic, Ethan x MC)

Snowed In (OH fic, Ethan x MC)

@loreofyore

Unexpected (COP art commission, Sebastyan x MC)

@rjschoicesstuff

Happy New Year (BOLAS art, Tyril x MC)

@storyofmychoices/ @lovealexhunt / @theartoflovingthomashunt

Happy New Year (OH art commission, OH MC)

A New Year to Remember (OH edit, Insta fic, Bryce x OC)

Love Springs Eternal (BOLAS fic, Mal x MC)

Happy Birthday, Thomas! (RCD art commission and fic, Thomas x MC)

Alex Spencer (RCD art, OC)

@tessa-liam

Marabelle series, chapter 18 (TRR, Liam x OC)

[ladylamrian-archive]

Alex ✨️ She/Her ✨️ 25 years old ✨️ ♓️

Place of birth: Wyoming

Current location: New Orleans, Louisiana

Title: Lady of Lamrian 👑

Occupation: Business, Human Resources

Eye color: Brown

Hair color: Silvery-black

Languages: English, animal language

Personality: curious, brave and kindhearted

Fears: Not meeting her mother's expectations. Also, letting her friends, family and Lamrian down or seeing them in harm.

Dream job as a child: Fairy 🧚🏼‍♀️

Favorite colors: Red, Blue & Purple ❤️💙💜

Favorite gemstone: Amethyst (birthstone)

Trademark: Fairy with Crown

Favorite animal: Peacock 🦚

Hobbies: reading fantasy/fairytale books & playing the violin since childhood 🎻

Likes: Nap time

Dislikes: getting belittled, underestimated and be the damsel in distress

Organizations & Clubs: Martial Arts Club in Middle School, Cheerleading Club in Highschool

Secrets: had a secret crush on the handsome fae, Garrus when Nik introduced him for the very first time. But it only lasted short after finding out that Garrus and Krom had feelings for eachother. However she still finds Garrus charming, but Nik Ryder is her only true love.

Family: Jacqueline Fontaine (mother), Christian Fairchild (adoptive father), Elric (long-lost biological father), Thalissa (stepmother), Tialo (stepbrother)

Role in a group: Trouble Magnet

Magical abilities: seeing through the glamour spell, Light Prism, Hand Blast, healing powers, animal communication & conjuring a photokinetic blade

Lover: Nik Ryder 💋

Pet: Tinkerbell, the perrikin (owl-kitten)

Inspirational Quote: "I survived because the Magic inside me burned brighter than the Magic around me."

❤️💙💜❤️💙💜❤️💙💜❤️💙💜❤️💙💜❤️💙💜

[choicesfandomappreciation]

Choices Fandom Shout Out

Sorry 🥺 I wish I was more active on tumblr and not busy with stressful real life. I miss talking with you. Or even interacting. I haven't forgotten you...

@dutifullynuttywitch Lucifer's Angel Girlie, Mal's elf and Cal's fairy lady. My bestie!!! Sorry, I wish I was more active on tumblr and not busy with real life. I miss talking with you. Or even interacting. I haven't forgotten you. I'm glad we met when I found out you were new in the fandom, I immediately had to give tips, introduce myself and the fandom to you. You're so lovely.

@bri1234 My fairy wonderful who always supports me fairy much. And ahhh, we have the same taste in Choices Books, Aesthetics, Fantasy, Fairy and Love Interests. We are so alike.

@infactnoimmasitinthemiddle I miss you soooooo much, my Nik Ryder lover friend and biggest supporter. When will you return? Come back!!! Our favorite nighthunter needs us. Been writing fanfics and wondering how you might find them. You motivate me. I hope you're doing well. Take care, study hard, drink water <3

@artbyalz I miss you and your wonderful art. Aerin misses you too and will return soon in BOLAS 3 this year. I miss you. You're always so giving, so generous and I'm a huge fan of your art. So beautiful. I'm glad we met and became close friends, ma copine. When you were new, I introduced myself and welcomed you in the Fandom.

@pilitella My gorgeous, new friend. I know you're no longer active in Choices but I really like you. You're so sweet and it's so cute to chat with you. Damien Nazario <3

@lilyoffandoms my first huge supporter and first member in my fanfic tag list (I think). You support everyone in the fandom, make beautiful art and I enjoy your writing. When I met you new I was always shocked how much you write in a day and if that was possible. Keep going, fandom supporter.

@tessa-liam , your Royal Highness, Queen of Cordonia and new best friend of the Lady of Lamrian. I don't know how we met or how you find me, but I'm glad you did. Or did I found you?? Whatever. You're always the first reader in my fanfics and never muss them. Thanks for suppoting me.

@mikaelsrose I absolutely know that you are no longer in the Choices fandom except for Blades of Light & Shadows. May I say that I miss talking with you? But I'm pretty sure we'll talk more again, just give me time with Romance Club to catch up, okay? Haha. You're super talented, Vee. And funny, lol. Keep going. I admire you, vee vee

@secretaryunpaid The always supporter who always supports others and creates beautiful edits. Like gorgeous edits. Like wow... Thanks for the edits you gifted me so far and always reblogging my writing. I hope you enjoy. Thanks.

@embarrassingsmartphonegame I know we never met and never talked, but you're my number 1 Nightbound writer. Because of you and your Leah Mendoza, I started writing for our favorite book and loving Nik and the Nightbound book even more. If you ever come back, kniw that there are still readers like me who are waiting for your fanfics. If you ever return. Thanks for what you did before and your fanfics.

@hopelessromantic1352 You seriously didn't thought I would forget you, friend. Hah, I didn't. How are your horses doing? I miss you, your fanfics and your Lexie. When do I get to read more of Lexie & Nik?

@american-duchess Less active in the fandom? So what? Here, get a hug, hot chocolate and a lot appreciation. You deserve it and thanks for being just here. I like talking with you, friend. Drake too.

@peonierose Wasn't green your favorite color first? Well, who cares. We all love pink. Pink, Sparkle, Fairy, Glitter, Kittens, Unicorns, Rainbow... Aaaahh, so cute!! Summer and Bryce are your favorite words too. What's the next adventure of Bryce and Luna? And will Gretel and Hansel return?

@choiceschatter You're so lovely, kind and really support me. Thanks for recommending me RC and I hope we will talk more. Life is too busy. Have a hug.

@mozartholvdehwk Study hard, friend. I miss you. I hope you will return back in our small fandom and gush with me again

@harleybeaumont My Birthday Twin!!! How are you? I hope you and Maxwell Beaumont are doing squid-tastic. You deserve happiness and all good things in the world

@jerzwriter I love your blog style and Aesthetics sooo much. Like sooo pretty and very seasonal. You're so friendly and supportive to everyone. Thank you for you Services and events on cfwc

@liaromancewriter Thank you for being so friendly and lovely to me. I always wonder why people even interact with me, lol. And biggest thank for taking over the cfwc and keeping it alive with hard work.

@zoeywades-spouse I just heard your wife, Zoey Wade saying that she misses you very much and so do I, bestie. You're very pleasant and fun to talk with. And yes, it's always missing old Angel Dino time here.

@mxdanni My lovely friend and supporter whose very old Nightbound fanfics inspired me to write my own. I have build my own World because of the old, fellow Choices fandom members who I thank very much.

@cadybear420 Eeeekkk, hello. You're such a wonderful and nice person to talk with. Sorry, I wish we would have talked more but life gets busy. But still, you're awesome. And I miss High School Story Original too

@storyofmychoices , thank you for holding the fandom together, running the book club, using the choices community Blog and hosting Events. You make it a fun place

@cashweasel Thanks for your great art and spreading it all across the fandoms. I still like the art you created for me once. Pretty

@angelasscribbles You're wonderful and I'm thankful to have you in our little fandom. Such a lovely person you are. King Liam is so lucky to have you.

@jdstar88 In honor of Choices Fandom Appreciation may I shout out how awesome you and your @thedistantshoresproject is. Jamie, you're passionate of what you love and very friendly. Thanks for your Support. Can't wait for your DS Game and your own Nightbound×Heaven's Secret crossover

Thanking the mod of @bloodboundsiege for creating the game for us. I can't wait and am so excited. Also, love your fashion sense

@korgbelmont Thanks for supporting the fandom, being part of it and serving us with transparents. It's completely understandable. Do whatever you wish and enjoy. Besides... I don't know anyone who uses transparent of the newer books to create something. Old Choices Classics are the best. And I like your genre taste too

@rosesnink Thank you for interacting with me. You're such a lovely person. I don't know what interested you in me, but still... Thanks. And thanks for making me love Desire & Decorum love more. And I want more Ernest Sinclaire time. One of the best.

@musicallisto You may be no longer active in Choices fandom and that's understand. But it doesn't stop me either to shower everyone (Fandom member or not) with appreciation and love. Also, my Desire & Decorum Main Character has the same name like you, Clara. Clara & Ernest = Clarnest. I love still reading your old fics

@clansayeed Thank you for everything and your wonderful Bound by Obliv. Series. Srry

@stars-are-within-me Thanks for your wonderful art gift. I wish we had interacted more before you left the fandom

@thosehallowedhalls I miss you. Thanks for the wonderful time we had in the fandom

💛

[choicesficwriterscreations]

CFWC F/AtoW: Sep 29 - Oct 5, 2024

✒️ = Fanfic | 📱 = Text Fics/Edits | 🎨 = Fanart Ⓜ️ = Mature Content 18+ | 🔥 = Explicit/NSFW 18+ 🏳️‍🌈 = LGBTQIA+

BLADES OF LIGHT AND SHADOW

Die With A Smile 🎨 | Aerin Valleros x F!Human!MC - @erixadraws

My home was never a place 🎨 | Mal Volari x F!Human!MC - @wisejazz C: @storyofmychoices

Nia & Raya 🎨 | Nia Ellarious & F!Human!MC - @erixadraws

Orc Encounters a Girl ✒️ | F!MC & F!OC - @rosesnink

CRIMES OF PASSION

Falling For You ✒️🔥 | M!Trystan Thorne x F!MC - @jerzwriter

DESIRE & DECORUM

Thomas Coleman 🎨 | M!OC - @cashweasel C: @rosesnink

LAWS OF ATTRACTION

Vandelez 🎨🏳‍🌈 | Martin Vaderwall x NB!MC - @angrybbuing C: @oh-so-youre-a-nerd

THE NANNY AFFAIR

Breakfast in Bed ✒️ | M!Sam Dalton x F!MC - @eadanga

NIGHTBOUND

Bound by Fate (Series) ✒️ | Multiple Characters - @ladylamrian Chapter 7: Brother

Royal Fae Wedding in Lamrian 🎨 | Nik Ryder x F!MC - @pilitella C: @ladylamrian

Vera Reimonenq 🎨 | Vera Reimonenq - @lilyoffandoms

OPEN HEART

Complete Open Heart F/AtoW List: Sep 29 - Oct 5, 2024

THE ROYAL ROMANCE

A Game of Love (Series) ✒️ | Liam Rys x F!OC - @kristinamae093 Chapter 1: Crown Chapter 2: Sisters

CROSSOVERS

High School Story / Princess Swap

The Prince Swap (Series) ✒️ | M!MC & M!MC - @lover-also-fighter-also, @cadybear420 Chapter 1: Worlds Collide

[saibug1022]

MCs Masterlist

Blades of Light and Shadow

Asterin Nightbloom

It Lives

Val Ebony/Aquino - It Lives In The Woods

Leon Vance - It Lives Beneath

Castor Athantis/Flint - It Lives Within

Julian Athantis - It Lives Within

The Elementalists

Apollo Solaris

Lance Hartley - OC

Crimes of Passion

August Rose

Immortal Desires

Eros Blackwell

Into the Windverse/Laws of Attraction

Magnus Bishop

Endless Summer/Hero Crossover

Taylor Vaanu/McKenzie - Endless Summer

Callum Wyland - Hero

Bloodbound/Nightbound

Mattheo Lazarin - Bloodbound

Percy Lamrian - Nightbound (Coming Soon)

Murder at Homecoming

Valentine "Damian" Stone

The Cursed Heart

Emrys

Desire & Decorum

Genevieve Aurelia/Sinclaire

Anneliese Harper (Coming Soon)

High School Story

Asher Williams

Ren Abello - OC

[dutifullynuttywitch]

How would the fae court of Lamrian react about Aurelié and Cal their romantic relationship? Dating and Aurelié 's boyfriend be not only a human BUT A WEREWOLF???!!!

Oh they would not be happy! The nobles would revolt. But Lady Thalissa would be supportive and Cal, ever the gentleman, would eventually gain the acceptance of enough members of the Fae court that they would leave them be.

But Aurélie's not interested in court life. She attends the most important events, but chooses to live with Cal in the little house in the bayou they share with his little brother.

They regularly go out hunting demons and night creatures with Nik and Katherine. On quiet nights, Cal plays her favorite songs on the piano, while she reads or plays board games with Donny.

[tessa-liam]

Cutest Choices baby ever 😍😍 Before I even met Princess Elenore or read TRH, I always imagined my Nightbound MC's daughter/heir of Lamrian look like this for years 🩷🧚🏼‍♀️🌸

She is a beautiful sprite!

On my next playthrough. I am changing her look to dark hair 😁

[nightboundfanfiction]

An early holiday treat from me (mod DOTM) to our followers 🍬

Follow the trail ->

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BEWARE: READ WITH CAUTION ---- SPOILERS OF WIP

I am serious, if you don't want to be spoiled, don't read it.

(I know you want to...) 😏

(don't read please, it's for your own good....)

Still here?

Sneaky 🤣

🍬

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In hounour of the Arcane S2 releasing on Netflix, I made a spoiler board for Katherine's route in our spin off series Nightbound: Origins.

BEWARE: This has zero context, is probably not related to anything I write, AND Might be UNHINGED (a lot) 🍌

It is up to you to trust my word with this, or don't...

So enjoy this "gift" (might be cursed ) for the holidays... I guess

Very demure, very mindful of me.

PS.. Anyone seen Arcane S2?

So long

Unhinged Mongoose MOD DOTM

[a-cloud-for-dreams]

Ok so I've mentioned this a bunch of times on my blog by now but I've been trying to speedrun all of the Choices books and I'm so glad I am because there are some underrated gems out there! I'm almost done with TC&TF Book 1 and that book had a ton of love interests so I was inspired to make a top ten list to organize my thoughts. This post will be under development as I play more books or change my mind lol

Top Ten Books/Series

Bloodbound Series - This book is literally one of the best series PB has ever put out. To be fair, it should be under Blades and TC&TF, I would argue that these three books deserve top place. But it would be harder to combine my Bloodbound explanation with the other two fantasy books so here you go. Contrary to most, I did like the first book, wasn't my favorite, but it was a good intro to the series. I like that the world slowly grew as we learned more about vampires and it felt complete and like it had something to say. Thank @gaiuskamilah for my further obsession with the series lol

Blades of Light and Shadow Book 1/The Crown and the Flame Book 1 - I couldn't choose but they're both AMAZING BOOKS ugh I can't say enough good things about them. The choices actually matter and the plot was so good. Every chapter had a purpose and the conclusion felt so satisfying. The scoring system and skills for both books was super cool, we need more books like them <33

Crimes of Passion Series - Definitely a Top Tier MC!!! I liked the mystery (Book 2's reveal wasn't great but the chaotic Thorne siblings make up for it) and Trystan is the best single LI we've had in a while, their dynamic with Rose was *chef's kiss*

Perfect Match Series - I LOVED this series and our friend group/love interests so much. They all felt like unique people with their own experiences and the plot was so amazingly intense. The finale of Book 1 was UNMATCHED we won't ever live to experience something that iconic ever again smh. It took a while for the plot to kick in, which is why it's lower on the list

The Elementalists - I'm a sucker for elemental magic systems/magic schools, and I love our friend group/family so much. Atlas is the coolest twin, and the whole sun/moon dynamic was fun! Being a powerful Sun-Att boosted my ego astronomically. I wish we got another book to see our mom more though

It Lives in the Woods - I like that the premise was relatively simple, along with the game mechanics. Your actions had real consequences and it was more immersive. The flash-forward in the last chapter was super sweet too and I like that the anthology was interconnected. This series also gave us an amazing friend group and set of LIs so I'm thankful <3

Open Heart Book 1 - Simply iconic, grounded in reality, and actually put together imao. It was one of the peaks of our fandom. This book is super nostalgic for me because I'm interested in the medical field, and it's the whole reason I'm posting Choices content here in the first place

Ride or Die - I adore this book. It felt complete on its own EVEN IF IT DESERVED A SEQUEL *side-eyeing PB* and it's a great coming-of-age story with a realistic teen MC. The ending was bittersweet and you felt changed by the experience playing the book

Nightbound - I liked the vibes and the idea more than the execution if that makes sense? I love the idea of Lamrian and how the MC is half-fae and super powerful, but the book didn't have enough time to showcase the supernatural world compared to Bloodbound, which focused on vampire lore. I can probably make a whole separate post on this but yea

The Royal Romance/The Royal Heir - I think, again, I like the vibes of the series more than the flawed execution, but because it went on for so long I kinda of got attached to the characters (mind you I didn't play or finish any of the books) but it's super fluffy and sweet and iconic for Choices history so here <3 a lot of the books like ROE, TRM, and TC&TF are interconnected so it's part of the foundation for the PB Choices Multiverse :) to be fair, it looks like they did a somewhat decent job writing the conflicts for each book?

I have a feeling when I finish Endless Summer, this list is gonna change...

EDIT: I totally forgot about The Heist: Monaco, but it was amazing! TRR/TH should be bumped down to honorable mention, I'll change it at some point-

Honorable Mentions

A Courtesan of Rome - The book took awhile for me to get through but my MC is legendary and carried the book so it's up here lol. I also liked that it felt like a historically accurate book?

Platinum - Cool commentary on the darker sides of fame and the music >>>

Veil of Secrets - The plot was interesting, one of my fave mystery books they've written! Also the characters >>>

Mother of the Year - Wholesome and felt finished, def one of the best single books. Also the antagonists were properly despicable so...good writing

Wake the Dead - It wasn't perfect, but I love zombie apocalypse stories and the idea of rebuilding our camp was so cool so idc how flawed it is <3

Foreign Affairs - The ending was rushed and the premise should have been rewritten but more on that on a later date. It was still fun for me to play

Desire and Decorum - I finished book 1 and I really liked it! it's basically the Choices version of Bridgerton, not historically accurate but super entertaining. The vibes and the LIs were amazing

Kindred - Pacing issues but still entertaining, I love the witch lore that they had in the book and the focus on building both platonic and romantic relationships so I'm not complaining

Top Ten Love Interests In No Particular Order

Trystan Thorne

Bryce Lahela

Kamilah Sayeed

Damien Nazario

Kaine Bell

Raleigh Carrera

Aerin Valleros

Jax Matsuo

Colt Kaneko

F!Hayden Young

Honorable Mentions (Again, No Particular Order)

Drake Walker (listen LISTEN I don't like that he sidelined other LIs, and I absolutely HATE how his character was a total contradiction, it was executed poorly, but I like the idea of his route if that makes sense. Some of the banter was cute and I love the whole grumpy x sunshine trope. I'm pretty sure he took a bullet for me lol)

Raydan Lykel (Solely because I haven't finished the series yet)

Mal Volari (He would have been in Top Ten but I had to bump him down because his Book 2 Route isn't working)

Tyril Starfury

Nia Ellarious

Prince Hamid

Tatum Mendoza

All of the Nightbound Love Interests are amazing I just couldn't fit them on the list

Gaius Augustine

Alana Kusuma

Rainier (Kindred)

Thomas Mendez

Flynn O'Malley

Olivia Nevrakis (she had so much potential omg)

Robin Flores and Sofia Russo (in my world, they're LIs just shush)

[garrusknight]

I have an idea for a cool edit of yours: Drake meeting ILITW cat and Threep and Leaf in Lamrian

And here is a bonus edit with the perrikin

[ladylamrian]

✨️ Holidays with the Fae

Female Main Character: Alexis (Alex)

Pairings: F!MC×Nik/F!MC×Cal/F!MC.../ none

Summary: Christmas is coming... Will Alex have her Happy Holidays with her friends?

Word Count: 7.9K words

Rating: General (Fluff, Adventure, Winter's Past, Friends)

Warnings: none

-> My complete Nightbound Masterlist <-

Choices Fanfiction Taglist: @jdstar88 ; @tessa-liam ; @mariemarieohcontrary ; @rosepetals1 ; @stars-are-within-me ; @dutifullynuttywitch ; @artbyalz ; @bri1234 ; @thosehallowedhalls ; @choicesficwriterscreations and whoever wants to join...

Comments via Reblog wholeheartedly welcome

Author's note: Old fanfic rewritten.

The streets of New Orleans darkened under a starry sky, a winter breeze spread around the people and Christmas was only a few days away. Alexis Clarissa Fontaine was on her way to the Graveyard Shift to meet her friends when her eyes fell on a happy family walking down the street. They were carrying Christmas presents in their hands, wrapped in glittering paper, and the little boy started gushing about how he couldn't wait for Christmas to come. His cheeks flushed with the winter cold and his eyes lit up in wonder.

"Mom, Dad, I can't wait for Christmas! Do you think Santa will bring me lots of presents this year?", the boy asked his parents.

"Only if you were a good boy, then your father... I... I mean, Santa will give you lots of toys", his mother answered, almost spilling out that her husband is the child's Secret Santa.

When the family passed by, Alex's mouth formed into a tiny smile as she thought about her Christmas celebrations with her college friend, Kristin Jones. For Kristin, the spirit of Christmas is enlivened by free booze, no working, shopping, and flirting with hot strangers at a bar. But for Alex, it's a time to reunite with friends and families and bring joy and laughter. She remembered how the two of them always traded Christmas presents in college before heading home for the holidays.

"Hey Alex, how's it going?", a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned around and saw Cal and Vera appearing.

"Hey guys, it's good to see you. I was just thinking about Kristin.", she confessed and hugged both of her friends.

"Are you missing Cookie?", Vera asked and Alex noded.

The three of them entered the Graveyard Shift to meet the rest of the friends. They already received a warm welcome as they entered and made their way towards Ivy and Krom, who were already seated in their favorite booth. Garrus arrived at the table to serve the drinks.

"Sorry, we got late. There was a ghost problem in a mansion we had to deal with.", a female voice said.

"Katherine! Nik! You're here!!", Alex cheered. She rushed towards the two nighthunters and pulled them into a tight hug. After a little while she pulled away.

"Nice to see ya too, rook. Been quite a long time.", Nik said.

"Yeah, I missed all of you! I was so busy in Lamrian learning fae magic and royalty stuff, but I'm glad I managed to be here back, so I could get to meet you all here.", Alex replied.

"I'm glad you managed to squeeze an appointment with your common friends from New Orleans in your busy schedule, Your Highness.", Ivy teased her and made space for the nighthunters to join.

"Since when do the two of you go together on hunts?", Cal asked them while sipping his beer.

"It was only this one hunt, Lowell. Ryder needed my help.", Katherine replied.

"Not true, Katy! You just tagged along with me.", Nik said.

"I was bored, okay?! And I swear this will be the last time because your dumb hunting technique isn't my style. I would have caught the ghost faster, but you just had to take the lead and...", Katherine argued but got interrupted by Alex.

"Wooah, woah, woah... No arguing, especially not when Christmas is appearing", Alex warned the two hunters and Vera agreed to her.

"I don't celebrate Christmas, which means I can argue with Katy whenever I want", Nik teased before Katherine told him to shut his mouth. Nik's answer made Alex wonder.

"You don't celebrate? Christmas is such a beautiful celebration where friends and families reunite to spread joy and laughter. I understand if some people don't celebrate Christmas since they have other celebrations, but most of them all have one meaning. To reunite with their loved ones.", she explained to her friends with a shy smile on her face.

"That's easy for you two say, Alex. You live a normal and happy life", Katherine said. "I don't celebrate either, I live alone."

"I know, I know, but you must have celebrated once before? And... and had a beautiful moment, right?", Alex asked.

"Speaking of celebration... Shouldn't you be in Lamrian making preparations for Winter Solstice, darling?", Garrus, the handsome fae bartender asked her while he refilled his friend's drinks. A few members of the gang made a confused look after he mentioned the Winter Solstice.

"What's that?", Cal was the first who asked while sipping his beer.

"You'll see it tomorrow night. I'm inviting you all, so wear your formal clothes and be there.", Alex answered and winked.

"I don't know, there must be a lot of faes present at the festival and they're gonna look at us the whole time. We are not fae.", Cal gave an unsure answer.

"I wish I could be there, ma chérie. But I have something else already planned for me", a voice said.

"Luc, when did you came??! Oh my god, you scared me!!!", Alex replied and laughed after she and everyone else got startled about his sudden apperance.

"Oh, so you didn't planned to invite me along, ma chérie?", he asked.

"Luc, we talked about this ma chérie thing. Don't call Alex like that.", Nik wispered to him in a huffed tone, hoping that nobody listend. Then the hunter stood up and went upstairs to his apartment.

"I think I'm heading home too.", Katherine replied with a sad expression.

"Don't worry, Alex, I will make sure tomorrow night Nik, Cal, Katherine, and I will be there in Lamrian wearing our finest clothes", Vera reassured her and squeezed her arm with her gloved hand. Alex had no idea about what was happening, but all she knew was that mentioning the celebrations and their true meaning, reuniting with friends and families... might have upset some of her friends.

One by one, everyone headed home, leaving Alex alone with Luc, Garrus, Krom, and Ivy.

"Did I said something wrong?", she asked them.

"What? Of course not, they all just had hard times.", Krom carefully answered to make sure Alex doesn't get upset.

"Look guys, I know the four of them hadn't an easy life. I just wanted to invite them to Lamrian and celebrate with them Christmas, too, like I always did with Kristin. Believe me, I had no bad intentions, and my life wasn't actually as great as you all think it was. Kristin was the one who taught me how to enjoy and live a happy life when I first met her in college. Before that, I was a shy teenage girl who mostly spent my time alone. My mother, Jacqueline had never time for me. That's why I understand what's going through everyone's mind right now, but can't we all forget the past, come together and enjoy this magical time?", Alex asked them.

Garrus served Luc his drink while trying to keep a neutral expression. Luc, Krom, and Ivy stayed quiet for a while, too. A second later, Garrus, the fae bartender, interrupted the quiet moment. "How did you celebrate your holidays at home, Alex? How was your past?", he asked.

"Before even meeting Kristin, I celebrated Christmas with my mother and my adoptive father. We were so happy together, like an ordinary family, until I grew up a little. When I joined the school, and my mother got her dream job, a distance grew between us, and we barely had time for each other. I know that's nothing dramatic, but when she and my adoptive father became successful in their business career, they stayed focused, and somehow... somehow... they forgot that I even existed. My adoptive father is great, but my mom and I had a lot of fights when I became a teenager. 'Alexis, you can't do this, you can't do that, you're not making our name proud and everything has to be perfect if you want to follow our footsteps.' Ughhhh, I don't know. I didn't celebrate Christmas, Halloween, New Year's Eve or anything anymore until I joined college and met Kristin, my party girl.", Alex told them and quickly drifted into other thoughts.

Ivy, everyone's favorite zombie girl, snapped her fingers in front of Alex and pulled her back into reality.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't intend to... I just hope Nik, Cal, Katherine, and Vera will come because I'm excited but also super duper nervous. I'm going to give a speech in front of the whole duchy next to Thalissa, and I'm still nervous about it. Umm, how... how do you spend your holidays?", she asked with interest while sipping her magical fae drink. Of course, Luc was the first one who began his story.

"My mother is a powerful witch, and supernatural beings don't celebrate holidays made by humans. Witches, for example, don't celebrate heartwarming holidays; they're mostly about magical rituals and witchcraft. I like Mardi Gras because that's what most of the people like and makes New Orleans and my souvenir shop so special.", Luc explained until he got interrupted by Ivy.

"Yeah, but Halloween is waaaaay cooler, especially when we spook around and don't have to use the glamour spell to hide our identity. We can be who we are and don't forget the candy or the fun to scare people", Ivy added. "When I was mortal, I really enjoyed Christmas especially the part of getting presents. But my favorite festival is still Halloween!".

"Oh my, I don't like Halloween. It is nice to remove the glamour spell once in a while, but I don't like the way humans dress up in spooky costumes. It scares me sometimes and I don't like how they dress up like hairy trolls. I swear those puffy-haired dolls did more to damage our reputation than six centuries of Norwegian troll-hunters.", Krom admitted to everyone. "Trolls don't celebrate holidays made by humans, but I like Christmas. It's a beautiful celebration everything is decorated beautifully. Just like Valentine's Day which is my one of my favorite days of the year."

"L'amour est beau.", Luc said in a soft voice as Krom tried to steal a peek at Garrus who's busy with cleaning the bar counter. That shy stone troll who secretly has a crush on the handsome fae bartender, Garrus.

"I'm so excited for tomorrow night when we all celebrate with Thalissa and the faes.", Alex excitedly squeaked and commanded the rest to join too. Luc had already made plans; Ivy would be sorting out some ancient books and scrolls with the help of the strong stone troll, Krom. When she asked Garrus, he paused for a moment, and then his sad eyes met hers.

"I would really love to, but I can't. The faes there wouldn't like that, after I'm not welcomed there. I really miss my home and the Fae holidays.", Garrus explained to her.

"I'm so sorry about that, Garrus, but if I, as the daughter of the Duke of Lamrian, can invite you..."

"No dear, it's alright. I enjoyed it being surrounded by all the fae to celebrate and help everyone, but I rather stay here with my dearest friends.", he said and wrapped his arms around Krom and Ivy. The stone-troll shyly smiled while Ivy rolled her bright red eyes. "Have a good time there tomorrow and you should definitely taste the dustplums. Pixies harvest them every winter and they taste excellent."

"Thank you Garrus, and the rest of you for supporting me. Let's hope everything goes well tomorrow."

After hanging out with his friends, the nighthunter, Nik Ryder quickly went up the wooden stairs to his apartment. He sat on his white couch placed in the middle of the living room and ran his hand over his hair. The room was crammed with odd artifacts, dusty books, ancient scrolls, and gleaming weapons. Nighthunter stuff.

"Damn it!", he cursed himself and thought about the earlier conversation in the bar. Celebrations? Christmas? Family? That's nothing for him.

Old memories dragged into his mind as he tried to think about his childhood. Most of the memories were blurry, but he remembered some good ones he shared with his biological parents.

"Nik, look what Santa brought you for Christmas!"

"Mom, I know it was Dad last night who was wearing a Santa costume. He looked very funny with a white beard.", the little Nik giggled.

"Oh, you caught me. That's my clever boy. Who wants cookies?!"

"Me, daddy! Me!"

But when he was four or five years old, he and his biological parents were in the bayou, having a picnic for his mom's birthday. There, his parents were attacked by a monster. On his mother's birthday! Since then, he decided not to celebrate his own birthday, and sometimes he cursed himself for why he was even born.

And when he got adopted by Elijah Ryder, a nighthunter who taught him everything he knows, he wasn't living a normal life anymore. He got plunged into the World of Night at such a young age.

"Elijah... I mean... Dad, can I ask something?"

"Sure, Nik."

"If monsters exist, does that mean Santa exists too? And his flying reindeers?"

"Why that sudden question, son?"

"We have Christmas, and my dad always played Santa for me. Don't... don't you celebrate Christmas?"

"I don't celebrate Christmas. There are many more important things than celebrations. Birthdays, Christmas, Halloween, I don't care! That's a waste of time!! Let the others celebrate. We have our own duty to protect the weak ones and to destroy the evil."

Elijah treated Nik like his own son. Both went on hunts together; Nik went to a normal school, even high school. But it was hard for him to meet new people or make friends when his classmates made fun of him that he believed in monsters. He wasn't the brightest student, hated Math, and couldn't understand how others like Taylor (who was a teenage client he had a few years ago) were so good at it. His best subjects were PA and Biology since his mother was a nature buff and he spent so much time outside with Elijah. Nik could have been home-schooled by Elijah, but the man was too busy hunting monsters and figured out that it needed a lot of time and patience to teach a five-year-old child how to read, write simple words, or other necessary things.

One day, Nik and Elijah had an ugly fight. They had been fighting a lot the past few years, on par for the course of teenagers and overbearing dads, but Elijah stormed out and went hunting alone and died. To Nik, the pain hurts like a knife to the ribs. He didn't have the chance to tell Elijah that he loved him and to apologize for being a stubborn idiot who had to have the last word. Elijah and his parents are the reason that Nik hunts: to honor their memory and to prevent others from suffering what he has. He left high school and became a night hunter, which was easy for him now since he had already trained with Elijah at a young age. His only mission was to protect the World of Day, as known as the human world and the World of Night, from evil.

"Damn it, I miss you Elijah.", he whispered while sitting on the couch.

"Merry Christmas, Katherine!"

"Merry Christmas, Ava!"

Two young teenagers were giggling in a decorated living room as they exchanged their presents. The Christmas tree glimmers in the living room with more lights and various ornaments. Greens and reds are in abundance, gold, and silver flashing here and there, adding opulence and brightness. Joyful music played around in the streets of New Mexico. The little mangenta-haired girl gasped as she unwrapped her present, and so did the other girl.

"Oh Ava, you got me..."

"...the same present I got for you!! What a coincidence? We know each other too well, Katherine.", Ava answered to Katherine, and both girls giggled again while giving each other a hug.

"Ava, you're my childhood friend, like a sister and so special to me.", young Katherine replied.

A man and woman appeared in the room, wearing white coats, and were talking to each other in hushed voices. Both were heading towards the front door of the house until Katherine shouted from the living room.

"Mom, Dad, where are you going?"

"To the hospital, honey. Some emergency came up, so I'm heading for work and your Dad is coming with me. He forgot some paperwork to finish.", the woman answered while the man agreed to her.

"But it's Christmas! Can't another neurosurgeon or whatever doctor do this? I want to celebrate with you two and Ava together. Her parents might be coming over too.", Katherine pleased her parents and ran to them to give them a hug. "Please stay!"

"Duty calls, darling. You can celebrate with Ava, for now. Your mother and I are doctors, and duty comes first, and family in second place. You have to understand that when you grow up to follow our footsteps, you'll see that too.", her father explained to her daughter and planted a kiss on her cheek. "One day, you and Ava will become successful doctors like us."

Before Katherine became a nighthunter, she was a sweet girl who was doing her medical studies because both of her parents wanted her to step in their footsteps and become a successful doctor. She grew up in New Mexico with her childhood friend, Ava. One summer, Katherine convinced her to go camping with her in the dark without even telling their parents, and by that, a terrible incident happened. Ava got killed by a supernatural beast while Katherine survived, but she swore revenge. She never went back to her home or college and trained enough to become a nighthunter. She tracked that beast down for days and finally was able to kill it. She may have succeeded, but she lost the most important person and best friend of her life. She becomes lonely because she thinks Ava's death is her fault. Why did she have to convince Ava to go outside in the dark, she always thought. From that day on, she decided to live alone and fight against the evil creatures of the night. Over time, she gained a lot of knowledge, experience, and money, but she will always feel the pain of losing someone close.

She will never forget Ava and what happened to her. The last Christmas celebration she had was with her, and for her, there's no meaning to celebrating it again.

About 10 years ago:

"You won't believe people from the City are cutting trees from the woods!", a young toddler worriedly said as he joined his older brother in the backyard of their tiny house in the woods. "They're so mean and are hurting nature!"

"Humans can't be mean, they're only cutting a few trees for celebrating Christmas and for that they need a Christmas tree, I guess. But I'm not sure.", his older brother explained.

"What's Christmas? How do you know about that, Cal?"

"I don't know exactly, but definitely something beautiful. I visited the city yesterday, and I heard joyful music, saw happy faces, and discovered the sparkly decorations hanging in shops and other buildings. Somehow humans do that every year."

"What??!! You went to the city?! But we aren't allowed. What if someone from the pack finds out?" his younger brother, Donny, panicked.

"I know, but I couldn't resist and..."

"You did what?!!", an angry voice shouted at both Lowell brothers. It appeared that the voice belonged to Kristof Jensen, the alpha of their werewolf pack. Both boys panicked and Kristof pulled at Cal's collar to get him closer. The alpha's eyes showed anger and he clenched his jaws. "Did I allow you to do that, you tiny puppy?!"

"N...N...No, but the city looked beautiful and Christmas sounded very nice."

"I don't care! We are wolves, we don't celebrate dumb human holidays. Your only tasks are hunting, be around the pack, stay in the woods and listening to your alpha. Have you understood me, Lowell?"

"I'm sorry, I won't disappoint you again.", young Cal desperately pleaded him. The angry alpha stared at both of the children and shoved Cal away. "Worthless puppy", he cursed at him and left the property. He's the alpha, he can visit his pack members whenever he wants and do whatever he wants.

"I'm so sorry, Cal.", the younger sibling apologized to his older brother and wrapped his arms around him. Cal gave him a soft pat on his shoulder and forgave him. He cares too much about Donny, and both will always support each other.

Compared to his father, Cal feels that he is worthless, a waste of a wolf. He feels this worthlessness in his bones. The whole "hyper-aggressive alpha-male" thing never worked for him. When he was ten years old or so, he refused to shift for about a year, like he could reject being of his dad's blood.

After hanging out with her friends at the Graveyard Shift, Garrus's bar, Vera Reimonenq went home. She was about to head up the rotating stairs to her room when she heard her mother's voice calling. She appeared from another room with a cup of tea in her hand.

"Vera baby, you're home. Are you heading upstairs, hon'?"

"How does it look like, Mom? I'm heading to bed early because tomorrow night is a big event I'll be attending and I still have to go shopping. Good night, Mom.", Vera replied and was about to head upstairs, but again stopped because her mother spoke. Tonya got interested and asked her daughter about the event, but Vera refused to give her more information. You never know what Tonya Reimonenq and her goons are capable of, or how many connections they have.

"That's alright if you don't want to tell, my baby. Do you want to join me at Persephone for a while instead of going to bed early?"

"Forget it, no way I'm entering your nasty Club to join your illegal business. Cage fights, seriously, mother?" Vera argued and glared at her.

Vera lived with her mother, Tonya Reimonenq, in a big mansion, a luxurious life, but she didn't live a very easy life. After all, she's the daughter of an assassin leader, Tonya Reimonenq, who called herself Lady Smoke. With the help of the Reimonenq Touch, a curse inherited from her ancestors. Tonya can kill everyone she touches with her bare hands. Even Vera had the same ability, but she kept it a secret by wearing vintage gloves because she did not want to use this ability, unlike her mother. That's why everyone fears the Reimonenq family and no one would want to land on Lady Smoke's bad side. She was very powerful, wealthy, and rich. She owned Club Persephone and was the queen of the criminal undergrounds of New Orleans. Tonya wanted her daughter to follow in her footsteps, but Vera refused. Vera hoped to find a way to break that curse, but she always failed in her mission. That's why she decided to stay away from her mother and started her own, new life.

"Oh come on, Vera baby. Are you going to speak to your mother like this, with Christmas just around the corner? Remember when you were young, how we both celebrated Christmas together in Persephone?"

"Don't try to manipulate me, Mother! I was young and had no idea what was going on. Christmas is a heartwarming festival to share time with each other and have fun. Every time we both were spending time together, your goons were out there in the dark robbing and hurting people. I bet that the presents you always gave me were expensive, stolen items.", Vera angrily said to her mother, but Tonya wasn't mad at her. A crooked smile appeared on her face.

"My Vera baby is a clever girl just like me. But you have to admit, that you really enjoyed our time together and loved my presents. Am I right?", she asked her daughter.

Vera got a guilty feeling because her mother was right. The presents she always received and the time they spent together gave her a nice feeling and she truely enjoyed it. She found it hard to admit that sometimes she didn't hated her mom, that instead she thought her mom is incredible and she wished she could be just like her: strong, determined, and unafraid.

"You look beautiful, dear.", a soft voice said. Lady Thalissa, the duchess of Lamrian and Alex's stepmother entered her room and gazed at the beautiful, glittery gown her stepchild was wearing with a tiny tiara like a princess on her head.

"Your father would have been so happy seeing you like this, dear. This year is just very different. I'm normally excited to celebrate with Elric, but...", Thalissa stopped finishing her sentence as sadness took over her. Her stepdaughter, Alex wrapped her arms around Thalissa and gave her a warm hug to support her. She squeezed Alex back tightly, then drew back to hold her at arm's length and smiled. Her eyes shone with tears.

"What happened with your father was a tragic event, and the people of Lamrian are still feared. However, our task is to spread love, hope, and comfort to our people for the times ahead. And as their future duchess, that is your responsibility. One day you will rule over Lamrian, so your people have to trust you. Show them that you're here for them and try to gain their trust.", the duchess informed Alex. Later, both went to the palace's balcony to begin the celebration.

"Oh god, where are the others? Are they even coming tonight? The ceremony is about to start and I have to deliver the speech in front of thousands of the fae. Breathe, Alex, everything's gonna be fine!", she thought while entering the balcony with Thalissa.

Hundreds of fae were standing on the streets of Lamrian. Fae families, couples, nobles, and pets, and their attention was fully on Alex and Lady Thalissa. The festival lights glowed, lighting up, and many more fae came out from their homes. And as the night sky darkened, more and more emerged.

"Fae of Lamrian, thank you for coming tonight to celebrate with us our heartwarming holiday. Before you can celebrate at home with your loved ones, we have something very important to share with you.", Thalissa spoke to the crowd and looked at her stepchild. This was the signal for the speech!! She hated this position, but Alex knew she needed this. She still wasn't popular among her people, so it was important to showcase the purest fae behavior. The young girl took a few steps forward but froze instead of giving her speech.

"Dear, everything alright? Your speech?", her stepmother worriedly asked, but Alex was too nervous. All these Fae were looking at her, she never got so much attention in her whole life.

"You can do this, Alex. Good luck!", a friendly voice shouted at her from behind. She turned around and found Vera and the rest of her friends standing behind her at the entrance of the grand balcony. Every one of them was wearing their formal clothes and gave her a confident smile.

"Go girl and deliver that stupid speech!", Katherine shouted.

Alex nodded, turned to the Faes, and began to talk. "My dear Faes of Lamrian, I am Lady Alexis Clarissa Fontaine, daughter of Lord Elric, the Duke of Lamrian,, and on behalf of the royal family, I wish you and your loved ones a happy and heartwarming holiday. Tonight we remember and honor all the ones we've lost and pray for a better future. I know last year wasn't easy. We lost a duke and an heir. We lost the future we always thought we'd have. Lord Elric and Lady Thalissa created this local Fae colony to give the weak and exiled ones the protection they needed, The same safety and feeling as if you're all living in the real Fae realm surrounded by its infinite magic. As I'm now the new heir and future duchess, I vow to do my best with the power I have to protect us. I won't let anything like that happen again. Long live Lamrian!!."

With that, the fae burst into thundering applause. Finally, Alex could breathe in relief. Tiny pixies began to fly around and lightened the night sky as they changed their colors while Thalissa and other nobles used their fae magic to create a magical firework. The night sky looked like a beautiful and colorful caleidoscope, which everyone enjoyed watching. Even her friends were amazed by the magic and beauty of this celebration.

After a spectacular fireworks show, Thalissa, Alex, and her friends joined the other nobles in the ballroom for the celebration. Crystal chandeliers spiraled down from the arching sky-blue ceiling, illuminating the glimmering golden walls and a floor so polished it looked like an iced-over lake. The night sky outside was a kaleidoscope of intense periwinkle, purples, and pinks, with an occasional silvery wisp floating past. Female fae's wore evening gowns and precious jewels and most of the male fae's were dressed in dinner jackets with ties. As Thalissa joined some fae nobles at the banquet, Alex led her friends to the other side of the room. Several Fae servants began serving magical specialties to the guests.

"Damn, these dustplums are delicious", Nik praised and happily ate a few more.

"I know, Garrus recommended to taste a few samples. I wish he was here too; it's so beautiful here, and he must be missing his home very much.", Alex sadly mumbled.

Well, at least the fae is happy with Krom and Ivy, and enjoying his free life now since he is no longer the future viscount. Alex noted that royal life can be hard, but at least she has the support of her friends. The gang enjoyed exploring the palace, dancing, eating tasty appetizers, and sipping magical drinks. They stayed the rest of the night to join the fae and wait together for the sunrise. After this moment, the days will begin to get longer in the Fae's realm, and the sun will return slowly. The winter solstice is considered a rebirth of light.

"This is so beautiful. I'm so glad that you all came; I thought you wouldn't and..." Alex confessed but couldn't continue as she felt one of her friends squeeze her hand to reassure her.

She was very happy that they came to support her, and they were also glad that they met her. This is their first celebration together which welcomed a fresh new start. Who knew that an ordinary girl who turned out to be someone special could befriend herself with a werewolf, a cursed girl, a roguish nighthunter and the hunter's former rival? They made their bond and friendship stronger. Alone, they're strong. Together, they're unstoppable.

"Duchess Thalissa, Duchess Thalissa!!", a fae servant rushed towards her. His voice filled with papanicnd fear. "A giant and angry dragon somehow managed to enter Lamrian. The creature is burning some houses of our people."

"What?! Why? Thalissa, we have to do something or else the fae will lose their homes. Where will they go in this cold winter?", Alex replied and turned to her stepmother after she overheard the conversation. Her friends were already behind her.

"I'm proud of you, you think about our people and the duchy. But you are the heir and future duchess of Lamrian, so your security matters too. I will go there, along with some guards, and will see how to solve this matter. It could be dangerous since we never had a dragon flying that near us. They're actually peaceful creatures, but...", Thalissa spoke but immediately left the celebration to save her people. Royal fae guards escorted her outside.

"Don't worry, Alex. Lady Thalissa knows what she's doing.", Vera reassured and squeezed her hand.

"I'm still worried, Vera. I think... I think I'll follow Thalissa.", Alex replied. No matter how much her friends reassured her, she didn't listen and ran out of the ballroom to find Lady Thalissa and the dragon.

"That's typical. Rookie never listens.", Nik quietly mumbled and ran after her, along with the rest of the friends behind.

A mighty dragoness was standing on the buildings of Lamrian, and a blue fire flame came out from its mouth, which put many things on fire. Several faes escaped from home and ran across the streets with their families to find another place to hide. On the ground, Lady Thalissa and other fae nobles were trying to fight the flames with their fae magic, which was burning the homes of many helpless fae. The dragon didn't stop.

"Thalissa and the other nobles are trying their best to protect everyone and stop the flames, but the main source of the flames is that dragon on the roof which is blasting these fireballs and flames." Alex watched the happenings from a safer distance and decided to head directly towards the dragon. "I have to do something as the future duchess."

"For god's sake!! Rookie, come back!!! Damn, don't do this shit!!!", Nik screamed from the top of his lungs. His voice filled with panic.

"Alex!!!! Stop!!!", Cal shouted and was worried about her too. He couldn't bear to see her in danger.

"Please, Alex!! It's too dangerous!!", Vera cried and begged to her friend.

Alex somehow managed to climb a tall, crystalline building to come face to face with a giant, dangerous, and aggressive dragon that was bursting hot flames to damage her duchy, Lamrian. Her friends were out of earshot, so she couldn't hear their warnings and their worry. Alex was only focused on the creature in front of her.

"Stop destroying my home, dragon. As the future Duchess of Lamrian, I hereby command you to leave. You are hurting my people.", she demanded, but the creature continued and didn't listen to her, even though it could understand what she was saying. As a half-fae, Alex got bound to nature and earned some fae abilities that regular faes didn't have, like speaking the animal language.

The young half-fae was about to give up until a crystalline droplet appeared out of nowhere and was floating near the creature's eye. Out of the distance, she was able to touch the smooth surface of the droplet and could see a vision. A sad and fresh memory from the creature's view filled her eyes with tears and made her emotional. After she came back into reality, she wiped her tears away and calmed herself down. The memory which she saw, was a fresh one and only a few hours old. Now, she knew what to do and how to stop the dragon. But when the memory completely dissipated around her, she found herself back, standing in front of the creature in her own body. A few steps backward, she felt sudden dizziness, which often appeared when she touched a monster tear. Then, she collapsed. Falling from the roof of the high building while the dragon continued with the damage. The nobles were too busy with protecting the faes to save the falling heiress.

"Alex, wake up! Please, sweety."

"I hope, she's alright."

"Shhhh, she's opening her eyes. Look!"

Alex jerked awake and found herself lying on the streets of Lamrian, surrounded by her dearest friends. They were all worried about her. In the background, fae nobles were protecting their people while the massive dragon on the roof was still bursting flames and damaging their homes.

"Sweety, what happened? We saw you falling from the roof. We all panicked. You scared the hell outta us." Vera confessed her fear, gave her friend one strong hug, and then released her. "Thank god, you survived this fall. It must have been because of you're new abilities as a half-fae royalty. Are you okay? Why did you lose consciousness and faint?"

"The baby...", Alex weakly mumbled.

"What?!! When? Why? How? And more importantly... Who's the father??!", Nik panicked and started glaring at Cal, who angrily glared back at him.

"Did you seriously asked why and how, Ryder?", Katherine grinned and rolled her eyes.

"Stop! No, not that. I... I... The monster tear...", Alex tried to explain but still had to recover from the fall, so she slowly continued. "I saw a monster tear, touched it, and it showed me what happened with that dragon a few hours ago when the royal firework happened. The dragon-lady is now sad and furious. She lost her baby while flying across Lamrian. I think the baby got distracted by our fireworks, but I'm not sure. We have to find it."

Tears welled up in the eyes of Alex as she thought about how Alexis lost his father, Lord Elric. And there is no way for a child to get separated from its parents. Not for Alex and her friends.

"Then we have to hurry because a few fae nobles decided to kill the dragon if it doesn't stop attacking Lamrian.", Cal informed which made the young half-fae worry even more. Nik gently squeezed her hand to reassure her. She could read the pain in his eyes and just realized that she was not the only one who was suffering and had lost someone important in the past.

"Don't worry, no one will get harmed tonight. Not on Winter Solstice. I'm a nighthunter. I took a vow to protect the ones who need safety and to honor my family's memory by preventing others from suffering what I have. The dragon baby will not lose her mother like I lost my parents and Elijah at such a young age. But we'll also make sure that no fae gets harmed by the dragon. In short, we have a family to reunite before it's too late."

"You're not the only one, Ryder. I lost someone important too.", Katherine confessed and stroked Alex's silver hair to the side. "But where are we going to find the dragon child? It could be flying around anywhere!!"

"Like in front of us?"

"Or it could... Wait, what??!!"

Everyone followed Cal's gaze, which landed on a tiny sapphire-blue dragon, flatting its tiny wings after a swarm of pixies through the fae market.

"Sooooo cute!", Alex and Vera squeaked at the same time.

The five friends quickly began running after it, to catch it. The Fae market was a place in Lamrian where many faes gathered around to sell or buy various items. Exotic fruits, rare fabric, jewelry, pets, some antiques, and more.

"You sure that you should be running after that fall, Alex?", Cal asked her with a worried expression as both of them were running side by side with high speed. The rest of the group was following them from behind. But the young future duchess didn't answer. She was too focused on catching the baby dragon and saving its mother.

"Everyone, look out!!", Katherine shouted as a bunch of frightened fae ran towards their group to get out of the fae market, after discovering a dragon so close for the very first time.

Now, Alex's focus on saving the dragon got broken when the crowd screamed and pushed her and her friends away from their path. Luckily, some hands snaked around her body, keeping a tight grip as they skatted away from being trampled. Alex thanked for the little rescue.

"What's wrong with the fae? Scared of a baby dragon?! We would have ended up like mashed potatoes!!!" Katherine replied after the frightened fae left the marketplace, leaving them alone.

"Oh no!! The baby dragon!! We lost it!!", Alex panicked after realizing that there was no sign of any other being in the fae market now except for them.

"Don't worry, we're..."

"What are we going to now??!!", Alex got frustrated, which made her friends worry. "I'm supposed to handle everything correctly as the duke's elder child. I was supposed to be their new hope and the poor dragon..."

"The light!!!", Vera called out, which made everyone wonder.

"What?"

"Yes, the light!! First, the fae fireworks and then the pixie swarm!! Alex, use your light powers to lure the baby dragon!!"

"Vera, I can't..."

"Yes, you can!! You are the heir and the future of Lamrian. You defeated the bloodwraith when there was no hope left. You stand under Lady Fate's protection. You are the chosen one. The most powerful fae which ever lived on earth and the Fae realm at the same time.", Cal talked sense into her while shaking both of her shoulders. His big, golden eyes met hers at the same time as Nik's silver-gray eyes, which made her shiver.

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"Shall we kill the dragon now? Our people are suffering, your Grace.", a fae guard asked the duchess who made a troubled look as she admired the dangerous beauty above, burning and destroying a part of the duchy.

"We do not have the right to kill, but sacrifices have to be made. If only Elric was here, he would master the language of the dragons and might find a solution. Never in my 300 years have I ever experienced anything like this. Dragons are supposed to be our guardians.", the duchess talked to herself.

"What is the command, your Grace?"

"The command is to let the dragon alone!!", a voice called out from behind Lady Thalissa and her guards as Alex and her friends confidently marched towards them with a tiny sapphire-blue being held in Cal's strong arms.

"Hey, Wolfman, can't handle a baby?", Nik grinned at him as he realized how Cal was struggling to keep the baby dragon in his arms and from flying away.

"Ooof, it's heavier than I thought and woaaahhh..."

The tiny dragon suddenly released itself from Cal's strong grip and landed on Nik which made him crash on the ground.

"Damn, this baby is fuckin' heavier than... Arrrghh!!!"

"Who can't handle a baby now, hunter?" Cal chuckled and quickly grabbed the creature with his strong arms before it could escape again.

"You okay, Nik?" Vera asked as Nik slowly stood up and stretched his back while hoping to have no broken bones.

"What is going on?", Thalissa asked.

But before answering the question, Alex closed her eyes, raised her arms towards the purple sky, and concentrated hard until a golden light appeared from her palms, which slowly floated towards the mighty dragon above. Cal carefully released the tiny creature, which began to flatter, and followed the light until it reached the giant dragons. Excited shrieks erupted as both child and mother reunited, which took everyone's attention.

"The dragon has a child? Oh dear, what a mistake would have happened. Guards, let the dragons alone, as Alex said.", Thalissa ordered after seeing both dragons happily together. It reminded her of her loved ones, she lost. Her husband, Lord Elric and her child, Tialo.

Everyone quietly watched the spectacular of both dragons happily flying across Lamrian. Katherine and Vera huddled close to Alex while the boys were standing behind them. Alex was so happy and so was everyone.

"I am so proud of you, my dear. One day you will become a great duchess.", Thalissa confessed to her stepchild and planted a sweet kiss on her cheek.

"What is going on, guys?!", the blindfolded Alex asked her friends as the four of them led her into the Graveyard Shift.

"It's a surprise, sweety! We all decided to give you our first Christmas present tonight.", Vera whispered into her ear.

When they stopped, Cal carefully removed the blindfold in front of Alex's eyes. She slowly tried to adjust her eyes to face the bright light of the Graveyard Shift, Garrus's bar, until she recognized a familiar face.

"Kristin?! Oh, Kris, it's you!! You're here! I can't believe you're really here!!", Alex squeaked and ran towards her friend from New York for a hug. Kristin, the brunette wore a dark pink shirt with white detailing and white pants and excitedly hugged her friend back.

"Party girl Kristin Jones at your service, and you should thank your friends. They gave me the idea. Right, Vee?"

"Sure, Cookie. Merry Christmas, Alex."

"We know how much you missed Kristin, sooo we thought to invite her. Ehhh, well... we hope you like our Christmas surprise.", Nik shyly confessed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Oh Nik, I love it! You guys are the best, thank you so much, everyone.", the happy Alex answered and pulled everyone into a hug while knowing that Nik and Katherine weren't the 'hugging their friends'-type of person.

After she released her friends from a tight hug, she went behind the counter to the backroom of the Graveyard Shift. A few seconds later she arrived back along with Garrus and many presents in their hands. Both handed each of her friends a box wrapped in shiny paper.

"Presents? I never received any presents?", Cal claimed and opened the box, revealing a wooden photo frame with a picture of him and Alex.

His surprised look turned into a big smile. Alex knew what would suit each of her friends, even though she didn't know them for very long. A wooden photo frame that Alex decorated for the man who lived in a wooden house and needed a piece of love in his lonely life.

Next, Vera opened her box and stylish and colorful gloves were inside it. No need to wear black gloves all the time to hide her hands when you can hide them with style. Vera liked her present and gave her friend a warm hug because no matter what you receive as a gift, the important thing is that Alex thought of her. She thought of her friends.

"Oh Vera, I knew you would like it.", Alex replied as Vera released her from the hug. Alex turned towards Katherine and waited for her response.

"Wow, that's badass. Thanks!", Katherine happily answered as she admired her gift.

She received earrings that looked like tiny daggers, just like the ones Duchess Olivia from Nevrakis always wears on royal occasions in Cordonia. Alex chose this gift for Katherine because she's a powerful, fierce, and independent woman who never gives up on the things she believes in. When Alex turned to Nik's direction, she saw that he hadn't even opened his gift. "Nik, what's wrong? Open the gift.", she requested.

"I... I don't accept gifts, it feels wrong. You shouldn't have..."

"But I wanted, Nik. I don't know if you celebrated Christmas with Elijah or if the others did with their families. But this celebration is the meaning of 'giving', and you all gave me happiness by bringing Kristin here to New Orleans today. You all thought of me. Now, it's my turn to give you something special and I hope that you'll like it. This is my first Christmas present to you all, guys. I'm just glad that we met and became friends. I love you all."

After such a heartwarming speech from Alex, Nik didn't mind and happily tore the shiny gift paper away. He opened the box revealing a golden medal with the inscription 'Best Bodyguard Ever'.

"Really? I thought I was annoying you with my overprotective nature?? Well, thank you. I never received anything like this.", he confessed with a crooked smile on his face which lit up Alex's heart.

All her beloved friends happily gathered around her, making her Christmas even more special.

[mynotsohealthyobsession]

Disembodied - Part 2/8

Warning: Mention of death // Angst // Fluff

Pairings: Adrian Raines X MC // Nik Ryder X MC

Words: 1.515

Part 1 is here!

As always, tags in the reblog!

"... Something is off about her." Alex stopped stretching and walking. She was heading to Adrian's office when his voice, thanks to her new highlighted sense, reached her. 

"She is just recovering from a certainly traumatic experience. It's normal during transition." Kamilah responded, as Alex crept closer to the door. 

"It's not quite that. I can't place it." Alex leaned against the wall. She had been pretending to be Amy for a week, trying to think of the best way to proceed. She had considered talking with Adrian and everybody else but she wasn't sure how they'd take something like that seriously. They probably just would think she was traumatized. Adrian sighed on the other side of the door. "As strange as this might sound, it's almost like she isn't Amy." Alex lowered her gaze, guilty. In the few days she shared with the vampires she noticed how much they care about Amy. They all had protected her and helped her during this time, even though she couldn't return their warmth treatment completely. And she had noticed the way Adrian looked at her, affectionate and like he was wanting to say something important to Amy. Something that wasn't for her to hear but for the real Amy. "It's almost like she isn't there." Adrian let out a bitter chuckle followed by a deep sigh. "Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?" 

"Mmh. Not completely. We both know that people change after being turned. You said it yourself." 

"I know. But I've never seen someone change this deeply." 

"Time will tell, Adrian. For now, give her space to accept her new life and embrace it." Kamilah made a pause and Adrian stayed quiet, probably thinking over her words. "You will have the chance to express your true feelings to her when she is ready." 

"I sure hope you are right. I can't even bear the thought of losing her again."

"I know, brother." Alex heard the clink of their glasses against the wood table and a few steps moving away from the couches so she hurried down the hallway. She turned to the left and walked back her steps, pretending she was just arriving.

"Hello Adrian, Kamilah." Alex smiled even though it wasn't completely sincere. 

"Good evening, Amy." Adrian nodded with a slight smile and a bit of sorrow in his eyes.

***

Amy walked into Nik's flat, frustrated. She had been trying to contact 'herself' in New York, for most of the day. To see if she could get any information about Adrian or the gang, and the situation in there, but nothing. She felt trapped, worried, and, to be honest with herself, lonely. 

"Welcome back." Said Nik, with his usual ironic tone coming from inside.

"Hey." She simply replied, walking to the bathroom. 

"Kristin called me today. Vera gave her my number since she couldn't contact you." 

"Oh yeah. My phone broke after that thing attacked me." 

"This is just ridiculous, Alex! You ignore everyone, you refuse to talk with me, what is wrong with you?!"

"I can't deal with this. I need a drink." Amy said, rushing to the door to avoid conflict. "I'm going to the bar."

"Alex! Stop!" Nik's voice resounded in the small flat as he followed her. 

"No!" Amy responded, frustrated. When she was about to take the knob, his hand grasped her wrist, making her stop.

"What the hell is happening with you?" Amy kept looking at the door. "I get that you are pissed off with me but ignoring Lamrian? Kristin?" 

"Let it go, Nik." Amy bit down her lip, trying to contain her thoughts inside her. The rage that was forming inside her. 

"She's your best friend! You fucking risked your life for her!" She turned abruptly at him.

"No, Lily Spencer is my best friend! I risked my life for her, Adrian, and the rest! I don't know Kristin! I don't know what Lamrian is! I'm not Alex, okay!?" Amy snapped with fire in her eyes. "I'm not pissed off at you 'cause I don't know you!" Nik let go of her hand, looking at her astonished, like she had just slapped him. "My name is Amy Miller, I live in New York and work in Raines Corp.! I'M NOT ALEX!" 

***

"Amy? Are you there?" Alex sighed slightly as Lily's voice filtered through the guest penthouse door. She had been reading a book about creatures that she had found on Adrian's bookshelf, trying to figure out what was happening. 

"Yeah, I'm here."

"Can I come in?" 

"Actually I'm kinda tired. I was heading to bed." 

"C'mon, girl! I have wine and blood." Lily said playfully and Alex bit her lip, thinking about it. She heavily closed the book, marking the page she was in, and hiding it in the closet. Forcing a smile, she opened the door. "Finally!"

"Sorry about that! I was making the bed." Lily observed her weirdly. 

"Really? You never do it." 

"Is that a vintage?" Alex took the bottle hoping to point the attention to that. "Never heard about this brand…" 

"What do you mean?" Lily was fully observing her, confused. "You love it." Alex smiled again as Lily kept carefully watching her. 

"I was kidding, Spencer!" Now the eyes of the other girl were looking at her suspiciously. 

"You never call me Spencer." Alex froze in place. Trying to lighten up the mood, she had slipped into old habits. "Amy, are you sure you are okay?"

"...I honestly don't know." Alex sat in the bed, looking at the floor. "Since the Turning, I've been feeling so weird. I… I feel like part of me died that day." It wasn't entirely false. After Thomas' attack and waking up in this strange body, she hadn't been herself at all. Being partly honest would make her more believed. "Sometimes I feel like I'm losing my mind." Lily sat beside her.

"I know what you mean."

"You do?"

"Yeah. I had the same feeling after my Turning. But there was something that helped me through it."

"What?"

"Your words." Lily smiled. "You told me that no matter what I still was me. And you were right." She hugged Alex by the shoulders. "And you are Amy no matter what. That doesn't change. You just need to adapt." Alex sadly nodded. If she only knew how mistaken she was. "Everything will be fine, you'll see."

"I hope you are right. Thanks, Lily." 

***

Amy kept looking at Nik slowly calming down as the realization of what she had said sank into her. 

"Oh god..." She leaned her back against the door, sliding down until she was sitting on the floor covering her face with her hands. She was shaking and a few tears slipped from under her palms, all the pent-up feelings from the past week overwhelming her. "Oh no…" She simply whispered. How did she lose control like that? She was expecting a reaction coming from Nik, a scream or even an attack, but, when she moved her hands out of her face, he was still standing in front of her, unmoving. "Nik, I–I know how this sounds. I shouldn't have told you like this, I–"

He looked down at her. "Can you prove it?" 

"What?" 

He squatted, his eyes cold like steel piercing into hers and his words sharp as knives. "Can you prove you are who you say you are and not Alex?"

Amy thought for a moment. "I can." She dried her tears. "Is Garrus still in the bar?"

"Probably. Why?" 

"I met him, Krum, and Ivy as myself when they went to New York last year. It was around Christmas."

"They met a lot of people on that trip."

"They helped us to stop a monster that looked like a freak Santa. Garrus made magic drinks that I shouldn't have been able to see but I did and he told me there was something about me, that I wasn't a regular human." 

"I need more."

"He met Adrian Raines in the 1800s here and he was happy that Adrian remembered him." A little lump formed in her throat. She missed Adrian so much. "Lily contacted Ivy through the dark web. And Adrian was the one that noticed they were hiding their true appearance." 

"You stay here. If what you said is true, we have a very unpleasant talk in front of us." Amy nodded while they both stood up. "If you try to escape…" He said opening the door. "...I will hunt you down." And he closed it behind his back, locking the door. Amy sat on the couch, shivering slightly. She wasn't sure what would happen now and that scared her. Would they blame her? If Nik wanted to know where or what had happened to Alex, she didn't have the answers. The minutes passed and her nerves took over while she waited. She didn't know how much time had passed, maybe thirty minutes or three hours, when the door opened and Nik appeared through it. He looked at her with a complex stare. 

"You said your name is Amy, right?" 

"Yeah." 

"Pack your things. We are going to New York." He went to the small bedroom.

"That's it? You don't want to ask me anything?" 

"We have a six-hour flight for that."

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