Luna Rising

FIFTY SIX

I let out a breath as if something heavy was weighing my heart. I turned around to find them looking at me oddly.

"What? Is there something on me?" I touch my clothes to feel if something is different, but nothing unusual is on me.

"Oh, my God!" Saye squealed, and her face turned blushed.

"Lippy, you look..." Dominic paused as he was unable to comprehend.

"What?"

"Master, you have wings!"

I lifted a brow, advertised my eyes, and saw fire behind me. "Oh my god! I'm on fire."

I spun around to get rid of the flames on my back, but they didn't go away.

"Lippy," Dad abruptly stopped me and waved his magic to bring a tall mirror with a gold frame. He grips my shoulders and places me in front of it. "Have a look."

Before, I was a woman, a woman with wings of fire. Its flames weren't harming me and were alive. But the only thing I can feel from it is its warmth, like a warm hug behind my back.

"How did this happen?" I whispered, still staring at myself.

"You evolved."

I looked at Dad through the mirror and questioned his answer. "What do you mean, evolved?"

"You are born from a fox demon and a phoenix," Dad explains. "You can also transform into your demon form like I do and your mother's form as the phoenix."

A phoenix bird in books is written down in many folklore parts of the world. In Greek, it's an immortal bird that cycles of regenerating or being reborn again. In China, they are considered immortal creatures that are said to be an omen of foretelling harmony of ascending the throne of a new emperor. In Japan, they symbolize the imperial household, particularly the empress.

I died once but was reborn and brought back to resolve my future, which means I already possessed that ability. It just didn't evolve.

Because of my mixed blood and one to be from a phoenix, I will inherit it.

"You have the same power as your mother," Dad said. "If she knew you have manifested and become a phoenix, she will be very proud. You are truly our daughter and heir."

I smiled at him through the mirror and suddenly saw Saye, Arlo, and Galven go down on their knee.

"We will serve our future Queen!"

"Whoa, hey," I got awkward that the twins and Galven all kneeled. "Don't say that. I'm not a queen."

"You don't want to become one, Lippy?"

I look at Dad, who seems pretty upset that I decided not to take over since I realized ruling the Demon Realm is hard work.

I sighed and turned around then at the same time, my wings disappeared. "Dad, I'm happy I'm born royalty, but..." I purse my lips as this is difficult to confess. "I rather live a life without involving politics."

"What do you mean?"

"Since I was young, I thought you and Mom didn't want me - wait, let me finish," I stop Dad before he can open his mouth. "I know the full story that it was my protection that you both left me. I lived and was raised by werewolves thinking why I couldn't shift. Then I realized I wasn't a werewolf but someone with two powerful blood in my veins."

I couldn't confess that I was brought back after I died once to change my future, and the person who killed me was the man I said I would spend the rest of my life with.

I looked out of the corner of my eye and saw Dominic. I know he didn't mean to kill me because he was under the influent of Leah and the cursed bracelet. Now that the curse is broken, Dominic returns to how he was. The boy I fell in love with.

"Dad," I inhaled sharply. "I decided to be with Dominic."

Everyone was silent, including Dad.

"I know you don't like him because he hurt me. But that was because of the bracelet. He couldn't control his emotions. He's trying to make amends by being my fated mate." I watched Dad's eyes shoot up wide. "That is right, Dad. Dominic and I are meant to be together. We are marked by the Fates to be together as mates. I don't know how a werewolf can fall in love with a different species other than each other, but I love him regardless of who he is."

I mean, I witness it with Mailk and Scylla. Then there is Clayton and Camila.

Is Fate trying to change who we are with, or are they just making fun of us and seeing how mixed babies will look like?

I said the word love out loud because I know father had experienced love with his parents, especially his mother, but all of that became dark after her death, and his father neglected him by falling in love with a maid who had served the family. It was Demir's mother who killed my grandmother to be the primary wife of the Demon Lord.

That woman ruined my Dad's happiness with his family.

Dad may have had a cold and loveless life with his family, but everything changed once he met Mom. She brought light into his heart and taught him about the true meaning of love and happiness.

"To be honest, Dad," I continued. "I'm not fit to be a Queen. I want to live in the forest and attend to my farm. I love growing crops as it relaxes me. Ruling a whole Demon Realm is too much of a hassle. What if no one likes a ruler who is half-life and half-dark? I don't want to be a subject of discrimination and listen to their complaints of being a bad ruler."

"I don't think you will become a bad ruler," Dad assured me.

"I know you don't think that because you're my dad and a Demon Lord, you will take my side. But the issue is I need more time to rule a kingdom or any kingdom. I know Mom is a princess from Alteria. If I were asked to return with them, it would be the same problem with them because of my mixed blood."

Like that will ever happen.

I never met anyone from Alteria who knew about my background and asked me to return with them.

Maybe they don't know I existed.

Dad let out a heavy sigh and then gazed his crimson eyes at me. "I understand your worries, my daughter. And I don't want you to go through with a bunch of demons wrangling at your neck." His gaze shifted over my head, and I knew he was looking at Dominic. "Are you sure you want to spend the rest of your life with him?"

I smile, turning my head to give Dominic a face full of love. "I'm one hundred percent sure."

Another heavy sigh escapes Dad's mouth. "Okay, I understand. It's your life, Lippy, and no one can take that away from you. Besides, if your mother knew I'm trying to prevent our daughter's happiness to be with the man of her choosing, she will, how you say in this world...kick my ass?"

I giggled at his remark, making everyone join in the laughter. I watched as it put a smile on Dad's face.