Filed To Story: The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert
*Trust me, if there was a choice, I would give you literally anything else but this. However, this is going to help you enter the Source.*
Astrea looked at her mother’s ring, still underwater. A crescent and a little star crafted out of diamonds. The ring of the Moon Goddess could be considered a divine weapon of sorts, but it was so much more than that. Each little gem in it had a particle of a divine soul encapsulated inside.
Those were the souls of Selene’s deceased husband and daughters. Souls of gods.
With their divinity.
Just a few specs of it, but if they calculated it right, this would allow her to be recognised as a deity by the Source of Power enter it to get her divinity back.
Yes, the plan could have been better, but it was their only one.
Astrea bathed until her skin got all wrinkly and returned to the main room, glaring at the maids to make them stare at the floor again and hiding her hand with the ring and the bracelet from them. The nightmare’s horn was enough of a sacrifice for one day.
“One of you stole from me!* She folded her arms over her chest, piercing each woman before her with her angry gaze.
“My Queen!* They all fell to their knees synchronically as if they rehearsed this. “We would never!”
“Give me back what you’ve taken, and I will spare you!* she hissed, but they didn’t move.
*Please, understand!” The oldest maid in the room fell as low as she could, her face almost touching the floor. “We were told to discard the garments and everything you had from the mortal realm. We cannot disobey orders.”
Astrea huffed an indifferent laugh but decided it was enough.
“Leave me!” she ordered
“But-” This time, the youngest spoke. “We have orders to prepare you for the dinner. All-father Vidar expects you to share a meal with him.”
She felt bile rise in her throat.
“I can dress myself,” she announced, and although the other women were reluctant at first, they left her alone, probably thinking it was a lucky escape.
“We will return in one hour to help you finish your preparations,” the head maid said before closing the doors.
***
The maids were back as promised, probably staying pretty close in the first place, and assessed her look.
She chose a minimalistic silk chiffon white dress with a cape that adorned her shoulders with intricate embroidery and glimmering sequins. The sheer fabric was draped tightly over the corset, pushing her breasts up a notch. It was slightly more revealing than she usually preferred, but today, she would prefer Vidar to look at her chest and not her hands.
She hid the most valuable items in plain sight, adding white gold and silver diamond rings to her fingers and several bracelets to her wrists. The jewellery shimmered in the sunset, attracting attention, but blending well with what she managed to smuggle in.
“Maybe we should add a necklace?” One of the maids offered.
“Or a crown?” Another chimed in.
“This is already more than I usually wear,” Astrea cut them off. “Take me to him.”
The maids passed her to two guards, and those led her through the labyrinth of a garden that she didn’t recognise.
After all, it had been so long. Nothing here reminded her of the past. It was as if Vidar tried to erase it. The main palace and a few buildings were the only remnants of what used to be.
“This way,” both warriors stopped and gestured for her to continue down a stone path.
Astrea did as she was told. After all, she had to scan as much of her surroundings as possible.
However, her lips parted in shock when she walked out on a hill she had the most vivid memories of.
The scorched earth and charred remnants of trees lay before her eyes as she took it all in. Once a vibrant and serene place, it was now a desolate and barren landscape that never recovered its former beauty. The Glowing Garden she loved so much and built with Fenrir’s help, had been burnt to the ground
She paused before the biggest tree trunk that stood lonely in the centre and looked like it was merely a piece of charcoal. Fenrir used to press her against this glowing willow, and they kissed until her head spun.
“All the preparations for the wedding ceremony are ready, Uncle,” a tall and muscular man with long blonde hair informed Vidar as they stood on a cliff next to a table set for two. “Your bride will be happy.”
Astrea did not move, hoping to hear more information from her hideout. The two Asgardians did not seem to notice her.
“My bride should be happy I still want her after everything, Magnus,” Vidar scoffed. “So far, she was more trouble than she is worth.”
Astrea rolled her eyes.
“And yet you waited for her for so long,” the other Asgardian noted, patting his uncle’s shoulder. “She must be really something, that future Queen of ours!*
“That she is,” Vidar smirked. “The mate bond-it intensifies everything. I just can’t resist having her by my side, but she will have to be punished before I allow her to wield any kind of power, so don’t misunderstand what she is right now.”
“What would that be?” Magnus’ brows went up.
“My property,” the God of Vengeance stated, and Astrea clenched her fists
“But you are still marrying her-” The nephew clearly did not know what kind of man his uncle was.
“To seal the deal!” Vidar shook with laughter, watching his nephew’s confused face. “You still have so much to learn.”
“Then teach me,” Magnus insisted, a small wrinkle appearing over the bridge of his nose.
“Astraea came with the power that should have made our rule so much easier,” he explained. “When she died, that power was lost. Same as when my father, Odin, was killed by that mutt, his power vanished. There is nothing that could be done about the latter, but as for the star goddess power-“
“You are planning to give her divinity,” the young man gasped and Vidar burst out laughing again.
“Of course not!” He shook his head. “It will be millennia of her behaving like an obedient little wife before I even consider it!*
“I am afraid I don’t get it then.” Magnus ran his hand through his silky hair.
“Don’t worry, you are just like your father. Thor was the strongest god out there, but complicated plans were not his strongest point.”
The nephew flinched as if he was slapped on his cheek.
“Astraea will not get divinity as long as i can help it,” Vidar stated. “So, she will not be getting her powers back. Those will go to me.”
“H-how?” Magnus seemed as shocked as Astrea, who was still listening to every word.
“Easy. At the wedding ceremony, we will swear to share everything, binding words and everything. Then, we will mix our blood in the final ritual. I will go to the source of power as soon as it’s done. Alone.”
Astrea covered her mouth not to make any noises. Their plans were so similar.
“The powers in the source would recognise her blood and-
* The Son of Thor stopped talking, pursing his lips.
“And come to me,” Vidar sneered. “See, that’s a good plan. I will have her powers and mine, becoming the most powerful ruler of Asgard to ever exist. i will wipe the mortal world clean, covering my actions with ongoing wars and restoring the balance, bringing prosperity here. As for Astraea, she will be my reward for the hard work / did. And I intend to enjoy her to the fullest, mate bond and all.”
They stood silent for a while, and Astrea used that time to control her anger. He was so smug, so confident. She wanted to push them off the cliff but knew that it wouldn’t kill him, so she had to restrain herself.
Finally, she walked out from her hideout.
“Vidar!” she called his name, and both men turned to face her. Her mate’s eyes grazed her figure in the sheer dress, and his lips curled slowly as he stretched his hand, gesturing at the table.
“Ah, Astraea, welcome home. I’ve been waiting for you.”
***
Fenir was pacing around the penthouse’s living room, constantly checking the clock. The elevator doors opened, and Gideon walked inside with his wife.
“It took you a while.” The Wolf God sounded impatient.
“Apologies,” Gideon shrugged. “Despite the promises, they still did not want to give her up without a fight.”
“What’s the point of them being here?” Joran placed his foot on his knee as he sat on the sofa.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?