Filed To Story: The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert
“We need to go!” Kara said, trying to sound firm, but her voice betrayed her, quivering by the end of the sentence. “1 haven’t done this for so long!”
“Done what?!” Joran demanded, angry they treated him as if he was not there. The pool of blood next to his brother was getting bigger, and surely that wasn’t a good sign.
Suddenly, his fingers burned as if he summoned fire, and the dragon realised, this time, the blood coating them was causing it.
His brother was dying, and it was his doing.
“Hurry up,” Fenrir hissed from the pain as they carefully placed him on the ground. Riannon brought a little cushion to place under his head.
“What is this? What the hell are you all doing?” Joran felt he was about to shift right here in this room and demand answers. Fenrir looked so pale…
Bash turned away, not able to see his father like this.
Devoss patted his shoulder gently while Warg knelt at his creator’s side.
Kara towered over the Wolf God, a soft glow coating her.
Joran recognised this glow and did not flinch when two golden wings spread behind the woman’s back. The Valkyrie stretched her hand to Fenrir.
“Rise, brave warrior, and join the ranks of the honoured.
Your valour and courage have earned you a place among the chosen. Fear not, for your spirit shall be carried to the halls of glory, and I will be your guide.”
“No!” The dragon stormed towards them to stop the madness, and this time, both Bash and Devoss stood in his way, restraining them. The only two in the room capable of holding him back.
“What are you doing? Stop this!” Joran bellowed, trying to shake them off.
“It has to be done, uncle!” Bash tried to explain, but he did not listen because Fenir took the Valkyrie’s hand and rose… while his body remained breathless on the floor.
“You have about an hour in this world’s time,” Riannon told them. “After that time, no one will be able to reanimate him.
Not even the bead he gave me would help. One hour is all you have.”
“Then we better be quick,” Fenri’s spirit nodded, still holding Kara’s hand as the Valkyrie created a portal.
“Fenrir, don’t be a fool!” Joran screamed. “You will not be able to come back from this! No woman is worth it!”
His wolf sibling locked eyes with him, a slow curl to his lips.
“I know you can’t understand it, and that’s okay. I forgive you for everything, Jor. Thanks for your help tonight.”
This wasn’t the answer Joran wanted to hear, so he tried to free himself, struggling against the other two deities as he watched his brother and the Valkyrie depart to Valhalla.
Someone let out a gut-wrenching scream that pierced everyone’s ears and reverberated through the room. It took Joran some time to realise that he was the one screaming, his throat tightening painfully.
Riannon poured some potion over the breathless body’s chest that stopped the bleeding but definitely did not bring Fenrir back to life.
“Why-” Joran asked in a hoarse voice when Bash and Devoss finally let him go, opening their own portal. Only Fenrir and Joran were banished from the divine realm.
“Because there was no other way for Father to return to Asgard,” his nephew informed him out of pity.
“He had to be killed in a proper fight,” Warg added, preparing to go with his friends. “By an enemy.”
Astrea couldn’t take her eyes off the woman before her, paralysed by all the memories coursing through her mind.
Her mother, the Moon Goddess, was still alive and well. And she was here in New Asgard, dressed in the finest silk and shiniest diamonds. The contemporary silvery-white attire, adorned with her usual celestial embellishments to highlight her divine status, hinted that Selene was not facing any hardships. She was here as a guest of honour just like the last time, and this realisation made Astreas stomach twist.
“Ah, Mother-in-law,” Vidar sneered, slightly annoyed with her arrival yet respectful enough to let it slide. “We didn’t expect you today. I was educating Astraea on the changes done since her last time here.”
His eyes slowly found his mate on the ground; her elegant white dress ripped in a few places from the fall, the delicate sheer fabric covered in dirt. It did not escape his gaze that she had a handful of ashes ready to be thrown at him, which annoyed him even more.
Why was this woman so stubbor? As if dirt on his face would make a difference.
She had lost. She had to deal with this by now.
“Vidar, my boy!” A nervous smile graced Selene’s lips. “1 believe it’s my duty to educate my daughter today.
Something I failed to do properly in the past.”
“Glad we agree on this one,” Vidar jerked his chin.
She didn’t even look at her daughter, which caused a sense of betrayal and disappointment to settle in Astrea’s chest.
Had her mother been watching her misery all those years and did nothing?
Vidar dissipated his sword in flames. He looked so smug that it made her sick.
“My love,” he said coldly, offering his hand to Astrea. She ensured to give him the one with no bead bracelets on and did not regret it when he roughly pulled her up and into his chest, moving her palm to his lips for a kiss. However, he changed his mind, as her skin was still covered in soot, which let a wave of relief wash over her. She wanted as little physical contact with that man as possible.
“Children,” Selene smiled at the couple as if she hadn’t just witnessed them trying to murder each other, “I thought you spent the last centuries maturing, but you both are still too temperamental for your own good.”
“I’m afraid there’s still so much we need to teach Astraea.”
Vidar flexed his jaw.
*Well, tonight is definitely my turn. The wedding is tomorrow, and you still have many things to deal with.” The Moon Goddess radiated artificial sweetness, and Astrea couldn’t take it anymore
Nothing had changed. Her own mother watched her being tortured for centuries, and it never occurred to her to interfere.
“I am afraid I don’t want to part with my betrothed, even if for a second,” Vidar sneered, locking his arms tighter around her waist. “I missed her too much.”
“But Astraea-” Selene was about to say something when the Dragonfly lost her temper.
“It’s Astreanow. Your daughter Astraea died a long time ago, thanks to you and your choices.” Their gazes met briefly before the Moon Goddess cast her eyes to the ground.
“That’s fine. I have nothing to say to this woman. I want to return to my room if that’s all right.”
Vidar’s gaze lingered on her momentarily until a cruel smirk curled onto his lips.
“Now, my love, one conversation with your last remaining parent will not hurt.” He gestured for Selene to come closer, enjoying that he had found yet another way to make his bride miserable.
“I really-” Astrea wanted to protest, but Vidar interrupted her.
“Your mother will be leaving us right after the wedding. She is a very busy woman and wants to give us space to-explore each other the way we should have done years ago.
So, one last conversation on the way to your room wouldn’t hurt. The guards will be with you at all times.”
Four Asgardians stepped out of the shadows and bowed respectfully. At least two of them emitted divine auras, which was terrible news. The Dragonfly was a skilled warrior but still no match to them as a mortal.
Vidar took her wrist, ready to kiss it again, but just like last time, he remembered it wasn’t clean and distanced himself to her relief.
“Your wedding dress is probably already waiting for you in your suite,” he added. “I can’t wait to see you wearing it at Valhalla tomorrow.”
Burn the dress, Nova scoffed. Noted!
Astrea wanted to say it out loud, but Selene draped her arm around hers and urged her away.
“Thank you for your understanding, Vidar!”
When Astrea glanced over her shoulder to see what her mate was doing, she saw Vidar storming away and the four guards following them closely.
“Let’s go.” Selene pulled her gently toward the exit, her tone lacking the previous sweetness. “I don’t know what he was thinking about bringing you here!”
“The usual,” she stated bluntly through clenched teeth. “
You know, my wonderful mate and his desire to torture me for not loving him.”
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?