Filed To Story: Luna Riannon and Alpha Brayden Novel
“He can keep that,” the Serpent was unimpressed. “I heard that there is a bracelet on his hand. With beads.”
Astrea furrowed her brows. There was indeed a bracelet on Fenrir at all times. Quite old from the looks of it, with natural crystal beads.
“What about it?” Surely that couldn’t be anything significant.
“I want it. You need to bring it to me.”
She pondered for a few moments before deciding to test her luck.
“It will be hard,” she sighed heavily.
Careful there, Asti, Nova growled at her.
I know what I am doing, she assured her.
“That’s why you are the one there and not anyone else. You can do it.” Joran either didn’t take the hint or completely ignored it.
“He will kill me! Have you seen the guy? He crushed a skull in his hand today! I’ve never seen anything like it!” Astrea decided to thicken the colours of her story.
“Then find a way to kill him first,” Joran cut her off, and she almost gasped but covered her mouth with her palm in time.
“Kill him?” Killing the King wasn’t mentioned once during her preparation. “But what about the alliance?”
“When he is dead, they will need a new leader, and I would be happy to assist them with that. Why bother with an alliance when we can simply take the army? So, there is no need for buttering up the King anymore. Kill him and bring me his bracelet.”
“Niki,” she heard herself saying her ward’s name before she realised it.
“What about her?” Joran asked dryly.
“Free her together with me if I succeed.” A sense of disbelief washed over Astrea at her own boldness. She was making demands now, something she couldn’t imagine before.
“Is that what you want?” Joran didn’t sound too happy about that.
“Yes. I want a peaceful life somewhere far away,” she confessed.
“You do not. I know you,” the Serpent retorted with a chuckle and for some reason, it infuriated her. Why did he think he knew what she wanted?
“It doesn’t matter what you think you know. Let Nikki leave with me,” Astrea insisted, biting her lip and almost drawing blood from it. “She deserves a peaceful life too.”
“Only if she wants to, “Joran added. “It may come as a shock to you, but some people don’t want to leave the Firstborn island. Niki has a talent, and I see a great future for her within our ranks. I don’t want to kick her out if it’s your dream and not hers.”
“Fine,” she agreed. “If Nikki wants to leave, she leaves with me.”
“Only if you succeed in both killing him and delivering that bracelet to me.” The Teacher clarified.
“Deal,” she bit her lip, realising she didn’t want to do it.
She didn’t want to kill Fenrir.
And yet, she now had to. It was either him or her freedom.
“I will send you some help to help you escape when you are done. You know what to do,” her mentor said.
“Okay, speak to you later,” she was ready to end the call.
“Astrea,” Joran’s voice trembled for a moment, but it didn’t escape her. “Just remember that if you want to come back home and stay here, you are always welcome.”
This was new. This tone and this… attitude.
“Someone is at the door,” she lied. “I need to go!”
***
Astrea prepared for her little night outing quickly. It was time to retrieve her weapons and other gadgets and, although she would have been done faster in her wolf form, she decided against it because, in that way, she would be more noticeable. Not to mention that she had to check the coordinates with her phone while she was at it.
Running in the sand was a nightmare, even for someone as well-trained as her. It shifted under her feet as she ran, sinking and rising like the ocean tide, slowing her down. However, she reached the place in less than an hour.
Two bags were waiting for her, and she kneeled next to them to check if everything was in place. Meanwhile, the sounds of a rhythmic thudding distracted her.
It couldn’t have been a wolf, a fox or a bear, and for a moment, she wasn’t sure what she was hearing until the realisation hit her. A horse!
This was probably the last thing that she expected to see here.
A horse? I get that they are underdeveloped here, but horses? Really? She snorted in her mind and expected Nova to support her.
Stay alert. There wasn’t even a trace of laughter in her wolf’s voice. Something is off here.
She could feel it, too, now. The air shifted, becoming thicker and heavier. Astrea looked around, and it seemed as if the night had gotten darker despite the stars and the crescent moon shining brightly.
The sounds of the hooves were more distinct now, and she was ready for anything, letting her claws out. She was ready to fight if she had to.
However, only a single dark horse appeared on the horizon, its coat shimmering in the moonlight like polished obsidian. Its muscled form was sleek and graceful, gliding through the sand towards her, its mane and tail whipped by the wind.
A magnificent sight!
Right until the moment, she noticed its eyes glowing purple.
What is this? Don’t get too close to it! Nova snarled, her instincts inflamed.
I don’t feel danger coming from it, Astrea told her, mesmerised. Isn’t it beautiful?
Is that a horn on its head? The wolf bristled, not liking any of it.
Astrea couldn’t believe her eyes. A spiralled horn was indeed growing out of the creature’s head, a subtle purple glow radiating from it as well.
It slowed down when it saw her. As if it was afraid to scare her off.
Not that she was going anywhere. She couldn’t leave this wonder without exploring it first.