Filed to story: Luna Riannon and Alpha Brayden Novel
“but today will not be a bad day for us. We finally found each other. It’s a great day, Astrea. And I will return to you as soon as possible.”
She couldn’t hold back a smile because his words meant everything to her, but that smile dropped when he took her hand and put one of his bracelets into her palm.
“I wish I had a ring, but I hope this will do until I get one,” Fenrir smiled at her, waiting for an answer.
“Are you sure?” She glanced at him, realising that she still didn’t confess she stole from him or that one of the dragonflies escaped with the beads. Neither did she mention that they came to Solace already wearing similar beads.
“I am,” he took the bracelet back and then slid it into her wrist. “This is so that everyone knows that you are mine.
And also, if the need arises, you can protect yourself with these. Each bead contains magic and can give you a specific power or ability. I have been collecting these for years. They are temporary, and it will depend on the bead size how long they last. If you touch them with the intention of using them, you will feel what they do first. The power will be yours when you crush a bead. But, Astrea, do be careful and only use in case of an emergency.”
“Is that what you meant when you said they store things?”
Astreas eyes widened. “Fenrir, I-“
“Don’t worry, Astrea,” he cupped her cheek. “There wasn’t anything useful on the bracelet you took for my brother.”
She didn’t know how to respond to that, and Fenrir chuckled, seeing her confusion.
“You knew?” She felt so stupid now, thinking she could trick him so easily. He had been playing her this whole time.
“Remember that I know you and the way you think,” he smirked. “And this is exactly why I don’t hold anything against you. I- I understand your motivation.”
“I am sorry,” she muttered.
“You are not the one to be sorry for this,” he kissed her forehead. “Neither are you going to be the one paying for this.”
“Out of interest, what beads did you give him?” Astrea’s lips curled.
“The ones he would need the most,” Fenrir chuckled. “
Calming and wound healing.”
Astrea couldn’t stifle a laugh, and Fenrir captured her lips, kissing her gently at first but quickly turning into a wolf and an intoxicating storm. They were nowhere near done with each other, and soon their hands were roaming each others bodies again.
The spear glowed persistently, more intensely this time.
“Damn it!” Fenrir swore under his breath.
“I will wait for you,” Astrea said, her breathing ragged and heart racing.
“Even if you don’t, I will turn the whole world upside down to find you,” he promised, eliciting another smile from her. ” You are so beautiful and mine.”
“Go,” she giggled. “This is more important now. I’ll be good.
“
**
Astrea had a long morning, taking a bath and thinking about everything that happened. She missed Fenrir and still had so many questions, but it had been hours since he left.
It worried her, considering all he had to do was tell the parents that he wouldn’t be taking their child. Each passing hour made her more agitated because she sensed that something went wrong on the other end.
She couldn’t sit and wait even though she technically promised to do exactly that. But it wasn’t who she was as a person, and Fenrir claimed to know her well, so she decided to go out into the city and see if she could help in any way.
Or, at the very least, simply distract herself.
“Hey!” Kara met her on her way out
“The last Valkyrie in the flesh!” Astrea smirked at the woman.
“You know what, I am honoured that you had time to chat about me while actively reuniting all night long!” Kara offered her a sly glance. “In fact, I am surprised you managed to have a full-blown conversation.”
“We didn’t,” the Dragonfly had to admit. “It kinda came out in between-“
“Ew, gross. Spare me the details,” the Valkyrie snorted.
“By any chance, do you have a way to contact Fenrir?” Astrea asked bluntly, not able to contain her anxiety anymore.
“Not really,” Kara shrugged.
“I am just worried because he was supposed to be back by now but there is no sign of him.” The confession wasn’t easy. She wasn’t used to pouring her heart out to anyone.
“He’ll be fine,” the woman chuckled. “What can happen to him? He is Fenrir, the mighty wolf god, an immortal who will, quite literally, outlive us all.”
They went the city together, having a somewhat nice conversation for the first time. Finally, Astrea felt like Kara could open up to her, telling her more and more about Fenirs work in Solace. She was like a completely new person now.
“You don’t have to try and sell him to me this hard.” Astrea laughed as they entered the central street in search of a coffee house. “He will have a hard time getting rid of me now.”
From the corner of her eye, Astrea noticed a group of people watching them and whispering. She tried not to pay too much attention to that, but soon two women pointed at her and that simply couldn’t be a coincidence.
As someone who was taught to stay invisible when needed,
Astrea knew when she was the centre of attention.
And right now, it felt uncomfortable.
“Do you feel that something is a little bit off today?” she side-eyed at Kara, but the Valkyrie only shook her head in response.
A huge green car stopped right in front of them and Devoss jumped out of it in a matching salad green suit, hair slightly dishevelled.
“Oh, there you are!” He chuckled nervously. “Why don’t I give you a lift back home?”
“‘m fine,” Astrea noticed a few more people watching her and pointing their fingers. “We just arrived.”
“Yeah, but it’s so hot out here! Let’s get back!” Devoss insisted, giving a glare at Kara.
“You know what, he is right,” the valkyrie changed her mind all of a sudden. “It is crazy hot today”
“We are in the desert,” Astrea reminded them. “What is happening? Why are you both acting so weird?”
“Weird?” Devoss’ voice reached an unusually high-pitched tone. “I don’t know what you are talking about! But Fenrir is probably back and you have so many things to talk about judging by how the night went-“
Astrea prepared to reply something snarky to the man when a cold splash of water distracted her from the conversation. She saw an angry woman with an empty cup in her hand, pushing a stroller with a baby in it, her chest rising and falling sharply and her face red with anger.
“How dare you remain here after what you’ve done!” The woman growled at her, her eyes glowing blue.
“What have I done?” Astrea gasped, still shocked.
“You ask?” A few people surrounded them now, all looking furious.
“Shameless!”
“Traitor!”
The words stung, and Astrea’s breathing hitched. Not this again…
“Call her that again and you will die!” Kara snarled, giving her slightly more confidence.
“How can you protect her?” A man stepped forward, throwing accusatory looks at them. “You know she is responsible for the breach yesterday, and now Raja is under attack by the Southern Republic! They say no one made it out of there alive!”
Astrea’s lips parted in shock as the world stopped spinning.
Fenri wanted to be done with his North business as soon as possible. Just the thought that Astrea was waiting for him back at home in his bed made his whole body shiver with anticipation.
However, he had to deal with the baby first.