Filed to story: Luna Riannon and Alpha Brayden Novel
“I will leave you” Joran interjected, and she nodded, not too sad to see him leave.
“You look amazing!” Niki finally distanced herself with a wide grin. “How have you been?”
“Been better,” Astrea shrugged, her eyes travelling back to the man next to the window wall as memories coursed through her mind again.
She recognised him at once.
Darius Bjorn.
The Rebel Bear King of the North. The cold-blooded murderer. The manipulator.
The last time they met, the circumstances were very different. He had just abducted her friend, and Astrea pretended she had poisoned a few dozen people for his cause. By now, she knew that the war had ended with his defeat, and he probably was still holding a grudge against her for deceiving him since her lies were the main reasons for his failure.
“You are too noisy,” he complained, and Astrea thought of how satisfying it would have been to throw him through that glass wall. It would take him at least a few minutes to fly to the ground…
She had prepared a snarky remark when the man turned to face them; the words refused to form on her tongue.
Bjorn was wearing a blindfold, and it was doubtful that anything kinky was happening there. So, that piece of black fabric had to have a different purpose.
“What happened to you?” she gasped, but found her answer watching the way he moved, searching for the direction her voice came from
“It’s none of your business, traitor!” Bjorn recognised her, and for a moment there, it made her proud. She almost thought he had forgotten her.
“Still the heartthrob I remember!” Astrea rolled her eyes.
“You betrayed me, and you stole from me!” He growled, his claws growing longer.
“I was never on your side, to begin with, to betray you,” she reminded him. “And technically, the ring I took did not belong to you anymore, so-“
Bjorn moved towards them and almost fell because of a step near the window.
Niki caught him, moving as fast as the wind.
“Careful!” She clicked her tongue. “And be nice to Astrea!
She is my friend.”
Bjorn swore under his breath as she led him to the sofa and helped him down.
“Just more reason not to be nice.” He groaned, crossing his hands over his chest.
“Excuse him,” Niki giggled. “We are working on his motor skills now and haven’t started on his manners!”
Astrea expected an outburst of anger from the white werebear, but nothing followed, to her surprise.
It wasn’t good.
“Hey, Nik,” she smiled at her ward. “Is there coffee here by any chance?
“Sure,” the girl nodded. “I’ll make you a cup.”
Niki disappeared, and Astrea did not waste time.
Bjorn was about to stand up and leave for his bedroom when he felt cold metal pressed against his neck.
“If you hurt her, I will skin you alive!” the Dragonfly assassin promised, pressing the blade deeper into his skin.
His throat bobbed, which made her smile and regret that he couldn’t see that.
But his reply startled her.
“I would never hurt Niki!”
*She pierced his skin to draw a little blood.
“Don’t lie to me! It may be the last thing that you do!” she hissed. “And don’t think I bought your little stumbling trick! I know very well you trained to fight blind because you already had one eye and knew this may happen to you if your enemies were clever enough.”
Bjorn pressed his lips together.
“I will never hurt her! Ever!” Astrea listened to his heartbeat and knew he meant it.
“What is going on?” Niki walked in with a tray and three cups, which alerted her mentor since Bjorn didn’t ask for anything. Just what was happening between the two?
“Nothing much,” she smiled and fell on the sofa next to Bjorn, to ensure the seat was taken. “We were just reminiscing about the old times.”
“You know each other?” Niki put the tray on the little table between them.
“Yeah, we do!” Astrea sneered. “Bjorn here is partially responsible for me spending months in the silver pit. He was the one who had this great idea to unalive dozens of people at the northern Luna ceremony.”
“What?” Colour drained from Niki’s face, and Bjorn clenched the sofa’s armrest harder. “Darius did that?”
“Not even his worst deed,” the Dragonfly chuckled, getting her cup and sipping the coffee. “Amongst others, we have abducting a woman, chaining her and parading her on his back as a trophy, killing another and discarding her as if she was garbage, multiple innocent unnecessary people’s deaths-“
“I am bored!” Bjorn stood up, and Niki was about to assist him, but he stormed out of the room before she could do that.
“Leave him be” Astrea stopped her ward. “He doesn’t deserve your help.”
“It’s my job,” Niki lowered her gaze.
“You don’t have to be that diligent. Just stay with me. We can finally talk.”
***
Joran wanted to find Forrest and strategize for the upcoming vote when he noticed the door to the High Chancellor’s office was opened.
He walked inside, knowing well who and what he would see there.
Vidar stood with his hands behind his back, watching the mesmerising view in the glass wall.
“Verum is more beautiful than I remember,” he stated without turning to greet him.
“And now that you’ve seen it, off to the New Asgard you go!
“Joran clenched his fists. “This is my territory, Vincent.” He said the name with so much venom that it made his opponent curl his lips.
“Luckily for you, I don’t care about that territory.” The God of Vengeance turned on his heels to face him.
“I am not letting her go if that’s what you want,” Jor stood his ground, ready to fight if he had to.
“And what if I can offer you something you wanted for so long but could never get?” Vidar smirked. “What if I offer you the deal of your life?”
Joran considered spitting in the other deity’s face and leaving, but… he knew far too well he couldn’t afford it.
Vidar was a god in the prime of his power. He resided in the divine realm and got all the nourishment his immortal soul needed.
Joran’s story was different. He wasn’t born a full god, to begin with. And since then, he had to evolve on his own.
From a Serpent who could only roam the earth and the sea, he had to slay one of the mightiest dragons out there to get his wings and fire, which allowed him to fly.
He was the definition of self-made, and that made him resent golden boys like Vidar, who had everything handed to them since birth. Vidar did not know the struggles he faced. Even so, he was currently more powerful.
Currently being the keyword. It could have been fixed if Joran got the entrance to the New Asgard, the divine realm he was thrown out of right after they lost Ragnarok
For years, his and Fenrir’s life was that of survival. They had to gain magic, gain powers, gain abilities. Then, they had to avoid Vidar when ever possible because every fight with him would take their gains away and waste the accumulated power and energy. Joran was so tired of this, tired of being a god and still having to hide.
He had been hiding as long as he had existed and absolutely loathed it.