Filed to story: Luna Riannon and Alpha Brayden Novel
“When did she-” His voice broke in the middle of a sentence. His friends looked at him with concern, seeing the letter and realising what happened.
You know what,” Devoss’ voice sounded very high-pitched,
“we will leave you alone to read it. We have to make the necessary arrangements, anyway.”
She always had this effect on him and his life. She was there with him, even if they were apart, her presence undeniable.
There was only one piece of paper inside with handwriting he would recognise anywhere making him clench it tighter.
Dear Fenrir,
Though our paths crossed only recently, I feel as though we have known each other for eternity. I have no mate, but my soul is bound to you. I wish I could do as you asked, choose you and live in Solace forever, but / would do you and your life’s work a disservice. Everything I touch dies, and / want you to live.
I want you to be happy, Fenrir.
Promise you will be happy whatever happens.
I never said those words to anyone, and you deserved to hear them from me, but here they are in writing so that you know how I felt on the day I knew I couldn’t stay.
I think I love you.
She crossed out those words, replacing them with new ones.
I love you so much it hurts to think about it.
Thank you for being you and for making me experience emotions / wasn’t sure / was capable of.
Forever yours,
Astrea.
P.S. I left something for you on the northern border. Find a dead oak tree, and you will find my little gift in its roots. I didn’t know what to do with this, but something tells me you will. 23.4162 N, 25.6628 E.
He wanted to crumple the letter, but as always, destroying anything of Astraea’s was too much for him. Let alone a love confession. He wasn’t even sure when she wrote that letter. Not that it mattered. Now that he was thinking about it, she probably left it when she went to meet the other dragonflies. What mattered the most, however, was to check what kind of farewell gift she had prepared for him this time. She wouldn’t have sent him to the border if she didn’t think it was important. She also hadn’t gone there on his watch, so it meant she left that thing there before they met and only disclosed the location to him now.
***
“My hands are too pretty for this!” Devoss complained while digging in the roots of a dried oak tree, just like the letter instructed. “There are so many bugs in here. Why are there so many?”
“They like you”” Fenir rolled his eyes, “what takes you so long?”
“So many things!” The fox muttered under his breath. “For instance, we have no idea what we are looking for.”
Fenrir exhaled heavily, not gracing him with a response as he searched on the other side. They were there for a while but still found nothing, making him wonder if it was a good idea to waste their time here, when they needed to be preparing to go to the Southern Lycan Republic.
He almost gave up when he felt a powerful source of energy not so far away. Fenrir closed his eyes not to be distracted and relied on what he felt instead of what he saw, inserting his hand deeply under the tree, and finally, he touched it, feeling the familiar energy. He grabbed the dirt and dried grass around the object and pulled his hand out, unclenching his fingers to see what all the fuss was about.
“It can’t be -” he muttered, shocked by his discovery.
“What is it?” Devoss leaned lower to see Astrea’s gift better.
“It’s just what I needed, Dev. A game changer!”
***
When Joran came to his penthouse, he found Astrea chatting with Nikki and no Bjorn in sight. She was in a far better mood than he expected, and he caught himself in the thought that this was how he wanted to come back home every day.
However, the moment she noticed him, the smile dropped from her pretty face, replacing the warmth in her eyes she had for her ward with the coldness she had prepared for him.
“Teacher,” she greeted him, knowing how much that title annoyed him now, but after his conversation with Vidar, he knew better than to be unhappy about it. He had to treasure every moment he got.
“Where is Darius?” He arched a brow at Nikki, who stood up and lowered her head immediately.
“He is in his room minding his own business as he should be!” Astrea stood between him and his ward. “That bear is not a baby, you know. He’ll manage.”
Joran decided to ignore that attitude, too.
“Tomorrow, we are all going to an event to celebrate the late High Chancellor Lothgar,” he informed them.
“You are throwing him a party instead of a funeral?” Astrea scoffed.
“His achievements should be celebrated.” Joran went straight to the bar and poured himself a glass of his strongest whiskey. “Nikki, you will go with Darius.”
“Does she have to?” the Dragonfly stood up, fisting her hands.
“Yes, she has to because this is her work!” He took a sip without looking at her. “And you have to go to because-“
He stopped before he said something wrong again.
“Because otherwise, you will strangle me. I know.” She smirked, narrowing her eyes. He hated it.
“Go check on Darius, Nikki,” he ordered to the girl and, luckily, she was clever enough to obey, leaving them alone and in silence
Joran finished his glass and poured himself another one.
“Astrea, it doesn’t have to be like this. I don’t want to fight you and will not force you to do anything.”
“Anything other than staying forcefully by your side!” She chuckled darkly.
“This is where you will be safe,” he assured her, knowing it wouldn’t make an impression on her. “Over time, you will understand what I am doing and why.”
“I gave up on that a long time ago,” the woman confessed, rubbing her forehead as if she was tired. It was a long day for her.
“Eventually, you will see what I did for you and why. You may think I was harsh with you, but everything I did made you the woman you are today. It made you strong! You are the strongest you’ve ever been.”
He finished speaking and waited for her reaction. He needed at least something. Anything.
Astrea folded her arms over her chest, licking her dry lips and making his heart race.
“Thank you for that,” she said in a huskier voice than usual.
Relief surged through him. “Now, if you will excuse me, 1 am tired and would like to retire for the night.”
He nodded and watched her going into the main bedroom.
The one that they were sharing tonight.
Joran poured himself another glass and gulped it hastily, unbuttoning the top of his shirt. He knew it would be a while until she fully accepted him, but it would be progress even if he got just to sleep next to her in bed tonight.
He imagined his fingers stroking her delicate skin as she drifted to sleep, teaching her to get used to his presence.
His mood improved, and he followed her. It would be a hard night to control his urges next to her, but it still made him excited.
Joran breathed out as he placed his hand on the door handle… only to find it… locked.
What is taking her so long?” Joran gobbled another glass of whiskey and placed the glass back on the bar table.
Bjorn stood still next to him while Nikki was adjusting his tie.
“She is probably doing her makeup,” Nikki mumbled apologetically, and he poured himself another glass.
“That’s your fourth,” Bjorn pointed out flatly.
“Your point?” The dragon still wasn’t in the mood after last night, having to spend the night on the sofa. Never in his life had he ever been this humiliated, but he knew his limits with Astrea now that she had met his brother and Vidar, who was still technically her mate. Thanks to their history, he was the one she was not drawn to. He had no advantages over those two other than her word that bound them. So, he had to play nice.
“My point is that if you didn’t get any yesterday when you were sober, you aren’t getting it when you are drunk,” the bear cut off, and it took all Nikki’s willpower to suppress her laugh. She had never imagined anyone talking to the Teacher in that way.