Filed to story: Luna Riannon and Alpha Brayden Novel
This would mean he’d lose power over Astrea. Hed lose his leverage over Fenir and Vidar. This would be his end, and it couldn’t be, not after centuries of getting to this point.
“Fine!” Riannon shrugged. “Leave then. We are done here.”
“Don’t think for one moment I wouldn’t fly to the West and get your son to-“
Gideon snarled, his eyes glowing golden and claws elongating.
“I know for a fact you wouldn’t.” His wife’s voice calmed down the King instantly, but he left the sharp claws, ready to use them any moment if needed.
“So, what’s it going to be?” Riannon tilted her head. “Tik tok.”
Joran peered at his brother.
“Yeah, Jor, what is it going to be?” Fenrir crossed his arms over his chest.
“What’s in it for me?” The dragon turned to face his brother.
“Do you have any idea what Vidar is offering? What is your offer, Rir?”
“I offer you to do the right thing for once,” the wolf replied.” You know you owe me a debt that cannot be repaid. But you owe one to Astrea, too. Whatever you choose, it will not change anything for me. I know what I have to do. Your choice is for you.”
A laugh escaped Joran.
“Not much of an offer, is it?”
“Suit yourself.” Fenrir shrugged and turned to the Luna.” Riannon Stormhold, I think it’s time for us to have that conversation.”
“It will be my honour,” the Western Queen stood up finally.
“Fine!” Joran raised his hand. He had to go to Astrea. He had to try to save the situation somehow.
The divine mark on Astreas neck meant a lot, but not everything. This was already proven.
Besides, it was a preventative measure for when he sent her away. The real power over her was Nikki. And Nikki, as every firstborn, belonged to him.
Still, it wasn’t ideal.
“Fine what?” Ria knew the rules of the game by now. He had to say it.
“Tell me where she is, and I will take my mark off today,” he gave up, knowing it would cost him.
“Of course,” Riannon smiled genuinely at him for the first time. “A deal is a deal.”
Astrea couldn’t believe her eyes.
She was back in that forsaken place after its destruction, witnessing the charred remains of what was once a bustling training ground. The island, once filled with the echoes of swords clashing and the whispers of Firstborn in training, lay in ruins. The buildings that once stood tall were now reduced to ashes, smoke still lingering in the air.
She had a pretty good idea of what had happened here, and her thoughts went to the many kids who lived and trained in this very place. However, knowing Fenrir, she knew he’d never hurt the innocent and trusted his process, whatever that was. This had to be a message for her Teacher, and she didn’t feel sorry for him. After all, this island only brought her and others pain.
The real trouble, though, stood before her.
Dominica crossed her arms over her chest as she watched her with a sneer, dressed in her usual black leathers.
“You sleep like a log!” she commented.
“That wasn’t sleep,” Astrea retorted, checking what limbs she could still move. “I was strangled until I fainted. There is a difference.”
“If that’s an attempt to make me feel sorry for you, then you are delusional!” The Dragonfly scoffed
“You? Sorry for anyone?” Astrea rolled her eyes. “Please!
You are a leech who fed off me for years and still was ready to put a knife in my back! I don’t remember hearing a nice word from you once.”
“Like I had a choice!” Dominica growled. “He didn’t ask me!
He didn’t ask any of us! Do you think we liked this? Do you think any of us wanted to experience this? Craving the power you had was no joke to any of us! It changed us in unimaginable ways.”
Astrea tried slipping her wrist from under the chain, but it held her in place tight. As if by magic….
“You seemed to enjoy it! You guys always wanted to do the Joining Ritual. Even if I was sick for days after.” Astrea reminded her.
“With the power you had, that was hardly a challenge,” Dominica brushed her off. “Do you even realise what you are capable of when the four of us were turned into super strong warriors just by taking a few sips of power from you?”
“Didn’t feel like a few sips to mel!” Astrea frowned.
“Cry me a river!” The woman curled the strands of her long brown ponytail around her finger. “You always had it all and appreciated it the least.”
“Dom, you have no idea what you are talking about!” Astrea sighed, still trying her luck around the chains. The luck, sadly, was not on her side.
“Don’t call me that!” The girl closed the distance between them in seconds and slapped her face so hard Astrea tasted blood. “Only Emma could call me that!”
Damn it. Astrea knew this would come up.
“It was self-defence,” she repeated the words she had already told Dominica many times.
“Shut up!” The brunette screamed, her eyes glowing as a warning. “Do you think I care why you killed the love of my life? She is gone, and nothing can fix this!”
Astrea’s heart skipped a beat. She did not want anyone to experience this kind of loss. This was never her goal. She would find another way to escape if she could turn back time.
“I am so-“
Another slap prevented her from talking.
“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” Dominica’s scream pierced her ears. “I don’t need your petty words and apologies! You can’t give her back to me!”
This was true, and Astrea regretted it like no one else.
Would things be different if Emma survived? Would they leave her alone?
“Right now, the only thing I want is my freedom, and there is only one way to get it!” Dominica grabbed her hair, and Astrea thought shed hit her again. She was ready for it, but instead, her ex-teammate grasped her shoulder, ripping the fabric of her dress to reveal the dragonfly tattoo on her back.
“What are you-” Astrea didn’t get to finish her sentence because sharp claws pierced her skin right where the dragonfly tattoo was. The sensation was painful at first, but quickly, it changed to something else.
Something way worse
Astrea could feel strength slipping away through her wounds as Dominica rolled her eyes back in ecstasy, lost to the sensations of draining the life and energy out of the woman she hated the most.
Unable to fight her, Astrea finally realised why she was brought here. It wasn’t just to kill her. Her ex-colleague wanted to bleed her dry, stripping her of power.
The Joining Ritual for one.
Looking at Dominica now, Astrea saw how the process consumed her, glowing magic flowing through them both while blood trickled down Astrea’s back. Despite that, the woman deepened her claws into her flesh, making Astrea hiss from the pain.
“It’s too much!” She tried to explain, but the assassin didn’t even spare her a glance.
She did not care.
Insatiable hunger took over Dominica. She wanted it all. All that Astrea had to offer her power and her life.
“There is only one way to be free,” she leaned forward to whisper in her helpless victim’s ear. “Emma knew it, and she told me. We were supposed to do it together. You have enough for two-“
“You want to drain me!” Astrea gritted her teeth, thrashing against the chains.
“I want to do worse things to you!” Dominica sneered. “If it was a choice, I would have given you the most horrible death I could imagine. But this will have to do!”
“You don’t have to do this! You said it yourself: I have enough for two. You can just-“