Filed To Story: The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert
“I know you don’t trust me, and I can never blame you for this,” the Moon Goddess confessed. “But I want you to know that I did anything possible to help you and will keep doing it. I will be on your side even if you never want to see me again. However much I crave your forgiveness, I need to see you happy more. Use my ring right, Astrea, and-be happy when all is done.”
Astrea did not know how to respond. Her mother was always a sweet-talker, and yet it felt different now. She could feel her pain. She saw it in the woman’s eyes.
However, trust had to be earned, and they couldn’t reach this point with one conversation.
“I need to go,” she said, and Selene withdrew from her with a reserved smile curving her lips.
“I will be there,” she added. “Waiting.”
This time, Astrea decided to stay silent, as she needed to think everything over.
***
She had to take another bath to clean herself after the remnants of the Glowing Garden and was served dinner back in her room. Luckily, Vidar was too busy to keep her company.
The maids looked as terrified as before, which, she realised after carefully contemplating, was helpful to her.
Sleep wasn’t an option, and she wanted to try escaping over the roofs like she usually did. Still, a quick observation session through her windows allowed her to notice several guards spying on her from different angles.
Usually, that number of men to kill wouldn’t have bothered her, but this wouldn’t be a fair fight since at least some of them were minor deities, thus much stronger than her mortal body. Again, she had a plan for that, too, but there would be only one shot at this. They would have officially lost if she got caught, and everything would be over for her, Fenrir and the mortal realm
The morning came faster than she realised, and the maids walked back in with covered trays to prepare her for the wedding ritual.
Astrea observed them with her hands folded over her chest, a mask of indifference on her face.
“Let us help you with your hair,” the oldest woman suggested, and she nodded in agreement, allowing them to put a beautiful star crown halo into her hair. She pulled on the tight white undergarments they offered and let them rub lotions on her body, making her skin shimmer like diamonds.
“Just your bridal make-up is left,” the same woman chirped with a wide smile on her face. “Allow us to-“
“Enough!” Astrea raised her hand to make them stop in their tracks. “It’s getting tiring, and I already have a headache, thanks to you.”
The women exchanged uncomfortable glances.
“I will do the makeup myself,” Astrea announced, and they dropped to their knees again.
“Please, my Queen, we have precise instructions!”
“If something is not to Vidar’s taste-“
She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, showing them how much they irritated the future wife of their ruler.
A few moments more and they would be ready to agree to anything she proposes as long as it was remotely reasonable.
“Her!” She pointed to the youngest maid with blonde hair, who shook when she realised she had been chosen for a potentially deadly mission. “Does she know the instructions?”
They did not want to reply, disappointed with how things were developing.
“Does she?” Astrea made her voice sharper, trying to scare them more.
“Y-yes.” Finally, the Head Maid admitted, looking at her colleague with pity.
“P-please, I-” The chosen maid stuttered. “Maybe it’s best if you choose someone else to-“
“You stay to help me. Everyone else leaves!” Astrea commanded and Nova added a growl, making all the women rush out of the room.
All but one.
She waited for the doors to close and nodded at the vanity table, causing the little maid to get back to her feet.
“What are you waiting for? Do your job.”
Playing an arrogant, heartless as*hole wasn’t her first.
Astrea watched the maid open the bottles with cosmetics and arrange the brushes when she crushed the first bead, activating the veil of silence in the room: From now on, no one would be able to hear what was going on here. Just like Fenrir taught her.
The girl was shaking like a leaf during a storm, and Astrea felt so guilty. She never hurt the innocent; this time, she had to make an exception.
“What is your name?” she asked lazily. As if she wasn’t really interested.
“Nora, m-my Queen.” The maid tried to control her voice, but it still came out shaky. She picked the first brushes and exhaled sharply as if gathering all her strength and confidence, but when she turned to face Astrea, the woman was already there, towering over her.
“You are not a minor goddess, Nora, right?” The Dragonfly tilted her head, playing with another bead in her fingers.
“G-goddess? M-me? No,” the girl shook her head, her dread palpable.
“Good,” Astrea nodded and crushed the second bead, grasping the maid’s hand. “If you play your cards right, Nora, you are going to survive this. I really hope that you do!”
Vidar looked at the sparkling white marble road leading to the Halls of Valhalla. It was time to go downstairs, as his bride was supposed to be on her way.
A young woman who looked like Nikki, whom he failed to get as he had recently found out, stood beside him, dressed in mortal realm jeans and a black leather jacket. It had to do for now. He would have to figure something else later, though, to keep his wife on a leash.
“Cover her face better,” the God of Vengeance ordered. “I want Astraea to see her right before she walks in.”
She was already supposed to be in the middle of the marble path. It was time, and everyone who mattered waited for them downstairs. Although it was predictable Astraea would be late.
“Any news from my bride?” he asked one of his loyal advisors.
“She was a bit stubborn in the morning,” the man replied. “
But it had been handled. She must be on her way. Any minute now.”
He could wait a minute. Vidar had waited millennia for this.
Still, it was hard to believe he would get what was rightfully his after all this time. Doubt crept into his soul. Wasn’t it too good to be true?
Then, at last, he saw the procession walking out of the Queen’s part of the palace. Several maids dressed in pale golden dresses at the front and an equal amount at the back. Right between them, where she was supposed to be, walked his mate with her head cast down and covered with a thin veil.
For a moment there, Vidar was afraid it wasn’t her, but when his man used a mirror to reflect sunshine on her face to bring her attention to them, she looked up. Primal fear was in her eyes when she saw him holding who she thought was Nikki by the hair. He shook the woman in his grasp for a more dramatic effect and then threw her to the ground so that Astraea couldn’t see her face.
His bride looked down again, clasping her hands at the front, which indicated his final victory. At last.
Vidar walked down the spiralling stairs straight into the main hall of Valhalla, making everyone stand in his presence as he took his position at the chancel. He had ruled over New Asgard for so long, but this day was incredibly satisfying. His right to rule, powers, and decisions had always been questioned.
Today would be the day it ended.
Once his blood mixed with Astraea’s and he got her powers from the source, no one would object to him ever again.
Not to mention that the woman he craved more than anything would finally be at his mercy.
This was indeed too good to be true.
The doors opened, and the maids stepped aside, letting their Queen walk towards her future husband.
She was mesmerising in the silk dress he chose for her. It was too tight for her so that she wouldn’t be able to have too much freedom of movement and also to make it easier to rip it off her body later when they were alone.
The veil covered her face, but it was her. Her sharp chin, plump rosy lips, her hair that looked like starlight… too short for his liking, but he would help her grow it back tonight so that it was easier to pull in during their first official night.
She was visibly shaking, and he was delighted.
That woman would be his victory. Once and for all.
She took too long to get to him, and he was growing tired.
Too many important guests watched him triumph to let his irritation slip, though.
Finally, she was by his side in what seemed like an eternity, and he grabbed her small, icy hand, drawing his thumb over her skin, causing a rush of goosebumps to appear. He liked her that way. Trembling and obedient.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?