Filed To Story: The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert
Astrea furrowed her brows. “What do you think you are doing?”
“He is ready for this too” Magnus locked his eyes with her.
“I am sure he has a plan for Fenrir’s arrival as well.”
She did not say anything, her fingers counting the remaining few beads on her bracelet. She spent most of it.
“This is all I can give you without breaking my oath to protect New Asgard.” Magnus lowered his head
Astrea stood up, hope still trembling in her chest.
“What are you-” she whispered, afraid to say the words out loud and end up being wrong
“You will have just a few minutes.” Magnus seemed serious. He exhaled heavily and added, “The Source is now in the cave where he killed you.”
She sucked in a sharp breath, a myriad of thoughts crossing her mind.
It could be a trap. He could be lying.
“What are you waiting for?” Magnus asked, bringing her back to reality as another growl sounded somewhere far away.
Fenrir’s growl. She couldn’t have mistaken it for anything.
“Thanks,” she nodded to her unexpected ally and shifted into her wolf form in seconds, giving Nova full control. If they had mere minutes, they had to give it their all.
Nova ran as fast as she could through the square and into the city, to the cliffs, finding the cave where it all happened.
It could be a trap, but she had no other choice because finding the Source of Power was their best bet. She had to try, even if she failed.
She was in the mountains in the blink of an eye, her chest burning. Racing through puddles inside the cave, the memories of Fenir chained in there danced in her head, mixed with the vivid recollection of her own death. For a moment, it seemed she couldn’t breathe anymore, but it helped that Nova was in charge.
A little more! her wolf encouraged.
I am fine! Astrea assured her when they finally reached the cavity filled with light.
Time for you to do what you were born to do, Nova said, pushing her to take the control back. Astrea shifted into her human form and walked towards the light naked, embracing it.
The warm glow seemed so familiar. It caressed her skin as if she belonged with it. Something she hadn’t felt in a while.
Before her was another well, rugged and uneven, hewn from ancient rocks and filled with a glowing substance that seemed to have a life of its own.
With each step, Astrea felt it more and more. Raw power, bigger than any deity, bigger than any realm. Vidar may have changed its location, but he couldn’t subdue it or take from it what it was unwilling to give.
It was the end and the beginning of each god. Primal power to which each of them bowed their heads.
“I don’t want to take what’s not mine,” Astrea said loudly, knowing it had to be done. “I only need what was always mine. Please-“
The power rippled as if the Source was responding to her, and she knew what she had to do.
Slowly, Astrea got on its edge, ready to dive in.
This would solve all their problems, but one thought stopped her from jumping inside.
Do it, Nova whispered, a subtle goodbye in her voice.
I don’t want to lose you. Astrea bit her lip. I have already lost Midnight. I can’t lose you too.
If you don’t do it, I am doomed anyway. He will kill us all, her wolf tried to reassure her. You are a goddess, Astrea.
You are not a mere werewolf. This is what you were always supposed to be. You are supposed to fix everything, and I am willing to make that sacrifice.
She knew it was right, even if it felt wrong. She’d save so many lives. The mortal realm would get another chance under her defence… Fenrir and she would finally have a shot at happiness.
And yet, it felt like ripping a part of her soul.
You were the best wolf anyone could ask for , she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.
I know. I was a star in my own right! Nova joked the way she always did when they were at their lowest.
I’ll miss you more than anything in my mortal life , Astrea promised.
I know. I am quite unforgettable. Nova smiled in her mind.
Do it, Astrea. And… be happy. For the two of us.
Astrea let out a little sob, and her wolf used the moment to push through the controls, forcing her body to take that last step and fall into the Source of divine power…
***
Bjorn did not want to come back to this cursed place, but when he held Nikki in his arms on that field, he could feel her worry even through all the happiness.
“I have to say goodbye to Astrea,” she told him back then, and he gave her his word.
That woman accepted his monstrous self. The least he could do was follow her every wish.
“Fine,” he said, cupping her cheek. He couldn’t see her, but he knew how beautiful she was. He could feel those beautiful dimples on her cheeks, the fullness of her lips.” And when you are done, Strawberry, I will take you far away from here. No one will stop us.”
She buried her face in his naked chest. And it was the best.
He wished they had stayed there forever, especially when they were back in the elevator of that damn building, getting closer and closer to that abhorrent penthouse.
When they were almost on the top floor, he clenched her hand tighter in his.
“Something is wrong,” he informed her, and he could feel how Nikki immediately left her happy state, going back to her assassin self. Sometimes he was forgetting his girl was a trained murder weapon.
“Whatever it is, we face it together,” she said firmly, causing his lips to curl slowly. Bjorn had never been so proud of his woman before.
The elevator doors opened and a huge fireball froze in the air right before them, inches away from incarcerating them both.
Bjorn instinctively pulled her behind himself and heard
Joran cursing as he dissipated his weapon.
“Oh, it’s just you!” he muttered, as if he didn’t almost kill them both.
“We shouldn’t have come.” Darius summed things up, but Nikki let go of his hand, charging forward.
“What is going on?” she asked, her beautiful voice filled with worry.
“Astrea was taken to Asgard,” Riannon replied, with strained emotions in her tone. Now that he was blind, Bjorn was picking up these things with ease. They were all worried sick.
“What happened to Fenrir?” Nikki gasped. “Is he dead?”
“Temporarily!” Joran cut her off, adding with less confidence, “Hopefully.”
“Strawberry, we need to go!” Bjorn told her, hoping she loved him enough to leave all this behind. The air around them was getting thicker and harder to breathe.
“What-” Nikki seemed lost in the situation. “Can we help?”
Bjorn cursed inwardly. He could feel Joran staring at him now.
“You should go,” the Serpent said dryly, to his relief. He was really setting him free, and this opportunity had to be used.
“Nik, please,” Bjorn begged her, knowing it was their last chance.
“When he comes back to life, can he save Astrea?” Nikki asked, as if she hadn’t heard him. Did she have to be so noble at heart?
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?