She leaps from the portal, emotions running wild. Fury boils her blood but there is something else as well - longing. Ylva’s memories play through her mind and she grabs her head. Shaking it side to side, she tries to stop the thoughts. But even her body betrays her. She growls in frustration as her body still tingles. Her core is swollen from his forceful pounding and just the thought has more moisture leaking from her. Closing her eyes, she sees him straining over her, feels his teeth holding her in place and her nipples tighten. A little purr vibrates her throat. Fury has her clenching her fist. She does not want to want this mate. Mate equals leash. He would bind her. Put her back in the cave.
‘What if he did not? What if he could love us both? What if we loved them both? Maybe we need them. Maybe they need us.’ She harrumphs. She would not fall for Ylva’s trickery.
‘You went to him while I slept. You plotted and schemed to keep me locked up.’ She fans the flames of her anger.
Laughter floats through her mind. ‘You see what I did when I reached him? I did not waste my time plotting against you. I thought only of having him inside me, feeling him fill me up.’ Ylva fills their mind with erotic images of Asger.
“Stop!” The beast paces in circles, suddenly unsure. She did not want this mate. Any mate.
‘My mother always says the old magic knew what was best, it did what it felt we needed. What if that is what happened now? The magic knew what you need, what we need. What if they need us too?’
The beast stops, panting, filled with hunger. She refuses to admit to the need coursing through her. “Why? Why would they need us? We are destruction and death.” She waits, sure Ylva has no answer.
‘Grandfather.’ That one word whispers through her mind. She sees Asger’s flesh burning, sees him dying on the ground. The picture changes and it is the dragon gliding through the sky when lightning shatters the darkness and pierces him, tearing his wings, striking him again and again as he falls to the earth.
“NO!” she cries out, falling to her knees. “I will protect him but I will never submit. I will not go back.” Her anger fades and in its place she feels despair. She will never know his touch, it would cost her too much.
Asger watches from miles away, his dragon eyes seeing it clearly. Something has changed. Her grief is etched in her entire body. His wings unfurl when she falls to her knees, a growl building. He fights his own internal battle, wanting to rush to her but knowing it is too soon.
Morrigan appears at his side. She has been watching her daughter from another place, sifting just beyond this world. She has hope in her eyes when she turns to him. “She is at war with her nature, fighting what she wants because of what she believes will happen. You have tempted her, now you must convince her that you do not wish to tame her.”
The dragon disappears as Asger shifts, Morrigan is amazed at the speed and ease of his transformation this soon after their joining. He stands rubbing his beard, fingering the war braids at his temple, and once again, she is captivated by his rugged beauty. His golden skin in contrast to his light blonde hair. Yes, he has scars but they only heighten his appeal. She remembers how his cheek felt under her hand when she touched it, like warm silk. A hawk-like nose over full lips, it is no wonder both Ylva and the beast, desire him. If their body’s reaction was anything to go by, he was a warrior during love making also. She is grinning at her errant thoughts when he turns to look at her. “What?” His tone is uncertain as he glances around. “Did I miss something funny?”
“No Guardian. Just thinking my daughter is fortunate indeed.” He shakes his head slightly, baffled by her. “So, how will you woo her beast?”
“That’s the question, is not it?” His fingers stray to his braids once more and a grin slowly curves his face. “Can ye find me a shiny, beautiful weapon? One whose like has never been seen here before, or better yet, if I find the beautiful part can ye forge it into a weapon?”
His eyes are glowing and he rubs his hands together. Laughing, he shifts and launches into the air. Morrigan shouts at him, “YES!”
Her voice ringing out causes the beast to look down.
The Berserker rises to her feet as the dragon closes in on her. Her heart pounds and her breath hitches. Hands trembling, she gets into a fighting stance, unsure of what is happening. He is not circling, as in the past, he is coming straight at her and dives. Startled, she freezes. Just as he comes over her, her hand creeps up and her fingers slide along his belly as he glides by. He is moving away, growing smaller, disappearing into the distance. She stands, staring at her fingertips. They tingle and warmth travels through her body.
‘He could have burnt us, his fire would turn us to ash.’ Turning, she moves down the mountain to what had been her home. No one remains. As she moves around the ruins her mouth falls open and she stumbles as her home comes into view. It is as it had always been. No sign of the death and destruction it had seen. Her feet fly over the ground, hand caressing the wooden door. Pushing inside, she stands and inhales the scent of Einar - father, one who loved them both. Her feet feel heavy as she moves to his chair. Her cheeks burning as she remembers how he last held them and considers how he would look at her now. Would it be with love or contempt? She crumples into the chair’s softness, sobs racking her body.
Morrigan stands outside watching and hears her mumbled cries of denial. Danu’s arm comes around her daughter’s shoulder and her voice whispers through her mind, ‘Not yet, daughter. She would still lash out in her anger and shame. The guardian is winning, he just needs more time. Time we must give him.’ Morrigan allows her mother to pull her away, her heart breaking. A roar fills the air followed by a howl and the Goddesses sift to the others. Fenrir has brought a message from his father. Asger is standing dwarfed by the massive wolf. They both turn as the others appear.
“Odin plans to attack again. Ragnhild has told him of your progress, Asger. She also watched the Berserker struggle today.” It was strange to hear the words come from the wolf’s mouth but Asger realizes it might be the least bizarre part of his life now. Morrigan’s mist begins to swirl in her anger. The screams of those trapped within it causes them all to cringe. Danu lays a calming hand on her shoulder. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Morrigan pulls it back into her, leashing her power.
“Father says you should stay away from her. He plans to convince Odin killing you will only work if she sees it. Her witnessing your destruction will break not only the soulmate bond but also her will.”
A deep rumbling growl fills the air, neither Asger nor the dragon like the sound of that.
Fenrir rumbles back, “Do not be stupid. That is why father said to stay away from her. He says for now the link is the key.” His head shoots up and he sniffs the air, “I must go. That fucking Valkyrie stalks me. I might fucking eat her when this is done and not in a carnal way.” He gives a wolfy grin before bounding away.
Asger looks after him, shaking his head at the images running through it. “He does not change to another form does he?”
Laughing Morrigan shakes her head no.
Again, Asger thinks yes, his life was truly bizarre now and refuses to ask any further questions on the matter. “I need ye to take me back to the Isle. I must go speak to someone and ask her for help.”