Our story is ours, and when Axel bends over to kiss me, I stop worrying about how else it might have played out. It’s enough that we’re here, we’re together, and Odin, the big bully, is far too scared to dictate to us ever again.
Of course, an hour later, when the phone rings, we’re still obligated to deal with the vanir’s new attack, this time in Seattle.
Chapter 26
Azar
I’ve never fit in.
With the flame blessed, I was the strange one who didn’t want to kill and consume others to grow larger and stronger. With the earth blessed, I alone was gold, and I was larger, stronger, and never felt compelled to take a mate. As a hatchling, I spent most of my time hiding who I really was, and the rest of the time feeling like I didn’t fit into either version of myself.
I finally understand why.
I was still hiding a large part of who I am, and that’s not flame or earth blessed. It’s not any one particular branch. I’m a child of the sky.
“No,” Liz says, shaking her head. You’re not a child of the sky. She’s clearly listening in to my thoughts as I portal my people to Seattle. You’re the king of the sky.
It took us a few hours to find a bright for each of the blessed, once my father stopped arguing over what Liz and I should do. Once he acceded that I was more powerful, he seemed almost relieved not to be in charge of all our people’s future anymore.
Once the blessed were all bonded, I opened a portal, but not to war-torn Seattle to battle the vanir. I open a portal to Portland, a few hours south.
“Dude, I know you’re like, shiny, and all,” Liz whispers. “But you messed up. This isn’t Seattle.”
The blessed are much more obedient than my own mate, thankfully. They all shoot through the portal, even if they are a little confused about the location I chose. Once the last one has gone through—my brother Hyperion—I close the portal.
“What was that?” Liz asks. “You sent them all there. . .why?”
So we could do this. I portal Liz and myself to Seattle, just beside the West Point Lighthouse, close to Seattle, but far away from any human dwellings or businesses.
“Whoa,” she ducks as a storm vanir shoots by, talons extended, swooping to try and grab a human from the sidewalk below.
You will all stop, I broadcast. And you will report to the edge of the water immediately.
None of the vanir listen, of course. They’re too busy following the orders they got from their acknowledged leader, probably Bjorn. I wonder how Freya dealt with the guilt of imprisoning her own father for thousands of years in a volcano of misery.
Who are you?
I wheel around, still a little amazed at the force generated by my new, tremendously large wings flapping slowly to hold us aloft. It’s a very large, very angry looking blue dragon, and I’m guessing it’s?—
“Bjorn,” Liz says. “I can’t say I’m pleased to see you again.”
He scowls.
“I’m Gullveig reborn, your daughter Freya’s bonded, but alive again in a different time and place.”
Without a word, he strikes, shooting a funnel of ice right at us.
I melt it without a second thought.
He fires off another.
I sigh this time, melting it so forcefully that it turns into vapor and blows back into his face. I can do this all day. Whenever you’re ready to talk, let me know.
Bjorn was never the smartest, to hear Liz talk about him, but he only tries a few more times before he bellows, Who are you?
“You’ve heard of Veralden Radien,” Liz shouts. “He killed him.” She tosses her head. “So I guess you could say ‘he’s your daddy.’” She grins.
Bjorn roars again, and this time he flies straight at me, claws extended. He’s more like our father than I wish were the case.
