Havi looked up at her. "Yes."
Alruna knocked the table aside, her magic smashing it to splinters. "You fucking monster. You almost got my son killed because of your machinations!"
"And my sonwaskilled, Alruna! All to save the world, saveeveryone'ssons. No one could know. Frigg walked willingly into Nifelheim and never returned because of the loss of Baldur. I couldn't even tell my own wife, lest it change the future," Havi said, his golden eyes flashing hot with pain. "I have lived with this for centuries upon centuries. When I saw that Vili's part was over, and it was confirmed by Freya and the Norns that it wouldchange no outcome, I released Vili from the binding spell. And I have brought you here to say that I am sorry."
Alruna's hand struck him hard across the face before she could stop. He caught it before she could do it again.
"You only get one, Alruna," Havi growled.
Alruna was so furious that she burst into tears. "He almost killed my baby, Havi. Your stupid spell robbed me of my mate."
"As he said, we never saw you coming, Runa," Vili whispered softly. He was close to the bars now, so close she could have reached in and touched him. "You, being my mate, was never a part of the magic. My love was never a lie."
"It still became collateral damage," she said, her fury turning on him. "What is happening now? When is the darkness meant to come?"
"If the visions remain steady? A few years at the latest. Fenris will awaken, and he, in turn, will find his father, and Loki will rise. With his help, the spell of death over Baldur will be broken, and with him, the darkness will be defeated," Havi said and rose to his feet. "You are entitled to your anger and to hate me, but I am still deeply sorry for what you have been through, Alruna."
Havi nodded to his brother and left them alone, Alruna still furious and heart shattered. None of it made sense, and yet all of it did. Every story always had Loki and Fenris as villains, and yet they had willingly been bound for centuries, all to save the world. Alruna didn't know what to believe anymore.
"Runa, please, stay with me a little while," Vili begged and reached for her through the bars of the door. It creaked open a crack.
"You're not even a prisoner, are you?" she demanded.
Vili pushed open the door. "No. But I thought it might make you feel…safer."
"Oh, it's not me that is in danger right now," she said, the urge to strike him so strong her hands shook.
Vili saw the rage, and he still stepped forward. "Do what you will. I deserve it for all the hurt I caused you. Spell or no spell. I'm sorry for it all. You deserve better than me, my mate, my wife, my heart…"
"Stop. Just stop it… I can't do this again," she begged, tears streaking her cheeks.
When Vili's arms came around her, she didn't push him away. She pressed her face to his neck and sobbed.
6
Elise walked through the crowds of revelers, her hand tightly clasped around Kian’s. She had gotten used to big celebrations over the years because the fae loved a party, but she had also learned to stick close to her mate and use him as a buffer when she got tired of talking.
"You are frowning, Elise. Is everything okay? Do you need some water?" Kian asked, pulling her gently away from the fire.
Elise smiled fondly up at him. "You're still a pushy ass mate."
"And you are still an infernal human," Kian replied, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "I'll never stop worrying about your comfort, Elise."
"You're so sappy," she said, gently pulling on his antler.
His eyes heated. "Don't start that, or there will be trouble."
"Ohhh, you got me so scared, Blood Prince."
Kian nipped her on the neck, making her jump and horny all in a split second. He whispered against her skin, "Scared is not how I want you, my beautiful mate."
Oh gods, she really shouldn't have started this when they had fuck knew how long to go of socializing. They were interruptedby a group of screaming children running to the lake to swim. Kian chuckled at the sight.
"I'll have to ask Alruna what the elves do to have so many little ones running about," he said, his smile dimming. Fae fertility rates were a problem that he was still trying to solve.
You need to tell him, a little voice whispered to her.
Elise wanted to tell him about not having a period for eight weeks now, but she didn't want to get his hopes up and have itnothappen. She knew it wasn't just a hunch. She had been carrying around a positive pregnancy for days. She just didn't know how to bring it up. She hadn't even told Chrissy. Mostly because she would tell Oberon, and there would be no way to hold back his excitement.
