She tried to use her strength to push away from the alpha. She needed to deal with her impending death alone, but his grip on her was powerful and she couldn’t even budge from him. She felt herself swirl into darkness, plunging deeper into an unknown abyss. Suddenly, she was weightless, as if someone was carrying her away. She fell into an uneasy unconscious state as her body raged from within.
Drip Drop
Drip Drop
Drip Drop
Freja was curled up in a ball on a cold, stone floor.A dungeon?That was her first thought, since she could hear the sound of water dripping from the walls. The room was dimly lit with candles, and she could smell decay mixed with a floral scent. It was disgusting.
She opened her eyes and stared out into the darkness. Her gaze landed on two figures: a woman with black, bead-like eyesand dark hair, and another whose light blonde hair and body seemed to shine in the darkness. Freja scoffed loudly, knowing exactly who these women were. One was Kali, the dark priestess who represented yin, and the other was Selene, the Moon Goddess, who represented yang.
“You don’t like us, do you?” Kali’s voice sounded through the cave as a smirk rested on her lips.
“I’m not a toy for your games,” Freja responded coldly. “Am I dead now, or what’s going on? Oh wait.” Freja sat upright and held her hands up. “You can’t tell me because that would be interfering. Even though you both still get involved in your own way anyway.”
“I understand. I know you resent us because of the life you’ve led. But Jin has also led a rough life, and she accepts us and what we’re doing. Will you?” Selene asked quietly, her voice kind.
“I live my own life. I live by my rules. Not yours or the games that get others killed,” Freja spat out bitterly.
“I know. You blame us for your parents’ deaths.” Selene frowned.
“They were followers of keeping the balance. They backed you. Instead of warning them of the danger, you left them to be killed.” Freja felt hot tears slide down her cheek, evidence of the sorrow she’d suppressed deep inside her.
“Some things, even though regrettable, happen for a reason.” Kali stared at Freja, tilting her head. “You wouldn’t be who you are today if not for what happened to your parents. The strong, fearless warrior that laughs at death.” A smirk rested over her face. This was the fate she enjoyed. Seeing someone rise up from their pain and darkness to become powerful.
Freja squeezed her hands into fists until her knuckles turned white. Her parents’ deaths and her pain were necessary. She was created as a tool without even realizing it. She snorted airthrough her nose and rose to her feet, looking at the two women in front of her with an unreadable emotion.
“What do you want from me?”
“Just continue to be you and who you are. Don’t hate who we are. Your parents trusted us … maybe it’s time that you do, too.” Selene smiled as she looked at the strong woman in front of her.
“So where am I?” Freja asked.
“We don’t interfere much, but we thought it would be easier to bring you here while your body is in immeasurable pain.” Selene’s eyes softened as she looked at Freja.
“See? We do care. We can only do what we can.” Kali tilted her head to the side as her black beads stared at the green eyes.
“We’ve learned our lesson about interfering. We can only do so much. This much we can do. We were able to give you a break from what you’re going through.” Selene took a couple of steps toward Freja and put her hand on her shoulder.
“And what am I going through?” Freja asked. She watched the goddess shake her head. She wouldn’t tell her. Another thing she had to find out for herself.
“I am really sorry about your parents. They were wonderful people,” Selene whispered quietly as tears streamed from Freja’s eyes. She hadn’t allowed herself to cry over them in so long that now it was like she couldn’t stop. “It’s time for you to go back now.”
Freja felt like she was falling again, only backward this time, spinning from the darkness and back into the light. Her eyelids twitched and she wiggled her fingers slightly, touching something soft. She was laying on a bed. The pain she had experienced was now gone, but she felt very weird.
As she opened her eyes to greet the light, she could see she was laying in a bed with a full canopy above her.
“You’re awake.”
She turned her head to the side and was met with a warm smile and silver eyes.That’s right. He marked me. He’d just helped himself to her neck without her permission. Her green eyes glared at him even as she felt the tug deep inside of her. He was her mate, and there was no way to ever escape that now. She shifted onto her elbows. He made a move to help her, but her murderous glare halted him in his tracks. She sat up fully and took in a slow breath.
“Explain yourself.” Her words came razor-sharp, and her eyes burned with the kind of rage that left bodies in its wake.
Hunter frowned, and his chest hurt from the look she was giving him. She looked like she felt taken advantage of and betrayed in the worst way. “I’m sorry,” he whispered softly. “I wasn’t able to control myself. I was afraid this might happen, that I wouldn’t be able to stop myself.” Hunter looked down at his hands. “I’m so sorry. I wanted to talk with you. I wanted to give you a choice. I lost control, and I’m sorry. I didn’t even get to have a proper conversation with you. But …” His eyes met hers. “I wanted you. I might have lost control, but it was what I wanted from the moment I saw you. I’m sorry for how it happened, though.”
Freja raised her hand and rubbed her forehead. “Why? Why did you want me? Do you know who I am? What I do? What I am? I’m part witch and part vampire. I kill. I’m a killer. A demon assassin, if you will. I live alone. I don’t do others. I don’t do people.”
Before Hunter could respond, a ball of energy bounced inside and landed on the bed beside Freja. The green-haired girl grabbed Freja’s hands and chirped happily. “You’re awake, you’re awake! I’m so happy you’re awake and okay. I’ve been wanting to talk to you for days.”
