WARRIOR OF THE MOON
VOLUME TWO: THE CHRONICLES OF ANCIENT FORCES
AUTHOR: MS. GARNET HEART
!!!WARNING: For Mature readers only!!!
EXCERPT:
Before the shape-shifters known as the Lycans came to prominence, the world of Vanar was the home of the ancient gods, far more superior than the gods of Asgard. Odin, who had just obtained great wisdom from the well of Jotun, began his search for greater power. He had stolen the Dragon Orb, an artifact in Midgar that allowed humans to summon the Dragons to their aid, and ordered the guardians to fight alongside Asgard to annihilate the Vanir gods.
VOLUME TWO: THE CHRONICLES OF ANCIENT FORCES
AUTHOR: MS. GARNET HEART
!!!WARNING: For Mature readers only!!!
EXCERPT:
Before the shape-shifters known as the Lycans came to prominence, the world of Vanar was the home of the ancient gods, far more superior than the gods of Asgard. Odin, who had just obtained great wisdom from the well of Jotun, began his search for greater power. He had stolen the Dragon Orb, an artifact in Midgar that allowed humans to summon the Dragons to their aid, and ordered the guardians to fight alongside Asgard to annihilate the Vanir gods.
After the defeat of the Vanirs, the few survivors decided to fuse themselves with the forest-dwelling Lycans, thus creating the Alphas. Fenrir, the strongest of the Alphas, became the new king and the Lycans became the new primary dwellers of Vanar.
Grunt, a legendary mutant Lycan, who believed he was stronger than any other Alphas, was not pleased and reigned terror in the land. Fenrir then ordered one of his generals to travel to Svartalfar to ask the dwarves to forge him a weapon, an artifact that could inflict mortal damage to any beast.
With the help of the sword known as the Grimrist, Grunt was defeated.
The gods of Asgard knew that the existence of the Alphas may bring threat to their supremacy should they grow in number. Assisted by the giant forces of Jotunheim, the gods once again attacked Vanar and killed every living Alpha they could find.
The wise Fenrir knew the war must stop or his race would vanish just as the ancient Vanirs had. In exchange for the lives of his subjects, he vowed to serve Asgard with his life.
But Odin did not keep his word. Even as Fenrir and his Lycan army fought alongside Asgard in their battle against the Giant Demon, Surt, the gods continued to hunt down the remaining Alphas hiding within the forest. But the Alphas were as strong as the gods, and Odin knew annihilating them was not going to be easy, except if he had the Grimrist.
Imprisoned in Asgard, Fenrir only knew one way to save his race from extinction. Odin would stop at nothing to find the beast slayer, but Fenrir was wiser than anyone had expected.
The last wielder of the GRIMRIST is still alive, serving Odin himself.
Grunt, a legendary mutant Lycan, who believed he was stronger than any other Alphas, was not pleased and reigned terror in the land. Fenrir then ordered one of his generals to travel to Svartalfar to ask the dwarves to forge him a weapon, an artifact that could inflict mortal damage to any beast.
With the help of the sword known as the Grimrist, Grunt was defeated.
The gods of Asgard knew that the existence of the Alphas may bring threat to their supremacy should they grow in number. Assisted by the giant forces of Jotunheim, the gods once again attacked Vanar and killed every living Alpha they could find.
The wise Fenrir knew the war must stop or his race would vanish just as the ancient Vanirs had. In exchange for the lives of his subjects, he vowed to serve Asgard with his life.
But Odin did not keep his word. Even as Fenrir and his Lycan army fought alongside Asgard in their battle against the Giant Demon, Surt, the gods continued to hunt down the remaining Alphas hiding within the forest. But the Alphas were as strong as the gods, and Odin knew annihilating them was not going to be easy, except if he had the Grimrist.
Imprisoned in Asgard, Fenrir only knew one way to save his race from extinction. Odin would stop at nothing to find the beast slayer, but Fenrir was wiser than anyone had expected.
The last wielder of the GRIMRIST is still alive, serving Odin himself.
♥♥♥
He is LIOR WOLVERTON, a high-level god of Asgard, the kingdom of the supreme god Odin. A scion of the king of the Lycans and the commander of Odin's Elite Forces, Lior is an undefeated warrior feared across the Nine Worlds. Odin sends him on a mission to the world of the mortals, to kill a future threat to the kingdom of Asgard. Her name is Asra, the product of a forbidden union between an Elf and a mortal. One look at this breathtakingly beautiful abomination and Lior forgets his mission. He's a god and he has goddesses lining up to pleasure him but he cannot believe this mortal has awakened a strange craving inside him. She's way below his stature but he cannot control his desire to touch her, to claim her. Instead of killing her, he hides her from Odin in the Kingdom of the Dark Elves. He falls from Odin's grace. He decides to remain in the mortal world as a self-punishment for breaking his warrior code.
Two centuries later, Asra wakes up in a strange realm. She finds out that she has been asleep for two hundred years. It is now the twenty-first century and she's no longer the princess of the mighty MacLeod clan of Scotland. She's in a country in the Pacific called the Philippines and a prisoner of the very man she hates with every fiber of her being, the man who'd captivated her once--but he betrayed her, abandoned her and broke her heart.
Lior is now a billionaire living in the UK, dwelling with the mortals while keeping his pack of Lycans together. Odin summons him again to do a mission--to go to Asia and bring Asra to a place where Asgard can use her in their war against the forces of the mighty Giants. Lior wants to be back in Odin's favor but he has to brave the wrath of Asra, the only woman who managed to break his vows as a warrior of Asgard.
Lior Wolverton does not bow to any god except Odin. But curse this mortal-elf, she has him wrapped around her little fingers and the gods help him if she ever finds out the power she has over him. He's afraid he'll be damned twice because of his uncontrollable and inexplicable desire for this woman that centuries wasn't able to extinguish.
Two centuries later, Asra wakes up in a strange realm. She finds out that she has been asleep for two hundred years. It is now the twenty-first century and she's no longer the princess of the mighty MacLeod clan of Scotland. She's in a country in the Pacific called the Philippines and a prisoner of the very man she hates with every fiber of her being, the man who'd captivated her once--but he betrayed her, abandoned her and broke her heart.
Lior is now a billionaire living in the UK, dwelling with the mortals while keeping his pack of Lycans together. Odin summons him again to do a mission--to go to Asia and bring Asra to a place where Asgard can use her in their war against the forces of the mighty Giants. Lior wants to be back in Odin's favor but he has to brave the wrath of Asra, the only woman who managed to break his vows as a warrior of Asgard.
Lior Wolverton does not bow to any god except Odin. But curse this mortal-elf, she has him wrapped around her little fingers and the gods help him if she ever finds out the power she has over him. He's afraid he'll be damned twice because of his uncontrollable and inexplicable desire for this woman that centuries wasn't able to extinguish.
♥♥♥
THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY
(LIOR, LYSANDER & BRAN in a hilarious scene from WARRIOR OF THE MOON by Garnet Heart)
Rochford Park, Essex
“Gustavo told me you’re opting for a Hollywood project this time,” Lysander, who was sitting cross-legged across his visitor said and took a sip from his cup of tea.
Lior took his eyes off the vase of white roses at the center of the living room, right in front of the long couch where he was seated. He just noticed that every time he came to Lysander’s house, he always saw the same kind of flowers on that spot. “Quite ambitious for a rookie,” he answered, “but it’s worth a shot.”
“What for? You have hundreds of cattle roaming around. The whole island is practically yours.”
That was not exactly true, but almost. Based on the vast land he owned, he could qualify for a Marquess or even a Duke of Scotland if he only wanted royal highness. But he was not interested in any of that. He held too much title in Asgard to appreciate what title he could get here in Midgar.
“My people’s growing in number,” he answered. “I need to buy more land for them to stay.”
“You’re a billionaire.”
“Perhaps, but a few billion is not enough.”
“Why is that?”
Lior frowned at the brilliant supreme leader of the mighty forces of the ancients. Was this Vampire playing dumb? “I have over a thousand people to take care of. I feed them, I shelter them, I clothe them, and I pay them. I give them as much luxury as I could so they won’t have any desire to live outside my premises. How could a mere billion cover all of that?”
For a moment, Lysander was quiet as he probably pondered about what he just said, and then he shrugged his shoulders. “You’re working harder than the rest of us yet you live like a pauper.”
Lior sighed. “I have a big family. We Lycans live as packs, and it is my obligation, as their leader, to see to their needs.”
“And what do they do?”
“They work for me. I canno’ take care of all the animals myself. They will have to do it. The cattle must remain healthy or they will no’ withstand the occasional blood suction to supply your endless demand of blood.”
“Well, just like you, we are also growing in number.”
“That is why I need more land to put more animals into.”
Lysander shrugged. “You’re probably giving them a lot more than you should, but that’s a good thing. It’s never wrong to be generous… So how would you like working with a promising Hollywood superstar that I know?”
The Vampire’s words sparked a great deal of curiosity in him. “That’s interesting. Who’d that be?”
“This one, I highly recommend. He sure would top the boxoffice once this movie is released. His name is Brent Russel.”
Lior nodded. “No’ bad. And where is that promising talent of yours?”
Lysander nodded in the direction of the window. “Brent Russel is just a screen name he chose. It’s Bran actually.”
Lior was shocked for a moment. “What?!”
“You heard me. Bran will be your lead actor for a high budget western movie.”
“That asshole?! An actor?!” Lior exclaimed violently in disbelief. “Are you nuts?”
Lysander shrugged. “He got obsessed with Clint Eastwood movies lately and now he wants to become an actor.”
“Clint Eastwood?”
“Yep, and he wants to do a remake of The Dollars Trilogy.”
“Oh really? Western movies has been out of the market thirty years ago. What is he thinking?”
“It’s Bran. Whatever he decides, he sticks to it.”
“Then let him produce his own movie. I am no’ wasting a dime for a delusional wanna be copycat. I’d rather donate the money to the orphanage, or maybe burn it. Yeah, I’d rather burn it.”
Lysander rubbed his forehead. “I’ll provide for the money. You just have to act as the producer.”
“Why me? You be the producer.”
“I can’t. I’ve decided to lay low from now on. I don’t want any more publicity, especially not with the media.”
“So do I. That’s why I’ve chosen to live on an isolated island.”
Lysander sighed. “But that has changed since you’ve decided to be a producer. Besides, it’s good business.”
“You believe that meathead could be a movie star? Have you lost your mind?”
“We already have a great director. He's working in Hollywood and he's one of us. We just have to find someone who could spin good publicity for Bran. We can pay to fix for his interviews on television shows.”
“Great, and how much should we spend for all of that?”
“Probably around two hundred million in US dollars.”
Lior wanted to burst into laughter, but he restrained himself. “With that much money, I can buy three thousand acres of land. I’m no’ about to throw that away over a delusional Clint Eastwood wannabe.”
“As I said, the money is on me. Your name as the producer is all we need.”
“It’s no’ about the money. It’s just that it’s plain stupid. He just woke up from the Middle Ages, and now he wants to be an actor? I thought he wanted to be the US President?”
“Yes. The biography of Arnold Schwarzenegger took his interest and he wants to follow his footsteps to earn fame and eventually run for the election.”
“And you actually support that?”
Lysander sighed. “Lior, if being an actor gives him the reason to live longer, then let’s give it to him. Someday soon, he’d come to his senses and realize his madness. Or who knows? He could actually be the next president. He is Bran, the former Great Supreme Leader of the Ancient Forces. He was not always as what he is now. He could be his old self again.”
Lior took a moment to ponder. “Does he really want to be an actor?”
“He does. He speaks about it everyday. He practices how Clint Eastwood acts and speaks. It’s better than watching him loitering around with women every night and thinking about how he’d end his miserable life. Let’s give him this chance. It might bring him happiness and the will to live again.”
Lior sighed. “Fine, but why Western?”
“I don’t know. He just decided on it.”
Lior rubbed his palms down his face as he heaved a deep sigh. He couldn’t believe the delusion of that bloody prat. “Western movies would make him stay under the sun in the middle of the desert.”
“Bran has the superior capacity to last a while under the sun. We can do the other scenes under the shade. The director will work on that. But there’s one big problem. He wants Clint Eastwood in the movie.”
They heard footsteps coming. When Lior turned, he saw Bran walking towards them proudly in full cowboy attire, exactly like the outfit of Clint Eastwood in his western movies. He even had two pistols hanging from his belt.
Lysander was right. This moron was obsessed to be the next Clint Eastwood. It was only a year ago when he was as ignorant like a medieval man transported to the present. Now, he’s got style… but unfortunately, a style that had been out of the market for decades.
“And I thought I was the cowboy,” Lior taunted.
Bran stopped and posed, standing with his weight on one foot and hands in his pockets. He looked so cocky wearing the outfit.
“I’m a cowboy, alright,” Bran replied. “Cowboys like me ride horses and bulls. While you, you’re a boy who fucks cows. There’s a difference, you know.”
As a god, Bran’s choice of words was insulting. But he’d grown used to it. If he wasn't tasked to watch over this asshole, he would have sealed this vampire's mouth permanently a long time ago.
“And I do hope you’ve prepared your virgin ass for my horse’s dick. You’d enjoy that.”
“Huh! My ass will remain a virgin until the day I die.”
“Remember, you need me as your producer. I’ll make sure that one of the scenes in your movie will have a horse humping you from behind, with your pants down. And I’m no’ going to give you any lubricants. A twelve inch cock would no’ kill you anyway.”
“I’m the new Clint Eastwood and not a porn actor. That’s just way too low for my class.”
Lior scoffed. “Why no’? Besides, it’s cheaper. I have no’ heard of a porn movie that flopped.”
Even Lysander, who’d been idly listening to their senseless argument finally laughed. “That’s a good idea. Not a bad start to make you known to the public first before starting a big project.”
“Rubbish!” Bran grunted. “I’m better than any actor out there, even better than Clint Eastwood.”
“How can you be better if you’re being a copycat?” Lior asked.
“I’m not copying him. I’m improving his mediocre acting. I assure you, my debut movie will be the top-grossing movie of all time and I will even win an Oscar award for it. My lucky bastard producer will be filthy rich. Thanks to me.”
“Tempting,” Lysander humored.
Lior rolled his eyes. This moron was dreaming. “If this movie of yours flops, you’re going to make dozens of porn movies to make up for the loss.”
“Huh! That’s never gonna happen. My debut movie will be a phenomenon. I will be the first actor to play a lead role and win all best actor awards in a debut movie. I will be a legend, and I will have five stars in the Walk of Fame.”
“Lord Lior.”
Everyone turned to Gustavo who just arrived with a wireless phone in hand.
“Why do you address Lior ‘lord’ while you simply call me by my name?” Bran complained.
Gustavo smiled. “A movie superstar is not addressed by any title. Unless you are knighted. But even so, simple names are more elegant. Lords and Sires are classics, no longer a trend.”
“Then stop calling me milord,” Lysander said.
“You’re not a movie actor,” Bran replied. “You will remain classical, a relic. I will be glamorous even without that lord thing. You just wait.”
Lysander laughed. “Good for you,”
Gustavo turned to Lior. “I just got a call from a staff of Dunvegan Castle. He wishes to speak with you.”
Lior’s brows met at the center. The castle of Dunvegan had never had anything to do with him. “What for?”
“He mentions of a woman who made a spectacle in the castle and claims she is the rightful heir of the MacLeod.”
Lior was paralyzed… mortified. If that Elf was foolish enough to run away from the ranch to get to the castle in the hope that she could convince the people there that she was the missing princess two centuries ago, then she was out of her bloody mind.
Damnation! What a pain in the arse!
(LIOR, LYSANDER & BRAN in a hilarious scene from WARRIOR OF THE MOON by Garnet Heart)
Rochford Park, Essex
“Gustavo told me you’re opting for a Hollywood project this time,” Lysander, who was sitting cross-legged across his visitor said and took a sip from his cup of tea.
Lior took his eyes off the vase of white roses at the center of the living room, right in front of the long couch where he was seated. He just noticed that every time he came to Lysander’s house, he always saw the same kind of flowers on that spot. “Quite ambitious for a rookie,” he answered, “but it’s worth a shot.”
“What for? You have hundreds of cattle roaming around. The whole island is practically yours.”
That was not exactly true, but almost. Based on the vast land he owned, he could qualify for a Marquess or even a Duke of Scotland if he only wanted royal highness. But he was not interested in any of that. He held too much title in Asgard to appreciate what title he could get here in Midgar.
“My people’s growing in number,” he answered. “I need to buy more land for them to stay.”
“You’re a billionaire.”
“Perhaps, but a few billion is not enough.”
“Why is that?”
Lior frowned at the brilliant supreme leader of the mighty forces of the ancients. Was this Vampire playing dumb? “I have over a thousand people to take care of. I feed them, I shelter them, I clothe them, and I pay them. I give them as much luxury as I could so they won’t have any desire to live outside my premises. How could a mere billion cover all of that?”
For a moment, Lysander was quiet as he probably pondered about what he just said, and then he shrugged his shoulders. “You’re working harder than the rest of us yet you live like a pauper.”
Lior sighed. “I have a big family. We Lycans live as packs, and it is my obligation, as their leader, to see to their needs.”
“And what do they do?”
“They work for me. I canno’ take care of all the animals myself. They will have to do it. The cattle must remain healthy or they will no’ withstand the occasional blood suction to supply your endless demand of blood.”
“Well, just like you, we are also growing in number.”
“That is why I need more land to put more animals into.”
Lysander shrugged. “You’re probably giving them a lot more than you should, but that’s a good thing. It’s never wrong to be generous… So how would you like working with a promising Hollywood superstar that I know?”
The Vampire’s words sparked a great deal of curiosity in him. “That’s interesting. Who’d that be?”
“This one, I highly recommend. He sure would top the boxoffice once this movie is released. His name is Brent Russel.”
Lior nodded. “No’ bad. And where is that promising talent of yours?”
Lysander nodded in the direction of the window. “Brent Russel is just a screen name he chose. It’s Bran actually.”
Lior was shocked for a moment. “What?!”
“You heard me. Bran will be your lead actor for a high budget western movie.”
“That asshole?! An actor?!” Lior exclaimed violently in disbelief. “Are you nuts?”
Lysander shrugged. “He got obsessed with Clint Eastwood movies lately and now he wants to become an actor.”
“Clint Eastwood?”
“Yep, and he wants to do a remake of The Dollars Trilogy.”
“Oh really? Western movies has been out of the market thirty years ago. What is he thinking?”
“It’s Bran. Whatever he decides, he sticks to it.”
“Then let him produce his own movie. I am no’ wasting a dime for a delusional wanna be copycat. I’d rather donate the money to the orphanage, or maybe burn it. Yeah, I’d rather burn it.”
Lysander rubbed his forehead. “I’ll provide for the money. You just have to act as the producer.”
“Why me? You be the producer.”
“I can’t. I’ve decided to lay low from now on. I don’t want any more publicity, especially not with the media.”
“So do I. That’s why I’ve chosen to live on an isolated island.”
Lysander sighed. “But that has changed since you’ve decided to be a producer. Besides, it’s good business.”
“You believe that meathead could be a movie star? Have you lost your mind?”
“We already have a great director. He's working in Hollywood and he's one of us. We just have to find someone who could spin good publicity for Bran. We can pay to fix for his interviews on television shows.”
“Great, and how much should we spend for all of that?”
“Probably around two hundred million in US dollars.”
Lior wanted to burst into laughter, but he restrained himself. “With that much money, I can buy three thousand acres of land. I’m no’ about to throw that away over a delusional Clint Eastwood wannabe.”
“As I said, the money is on me. Your name as the producer is all we need.”
“It’s no’ about the money. It’s just that it’s plain stupid. He just woke up from the Middle Ages, and now he wants to be an actor? I thought he wanted to be the US President?”
“Yes. The biography of Arnold Schwarzenegger took his interest and he wants to follow his footsteps to earn fame and eventually run for the election.”
“And you actually support that?”
Lysander sighed. “Lior, if being an actor gives him the reason to live longer, then let’s give it to him. Someday soon, he’d come to his senses and realize his madness. Or who knows? He could actually be the next president. He is Bran, the former Great Supreme Leader of the Ancient Forces. He was not always as what he is now. He could be his old self again.”
Lior took a moment to ponder. “Does he really want to be an actor?”
“He does. He speaks about it everyday. He practices how Clint Eastwood acts and speaks. It’s better than watching him loitering around with women every night and thinking about how he’d end his miserable life. Let’s give him this chance. It might bring him happiness and the will to live again.”
Lior sighed. “Fine, but why Western?”
“I don’t know. He just decided on it.”
Lior rubbed his palms down his face as he heaved a deep sigh. He couldn’t believe the delusion of that bloody prat. “Western movies would make him stay under the sun in the middle of the desert.”
“Bran has the superior capacity to last a while under the sun. We can do the other scenes under the shade. The director will work on that. But there’s one big problem. He wants Clint Eastwood in the movie.”
They heard footsteps coming. When Lior turned, he saw Bran walking towards them proudly in full cowboy attire, exactly like the outfit of Clint Eastwood in his western movies. He even had two pistols hanging from his belt.
Lysander was right. This moron was obsessed to be the next Clint Eastwood. It was only a year ago when he was as ignorant like a medieval man transported to the present. Now, he’s got style… but unfortunately, a style that had been out of the market for decades.
“And I thought I was the cowboy,” Lior taunted.
Bran stopped and posed, standing with his weight on one foot and hands in his pockets. He looked so cocky wearing the outfit.
“I’m a cowboy, alright,” Bran replied. “Cowboys like me ride horses and bulls. While you, you’re a boy who fucks cows. There’s a difference, you know.”
As a god, Bran’s choice of words was insulting. But he’d grown used to it. If he wasn't tasked to watch over this asshole, he would have sealed this vampire's mouth permanently a long time ago.
“And I do hope you’ve prepared your virgin ass for my horse’s dick. You’d enjoy that.”
“Huh! My ass will remain a virgin until the day I die.”
“Remember, you need me as your producer. I’ll make sure that one of the scenes in your movie will have a horse humping you from behind, with your pants down. And I’m no’ going to give you any lubricants. A twelve inch cock would no’ kill you anyway.”
“I’m the new Clint Eastwood and not a porn actor. That’s just way too low for my class.”
Lior scoffed. “Why no’? Besides, it’s cheaper. I have no’ heard of a porn movie that flopped.”
Even Lysander, who’d been idly listening to their senseless argument finally laughed. “That’s a good idea. Not a bad start to make you known to the public first before starting a big project.”
“Rubbish!” Bran grunted. “I’m better than any actor out there, even better than Clint Eastwood.”
“How can you be better if you’re being a copycat?” Lior asked.
“I’m not copying him. I’m improving his mediocre acting. I assure you, my debut movie will be the top-grossing movie of all time and I will even win an Oscar award for it. My lucky bastard producer will be filthy rich. Thanks to me.”
“Tempting,” Lysander humored.
Lior rolled his eyes. This moron was dreaming. “If this movie of yours flops, you’re going to make dozens of porn movies to make up for the loss.”
“Huh! That’s never gonna happen. My debut movie will be a phenomenon. I will be the first actor to play a lead role and win all best actor awards in a debut movie. I will be a legend, and I will have five stars in the Walk of Fame.”
“Lord Lior.”
Everyone turned to Gustavo who just arrived with a wireless phone in hand.
“Why do you address Lior ‘lord’ while you simply call me by my name?” Bran complained.
Gustavo smiled. “A movie superstar is not addressed by any title. Unless you are knighted. But even so, simple names are more elegant. Lords and Sires are classics, no longer a trend.”
“Then stop calling me milord,” Lysander said.
“You’re not a movie actor,” Bran replied. “You will remain classical, a relic. I will be glamorous even without that lord thing. You just wait.”
Lysander laughed. “Good for you,”
Gustavo turned to Lior. “I just got a call from a staff of Dunvegan Castle. He wishes to speak with you.”
Lior’s brows met at the center. The castle of Dunvegan had never had anything to do with him. “What for?”
“He mentions of a woman who made a spectacle in the castle and claims she is the rightful heir of the MacLeod.”
Lior was paralyzed… mortified. If that Elf was foolish enough to run away from the ranch to get to the castle in the hope that she could convince the people there that she was the missing princess two centuries ago, then she was out of her bloody mind.
Damnation! What a pain in the arse!
♥♥♥
“Why did you not go back to Asgard?”
He inhaled deeply. The bitch knew how to open old wounds of guilt and humiliation. “Disobedience is a grave sin against Odin. I’ve lost my honor.” Oh she had no idea how he'd lost everything to save her life. His honor, his godly stature in Asgard, his Lycan warrior code. Everything that he'd held dear.
“And how are you going to get your honor back?”
He stared at her. “By completing this task. After this, I would be worthy to stand before Odin once again.”
“What task? To bring me to Alfheim?”
Yes. To your death.
Pero hindi siya sumagot. He didn’t want to talk about that anymore.
She folded her knees up and rested her elbows on it. The hem of her dress fell away. He froze when he saw her naked slit glistening like a jewel between her thighs. Just like all other Elves, there was no hair to cover it.
Fuck it, she wasn't wearing a damn underwear!
“Did you hear me?” she asked.
He did but he was too busy lusting over her. And he’d rather talk about lust than the fate that awaited her in Alfheim. His anger over that tempting piece of
damnation was easier to deal with than the thought of losing her forever once he had brought her to Alfheim.
“If you’re going to show me something, spread it open so I can see it well,” he said mockingly.
She gasped, not comprehending.
He gestured to her raised legs and she immediately lowered them, pulling the hem of her dress to cover her knees, her face turning crimson. “Pervert,” she accused.
He smirked. “Did you do that intentionally?”
“I did not! How dare you!”
She probably had not, but by the way she kept stealing glances at the huge bulge on his crotch, he knew she was aching, as well. His senses were going haywire in her presence. She could trigger his lust so easily, so intensely. “Stop looking at my crotch,” he growled.
“I was not!”
“You want it.”
“No!” But her eyes gave her away.
Her aroused scent was all over him, driving him to madness.
It was just too much for him to take any more. The hell with his ‘no fucking an Elf’ shit.
Hinubad niya ang suot na T-shirt.
She gasped. “W-what are you doing?”
Half naked, he crawled to where she was seated. They were too close now. Damang-dama niya ang init na nanggagaling sa katawan nito.
They stared at each other. Desire was fairly leaping out of her eyes. He knew his power over women, especially his power over this particular woman.
Just one kiss and she’d be his.
“I must go,” she said and tried to rise to her feet.
He knelt in front of her, crowding her.
“Dunna fight it, Elf.”
He gripped her ankles and yanked her legs open.
She yelped.
Gods, she was pretty here. Without even touching her, he knew she was wet. He could smell her juices and the scent had been driving him insane since he saw her again after two hundred years, the scent of her wanting him.
“You want me. You canno’ deny it, Elf.”
She whimpered.
In one swift movement, he had her on her back, his big body wedged between her legs. He grabbed the front of her dress and rent it open at the front.
“Remember the way we used to be during the journey to Svartalfar? Many times, you halted the horse so we can mate. You were always hungry for me. You wanted to be fucked by me all the time.”
Nanginig ang katawan nito. Alam niyang naalala rin nito ang nakaraan. The truth was, more times than she did, he’d paused their journey so he could have his way with her.
“Let’s pretend we’re still in that journey, and we just halted the horse.”
She moaned at his words. Her sweet, heady scent beckoned to the wild beast in him who hadn’t had a taste of her in like forever.
He glided one hand down the juncture of her thighs.
He made a feral sound when he felt her softness, her hotness, her wetness on his fingers. Gods, why had he been depriving himself of this?
His sense of duty warred with his basic instinct.
The beast in him won.
This woman was going to get thoroughly fucked by a very horny Lycan.
He inhaled deeply. The bitch knew how to open old wounds of guilt and humiliation. “Disobedience is a grave sin against Odin. I’ve lost my honor.” Oh she had no idea how he'd lost everything to save her life. His honor, his godly stature in Asgard, his Lycan warrior code. Everything that he'd held dear.
“And how are you going to get your honor back?”
He stared at her. “By completing this task. After this, I would be worthy to stand before Odin once again.”
“What task? To bring me to Alfheim?”
Yes. To your death.
Pero hindi siya sumagot. He didn’t want to talk about that anymore.
She folded her knees up and rested her elbows on it. The hem of her dress fell away. He froze when he saw her naked slit glistening like a jewel between her thighs. Just like all other Elves, there was no hair to cover it.
Fuck it, she wasn't wearing a damn underwear!
“Did you hear me?” she asked.
He did but he was too busy lusting over her. And he’d rather talk about lust than the fate that awaited her in Alfheim. His anger over that tempting piece of
damnation was easier to deal with than the thought of losing her forever once he had brought her to Alfheim.
“If you’re going to show me something, spread it open so I can see it well,” he said mockingly.
She gasped, not comprehending.
He gestured to her raised legs and she immediately lowered them, pulling the hem of her dress to cover her knees, her face turning crimson. “Pervert,” she accused.
He smirked. “Did you do that intentionally?”
“I did not! How dare you!”
She probably had not, but by the way she kept stealing glances at the huge bulge on his crotch, he knew she was aching, as well. His senses were going haywire in her presence. She could trigger his lust so easily, so intensely. “Stop looking at my crotch,” he growled.
“I was not!”
“You want it.”
“No!” But her eyes gave her away.
Her aroused scent was all over him, driving him to madness.
It was just too much for him to take any more. The hell with his ‘no fucking an Elf’ shit.
Hinubad niya ang suot na T-shirt.
She gasped. “W-what are you doing?”
Half naked, he crawled to where she was seated. They were too close now. Damang-dama niya ang init na nanggagaling sa katawan nito.
They stared at each other. Desire was fairly leaping out of her eyes. He knew his power over women, especially his power over this particular woman.
Just one kiss and she’d be his.
“I must go,” she said and tried to rise to her feet.
He knelt in front of her, crowding her.
“Dunna fight it, Elf.”
He gripped her ankles and yanked her legs open.
She yelped.
Gods, she was pretty here. Without even touching her, he knew she was wet. He could smell her juices and the scent had been driving him insane since he saw her again after two hundred years, the scent of her wanting him.
“You want me. You canno’ deny it, Elf.”
She whimpered.
In one swift movement, he had her on her back, his big body wedged between her legs. He grabbed the front of her dress and rent it open at the front.
“Remember the way we used to be during the journey to Svartalfar? Many times, you halted the horse so we can mate. You were always hungry for me. You wanted to be fucked by me all the time.”
Nanginig ang katawan nito. Alam niyang naalala rin nito ang nakaraan. The truth was, more times than she did, he’d paused their journey so he could have his way with her.
“Let’s pretend we’re still in that journey, and we just halted the horse.”
She moaned at his words. Her sweet, heady scent beckoned to the wild beast in him who hadn’t had a taste of her in like forever.
He glided one hand down the juncture of her thighs.
He made a feral sound when he felt her softness, her hotness, her wetness on his fingers. Gods, why had he been depriving himself of this?
His sense of duty warred with his basic instinct.
The beast in him won.
This woman was going to get thoroughly fucked by a very horny Lycan.
♥♥♥
POWER IS IN HIS HANDS. BUT...IS HE ON THE RIGHT SIDE?
Lior had to give it to Garr. The Lycan walked into his lair with a small army of twenty-four Las Vegas policemen, all of them, Lycans-- fully-armed with submachine guns.
Fuck, he knew it. No wonder the police came to him for Asra. Garr had managed to make himself powerful in America. In Las Vegas, at least. Did this old fool actually think he could defeat him? He would annihilate them all in under a minute, these puppies. He could smell their fear. Well, except Garr which was an Alpha like him. But nobody had defeated him in battle within the Nine Worlds in the last eight hundred years. He hoped Garr won't be too foolish to test his record.
He was no doubt here for Asra. Well, Garr can either try to take Asra in peace or in bloodshed. Either way, Garr will fail. If Garr had to succeed, he’d have to walk over his corpse and he had won too many battles to lose against an old Lycan who used to follow orders from him as his commander.
At this point, he was prepared for a full on war between their packs if Garr did not desist from trying to sabotage his plans. Garr's small pack was nothing compared to his army of more than a thousand battle-trained Lycans in Skye. If he so ordered, they will come to America aboard his ships and jets and hunt down Garr’s group, which he’d calculate to be no more than two hundred Lycans strong. Garr was a detriment to his ultimate goal for Vanar. The old Lycan's ways were for fools. Going against Odin with his puny Lycan army was the work of a bloody idiot.
“I come in peace, Lior,” the old Lycan started.
“Then you have to promise me that you will no longer attempt to take what is mine, Garr.”
“Yours? You mean Asra?”
He didn’t answer.
“She is not yours, nor is she mine, Lior. She should be free to choose where she wants to side. And she has chosen the Invictus. Ask her yourself.”
“She has chosen the side of a bloody idiot.”
“This idiot is loyal to Vanar.”
“And what about your loyalty to me? To my father, your king?”
Naningkit ang mga mata ni Garr. “I am always loyal to your father. He is my king and nothing will ever change that. I was also loyal to you once, my prince, because you promised that you’ll get Vanar back for us. But for hundreds of years, you’ve done nothing to fulfill your promise. Your father has a reason for not doing anything because he is imprisoned by Odin. But you, you have been free all these years. But you served our enemies, instead. My loyalty is with Vanar, while you… you are a puppet of Asgard.”
Lior’s blood rushed to his head. His claws itched to slash this old Lycan's throat who dared insult him, but he held himself. “I have my plans, Garr. You should have waited.”
“For how long? For a millennium?” Garr scoffed. “Lior, your people are tired of waiting. They want to go home. Our people back in Vanar are sick of being slaves of Asgard. They want their old lives back.”
It was a bitter truth but he knew, Garr spoke some truth. But he refused to accept what Garr was telling him, that he was a traitor to Vanar. That was farthest from the truth for he knew in his heart of hearts, he loved his people and Vanar.
“I will go back to Asgard and help Odin defeat Surt. The Songstress will ensure his victory. Then I will ask Vanar as reward and he will mostly likely grant my wish. I’m almost there. And if you’d only help me get rid of those Demons then my job would be easier. We can all go home.”
“I don’t trust your god,” Garr replied. “If Odin has the songstress, he’ll use her to conquer other worlds. Soon all realms would be under Odin’s feet, and all would bow down to his power. That was what he’d wanted all along, to be praised as the god of all worlds.”
Lior turned away. Indeed, Odin had been waging wars among other worlds to gain more power and glory. He’d stolen many artifacts that belonged to other worlds and had destroyed the balance of power among realms in his quest to become the most powerful god of all.
“Don’t you see? Odin is far more powerful than any of us, and that’s why my father had surrendered to save our race from extinction. If we’ll just cooperate with Odin, then we’d all be fine. We don’t need to resort to war. If we remain loyal allies and friends with Asgard, then Odin will give us back our homeland.”
“Odin, Odin!” Garr growled. “I’m sick of hearing that bullshit. He’s a liar! He has deceived your father. The Lycans you had found in Midgar when you came here two hundred years ago were those who escaped execution in Vanar. And that included me and other Lycans who had been fighting alongside Asgard. Odin’s a traitor. He wishes to annihilate the Lycan race, but has been doing it slowly so Fenrir would not notice. We have told you that a long time ago, yet you refused to believe it. You still refuse to. Open your eyes, my lord. Time is running out.”
Sinabi na nila ang bagay na iyon sa kanya noon pa man, bagay na labis niyang ikinagulat. According to Garr, a compassionate Aesir soldier had sent them a message that there would be a widespread persecution of the Lycans who were unable to serve Asgard in any way and to those who lacked loyalty to Asgard, and that included Garr for being openly defiant of Odin.
Binanggit din niya iyon sa ama niyang si Fenrir, pero kahit si Fenrir ay hindi makapaniwala. “Until I see a proof of these executions you are referring to, I’ll keep my judgment reserved.”
“If you wish to remain a puppet of Asgard, then consider us among your enemies,” Garr threatened. “Soon, all the remaining members of your pack will join us, and we will be on each other’s throat.”
“I am not a puppet,” marahas niyang sagot. “I am both a god and a Lycan. Vanar and Asgard are both my worlds. I serve not only Odin but my father, as well, for the good of all worlds.”
“No, Lior, you’re not one of us. If you care a bit about your people, you could have done something to free Vanar. Truth be told, I regard your brother with higher respect even if he had joined forces with the Demons in a desperate attempt to get back his home. At least he had tried, although he had chosen the wrong solution.”
He sighed. So the rumor was true that Roar was the true founder of the Invictus and had been secretly supporting the group even while he was serving Asgard.
“Why have you no’ told me this earlier?”
“As I said, I keep secrets to my death. I am just telling you right now because Roar’s no longer connected with the Invictus. He had deceived us by forging an alliance with the Demons without our knowledge.”
Noon pa man ay nahalata na niya ang itinatagong galit ni Roar kay Odin. But he had not expected that he was involved in any rebellion. “Where is Roar?”
Garr sneered. “You have more reason to look for him than I do, but if I do know where he is, do you think I’d tell you? Though we have separated and he wants Asra, too, we are still fighting for the same cause.”
“Were you the one who threw him down the cliff?”
Nang hindi tumugon si Garr, batid niyang tama ang kanyang hula. “Did you kill him?”
“You would have found his body if I did.”
“Have you learned anything of his whereabouts?”
“Who knows? He could be anywhere. And don’t bother looking for him. He despises you.”
Lior sighed. Isang taon lamang ang pagitan nila ni Roar at malapit sila sa isa’t isa noong mga bata pa sila. But eventually they became estranged from each another as their principles differed. Lior became a general for showing a great loyalty to Odin, but Roar remained a soldier for refusing to attend any feast where Odin was present.
Lior knew Roar had that deep hatred in his heart, but Roar had never talked about it, not even to their father.
“He’s my brother. I can convince him to ask for forgiveness from Odin. Odin canno’ kill him, nor me… or he’d lose the service of my father and the Lycans that serve Asgard.”
Garr shook his head. “Why don’t you join us instead? If you still have some loyalty left to Vanar, join us in our quest to get our land back. Surely, you will be our King, and you can restore Vanar back to its glorious days. We have the songstress. She trusts me and she is willing to cooperate with me. She will help us.”
Pinag-iisipan niya ang sinabi ni Garr. But a part of him, his Aesir part, was screaming bloody traitor. “I only have a thousand warriors, and I’m sure yours is not any bigger or you could have attacked us a long time ago. Asgard has hundreds of thousands of warriors alone, and all the goddesses who are not warriors can fight, as well. Even if we have a songstress, I don’t think she will be enough to fill in the gap.”
Garr was momentarily quiet. “We’ll find other allies and means to defeat the gods.”
“The Vampires canno’ help us. They dunna want to be involved in any war outside Midgar.”
“There are others, but unless you pledge your loyalty to Invictus, I will not tell you.”
Lior sighed and shook his head. “Garr, why don’t you surrender to Asgard while I can still save your ass? You’re putting the lives of the Lycans in unnecessary danger.”
“Dying for our land is an honor, Lior… and it is important that we put our lives on the line and I don’t think that’s anything unnecessary. If it’s necessary for us to die to give our people a better home, then be it.”
“You can have a good life here in Midgar if you wish to stay here. You dunna have to go to war.”
“Midgar is not our world. This is the human’s world. We don’t belong here. We are not supposed to live like rats, hiding our real identities from everyone else, and seeking solitude in an uninhabited place to avoid discovery. That’s not the world we wanted. We want a home where we can be free to be ourselves.”
Lior crossed his arms. “Come back to Skye. Take your group with you and I will forget all about this. I promise you. I’ll take Vanar through peaceful negotiations. We dunna need to resort to war and more Lycan lives wasted.”
“How? By taking the Elf to Alfheim so they can execute her and be sent to Asgard?”
Hindi siya nakaimik. Garrs blunt words was like a dagger to his heart.
Garr laughed scornfully. “I will not let you. You will have to kill all of us before you can take the Elf to Alfheim.”
Lior could see the fire in Garr’s eyes, which told him Garr meant what he said. Now, the Demons were not his only problem. “I’ll find your headquarters and kill all your men,” he threatened. “You know I can do that. So if you care about their lives, surrender them to me.”
Garr shook his head. “You canno’ even kill the Elf. What makes you think you can kill the rest of us?”
“Because she’s a woman.”
“We have women in my group. Lots of them.”
Lior was surprised. Hindi niya iyon inasahan. “I’ll kill them too if I have to. And when I do, the guilt will all be yours for refusing to surrender when you were given the chance. You’ll live with that for the rest of your life.”
“You don’t scare me. And you can’t win Odin’s favor again. Not when you’ve failed a simple task of killing an Elf the first time two hundred years ago. He’ll never give you Vanar, so I’ll give you my final offer instead. Join us or we will consider you our enemy.”
He looked at Garr speculatively. “Suppose I join you, and suppose we find allies who can help us, and suppose we win the war and get back Vanar, what will happen next? Asgard will always be a threat to us. Odin will no’ stop attacking us. We will never have peace.”
“Not if all worlds unite to attack Asgard and put a stop to Odin’s arrogance. He was the reason why there are wars happening in the first place.”
“Odin’s no’ the only one who’s asserting his position. Surt is becoming more and more aggressive. The fall of Asgard could bring more terrible consequences.”
“Then I’d rather be enslaved by Surt than Odin.”
Lior sighed. “I’ll give you some time to think. But if I find your headquarters, your time’s up. I will crush your group as a warning to anyone who’d dare threaten my authority again.”
Garr just stared at him, unafraid.
“What of Asra? You will really deliver her to her death?”
“I will do what is best for Vanar. Now leave before I’ll declare you my worst enemy, Garr.”
Lior had to give it to Garr. The Lycan walked into his lair with a small army of twenty-four Las Vegas policemen, all of them, Lycans-- fully-armed with submachine guns.
Fuck, he knew it. No wonder the police came to him for Asra. Garr had managed to make himself powerful in America. In Las Vegas, at least. Did this old fool actually think he could defeat him? He would annihilate them all in under a minute, these puppies. He could smell their fear. Well, except Garr which was an Alpha like him. But nobody had defeated him in battle within the Nine Worlds in the last eight hundred years. He hoped Garr won't be too foolish to test his record.
He was no doubt here for Asra. Well, Garr can either try to take Asra in peace or in bloodshed. Either way, Garr will fail. If Garr had to succeed, he’d have to walk over his corpse and he had won too many battles to lose against an old Lycan who used to follow orders from him as his commander.
At this point, he was prepared for a full on war between their packs if Garr did not desist from trying to sabotage his plans. Garr's small pack was nothing compared to his army of more than a thousand battle-trained Lycans in Skye. If he so ordered, they will come to America aboard his ships and jets and hunt down Garr’s group, which he’d calculate to be no more than two hundred Lycans strong. Garr was a detriment to his ultimate goal for Vanar. The old Lycan's ways were for fools. Going against Odin with his puny Lycan army was the work of a bloody idiot.
“I come in peace, Lior,” the old Lycan started.
“Then you have to promise me that you will no longer attempt to take what is mine, Garr.”
“Yours? You mean Asra?”
He didn’t answer.
“She is not yours, nor is she mine, Lior. She should be free to choose where she wants to side. And she has chosen the Invictus. Ask her yourself.”
“She has chosen the side of a bloody idiot.”
“This idiot is loyal to Vanar.”
“And what about your loyalty to me? To my father, your king?”
Naningkit ang mga mata ni Garr. “I am always loyal to your father. He is my king and nothing will ever change that. I was also loyal to you once, my prince, because you promised that you’ll get Vanar back for us. But for hundreds of years, you’ve done nothing to fulfill your promise. Your father has a reason for not doing anything because he is imprisoned by Odin. But you, you have been free all these years. But you served our enemies, instead. My loyalty is with Vanar, while you… you are a puppet of Asgard.”
Lior’s blood rushed to his head. His claws itched to slash this old Lycan's throat who dared insult him, but he held himself. “I have my plans, Garr. You should have waited.”
“For how long? For a millennium?” Garr scoffed. “Lior, your people are tired of waiting. They want to go home. Our people back in Vanar are sick of being slaves of Asgard. They want their old lives back.”
It was a bitter truth but he knew, Garr spoke some truth. But he refused to accept what Garr was telling him, that he was a traitor to Vanar. That was farthest from the truth for he knew in his heart of hearts, he loved his people and Vanar.
“I will go back to Asgard and help Odin defeat Surt. The Songstress will ensure his victory. Then I will ask Vanar as reward and he will mostly likely grant my wish. I’m almost there. And if you’d only help me get rid of those Demons then my job would be easier. We can all go home.”
“I don’t trust your god,” Garr replied. “If Odin has the songstress, he’ll use her to conquer other worlds. Soon all realms would be under Odin’s feet, and all would bow down to his power. That was what he’d wanted all along, to be praised as the god of all worlds.”
Lior turned away. Indeed, Odin had been waging wars among other worlds to gain more power and glory. He’d stolen many artifacts that belonged to other worlds and had destroyed the balance of power among realms in his quest to become the most powerful god of all.
“Don’t you see? Odin is far more powerful than any of us, and that’s why my father had surrendered to save our race from extinction. If we’ll just cooperate with Odin, then we’d all be fine. We don’t need to resort to war. If we remain loyal allies and friends with Asgard, then Odin will give us back our homeland.”
“Odin, Odin!” Garr growled. “I’m sick of hearing that bullshit. He’s a liar! He has deceived your father. The Lycans you had found in Midgar when you came here two hundred years ago were those who escaped execution in Vanar. And that included me and other Lycans who had been fighting alongside Asgard. Odin’s a traitor. He wishes to annihilate the Lycan race, but has been doing it slowly so Fenrir would not notice. We have told you that a long time ago, yet you refused to believe it. You still refuse to. Open your eyes, my lord. Time is running out.”
Sinabi na nila ang bagay na iyon sa kanya noon pa man, bagay na labis niyang ikinagulat. According to Garr, a compassionate Aesir soldier had sent them a message that there would be a widespread persecution of the Lycans who were unable to serve Asgard in any way and to those who lacked loyalty to Asgard, and that included Garr for being openly defiant of Odin.
Binanggit din niya iyon sa ama niyang si Fenrir, pero kahit si Fenrir ay hindi makapaniwala. “Until I see a proof of these executions you are referring to, I’ll keep my judgment reserved.”
“If you wish to remain a puppet of Asgard, then consider us among your enemies,” Garr threatened. “Soon, all the remaining members of your pack will join us, and we will be on each other’s throat.”
“I am not a puppet,” marahas niyang sagot. “I am both a god and a Lycan. Vanar and Asgard are both my worlds. I serve not only Odin but my father, as well, for the good of all worlds.”
“No, Lior, you’re not one of us. If you care a bit about your people, you could have done something to free Vanar. Truth be told, I regard your brother with higher respect even if he had joined forces with the Demons in a desperate attempt to get back his home. At least he had tried, although he had chosen the wrong solution.”
He sighed. So the rumor was true that Roar was the true founder of the Invictus and had been secretly supporting the group even while he was serving Asgard.
“Why have you no’ told me this earlier?”
“As I said, I keep secrets to my death. I am just telling you right now because Roar’s no longer connected with the Invictus. He had deceived us by forging an alliance with the Demons without our knowledge.”
Noon pa man ay nahalata na niya ang itinatagong galit ni Roar kay Odin. But he had not expected that he was involved in any rebellion. “Where is Roar?”
Garr sneered. “You have more reason to look for him than I do, but if I do know where he is, do you think I’d tell you? Though we have separated and he wants Asra, too, we are still fighting for the same cause.”
“Were you the one who threw him down the cliff?”
Nang hindi tumugon si Garr, batid niyang tama ang kanyang hula. “Did you kill him?”
“You would have found his body if I did.”
“Have you learned anything of his whereabouts?”
“Who knows? He could be anywhere. And don’t bother looking for him. He despises you.”
Lior sighed. Isang taon lamang ang pagitan nila ni Roar at malapit sila sa isa’t isa noong mga bata pa sila. But eventually they became estranged from each another as their principles differed. Lior became a general for showing a great loyalty to Odin, but Roar remained a soldier for refusing to attend any feast where Odin was present.
Lior knew Roar had that deep hatred in his heart, but Roar had never talked about it, not even to their father.
“He’s my brother. I can convince him to ask for forgiveness from Odin. Odin canno’ kill him, nor me… or he’d lose the service of my father and the Lycans that serve Asgard.”
Garr shook his head. “Why don’t you join us instead? If you still have some loyalty left to Vanar, join us in our quest to get our land back. Surely, you will be our King, and you can restore Vanar back to its glorious days. We have the songstress. She trusts me and she is willing to cooperate with me. She will help us.”
Pinag-iisipan niya ang sinabi ni Garr. But a part of him, his Aesir part, was screaming bloody traitor. “I only have a thousand warriors, and I’m sure yours is not any bigger or you could have attacked us a long time ago. Asgard has hundreds of thousands of warriors alone, and all the goddesses who are not warriors can fight, as well. Even if we have a songstress, I don’t think she will be enough to fill in the gap.”
Garr was momentarily quiet. “We’ll find other allies and means to defeat the gods.”
“The Vampires canno’ help us. They dunna want to be involved in any war outside Midgar.”
“There are others, but unless you pledge your loyalty to Invictus, I will not tell you.”
Lior sighed and shook his head. “Garr, why don’t you surrender to Asgard while I can still save your ass? You’re putting the lives of the Lycans in unnecessary danger.”
“Dying for our land is an honor, Lior… and it is important that we put our lives on the line and I don’t think that’s anything unnecessary. If it’s necessary for us to die to give our people a better home, then be it.”
“You can have a good life here in Midgar if you wish to stay here. You dunna have to go to war.”
“Midgar is not our world. This is the human’s world. We don’t belong here. We are not supposed to live like rats, hiding our real identities from everyone else, and seeking solitude in an uninhabited place to avoid discovery. That’s not the world we wanted. We want a home where we can be free to be ourselves.”
Lior crossed his arms. “Come back to Skye. Take your group with you and I will forget all about this. I promise you. I’ll take Vanar through peaceful negotiations. We dunna need to resort to war and more Lycan lives wasted.”
“How? By taking the Elf to Alfheim so they can execute her and be sent to Asgard?”
Hindi siya nakaimik. Garrs blunt words was like a dagger to his heart.
Garr laughed scornfully. “I will not let you. You will have to kill all of us before you can take the Elf to Alfheim.”
Lior could see the fire in Garr’s eyes, which told him Garr meant what he said. Now, the Demons were not his only problem. “I’ll find your headquarters and kill all your men,” he threatened. “You know I can do that. So if you care about their lives, surrender them to me.”
Garr shook his head. “You canno’ even kill the Elf. What makes you think you can kill the rest of us?”
“Because she’s a woman.”
“We have women in my group. Lots of them.”
Lior was surprised. Hindi niya iyon inasahan. “I’ll kill them too if I have to. And when I do, the guilt will all be yours for refusing to surrender when you were given the chance. You’ll live with that for the rest of your life.”
“You don’t scare me. And you can’t win Odin’s favor again. Not when you’ve failed a simple task of killing an Elf the first time two hundred years ago. He’ll never give you Vanar, so I’ll give you my final offer instead. Join us or we will consider you our enemy.”
He looked at Garr speculatively. “Suppose I join you, and suppose we find allies who can help us, and suppose we win the war and get back Vanar, what will happen next? Asgard will always be a threat to us. Odin will no’ stop attacking us. We will never have peace.”
“Not if all worlds unite to attack Asgard and put a stop to Odin’s arrogance. He was the reason why there are wars happening in the first place.”
“Odin’s no’ the only one who’s asserting his position. Surt is becoming more and more aggressive. The fall of Asgard could bring more terrible consequences.”
“Then I’d rather be enslaved by Surt than Odin.”
Lior sighed. “I’ll give you some time to think. But if I find your headquarters, your time’s up. I will crush your group as a warning to anyone who’d dare threaten my authority again.”
Garr just stared at him, unafraid.
“What of Asra? You will really deliver her to her death?”
“I will do what is best for Vanar. Now leave before I’ll declare you my worst enemy, Garr.”