Page 58 of Baldr's Secret Mate

“Mist,” he smiled. “I had a feeling I’d be running into you again soon.”

I clenched my fists, feeling the magic coursing through me. “This ends tonight, Tyr.”

He chuckled, his eyes gleaming with malice. “Oh, I couldn't agree more. I've been looking forward to finishing what I started with you. It’s about time you served your purpose.”

I took a step forward, my voice low and dangerous. “I’m not doing shit for you. Besides, you have no idea what I'm capable of now.”

“Is that so?” Tyr's grin widened, revealing sharp canines. “Show me then, little Mist. Show me this power you think you have.”

Without hesitation, I reached deep within myself and unleashed a surge of chaotic energy. Violet light exploded from my hands, crackling through the air towards Tyr like lightning. His eyes widened in surprise as he dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the blast. The energy struck a nearby dumpster, warping and melting the metal until it was nothing but a smoldering pile of ash and iron.

“Don’t underestimate me,” I growled, the power in my hands still crackling.

Tyr pushed himself back to his feet, a chuckle echoing over the snow-covered lot. “I’ve never doubted you, Mist. I knew what you were capable of the moment I paid that witchto imprison you.” He brushed the snow off his shirt with his remaining hand. “If I’d known all it took was a little trip with that Hati boy, I would’ve let you run off long ago.”

“Well, it’s too late now. I’m never going to let you use me again!”

“Oh no?” he smiled, lifting an eyebrow. “Even though I’m the only one left alive that knows who your parents are? Or that they’re alive and well and have never stopped looking for you?”

Suddenly the power surging around me faded, the air going still once more. His words seemed to wrap around my chest, making it hard to breathe. In all the years I’d been imprisoned inside that dome, I never once thought that I’d see my parents again. Hell, I couldn’t even remember them! How was I ever supposed to find someone that I wouldn’t recognize? But that didn’t mean I hadn’t dreamed about having a normal family and belonging to something bigger than just myself.

“That’s right,” Tyr continued. “I could take you back to your family. And I know how to take the memory suppression spell off you too. You could have a normal life if you just do this one thing for me.”

I shot him a dirty look. “And what do you want me to do? Kill everyone?!”

“Not at all,” he said, shaking his head. “I just need you to give up your power.”

Out of everything I ever expected him to require of me, giving up my power wasn’t even on the list. Was such a thing even possible?

“Give it up? What do you mean?”

“All you have to do is throw it away. Relinquish it to the universe,” he continued, walking slowly in my direction. “There’s a simple spell to do it. All it takes is a few easy words.” I watched as he reached into his back pocket, withdrawing the missing third of Baldr’s spellbook. “It’s just one little spell.”

“What’s in it for you?” I asked, far from believing he had nothing but good intentions. “You wouldn’t do this for no reason.”

“What’s in it for me?” he laughed. “To get you the hell out of my way.” His voice dropped into a low growl. “If I had known that little pup had been visiting you all these years, I wouldn’t have spent any time on you. The future where I use you to end the Hati pack doesn’t work if someone in their pack knows. So I’ve had to forge a new path. With your power out of the way, at least I won’t have to defeat you too.”

“I want your word that you’ll leave Baldr and I alone,” I snapped. “That you won’t hurt either of us!”

“As far as I’m concerned, you two can fuck off and never come back. My war isn’t with you. It’s with Thor.”

I stood there for a long moment, weighing my options.

My mind raced, torn between the temptation of a normal life and the power I'd only just begun to grasp. Tyr's offer was tantalizing - a chance to know my parents, to have my memories restored. But could I trust him? This was the same monster who had kept me prisoner for years.

“How do I know you're not lying?” I demanded, my voice wavering slightly. “You've never given me a reason to trust you before.”

Tyr's lips curled into a smirk. “You don't. But what other choice do you have? Stay here, fight a war that isn't yours, and likely die alongside your little mate? Or take a chance on freedom and family?”

I hesitated, my resolve weakening. The thought of seeing my parents again, of having a normal life, was almost overwhelming. But then I thought of Baldr, of everything we'd been through together. I couldn’t bear to lose him. His vision had always ended with him sacrificing himself to save me. But if I gave up my power and we escaped… then he wouldn’t haveto die, right? However, if Tyr was lying, we could be in even more danger. Who was I kidding though? I couldn’t control my power, anyway. What little spells I’d been able to pull off were hardly more than a lucky fluke. The entire world, including Baldr, would be safer if I was stripped of my heritage and left powerless.

In the end, there was only one choice to make.

“A-Alright,” I said at last. “I’ll relinquish my power.”

His cruel grin widened as he stepped forward, holding out the book. “A wise decision.”

“No it’s not!” a voice cried, slicing through the silence of the gently falling snow.

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