Page 9 of Baldr's Secret Mate

“Are you alright?” I asked over the bond as I got close and placed my hand on the dome. “Did something happen?”

“My brother isn't a traitor!” His voice was filled with excitement and relief. “Even though he let Tyr blow up half the resort, he's on our side! He's just playing a double agent for his mate!”

“Woah, woah, woah,” I said. “Back up. Tyr did what to the resort?”

“He blew it up,” Baldr replied nonchalantly. “Well, part of it. My brother Loki helped him. You know the one we saw here the other night with Heimdall? But he didn’t want to. He had to do it because he’s infiltrated the enemy’s side and he’s working to help us all even though he can’t tell us that.”

I stood there for a long moment, trying to process the sudden stream of information accosting me. Baldr’s thoughts were wild and erratic, which was unlike him. I’d only ever seen him like that when he was either really angry or really upset about something. But I had no cause to disbelieve him. Whatever he was trying to tell me, it was probably true. He’d never been one to lie to me. It was one of my favorite qualities about him.

“So… is everyone alright?”

“Oh. Yeah! Everyone is fine. Thanks to Loki!”

“The one that helped blow up the resort?”

“Yeah. But he blew up the part where people don’t stay and it was a good way to make sure… Ah! Just let me read the letter he left behind. It explains it all.”

I saw him reach into his pocket and pull out a rumpled and folded piece of paper. It looked like it had gotten wet at some point, but the words were scribbled down in pencil. Not that I could read them. Growing up in a magical dome locked away from the world meant I couldn't do things like read or do math, something that everyone around me seemed to take for granted. But I didn’t mind, not when Baldr was so happy to read to me. When he did that, it made me feel normal for a little while and I cherished every moment.

“Alright,” Baldr said, clearing his throat.

And then he began to read.

Baldr,

I hope I can find a way to tell you about this letter. I wrote it knowing that if things went sideways, I’d need a way to tell you what was going on. My guess is that either Tyr abandoned the plan, which I expect he’ll do, or I’m dead. I sincerely hope it’s not the latter, but either way, you need to know this.

First off, I wanted to apologize to you and Thor. I’ve been a serious asshole these past few months and you two didn’t deserve that. I was so torn up about losing Dad that I just… I didn’t realize there were people around me feeling the same pain. I cut myself off from everyone and then was angry that I felt alone. It was completely my fault that I felt that way and I should’ve looked to my family for support. I’m sorry I didn’t and I’m sorry I’ve treated you two so poorly. I love you both so much. You are my family and you always will be.

Secondly, Heimdall and I are mates. Yes he’s Tyr’s son, but he’s nothing like Tyr. Heimdall has a kind heart and he doesn’t believe his father’s crazy ideas anymore. In fact, I’m not sure if he ever did or if he was just trying to make Tyr happy. Either way, if something has happened to me, I can guarantee you Heimdall is still on your side. He doesn’t want to see his own father die, which I understand more than anyone. But, I’m afraid that it’ll be an eventuality at some point. I just hope I’m there to help him through it.

And I’m sorry I had to attack the resort to prove my loyalty to Tyr. Without it, he would’ve killed both Heimdall and I on the spot. However, if I’ve played my cards right, I’ve crippled the building without hurting anyone too badly. Once all the guests are gone, our pack can wage this war without cause for concern. And I’m sorry to say, a war will happen one way or another. Tyr will have it no other way. So be ready.

Last, but certainly not least, Tyr has a secret weapon. He’s imprisoned a mage in the woods north of the Skoll village inside a massive magical dome. From what Heimdall was able to figure out, the boy was kidnapped by Tyr with the help of another witch. She’s the one who erected the dome and Tyr is the only one that can go in or out. The boy will be the downfall of the Hati pack unless someone outside the Skoll pack knows of him. Now that you do, I hope you’ll be the reason this witch doesn’t end up as Tyr’s weapon. I can’t imagine what years of solitude and Tyr’s venom would do to a person. I just hope you’re able to reason with him. You’re a witch too, so maybe you’ll have something in common. I don’t know, but I need you to try.

Once you’ve got him convinced you aren’t going to hurt him, go to the witch. Heimdall says she lives a full day to thesouth in the valley of two uninhabited mountains. She lives in a clearing deep in the forest, in a wooden house with a moss roof and a pond out front. I don’t know her name and you shouldn’t tell her yours either. But if she’s the one that cast the dome around this boy, maybe you can get her to release it somehow.

Beware though, she has a price. It seems she steals life force via sex to stay alive. Tyr has been paying her for years to keep his weapon secret and his pack strong. But I sincerely hope you don’t have to pay her. Use your power to trick her if you must, but you need to get that boy out of the dome. Whatever it takes, Baldr. He cannot be set free on the Hati pack or he will kill everyone. That’s what the witch foretold and I don’t want anything more to happen to my family.

I wish you all the luck in the world, brother.

-Loki

Baldr finished the letter and looked up at me from the other side of the dome. Although I knew he couldn’t see me well, I had a feeling he could see the look of shock and surprise on my face. Of course I knew Tyr wanted to use my power to hurt people, that was obvious. But I didn’t know he was the one that kidnapped me. Or that a witch had imprisoned me. I expected some sort of magical being was involved of course, but for her to be so close for all these years? It was almost like a slap in the face.

It also explained why Baldr had been missing for the past three days.

“So, needless to say, I’m leaving,” Baldr said, folding up the letter and tucking it away once more. “Immediately.”

“What?” His words caught me off guard. “Why?”

The look on his face was one of complete disbelief. “What do you mean why?” he scoffed. “To get you the hell out of this dome of course!”

I shook my head. “You should be protecting your pack and your family. What about Loki and Thor?”

“What about them? Thor is more than capable of taking care of himself. And Loki is out of my reach for now. I’m not even sure if he’s still alive… but I have to believe he is. He’s a strong Alpha wolf. If anyone was going to survive a grenade, even out of pure spite, it would be him. Besides, Heimdall hasn’t come knocking on our door, so I can only assume he’s still alive.”

“But… I don’t…”

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