Page 39 of Valkyrie Restored

“It took me and some allies a few centuries to find you. But by that time, the damage had been done. We weren’t able to get you together with Kirby long enough for you to forge a deep enough connection before she was to be cursed. And then we heard that völva and her vision. The vision that worked in our favour since it would put you on the same path as Kirby. Together you’d be able to help each other.”

“But after my encounter with Astrid and her mom, the völva, I met a man on the road.”

“Wait, you know Astrid? Darius’ daughter Astrid?” Arran spun me to face him.

“I do, but she should have been long dead by now.” I raised my eyebrow as I faced my grandmothers. “Care to explain?”

“Hush, granddaughter. Let Gaia continue to explain, how her little group nearly messed everything up.” Clotho waved her hand at Gaia, encouraging her to continue talking.

“Yes, you met Hypnos on the road. He spelled you so that we could put you and Kirby together, so that you’d be able to meet and help one another, but something went wrong. Instead of just falling into a deep sleep, you disappeared from the timeline. When you next surfaced, you were in the hospital in Greece, older, and with no memory. A memory that you now needed.”

“Of course, he was involved.”

“Does this mean Nyx is involved, too?”

“It would make sense. She understands and knows Fate too.”

Arran, Hurrit, and I shared a look as my grandmothers continued to discuss this offshoot that really didn’t pertain to the topic at hand. At least not for us. Hurrit shrugged and then focused his gaze on Gaia.

“So, what? You tried to scare her memories back or were you actually trying to kill her since things didn’t go as planned?” Hurrit stepped in front of me and crossed his arms as he stared Gaia/Danu/Mother Earth down. No longer was his posture one of reverence for who she was in his belief system. Instead he stood like the proud warrior he was.

“Look at that Clotho. We did good choosing him to be one of her protectors.” Lachesis elbowed her sister.

“We did. And I’m so glad he’s handsome. Just look at how big his cock is. And those screams of pleasure that came from our granddaughter… I’d say we blessed her.”

“Indeed. Let’s watch for more like him. It’s been so long since we brought one to us.” Atropos winked at me. I didn’t know whether or not to laugh or feel disgusted at the way my grandmothers talked about Hurrit. To know that they’d been listening in—oh god, please say they were only listening and not watching—to our sexual escapades, wasn’t pleasant.

Gaia stared at my grandmothers as if they were from outer space. But at my side, Arran vibrated with repressed laughter even as a little shiver went through Hurrit.

I cleared my throat, drawing the attention back to me. I wanted to know the answers. And even though I wasn’t human and with the unlocking of my powers wasn’t as cold as I should have been, I was tired. It was too early in the morning after all the emotional shit to be standing out here, in the cold and snow, as they all dithered about instead of telling me the facts I needed. I poked my body around Hurrit, but didn’t stand fully at his side as Arran continued to keep a hold on me. “Answer my mate, Gaia.”

“We weren’t trying to kill you. We just hoped that if your mortal life was in danger that your Valkyrie side would emerge to save you. We didn’t plan on your mates. That area was supposed to be free of mythological creatures.” Gaia glared at my men which made my blade pulse with the need to show her who was in charge. I didn’t care if she was a goddess or what they called her, she wouldn’t disrespect my mates and get away with it.

“Silly woman. She needed to be mated before her memories would return. None of your accidents did anything but put her in danger.” Atropos glared at her. “I had to keep a firm hold on her thread to keep it from fraying under your silly attempts.”

I smiled sweetly at Grandmother Atropos in thanks before turning my focus back onto Gaia. “So you admit to being the cause of my injuries, the reason why I fell into the bay tonight?”

“Yes, our group did that. And we were right. Our actions worked. You’ve awoken your Valkyrie. Now you can help us. Be our sword and use our strength in the coming battle.”

I scoffed. “You tried to kill me. You cursed me. And you still want me to fight on your behalf?”

“Of course.” Now it was my turn to have Gaia look at me as if I was stupid. “The attempted killings, and even the curse only came about because someone else meddled. That can’t be held against us.”

Atropos rolled her eyes. “Of course we meddled. We had to protect our granddaughter. And it was you who tried to interfere with something you didn’t understand. Kirby needed to go through all her reincarnations the way she did. The lessons she learned will be valuable later and have turned her into a formidable warrior. It was why we hid our sweet Elin when we realized what you had done. And once you put that curse on her, we had to take her. She wouldn’t have met her mates—the ones she needs by her side—if we’d let your curse stand. She wasn’t meant to have the same life as Kirby. It was why I pulled out her strand from the weave.”

“Then I had to age my sweet granddaughter before I could return her to this time. A sixteen-year-old girl wouldn’t have been the independent maiden that she was back then.” Clotho blew me a kiss as I nodded my thanks. The question of why I’d been so much younger in my last memory compared to my awakening, now answered.

“And then we had to clean up the mess some of your helpers made when they banished Arran from Scotland and Europe.” Lachesis cocked her head to the side as her eyes lost their focus as if she stared at something that wasn’t there. “Although it did help to bring him to Hurrit so it was acceptable. It just happened before he could get all the teachings he needed.”

“We didn’t do that.” Gaia stomped her feet. “Why would we have interfered with Arran and Hurrit? Neither were part of the prophecy we heard.”

“It was Brigid,” Arran tossed out helpfully. Not that it seemed like anyone other than Hurrit and I listened.

“Hmm.” Lachesis tapped her chin.

“What do you think, dear sister? Is there another set of players that have hidden themselves from us?” Clotho reached out for Lachsis’ and Atropos’ hands.

When the three held hands, a purple mist surrounded them, obscuring them from our view.

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