Truth: A Valkyrie Saga Book 3

Chapter 12 - Valkyrie Marriages

It had taken me a while to fully accept Mariana's and Louka's betrayal and all of the implications of their actions, but I had finally come to terms with my life. I knew that I alone was going to have to be strong enough to stand between Awenasa and the world. I accepted that. I even have started to embrace it. So why was I letting the possibility of discovering a partner seep so quickly into my resolve? I was hoping for something that was never going to happen and I was only going to end up hurt. Again.

"She is a good person and will surprise you," I heard Elijah murmur from beside me and I once again felt the insane attraction spark between us. I hadn't known that I was into guys until I let myself feel those things for Louka. And now it was like since I had opened that door, I couldn't get it to fully close again. The instant pull I felt towards this human-bound Valkyrie was the reason I had jumped to the conclusion that he was the missing Gatekeeper.

"I don't know what you mean?" I lied and tried to re-harden my heart.

"Ray. She is going through a lot right now, but she will show you her pure integrity and courage soon enough. Don't give up on her yet," Elijah said and my heart jumped in response. He then stepped closer and tucked my hair behind my ear and whispered, "Don't give up on me either."

I blew out a breath as I felt my soul starting to really embrace the possibilities the future may hold.

-Nahuel Firebird.

Eventually, we returned to Awenasa and the elder Gatekeepers left me to my own devices. Actually, everyone stayed away and I was finally able to have some time void of any more drama to just process. The rest of the day passed in a blur while I was lost in the complicated web of my own thoughts. I found myself randomly wandering around the village and just watching the people of Awenasa live their everyday lives. Wiyot had been right. The people were happy and carefree. Completely content with their simple yet fulfilling lives that they had created for themselves.

At some point, Elijah returned to my side and was a comforting presence as I continued to probe my feelings about all that I had learned this last day. After the sky grew dark, Nahuel approached warily and I could tell that he needed some reassurance from me. Reassurance that I would freely give him.

"Hello," Nahuel said with clear apprehension in his voice. "How are you feeling?"

"Overwhelmed," I told him honestly.

"It is nearly time. The spell will wear off soon and you will be able to return to your people. I have gone to the Look-Through and there is a large party waiting for you," Nahuel said with barely restrained anger. He was not happy that so many of the human-bound Valkyries now knew the location of Awenasa.

"I can't make them forget what they already know," I said, "but the royals will not learn any more about Awenasa from me. I will tell my Clan everything because I don't want to keep secrets from them but you can trust them."

Nahuel's eyes flicked over to Elijah's for a moment and I wondered what kind of conversations they had while I was with the elder Gatekeepers. "That seems fair," Nahuel said slowly as if he was weighing each of his words carefully before saying them. "But I will ask you to please not bring anyone here. Awenasa's greatest protection is the fact that no human-bound Valkyrie can reach us here."

Instead of answering him on that point, I asked something that kept resurfacing in my mind. "Wiyot said that the Northerners were preparing for war, and made it seem like they were not on the best of terms with your people. What will happen to Awenasa if war breaks out? What do I do if the Northerners come looking for me?"

Nahuel ran his hand through his long silky hair that was now free of a hair tie and the wild energy surrounding him grew as he thought about the possibility of war. "The human-bound has us incredibly outnumbered, so just like the last war, our main strength would be in the fact that we can bring the fighting to them while keeping our home safe. The Northerners would go to the Human-Realm to fight and in theory, the Doba would remain peaceful and out of reach," Nahuel said and then met my eyes in a hard stare.