Monster's Heart (Blackthorn Academy for Supernaturals Book 13)

Chapter 12

Sten

A full day.

That was how long it took me to prepare for what I was about to do, claiming my mate and accepting my title. First, I had to return home, tell my family and the portal to Asgard was not an easy thing to access.

It took a toll, but a few hours rest and I was able to go to my brother Erik’s house on my own two feet. He was surprisingly happy to see me, something I worried about since the last time we met. It was not under favorable circumstances.

“Menon?” he said when I approached.

“Erik,” I nodded. “I am here to tell you, I found her.”

“Her? By the gods, is it true? Have you found your mate?” he asked, his familiar face breaking out in a grin.

“I have. I will still need some training and Blackthorn is likely the best place for it, but I will take up position as Premier Celestial Guardian of Asgard when I am through. I just, I wanted your blessing,” I said, and my brother did not hesitate.

He’d rushed me, tackling me to the ground in a fierce hug. Ingrid was there, and I could not fathom ever feeling so strongly about her. It was clear what I’d experienced was a youthful infatuation, because seeing the woman again had not stirred a single thing. She had nothing on my Amrin. But she was good for Erik, and I was happy for them both.

After that, there was no stopping my brother from calling my entire family to bestow good luck blessings and tidings on me. Even my mother was there. Tears trailed down her cheeks as she kissed my face and gave me a token from our family to give as a mating gift for my Luna. So yeah, I’d had no choice but to stay. But I returned to the portal and Northumberland Island as quickly as possible.

Back to her.

My love.

My life.

Mate.

Sending her a sheet of fabric cut from the night sky of Asgard and charmed to create a dress of her own heart’s desire was my idea, but I hadn’t prepared myself for what I would feel when I actually saw her in it. She was so close, but I could not move. I had to stare as she walked with the Draugr’s mate.

So fucking beautiful, the vision she made nearly stopped my heart. My sweet Luna was made for me. Seeing her wrapped in a gown of my making from a piece of the night sky from the realm of Asgard itself, cut by my own hand and forged in love and magic, only solidified that belief.

The scent of vanilla and jasmine mixed with my own spicy musk reached me, carried on the breeze, and my chest rumbled in satisfaction. Tonight was important. It was the Spring Equinox, and there was a rare full blue moon due to rise in just a little while. I checked the darkening skies and knew it was nearly time. The stars were bright, and the sky was clear. It was the perfect night for a claiming ceremony.

I moved closer, still cloaked in shadow, invisible to the crowd of students and locals as they partook in the festivities. I had not intended to eavesdrop, but it was not like I could block out my ears when she mentioned school and the threat of failing, and her horrible mother’s demands. Possessive instincts I supposed I’d always had spiked, and I wanted to tear that fucking Werewolf’s head off.

He wanted to court what was mine?

Hell fucking no.

I made my presence known.

“You will be okay, Luna, and you will pass, and stay in school. Come,” I told her, needing to calm my inner rage and offer support to the woman I loved at the same time.

A moment passed between us, where the entire world seemed to fall into the background. Her pale moonbeam eyes glowed with feeling, and she gasped, a sound I very much wanted to swallow. Her gaze roamed over me from head to toe, and I realized I was decked out in my Asgardian gear. Leather pants, straps, buckles, and my magic was pulsing through me. It had been a long time since I felt so powerful, and from the look in her eyes, she was impressed.

Well, at the very least, she was not afraid of me. And that was good. I never wanted to scare her. She was safe with me. I would protect her from entire worlds of Demons or Werewolves, or assholes who wanted to do her harm, if I had to.

Mine.

“So beautiful, my Luna,” I said, and held out my hand to her. I caught sight of the Draugr and his mate, and nodded my thanks, knowing I had yet another favor to ask. “Thank you, Draugr. Will you bear witness for me?”

After accepting, the four of us walked to find Professor McEwan. My Luna worked so hard on her project, she deserved a passing grade. But I frowned, thinking she’d only put herself through all that work for her mother. My Luna had been seeking approval from her Witch mother only to be met with more demands from the woman. Demands I found unfuckingacceptable.

“Sten,” she whispered, her small hand tightening on my arm. “There he is.”

I turned and saw Professor McEwan speaking with a group of people, and changed our direction, guiding Luna and the other couple through a group of Blackthorn students engaged in a pie eating contest. Wiggleberry pie was as revolting as it sounded, since the berries only wiggled when full of maggots, but there were certain breeds of Monster who loved the things, and they were having a ball.

Gross.

I scanned the area, and though crowded, I did not sense any threats as I guided us through the throngs of students and festival goers. There was music and food, games, and merrymaking, but I only had eyes for Amrin. She needed to pass this course for herself, not her mother, and she had worked hard to do it.

Finally, we neared where the professor was standing, and I pressed the small of her back, sending her gently forward. She squeezed my hand before letting go. It was a small sign she felt my support and knew I was there for her, and damn, I loved her even more for it.

Beautiful.

Brave.

My sweet Luna.

“Professor, excuse me,” Amrin said, and I listened to her take a fortifying breath as she waited for him to acknowledge her.

“What now? Ah, yes! Miss Cordoza,” the professor said, turning to us. “You have something for me?”

“Yes, actually,” she said, and her nervousness was curious.

Truth was, I hadn’t given much thought to what results her graph would show. I’d already seen it for myself, having mapped out both our charts. We lined up perfectly. I watched as she handed the professor the folder containing her project.

“This is very thorough, Miss Cordoza!” he exclaimed, and he nodded his head to me. “Sten, good to see you. Ah, I see you introduced Miss Cordoza to your Celestial Mapping program. Very good, and very thorough, indeed. But tell me quickly now, Amrin, what did you discover?”

“Well, first, I wanted to apologize, Professor McEwan. You see, I don’t sleep well at night and I might have given you the impression there was something wrong with your class, or that I was just lazy. But with Sten’s help, I actually discovered I like Astronomy,” she confessed, bright eyes blinking up at me.

“Ah, that is wonderful news! Since you two arrived together, can I assume Sten here is filling in as your date?”

I paused, wanting to correct his assumption. I was no fill-in or pretend date. Amrin was mine. But before I had the chance to say anything, my pretty little butterfly answered for me.

“Actually, according to the chart, Sten is more than my date. He’s my, er, he’s my,” she said, pausing and looking up at me, brows furrowed. “He’s mine.”

Just like that, my sweet Luna claimed me out loud. She still did not know my truth. Still had no inkling who I really was. And yet, she claimed me.

She. Claimed. Me.

And my heart went wild for her.

“And you are mine, Luna,” I murmured, cupping her cheek and pulling her close to my body.

I rumbled as her small hands pressed against my chest. She lifted her face, smiling and pursing her lips for my kiss. I met her halfway. Claiming her lips in front of the entire festival of revelers. Cheers and catcalls abounded, but I paid them no mind.

“Well, well, I guess my little project paid off.”

I vaguely heard the professor in the background, but I was too intent on my sweet Luna to respond. She melted into my embrace, and I shivered at the contact all the way down to my soul.

“Come, sweet Luna, I have much to tell you,” I said.

“You sound funny. Formal like.”

“Sorry, I went to visit my family, and it is the way of things there.”

“You went home?” she asked, surprised as we joined Draugr and Serena as they played one of the many carnival games that were set up.

“Yes! I want the avocado!” Serena yelled, clapping as Draugr won her a giant stuffed avocado.

“I returned to Asgard to tell my family of my intentions to return to them soon and take up my position,” I explained.

“Your position? I don’t understand. I mean, I know you’re not a Hobgoblin, or whatever, but what do you mean, Sten?” Amrin stopped walking.

Serena and Draugr joined us. The big male was looking from me to Amrin and back again. He dropped his hands to his mate’s waist and pulled her against him. No doubt, he sensed the volatile nature of the discussion that was about to take place.

I looked around. There were too many people, so I took her hand and tugged her to the edge of the festival, Draugr and Serena just behind us.

“Guys? What’s going on?” Serena asked.

“Amrin, I didn’t mean to keep you in the dark,” I began. “But you see, part of the reason I came to Blackthorn was to try to gain control of my powers.”

“That’s fairly common for the students here,” she murmured, her confusion was as plain as the nose on her face.

“Yes, but something happened to me. You see, in my realm mated pairs are more powerful than unmated citizens.”

“In Asgard?”

“Yes. But my family line is particularly potent, but for every generation there is only one designated Menon.”

“Menon?” she asked, and fuck, I really liked the sound of my name coming from her pretty pouty lips.

I nodded, feeling the solemnity of this situation. Names had power, and I had not spoken mine in this place for a very good reason. The second I outed myself, it would be impossible to go back to being just Sten. But it was long past time I accepted my future.

“Yes, my true name is Menon Blau, and I am the next Premier Celestial Guardian of Asgard. I am a descendant of our moon god, Mani, ruler of the tides, blesser of spells, and keeper of time. But I could not hope to control that power or accept my destiny until I found my fated mate, Amrin Cordoza. I never thought I would until I found you. You’re my mate, my perfect match, my one and only. I would change the stars for you, sweet Luna.”

She clapped her hands over her mouth, and I watched helplessly as her eyes filled with tears.

Fuck.

What did I do wrong?

What could I say to make her mine?

To make her choose me again now that she knew who I was?

“Amrin, Luna, my sweet Luna, I know it might seem scary and alien thinking about moving to another realm someday, but I swear I will do all in my power to keep you safe and protected if you just let me have you, if you just let me love you,” I blurted, going down on my knees in front of her.

Draugr and Serena gave us their backs, for privacy I assumed. The big male spread his wings, shielding us from anyone who might look, and I owed that motherfucker one. Gods knew I really did.

“You love me?” she whispered like it was the most incredulous thing I’d said.

“I love you more than my own self,” I told her, barely finishing the thought before she launched herself at me. I caught her easily, standing so her knees would not hit the hard ground.

Amrin sighed, wrapping her arms tight around my neck as she pressed her mouth to mine.

“I love you too, Menon,” she said, and fuck, that did something to me.

“Say it again,” I demanded.

“I love you,” she replied.

“Good. Now say it again with my name,” I said, watching her eyes heat as she cupped my cheeks and nuzzled my nose with hers.

“I love you, Menon Blau. Only you. I choose you as my mate.”

“And I love you, Amrin Cordoza, my own sweet Luna, and I vow before you, our witnesses, and the great moon god, Mani, my ancestor, to honor you, protect you, provide for you, and to love you until the end time.”

With that final word said, the sky seemed to blink to complete blackness. A roar of gasps went up from the people at the festival, but my gaze never left Amrin’s face. I did not know what to expect, but I loved watching her expression as she tilted her head back to see the moon, Mani himself, rising high in the blackened skies. Mani glowed with a thousand shades of blue and the scent of power and ozone filled my senses seconds before a beam of light shone down on us.

“Menon! What? Wow!”

Amrin gasped, surprise sounding in her voice as those moonbeams spun around us, weaving to and fro like wild things, granting us the blessing of the moon god himself. I wrapped my tail around her waist tightly, and continued to hold her in my arms as I felt my power rise.

“We are blessed by Mani,” I told her as I gazed down in adoration at her beauty.

“I love you,” she said.

“I love you back.”

The claiming ceremony was over then, and the skies went back to normal, the moon god likely back in his realm. I sighed, pressing my forehead to hers, and reveling in the matebond I felt pulsing between us like a living, breathing thing.

“Let’s go home, Luna,” I told her, unable to deny myself her touch for another minute.

“Yes. Oh, one minute, do you mind if I find Dr. Childs first? She was supposed to meet me by the rides,” Amrin said, and I nodded.

How could I deny her anything?

Draugr and Serena turned back toward us, offering their congratulations, though only the women hugged. No self-respecting male who valued his own life would touch the mate of another. I bowed my thanks, and they left to enjoy the festival.

“I like them,” Amrin said, and I smiled.

“I am glad. Draugr—”

“I thought his name was Raven?”

“Yes, Draugr is more like his title. I would not feel right calling him that. Anyway, he is a worthy male, and we are from the same realm.”

“Maybe we could double date or something sometime?” she asked, and I grinned.

Who would have ever thought I would go on a double date with the Draugr?

Still, I could not say no to my sweet Luna, so I simply nodded as we walked toward the rides where her doctor was supposed to meet us. I did not like the idea she was ill, and my senses told me there was nothing wrong with her, but she’d asked, so we went.

My eyes narrowed as we approached a woman in a green sweater and horn-rimmed glasses. She was standing with another female I did not recognize, but judging from the way Amrin froze, I assumed she knew the stranger. My suspicions were confirmed the second she opened her mouth.

“Mother?”