Chapter 21-Sten
My heart was wild for her.
Truly wild.
Not metaphorically.
Not poetically.
My pulse thundered so hard I felt lunar magic crackle beneath my skin while the bond between us surged with enough force to make the floating lanterns overhead flicker violently.
Amrin claimed me.
Me.
My Luna looked directly at me beneath the blue moon and claimed me in front of the entire Spring Equinox Festival.
No hesitation.
No fear.
No bargaining.
Just truth.
“He’s mine.”
Fuck.
Gods.
After centuries of duty and expectation and celestial restraint, those three words nearly reduced me to something primal.
“And you are mine, Luna,” I murmured roughly, unable to stop myself from touching her.
I cupped her cheek immediately, drawing her soft warm body against mine while the crowds around us erupted into cheers and whistles.
I barely heard any of it.
Amrin pressed both hands against my chest, fingers curling instinctively into the straps crossing my leathers as she lifted herself toward me with the sweetest shy little smile.
Then she puckered her lips expectantly.
So fucking perfect.
Adorable.
Of course, I kissed her instantly.
Not carefully either.
Possessively.
Deeply.
Like I wanted every creature in Runevald to understand exactly who she belonged to now.
The second our mouths met, Amrin melted against me with a soft breathy sound that nearly shattered what remained of my self-control.
My tail lashed hard behind me.
The runes beneath my skin brightened violently.
And the bond—by the Fates, yes, we had a matebond, true and strong—the bond purred.
Pleasure rolled through it in warm golden waves every time she kissed me back.
“Well, well,” Professor Franco called somewhere behind us, sounding deeply entertained. “Looks like my extra credit project finally worked after all. Won’t Uzzi be pleased!”
I ignored him completely.
Entirely.
My focus remained fixed on the female in my arms.
The softness of her lips.
The trembling little breath she made every time I deepened the kiss.
The way her body fit against mine with terrifying perfection.
Mine.
The possessive instinct no longer even attempted subtlety.
I drew back only far enough to rest my forehead briefly against hers.
“Come, sweet Luna,” I said quietly. “I have much to tell you.”
Her nose wrinkled adorably.
“You sound funny.”
I blinked.
“Funny?”
“Formal,” she corrected softly, smiling slightly. “Like one of those fantasy princes in old Earth movies.”
I barked out a surprised laugh.
“Well,” I admitted, “I did just return from visiting my family.”
That caught her attention immediately.
“You went to your home?”
Something vulnerable flickered through her pale eyes at the question.
Curiosity.
Hope.
A strange, tentative softness glimmered inside them and it tightened my chest painfully.
“Yes,” I said gently as we fell back into step beside Serena and the Draugr. “I returned to Asgard for a few hours.”
Nearby, Serena practically bounced with excitement beside one of the festival games.
“I want the avocado!” she announced dramatically.
The Draugr stared at the enormous stuffed avocado prize with visible confusion.
“But why?”
“Because it’s cute.”
“It looks diseased.”
“It’s smiling!”
The massive revenant sighed the weary sigh of a male already hopelessly devoted to his mate before promptly obliterating the carnival game with terrifying efficiency.
Serena squealed when he won the giant stuffed avocado and immediately wrapped herself around him.
I watched the Draugr carefully support her weight while pretending not to enjoy the affection.
Interesting.
Very interesting behavior.
Meanwhile Amrin stared after them with open fascination.
“Well, that was fun. So, um, you really went home?” she asked again softly.
I nodded.
“I informed my family of my intention to return permanently after my studies conclude and assume my position.”
She slowed abruptly beside me.
“Your position?”
Ah.
There it was.
The moment I’d been both anticipating and dreading.
Her brows furrowed as she studied my face carefully beneath the glowing festival lights.
“I don’t understand,” she admitted. “I mean… I know you’re obviously not a Hobgoblin.”
I snorted.
“That’s comforting.”
“But then, what or who are you?” she pressed gently. “What does all of this mean?”
The Draugr’s gaze sharpened instantly.
Serena quieted too.
Both clearly sensing the shift in atmosphere.
Because yes—this conversation mattered.
A great deal actually.
I glanced around the crowded festival grounds uneasily.
Too many people.
Too much noise.
Too public.
My instincts rebelled at exposing something this important where strangers could overhear.
So I took Amrin’s hand firmly and guided her away from the central plaza toward the cliffs overlooking the sea.
The Draugr and Serena followed silently behind us.
Guarding.
Witnessing.
The blue moon hung higher now, enormous above the black waters surrounding Asgarheim.
Perfect timing.
“Guys,” Serena asked carefully behind us, clutching her ridiculous avocado beneath one arm. “What’s happening?”
I inhaled slowly.
Then looked directly at Amrin.
Gods.
She was beautiful tonight.
Moonlight caught in the blue-black curls spilling around her shoulders while the gown I’d crafted for her shimmered softly like living starlight.
And those eyes—those pale luminous eyes that could gut me faster than a knife—simply watched me with complete trust.
And that alone nearly undid me.
“Amrin,” I began carefully, “I never intended to keep you in the dark.”
Her fingers tightened around mine immediately.
“But part of the reason I came to Runevald was to gain control over my abilities.”
She nodded slowly.
“That’s pretty common here though, right?”
“Yes,” I admitted. “But my circumstances are… different.”
Concern flickered across her face instantly.
“You’re scaring me a little.”
Shit.
That was not my intention.
Immediately I stepped closer, brushing my knuckles gently against her cheek.
“No, Luna,” I murmured softly. “Please, you must never fear me.”
And gods help me—I meant that more deeply than she realized.
Because terrifying her would destroy me.
The possibility alone made something monstrous recoil violently inside my chest.
“In my realm,” I continued more quietly, “mated pairs are significantly stronger together than apart.”
“In Asgard?”
“Yes.”
The wind shifted around us, carrying sea salt and moonlight and magic through the cliffs of Runevald.
“My bloodline,” I continued carefully, “is particularly powerful. Each generation produces only one designated Menon Blau.”
“Menon Blau,” she repeated softly.
Gods.
The sound of my true name on her lips nearly dropped me to my knees.
No one at Runevald used it.
No one.
Because names carried power.
Identity.
Burden.
The second I reclaimed mine publicly, there would be no returning to anonymity afterward.
No more hiding as merely Sten.
I was Menon Blau.
Future Premier Celestial Guardian of Asgard.
The responsibility settled heavily across my shoulders.
But then Amrin looked at me again.
And somehow the burden became lighter.
“Yes,” I said quietly. “My true name is Menon Blau.”
The wind died completely around us.
Even the sea below seemed to still.
“My family descends directly from Máni,” I continued, voice lowering instinctively. “The Norse Moon God. Keeper of tides. Guardian of celestial magic. Steward of time itself.”
Her lips parted softly.
Shock widened her eyes.
And still—she did not pull away.
Encouraged, I continued.
“I am the next Premier Celestial Guardian of Asgard. But I could not inherit the full extent of my power until I found and claimed my fated mate.”
Emotion tightened painfully in my throat.
Because suddenly the truth mattered more than my pride.
More than dignity.
More than fear.
I stepped closer.
Close enough to feel her breathing.
“Found your fated mate?” Amrin parroted, eyes wide.
“Yes. And then I found you.”
Her eyes shimmered instantly with tears.
Panic hit me hard and fast.
Fuck.
No.
No crying.
Not now.
Not because of me.
“You are my mate, Amrin Cordoza,” I said quickly, desperately. “My perfect celestial match. My one and only. I would change the stars themselves for you, Luna.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
Actual tears.
Fuck fuck fuck.
What did I do wrong?
Did I overwhelm her?
Did she think this was too much?
Too strange?
Too impossible?
Every insecurity I’d buried for years surged upward instantly.
Of course she would reject this.
Why would someone like Amrin willingly bind herself forever to a celestial Monster burdened by prophecy and duty?
Panic clawed viciously through my chest.
“Luna,” I blurted, dropping immediately to one knee before her. “I know this must sound frightening and insane and overwhelming, but I swear to you I will spend the rest of my existence loving you, cherishing you, protecting you if you let me.”
The words poured out faster now.
Desperate.
Raw.
“I know moving to another realm sounds terrifying, but you would never face it alone. I would keep you safe. I would cherish you. Gods, Amrin, my love, please—”
“You love me?” she whispered shakily.
The question stopped me cold.
Not because of what she asked.
Because of how impossible she seemed to find the answer.
Like the idea itself stunned her.
Pain and hope twisted viciously through my chest.
How many people failed this woman before me?
And how lucky was I that the Fates had chosen me to show her what true love meant?
“I love you more than my own life,” I answered honestly.
Then she launched herself at me.
I caught her instantly with a startled grunt, rising smoothly to my feet while her arms wrapped fiercely around my neck.
Relief crashed through me so violently my knees weakened.
Her mouth found mine again immediately.
Warm.
Soft.
Desperate.
“I love you too, Sten. Oh, do I call you Menon now? I don’t even care, I just love you,” she whispered against my lips.
Fuck.