CHAPTER 2

The reaction was immediate, and no matter what I told myself I lost control of it even before it started. My heart dropped, it felt like I was pulled back into an alternate reality where I watched the Fay march through the pack village. Sound and shapes faded out around me as I felt an unbearable need to cry. My chest started aching, my heart raging against my rib cage, and a lump threatened to suffocate me as I struggled to swallow. It was a real time fight or fight reaction, but they conflicted one another crashing together inside of me as my body began to run. All I could think of was my kids.

Forgot all about Eir, there was no room for anything else as my feet carried me in a rush between small cottages and houses. Are they okay? Still with Arcane? They are fine! Of course, they are! But still, all I saw was their small little faces, crying and calling out for me in desperation. Calling for their mom, and I wasn't there! Irrational, it is irrational! The chant repeated in the depths of my mind but made no difference to the horrible and terrifying images that roamed my imagination. Always the worse of the worse, where are they?

Like a headless chicken I kept running, my mind held captive by my own cruel nightmare. My feet ran faster, my heartbeat increased as my breathing started to burn in my throat. Never have I ever felt such a painful fear in my life. Tearing at my heart, pulling at everything inside of me. Desperation, need to protect, and feeling like I failed. The lump in my throat grew as I struggled to keep the tears back, struggling to keep calm enough to remember where I was going and blocking everything out. I lost control, I could feel the little I had slip in between my fingers, and the images, my fears grew rapidly. Blood, baby cries, pain, and an unbearable pressure inside my chest and head. They are helpless, so small, so alone!

The sun rays reflected on Fay's traditional war armor as I rounded the corner and finally spotted my house. Our home! A heavy, overwhelming taste of sickening sweet metal filled my mouth as the thud of my raging pulse covered my hearing and entire being. My hand reached out of the blurry state around me like it belonged to someone else and yanked the door open. Newly polished silver armor, swords, and those dangerous little glass veils hanging from the Fay king's belt flashed through my mind as I stared into the quiet and dark room.

"BO!? ASTRID?"

Franticly I called the twins names, but nobody answered. Desperate, with my body trembling with adrenaline and pain I rushed through our little home. Pulled open doors, and closets and even slid down on the floor to check beneath the beds. Empty. The house is empty. Think! Maya freaking think! My hands kept slamming against the side of my head, like a stupid attempt to make me think. Force me to use the few brain cells active at the moment. Where are they supposed to be right now? Where is Arcane supposed to be?

"Ceremony! They are at the ceremony!"

I yelled so loud I actually flinched and quickly looked around like it wasn't my voice that bounced off the bare walls. But of course, they are supposed to be on the field. Right next to the young girls tasked to look for the children while the ceremony starts. The same place where the Fay army is headed. Finally, like a breath of fresh air, the Valkyrie boosted alive beneath my skin. A cold and calm sensation washed over me. My heart skipped a beat and found its normal paste as I turned towards the door and jogged outside. The ancient warrior spirit devoured all panic and fear, and burned all doubt and fear. All that was left behind was determination and a mind so cold and collected that it even scared me at times.

It is not her; it is me. It is us, and it has always been. Lost and forgotten, but still connected as one. The sensation sparked to life in my muscles as we closed into the open, bustling field. People talking, gasping, murmuring. Kids running around, small fire pits, and the shining armor of the damned fay's. Despite the power and sparkling light fusing me, I gasped for air and a painful whine of relief pushed up my throat as my eyes landed on Bo and Astrid. The immense feeling of relief washed away in the blink of an eye as I watched my two small ones shyly rock back and forth while exchanging stares as a man kneeled down In front of them. A massive man dressed head to toe in the shining, distinct war armor of the Fay people.

The final stage ignited, and I could feel my eyes flare up in the mighty light as the Valkyrie claimed an absolute presence in my body. In any other situation, I would have laughed as the man fell back on his as and scrambled to get to his feet when I rushed in between him and the twins. The light flickered and wrapped around the kids as they both grabbed around my thighs hugging close and hiding behind me. Surplice and utter shock in the man's face quickly turned to pitch-black anger when he finally managed to get to his feet. His eyes called for shadows, and they willingly crept over his face darkening his eyes. Casting threatening shadows down his chin.

A pulsation in my chest pushed the light forward as a deep snarl vibrated over my lips. The man blinked rapidly, once, twice even three times and his regular green eyes were back. He stared at me in utter disbelief, before a strange glint sparkled, and a smile spread across his face. Despite the change of demeanor, he kept taking several steps back. Creating space between us I felt like a raging bear, not able to take my eyes off him. Hyperfocus at his every move, expecting the unexpected, waiting for a muscle to twitch or tighten. Any signs of an attack, any signs for him to move forward at all were scanned without a single thought or use of energy. Simply a natural reaction as I heaved for air and became a shield between this stranger and my little cubs.

"I...I can't believe it! A Valkyrie?! And...with kids??"

The man stated the obvious, but when his smiling eyes landed on my kids, he looked around me like I wasn't even there. Almost white, shining armor grew up on both my legs when I stomped my foot on the ground to the side to block his view. Small fingers grabbed hard around my legs, small fingers dug into my skin and the protecting light tightened around us like a blinking and flaring light bowl.

"Vain creature of the doomed, leave!!"