Chapter Thirty Mist

B y the time I stepped out of the bathroom an hour later, I felt like a new man. I’d shaved away nearly all of my beard, leaving a small amount of scuff behind. I almost shaved it clean, but Flynn insisted the little bit left behind made me look devilishly handsome. He’d also cut and quaffed my hair into a short flowy style that I’d never seen before, but I thought it looked nice. It took me a few minutes to pull myself away from the mirror after I was done. The man staring back at me was one I’d never seen before, all hard edges and surprisingly handsome. I never realized in all the years I was trapped in that dome that this man was inside me. It made me feel like I could do anything.

And that’s exactly what I was gonna do because nobody was going to take Baldr, my mate, away from me. While we were in Asgard, I’d touched my power. And since that incident with the Draugr, I’d been using it here and there without telling Baldr. It was a dangerous practice I knew, but that’s why I always waited until the middle of the night before sneaking off. I didn’t want him to feel it through the bond and stop me, not when he was marching to his death. I didn’t care what his visions foretold, I wasn’t going to let him die by Tyr’s hand. I couldn’t.

Still, even after all that practice, I felt like I barely had a grasp on how to use my magic. All I could do was find it and poke it. After that I didn’t really know what I was doing. I might end up with exactly what I wanted or another Draugr situation. However, when it came to Tyr, I didn’t really care about holding back. If my magic went wild and tore him apart, then that was fine with me. My only real problem was making sure I got to Tyr before Baldr did. But I had an idea for that.

I stepped out of the bathroom, my new look bolstering my confidence. Flynn was waiting for me in the hallway, his eyes widening as he took in my transformation.

“Damn,” he whispered. “You clean up good.”

I smirked, feeling a strange sense of pride course through me. “Thanks. Now, I need your help with something.”

Flynn raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What’s up?”

I lowered my voice, glancing around to make sure we were alone. “I need you to distract Baldr for me. Keep him occupied while I go after Tyr.”

Flynn's expression darkened. “Are you sure that's wise? Baldr's visions—”

“I don't care about his visions,” I hissed, trying to keep my voice low. “I'm not letting him walk into his death. Will you help me or not?”

For a moment, Flynn hesitated. Then he nodded. “Thor has already gone to collect the other wolves and Baldr is passed out on the couch. If you go out the back, he won’t notice you’ve left for a little while at least.” He paused, looking me up and down. “Are you sure you want to do this though? Tyr is a monster… he won’t hesitate to kill you if he gets the chance.”

“I have to,” I replied, the determination clear in my voice. “Baldr has done so much for me… and I can’t just let him die. If I can kill Tyr alone, then maybe I can spare the Hati pack from going to war.”

“You know… I tried to take on Tyr by myself to save Nana,” Flynn replied, his gaze locked on mine. “And Thor crashing in at the last moment to save me was the only reason I survived.” He reached out, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Maybe Baldr and you need to work together to make this happen.”

“In Baldr’s vision we are together. That’s why he dies.” I paused, trying to force back the tears that threatened to fall. “He dies because he’s trying to save me.”

Flynn stared for a long moment before he blew out a sigh. “I understand.”

“Thanks.”

I started for the back door when a hand came to rest on my shoulder, stopping me.

“Hang on,” Flynn said, pulling me toward his room. “I have something that might help you.”

We stepped inside the tiny room with a bed tucked into the corner. Flynn went to his closet, rummaging around for a moment before he came back with a long black piece of leather. It wasn’t until he unwrapped it that I saw the glimmer of silver and realized it was a sword, the same kind the knights used in the stories Baldr read to me.

“Take this,” he said, handing the sheathed blade over to me. “It’s a shortsword, so it’ll be easier to conceal. And it’s made of silver. Any wound you inflict to a werewolf with this blade will be immune to their healing powers.” He gave me a small grin. “That’s why Tyr is missing a hand.”

“That was you?!”

“Thor and I together.”

“Wow…” I took the blade, surprised by its weight in my hands. “I don’t know how to use this…”

“You hold it by the handle and you stab that motherfucker to death,” Flynn said nonchalantly. “If you’re close enough, you won’t need any fancy technique to hurt him. But if he sees this blade on you, you’ll never get near him, so keep it hidden.”

I took the leather strap and pulled it over one shoulder, wearing it like a bandolier with the blade tucked inside the jacket Flynn had given me. “Thank you,” I said, reaching out to shake his hand. “And thanks for not telling Baldr.”

Flynn shook my hand, giving me a grin. “You’re welcome. And I will tell Baldr. In about thirty minutes. So you better get moving.”

“What? Why?!”

“Because none of us is going to win this battle alone,” he said gently. “But if you think you can, I’ll give you a chance. From what Baldr said, you are incredibly powerful. If anyone could kill Tyr without help, it’ll be you. But if Tyr is still breathing after you try, your mate deserves the chance to fight at your side no matter what the consequences might be.”

I wanted to argue, but I knew he was right. If the roles were reversed, I’d never forgive Baldr for running off without me.

I nodded, accepting Flynn's logic. “Fair enough. I'll do my best to end this before Baldr arrives.”

With that, Flynn led me to the back door, and I slipped out into the night. The freezing cold air hit my face, and I took a deep breath, centering myself as a puff of mist expelled from my lips. I reached deep inside, feeling for that spark of power that had been growing stronger each day. It thrummed beneath my skin, eager to be unleashed. The well of chaos boiling deep within me wanted blood. Tyr’s blood. After all those years of torture and pain, I figured I was due some vengeance, even if that was the sort of thing all those stories told me I should avoid.

But those stories weren’t real life, and they didn’t know my pain.

As I made my way through the darkened woods, I kept to the shadows, my senses on high alert. I knew Tyr's pack would be on the other mountain and were marching this way. In fact, as I reached down and prodded my magic within me, I swore I could feel Tyr getting closer, his evil presence like a shadow on my mind.

I followed an old trail that led me to the outskirts of town, where abandoned warehouses loomed like silent sentinels, remnants of the town’s history I knew nothing about. Still, it seemed like the perfect place for a werewolf throwdown. And Tyr’s presence grew stronger with every step. He was close by, I could almost taste it.

I paused at the corner of one building, peering around. And there, in a dimly lit lot, I saw him. Tyr stood all alone under the light of a single yellow lamp, the only one still glowing in that forgotten place.

My heart raced as I observed Tyr from my hiding spot. He was massive, more imposing than I remembered, with muscles rippling beneath his tight black hoodie. His silver hair gleamed in the lamplight, and I could see the stump where his hand should have been. A cruel smirk played on his lips as he scanned the area, as if waiting for someone. My blood boiled as I stared at him, remembering all those years of enduring his malice as he tried to break me. But now it was my turn to dish it back to him.

I took a deep breath, steeling my nerves. This was it. I had to strike now, while he was alone and unprepared. My fingers brushed against the hilt of the silver sword concealed beneath my jacket, its cool metal giving me a small measure of comfort.

Summoning my courage, I reached deep within myself, calling forth the chaotic energy that had been building inside me. It surged through my veins, making my skin tingle and my vision sharpen. I could feel the raw power at my fingertips, begging to be set free. I felt the burning rage fill my chest as I stared at my captor. My magic surged, the air around me rippling with violet power like heat. As I stepped out from my hiding place, Tyr’s gaze turned to meet me, his grin widening.

“Mist,” he smiled. “I had a feeling I’d be running into you again soon.”

I clenched my fists, feeling the magic coursing through me. “This ends tonight, Tyr.”

He chuckled, his eyes gleaming with malice. “Oh, I couldn't agree more. I've been looking forward to finishing what I started with you. It’s about time you served your purpose.”

I took a step forward, my voice low and dangerous. “I’m not doing shit for you. Besides, you have no idea what I'm capable of now.”

“Is that so?” Tyr's grin widened, revealing sharp canines. “Show me then, little Mist. Show me this power you think you have.”

Without hesitation, I reached deep within myself and unleashed a surge of chaotic energy. Violet light exploded from my hands, crackling through the air towards Tyr like lightning. His eyes widened in surprise as he dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the blast. The energy struck a nearby dumpster, warping and melting the metal until it was nothing but a smoldering pile of ash and iron.

“Don’t underestimate me,” I growled, the power in my hands still crackling.

Tyr pushed himself back to his feet, a chuckle echoing over the snow-covered lot. “I’ve never doubted you, Mist. I knew what you were capable of the moment I paid that witch to imprison you.” He brushed the snow off his shirt with his remaining hand. “If I’d known all it took was a little trip with that Hati boy, I would’ve let you run off long ago.”

“Well, it’s too late now. I’m never going to let you use me again!”

“Oh no?” he smiled, lifting an eyebrow. “Even though I’m the only one left alive that knows who your parents are? Or that they’re alive and well and have never stopped looking for you?”

Suddenly the power surging around me faded, the air going still once more. His words seemed to wrap around my chest, making it hard to breathe. In all the years I’d been imprisoned inside that dome, I never once thought that I’d see my parents again. Hell, I couldn’t even remember them! How was I ever supposed to find someone that I wouldn’t recognize? But that didn’t mean I hadn’t dreamed about having a normal family and belonging to something bigger than just myself.

“That’s right,” Tyr continued. “I could take you back to your family. And I know how to take the memory suppression spell off you too. You could have a normal life if you just do this one thing for me.”

I shot him a dirty look. “And what do you want me to do? Kill everyone?!”

“Not at all,” he said, shaking his head. “I just need you to give up your power.”

Out of everything I ever expected him to require of me, giving up my power wasn’t even on the list. Was such a thing even possible?

“Give it up? What do you mean?”

“All you have to do is throw it away. Relinquish it to the universe,” he continued, walking slowly in my direction. “There’s a simple spell to do it. All it takes is a few easy words.” I watched as he reached into his back pocket, withdrawing the missing third of Baldr’s spellbook. “It’s just one little spell.”

“What’s in it for you?” I asked, far from believing he had nothing but good intentions. “You wouldn’t do this for no reason.”

“What’s in it for me?” he laughed. “To get you the hell out of my way.” His voice dropped into a low growl. “If I had known that little pup had been visiting you all these years, I wouldn’t have spent any time on you. The future where I use you to end the Hati pack doesn’t work if someone in their pack knows. So I’ve had to forge a new path. With your power out of the way, at least I won’t have to defeat you too.”

“I want your word that you’ll leave Baldr and I alone,” I snapped. “That you won’t hurt either of us!”

“As far as I’m concerned, you two can fuck off and never come back. My war isn’t with you. It’s with Thor.”

I stood there for a long moment, weighing my options.

My mind raced, torn between the temptation of a normal life and the power I'd only just begun to grasp. Tyr's offer was tantalizing - a chance to know my parents, to have my memories restored. But could I trust him? This was the same monster who had kept me prisoner for years.

“How do I know you're not lying?” I demanded, my voice wavering slightly. “You've never given me a reason to trust you before.”

Tyr's lips curled into a smirk. “You don't. But what other choice do you have? Stay here, fight a war that isn't yours, and likely die alongside your little mate? Or take a chance on freedom and family?”

I hesitated, my resolve weakening. The thought of seeing my parents again, of having a normal life, was almost overwhelming. But then I thought of Baldr, of everything we'd been through together. I couldn’t bear to lose him. His vision had always ended with him sacrificing himself to save me. But if I gave up my power and we escaped… then he wouldn’t have to die, right? However, if Tyr was lying, we could be in even more danger. Who was I kidding though? I couldn’t control my power, anyway. What little spells I’d been able to pull off were hardly more than a lucky fluke. The entire world, including Baldr, would be safer if I was stripped of my heritage and left powerless.

In the end, there was only one choice to make.

“A-Alright,” I said at last. “I’ll relinquish my power.”

His cruel grin widened as he stepped forward, holding out the book. “A wise decision.”

“No it’s not!” a voice cried, slicing through the silence of the gently falling snow.

Both Tyr and I turned, seeing two figures step into the edge of the light. I recognized them immediately as Baldr’s brother Loki and his mate that I couldn’t remember the name of. He said they were double crossing Tyr from the inside. And as they stepped forward, the snarl on Tyr’s lips told me he’d suspected their treachery all along.

“I knew it,” he hissed. “I knew you weren’t faithful to this pack!”

“I’ll happily help your pack,” Loki shot back, his long dark hair peppered with snow. “But I’m not going to help you kill this man or steal his power.”

Tyr scoffed. “You don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“Yes he does,” Loki’s mate added. “He grew up with a half witch, remember?”

“You shut your mouth you filthy traitor!”

“I’m not a traitor! I’m your son! And I’m trying to save you!”

“You’re no fucking son of mine.”

The man at Loki’s side deflated instantly, but Loki did not.

“Removing a witch from his power will either kill him or drive him mad until he wishes he was dead,” he said. “And that power has to go somewhere. It must be claimed or it will destroy everything in its path until it unravels.”

I turned to Tyr, taking a few steps back. “Is… Is that true?”

He pulled the spellbook back, his grin twisting into a cruel expression. “It was worth a try at least.”

“Y-You… You lied to me!” I cried. “Again! You’re a monster!”

“And you,” he shot back. “Are stupid and weak.” He pulled the spellbook up in front of his face, flipping to a dog-eared page. “And now you’re worthless to me.” He glanced over at Loki and his mate that had stepped closer to me. “Time for you all to go to an early grave.”

Power coalesced in the air around him, turning red as he began to chant. I felt a hand on my shoulder pull me back, disrupting my desperate reach for my own magic. However, as Tyr’s eyes glowed bright red and his body began to shift into his Alpha form, I knew it was too late. Whatever he was about to do, there was no way I’d be able to counter it in time.

I closed my eyes and waited for impact.