17. Lone Island: Alex

CHAPTER 17

LONE ISLAND

ALEX

H e'd really fucked up this time. Royally. The look on Eryx's face when he'd stormed out was burned into Alex's mind, a searing reminder of his monumental screw-up.

"Fuck," he muttered, running a hand through his hair for what felt like the millionth time.

Alex's hand went to his pocket, fingers closing around the sleek form of his SHD. He hesitated for a moment, then pulled it out. If there was one person who might be able to help him sort through this clusterfuck, it was Lily.

His ex-wife. The thought still felt strange, even after all this time. But if anyone could knock some sense into him, it was her.

With a deep breath, Alex activated the video call function. The device hummed to life, projecting a shimmering holographic screen into the air before him. It rang once, twice, and then?—

"Alex?" Lily's face appeared, her brow already furrowed with concern. "What's wrong?"

Despite everything, Alex felt a small smile tug at his lips. "Why do you always assume something's wrong when I call?"

Lily's eyebrow arched in that familiar, no-bullshit way that used to drive him crazy. And, if he was being honest, still kind of did). "Because you only call me these days when something's wrong. So spill it, death boy. What's the crisis this time?"

Alex winced, both at the nickname and the truth of her words. "Okay, fair point. I should... I should call more often. When things aren't going to shit, I mean. I'm sorry, Lil. You've been a huge part of my life, and I need to do better at staying in touch."

Lily's expression softened, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Apology accepted. Now, tell me about Asgard. How bad is it?"

Alex's face darkened, his jaw clenching as he recalled the devastation they'd encountered. "It's bad, Lil. Really fucking bad. Picture Olympus at its peak, then imagine someone ran it through a cosmic woodchipper. That's Asgard right now."

He described the ruined buildings, the eerie silence broken only by the occasional wail of something not quite natural. As he spoke, he could see Lily's expression growing more and more grim.

"And the Order?" she asked, her voice tight. "Are they involved like we suspected?"

Alex nodded, his fist clenching at his side. "Oh, they're involved alright. Thor didn't come right out and say it, but it's pretty clear Loki's got some new playmates. And given what we know about the Order's obsession with freeing Kronos."

"Shit," Lily breathed.

"Tell me about it," Alex muttered. "And now we're about to waltz into Fenrir's den, hoping he'll be in a chatty mood rather than a 'let's eat the annoying demigods' mood."

Lily's eyebrows shot up, her holographic image flickering slightly with the movement. "Fenrir? The wolf? Alex, what the hell are you thinking?"

Alex ran a hand through his hair, grimacing as his fingers caught on a tangle. When was the last time he'd actually combed the damn mess? "Trust me, it wasn't my idea. Apparently, the mutt's blood might help us track down Loki. Something about shared essence or some mystical bullshit. "

He watched as Lily's expression shifted from shock to concern, her brow furrowing in that way that always made him feel like he was being X-rayed. "Alex," she said, her voice taking on that tone she used when she thought he was being particularly dense, "you look like shit. And I don't just mean the hair. What's really going on?"

For a moment, Alex considered brushing it off. Deflecting with a snarky comment or changing the subject. It was his go-to move, after all. Keep everyone at arm's length, don't let them see the cracks in the armor. But this was Lily. If there was anyone he could be honest with, it was her.

"I fucked up, Lil," he said, the words coming out in a rush. "Big time. The Fates... they warned me about all this. About Odin going missing, about the shitstorm that's happening here in Asgard. And I didn't tell anyone. Not even Eryx."

He watched as understanding dawned on Lily's face, quickly followed by a flash of anger. "Alex, you idiot," she hissed, and he could practically feel her frustration radiating through the holographic display. "What were you thinking?"

"I wasn't," Alex admitted, slumping onto the edge of the bed. "Or maybe I was thinking too much. I don't know. I thought... I thought I was protecting them, you know? The Fates aren't exactly known for their clear and helpful warnings. I didn't want to worry everyone over what might turn out to be nothing."

"And instead, it turned out to be everything," Lily finished for him, her voice softening slightly.

Alex nodded, feeling the weight of his mistakes pressing down on him like a physical thing. "Yeah. And now Eryx is pissed—rightfully so—and I don't know how to fix it."

Lily was quiet for a long moment, her eyes studying him with an intensity that made him want to squirm. Finally, she spoke, her voice a mixture of exasperation and fondness. "You know, for someone who's been around for millennia, you can be incredibly dense sometimes. "

"Thanks," Alex muttered, but there was no real heat in it. "Your pep talks are as inspiring as ever."

Lily ignored his sarcasm, pressing on. "This has always been your problem, Alex. You get so caught up in trying to protect everyone that you forget they're not just pawns in your cosmic chess game. They're people. With their own thoughts, feelings, and the right to make their own decisions."

Alex opened his mouth to argue, then closed it again. She wasn't wrong. It was a habit he'd developed over centuries of ruling the Underworld, making decisions that affected countless souls. But this wasn't the Underworld, and Eryx and the others weren't his subjects. They were his family.

"You're right," he admitted, the words tasting bitter but necessary. "I screwed up. But Lil, I don't know how to fix this. Eryx, he looked at me like I'd betrayed him. And maybe I did."

Lily's expression softened, her holographic hand reaching out as if to touch him before remembering the impossibility of it. "Oh, Alex. It's time to get your head out of your ass and start treating Eryx like the partner he is, not some fragile thing you need to protect."

Alex snorted, a wry smile tugging at his lips despite everything. "Always with the colorful imagery, Lil."

"Someone has to keep you grounded," she shot back, a hint of her old fire in her eyes. "Now listen up, because I'm only going to say this once. Give him space. Let him process everything. Eryx is smart, and he cares about you. He'll come around. But when he does, you need to be ready to talk. Really talk. No deflecting, no self-deprecating jokes, no trying to shoulder everything yourself. Got it?"

Alex nodded, feeling a strange mix of gratitude and apprehension. "Got it. I just hope you're right."

"I usually am," Lily said, her trademark confidence creeping back into her voice. "Now go get some rest. You look like you're about to fall over, and I'm pretty sure even former gods need sleep before taking on murderous mythological wolves. "

Alex managed a small smile. "Yes, ma'am. And Lil? Thanks. For you know. Everything."

"Anytime, death boy," Lily said, her smile warm even through the holographic display. "Just don't make me come up there and knock some sense into you myself. I may not be a goddess anymore, but I can still kick your ass when necessary."

With that, the call ended, leaving Alex alone in the opulent Asgardian bedroom. He stared at the spot where Lily's image had been, feeling... not better, exactly, but steadier. Lily had always had that effect on him, even back when they were together. She had a way of cutting through his bullshit and getting to the heart of things.

With a groan, Alex flopped back onto the bed, his body sinking into the impossibly soft mattress. He hadn't realized just how exhausted he was until that moment. The events of the day—hell, the past few weeks—crashed over him like a tidal wave, and he felt his eyelids growing heavy.

Just a few minutes, he told himself. He'd rest for just a few minutes, then go find Eryx and try to make things right.

The next thing Alex knew, he was blinking awake, disoriented and confused. The room was darker now, the only light coming from a softly glowing orb in the corner that pulsed with a gentle, otherworldly rhythm. How long had he been out?

As his senses slowly came back online, Alex became aware of a weight on his chest. A familiar warmth that sent his heart racing even as his mind struggled to process what it meant.

Slowly, carefully, he tilted his head down, hardly daring to breathe. And there, curled against him, was Eryx. His partner's head rested on Alex's chest, one arm thrown across his waist in a gesture so casually intimate it made Alex's throat tight.

For a long moment, Alex just stared, drinking in the sight of Eryx's sleeping face. The furrow between his brows that never quite smoothed out, even in sleep. The way his lips parted slightly, soft breaths tickling Alex's skin. He looked younger like this, unburdened by the weight of divine essence and cosmic responsibilities.

Alex's first instinct was to wrap his arms around Eryx, to pull him closer and never let go. But Lily's words echoed in his mind. Space. He needed to give Eryx space. Even if every fiber of his being rebelled against the idea.

So instead, he lay there, barely breathing, savoring the warmth of Eryx's body against his own. He didn't deserve this, he knew. Didn't deserve the easy forgiveness that Eryx's presence implied. But gods, he wanted it. Wanted it more than he'd wanted anything in centuries.

As the minutes ticked by, Alex felt a small, traitorous spark of hope ignite in his chest. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance that Eryx had forgiven him. That they could move past this, come out stronger on the other side.

But even as the thought formed, Alex squashed it down. He knew better than to assume anything when it came to matters of the heart. Eryx's presence here didn't necessarily mean forgiveness. For all Alex knew, his partner had simply been too exhausted to find another place to sleep. Or maybe he'd come to talk and Alex had been too dead to the world to notice.

No, Alex couldn't afford to get his hopes up. Not yet. There was still so much to say, so much to make right. But for now, in this quiet moment between heartbeats, he allowed himself to simply be. To exist in a world where Eryx was in his arms and the weight of cosmic responsibility didn't press quite so heavily on his shoulders.

The first rays of Asgardian dawn were just beginning to peek through the ornate windows when a sharp knock jolted Alex from his fitful sleep. For a moment, he was disoriented, the unfamiliar weight on his chest confusing him until the events of the previous night came rushing back. Eryx. Right .

Before he could fully process the situation, Zac's voice filtered through the door, entirely too chipper for the ungodly hour. "Rise and shine, lovebirds! We've got a date with a murderous wolf, remember?"

Alex felt Eryx stir against him, his partner's body tensing as he too remembered where they were and why. For a heartbeat, neither of them moved, caught in a moment of awkward uncertainty. Then Eryx was pulling away, mumbling something about a shower as he slipped out of bed.

"We'll be out in a minute, kid," Alex called back, his voice rough with sleep and emotions he wasn't ready to name. He listened to Eryx's footsteps retreating to the bathroom, the soft click of the door closing feeling somehow final.

Fuck. So much for the hope that everything would magically be better in the morning.

Alex lay there for a moment longer, staring at the ceiling and contemplating the cosmic unfairness of it all. The only thing he could think about was whether or not he should join his boyfriend in the shower.

Boyfriend. Partner. Mate. None of the words seemed quite right to describe what Eryx was to him. What they were to each other. And now, thanks to his own stupidity, he wasn't sure where they stood at all.

With a groan, Alex hauled himself out of bed. The sound of running water from the bathroom was tempting, calling to him like a siren song. But no. He couldn't assume everything was okay just because Eryx had slept next to him. They still had a lot to talk about, and now wasn't the time. Not with Zac waiting and a whole realm depending on them to get their shit together.

By the time Eryx emerged from the bathroom, a cloud of steam following him like some kind of divine special effect, Alex had managed to make himself somewhat presentable.

They didn't speak as they finished getting ready, the silence between them heavy with unspoken words. Alex wanted to say something, anything, to break the tension. But every time he opened his mouth, the words died on his tongue. What could he say that wouldn't sound like an excuse or a plea for forgiveness he wasn't sure he deserved?

Finally, mercifully, there was another knock at the door. A guard this time, come to escort them to breakfast. Alex had never been so grateful for Asgardian punctuality in his life.

The walk to the dining hall was a blur of gilded corridors and whispered conversations that cut off as they passed. News traveled fast in Asgard, it seemed.

As they entered the dining hall, Alex's eyes immediately sought out Zac. Some deeply ingrained protective instinct, honed over months of watching over the kid, needed to make sure he was safe. What he saw made him stop short, nearly causing Eryx to bump into him.

There was Zac, all gangly limbs and barely contained excitement, practically bouncing on his toes as he stroked the nose of an honest-to-gods Pegasus. The winged horse stood placidly in the middle of the hall, seemingly unbothered by the fact that it was indoors or that a teenage demigod was cooing over it like it was an overgrown puppy.

"Can I get one?" Zac asked as soon as he spotted them. "Please? I promise I'll take care of it and everything!"

Before Alex could formulate a response that wouldn't crush the kid's dreams while also explaining the impracticality of keeping a flying horse in their New York apartment, Eryx stepped in.

"You can't even drive yet," he pointed out, his tone gentle but firm. "Let's maybe start with a regular car before we graduate to flying horses, yeah?"

Zac's face fell into an exaggerated pout that would have done any sulking teenager proud. "But it's a Pegasus," he whined, as if that explained everything. And maybe, in the kid's world, it did.

Alex couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him, the tension of the morning momentarily forgotten in the face of Zac's enthusiasm. "Tell you what, kid. If we make it through this without getting eaten by Fenrir or obliterated by whatever cosmic nonsense Loki's cooking up, we'll talk about riding lessons. Deal?"

Zac's face lit up like Times Square at Christmas. "Deal!" he exclaimed, giving the Pegasus one last pat before bounding over to join them.

As they made their way to the table, Alex caught Eryx's eye. For a moment, just a fleeting second, there was a spark of the old warmth there. A shared amusement at Zac's antics, a silent acknowledgment of the strange family they'd built. Then it was gone, replaced by the careful neutrality that had been there since last night.

Alex sighed internally. One step forward, two steps back. Story of his immortal life.

The breakfast spread was impressive, even by divine standards. Platters of golden fruits that seemed to glow from within, meats seasoned with herbs Alex was pretty sure didn't exist on Earth, and something that looked suspiciously like the ambrosia of his youth. His stomach growled, reminding him that cosmic drama or not, his body still needed fuel.

As they settled in to eat, Alex turned to Thor, who was already halfway through what looked like an entire roast boar. "So," he said, trying to keep his tone casual, "where exactly are we headed to find our furry friend?"

Thor swallowed his mouthful of meat, washing it down with a gulp of mead that would have floored a mortal man. "Fenrir is chained on an island in the center of Asmavartnir," he said, his voice carrying across the table with ease. "It's a treacherous journey, even in the best of times. And these," he added, his expression darkening, "are far from the best of times."

Alex nodded, processing this information. An island. Great. Because nothing said "fun family outing" like a trip to a monster-infested body of water to chat with a wolf who probably wanted to eat them all.

"How are we getting there?" Eryx asked, always the practical one. "I'm assuming we can't just hop in a longboat and row over."

Thor's laugh was like distant thunder. "No, my friend. The waters of Asmavartnir are not kind to surface vessels. We will fly."

Alex felt his stomach drop. Flying had never been his favorite mode of transportation, not since that incident with Zeus and the lightning bolt back in... well, it had been a while ago. But needs must, he supposed.

"Fly?" Zac perked up, his eyes darting to the Pegasus that was still hanging around the edges of the room. "You mean...?"

Brynhildr, who had been silently observing their conversation, stepped forward. "The Valkyries will provide mounts," she said, her voice carrying a hint of pride. "Our steeds are the swiftest and surest in all the realms."

Zac looked like he might explode from sheer joy. "So we get to ride the Pegasi? For real?"

Brynhildr's stern expression softened slightly in the face of Zac's enthusiasm. "If you feel up to the challenge, young one, then yes. You may ride with us."

Alex opened his mouth to protest—flying magical horses into certain danger was not exactly what he'd had in mind for Zac's continued safety—but Eryx caught his eye, giving a small shake of his head. Right. Let the kid have this. They could argue about safety protocols later, when they weren't about to embark on a potentially world-ending quest.

As the others continued to discuss the logistics of their impending flight, Alex found his mind wandering. He thought about Lily, about their conversation last night. About the weight of secrets and the cost of keeping them. His eyes drifted to Eryx, who was listening intently as Thor described the layout of Fenrir's prison.

They needed to talk. Really talk. But when? How? With everything that was happening, with the fate of multiple realms hanging in the balance, how could he justify taking time for something as seemingly trivial as relationship drama?

But it wasn't trivial, was it? This thing between him and Eryx, it was the foundation everything else was built on. If that crumbled...

Alex shook his head, forcing himself to focus on the conversation at hand. There would be time later. There had to be. Because the alternative—a world where he and Eryx couldn't find their way back to each other—was unthinkable.

The shore of Asmavartnir loomed before them, a jagged line of dark rocks against an even darker sky. Alex had seen some pretty bleak landscapes in his time, but this place? This place took the cake, frosted it with despair, and served it up with a side of existential dread.

"Well," he muttered, eyeing the roiling waters that stretched out towards a barely visible island in the distance, "this looks downright charming. Remind me to book my next vacation here."

Beside him, Zac shifted nervously on his Pegasus, the winged horse snorting and pawing at the ground as if it sensed the wrongness of this place. The kid had been ecstatic about the ride here, but now, faced with the reality of their destination, some of that enthusiasm had dimmed.

"You okay there, squirt?" Alex asked, unable to keep the concern from his voice.

Zac nodded, his jaw set in determination. "Yeah. Though this place feels wrong."

Alex couldn't argue with that. The wrongness of Asmavartnir seemed to seep into his very bones, making him itch for a fight or a quick escape. Neither of which were options right now.

Thor, either missing or choosing to ignore the tension, nodded gravely. "Asmavartnir is not a place for the faint of heart," he rumbled, his voice carrying even over the howling wind. "The waters are treacherous, filled with creatures that would make even the bravest warrior quake in their boots."

"Fantastic," Alex grumbled. "Because this little excursion wasn't exciting enough already."

He felt Eryx shift beside him, a barely perceptible movement that nonetheless sent a jolt of awareness through Alex's body. They had a job to do, a wolf to interrogate, a universe to save. Personal drama would have to wait.

Thor turned to them, his expression serious enough to make even Alex straighten up and pay attention. "We cannot fly directly to the island," he explained. "The magical barriers surrounding it would tear even the mightiest Pegasus from the sky."

Zac's eyes widened at that, his hand instinctively going to his mount's neck in a protective gesture. "So what do we do?" he asked, voicing the question on everyone's mind.

Thor's answering grin was all teeth and barely contained excitement. It was an expression Alex had seen before, usually right before things went spectacularly, explosively wrong. "We ride the lightning," Thor announced, as casually as if he'd suggested taking an cab.

Alex blinked. Surely he'd heard that wrong. "I'm sorry, we what now?"

But Thor was already raising Mjolnir, the legendary hammer crackling with energy that made the hair on Alex's arms stand on end. "Hold tight," the thunder god instructed, "and whatever you do, do not look down."

Before Alex could voice any of the numerous objections racing through his mind—chief among them being "are you out of your fucking mind?"—Thor had grabbed both him and Eryx by the back of their necks. Zac, still atop his Pegasus, was enveloped in a cocoon of crackling energy.

There was a moment of stillness, a beat of anticipation where Alex's stomach dropped in preemptive terror. And then the world exploded into light and sound.

The journey was indescribable. Alex felt his body dissolve, molecules scattered on the wind, consciousness stretched to its absolute limit. For a terrifying, exhilarating moment, he was everywhere and nowhere, part of the storm and the sky and the very fabric of reality itself.

And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, it was over.

Alex's feet hit solid ground with enough force to drive him to his knees. He stayed there for a moment, gasping, trying to remember how to exist as a singular entity again. Beside him, he could hear Eryx retching, apparently finding the whole experience less than pleasant. Zac tumbled from his Pegasus, looking dazed but exhilarated.

"That was invigorating, was it not?" Thor's voice boomed, sounding entirely too cheerful for someone who'd just turned them into living lightning.

"That was awesome!" Zac exclaimed, his earlier nervousness apparently forgotten in the rush of their arrival. "Can we do it again?"

"Absolutely not," Alex growled, slowly pushing himself to his feet. "And if anyone suggests otherwise, I'm throwing them into whatever passes for a volcano on this godsforsaken rock."

But as he straightened up, taking in their surroundings, the rest of his tirade died on his lips. The island was not what he'd expected. Oh, it was foreboding alright, with gnarled trees that looked like they'd grown out of nightmares and a perpetual mist that clung to everything like a shroud. But there was something else too, an undercurrent of... peace? No, that wasn't quite right. Resignation, maybe. The calm of a place that had accepted its fate, however grim that fate might be.

"Be on your guard," Thor warned, his jovial demeanor fading into something more befitting their surroundings. "The fog here is not natural. It preys on the weak-willed, drawing them in and consuming them. "

Alex felt a chill run down his spine at those words, his protective instincts kicking into overdrive. His eyes sought out Zac, making sure the kid was still with them, still okay. Zac met his gaze, offering a small, determined nod. The message was clear: I can handle this.

"Stay close," Alex said, the words coming out harsher than he'd intended.

The going was slow, each step a battle against not just the treacherous terrain but their own minds. The mist seemed to whisper, promising rest, peace, an end to all their troubles if they'd just stop fighting and let go. More than once, Alex found himself veering off course, drawn by phantom voices or illusory shapes in the fog. Each time, it was Eryx's steady presence at his side or Zac's quiet determination behind him that pulled him back, anchoring him to reality.

They walked for what felt like hours, though time seemed to have little meaning in this place. The fog grew thicker, pressing in on them from all sides until Alex could barely see his own hand in front of his face. He'd lost sight of Thor some time ago, though he could still hear the thunder god's labored breathing somewhere off to his left.

And then, just when Alex was starting to think they'd be wandering this gods-forsaken hellscape for eternity, he felt it. A presence, vast and ancient and terrifyingly powerful. It hit him like a physical force, nearly driving him to his knees for the second time that day.

"Alex?" Eryx's voice came from somewhere to his right, tight with concern and a hint of fear. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"I feel it too," Zac whispered, his voice small but steady. "It's big. Really big."

Alex swallowed hard, trying to find his voice. "Can't you feel it?" he managed, the words coming out strangled and weak.

He felt more than saw Eryx shake his head. "I don't feel anything. Just the fog and this damn cold."

Right. Of course. Alex sometimes forgot that for all his power, for all the divine essence he carried, Eryx was still fundamentally human. He didn't have the same innate sense for godly power that Alex did.

"It's close," Alex said, forcing steel into his voice. "Whatever we came here to find—Fenrir, I'm guessing—it's nearby. And it knows we're here."

As if in response to his words, a low growl rumbled through the air. It was a sound that bypassed the ears entirely, vibrating in Alex's bones and setting every instinct he had screaming for him to run, to hide, to get as far away from this place as possible.

But they couldn't run. Not now. Not when they'd come so far, risked so much. Whatever Fenrir was, whatever power it held, they needed it. The fate of the universe—of all universes—depended on it.

He squared his shoulders, took Eryx's hand in his own, and reached back to make sure Zac was still with them.

And with that, they stepped forward into the thickest part of the fog.

For a moment, there was nothing. Just more mist, more cold, more of the same oppressive silence that had surrounded them since they'd arrived on this nightmare island.

And then, suddenly, there was something else. A pair of eyes, glowing red in the darkness, fixed on them with an intelligence and malevolence that made Alex's blood run cold.

Fenrir. The wolf of legend, spawn of Loki, destiny's harbinger of Ragnarok. And they were standing right in front of it.

"Well," Alex said, his voice sounding strangely calm even to his own ears, "I guess we found what we were looking for. Let's hope it's in a chatty mood, huh?"