Chapter Two

Racing towards my teams trap I didn’t notice when he appeared Infront of me, skidding to a stop I dropped down and narrowly avoided his clutches, I rolled to the side jumped up and got close enough to my team to know that he was surrounded.

Our target Prince Dagon was a ruthless killer and thousands of years old, not that he showed it. I braced myself for his attack, but he paused and looked at me, confused.

“Why do you run from me? You are my Bride.”

"Like I would be with vermin like you," I hissed, crouching low to the ground, getting ready to attack. I pulled my Sais from my thigh holsters.

My blades sharpened to perfection, having been used to kill hundreds of vampires in my five hundred years with the order, were thirsty for another kill.

“Those pointy things won’t stop me.” He laughed as he lunged for me, I pivoted and dodged his attack, slicing his arm. “Would you stop and just talk to me?” he asked, annoyed as his wounds quickly healed.

“Unless you are going to give me the information, I seek you can forget it.” Why weren’t my team members helping me? I chanced a glance at Thana, her black hair braided in haphazard around her head, her green eyes focused on me and Prince Dagon. Her small curvy frame, which was poised for attack mere seconds ago, was now sitting on the top branch, her leg swinging back and forth as she effortlessly balanced. Using her dagger to cut pieces off an apple, she popped a piece into her mouth as she smiled at me and waved.

“Bitch.” I mouthed to her.

“Look out.” She mouthed soundlessly as Prince Dagon kicked my feet out from under me and knocked me onto my back.

Prince Dagon loomed over me, “You are my bride, and you will not run from me.” 

I rolled my eyes, "Quit being so dramatic, go find one that actually wants you." I spat as my knee came up and connected with his crotch, when he winced in pain, I slipped from under him and hopped up.

“Are you going to help or not?” I yelled at Thana.

“I liked the show.” She smiled as she gracefully floated down from the tree, coming to stand beside me.

“You knew he was behind me. You could’ve helped.”

She shrugged, “our missions have been so boring lately, figured I’d enjoy a show first.” She replied as Prince Dagon turned to us; anger written on every feature as he glared at us.

“I do not want to fight you!” he spat at me.

“Not much you can do about it, seeing as you won’t cooperate.” Thana retorted.

“Cooperate with what? I didn’t steal anything.”

“Our employer says you have, so return it so we can kill you.” Thana hissed.

Three of my team hopped down from the trees, blocking him from escaping.

Prince Dagon laughed, “You really mean to take me captive?”

“If you don’t cooperate, we will have to.” I spat, disgusted by him; how dare he call me his bride!

“What is it I am accused of stealing exactly?” he queried as he looked around him, trying to find an escape. “You don’t know, do you?” he accused.

“The order told us to get what you stole or bring you in. That is all we need to know.” I replied, although the lack of information was infuriating. How are we supposed to retrieve something if we don’t know what it is?

“Well, I didn’t steal anything. So, I guess you will have to bring me in, won’t you, bride?” He smirked at me.

My sisters gasped at the insult, “Fine, have it your way. The werewolves will have a blast with you, or the Berserkers when they arrive.” I laughed as he let one of my team restrain him with a set of Odin’s blessed cuffs.

“You know, maybe I can finally find out why Odin and Freyja hate us so much while I’m there.” He thought aloud, sounding completely smug, which irritated me.

“Or maybe you will be tortured, and we can finish our mission.” Sáta, one of my team, snapped, kicking him in the back to get him to move forward.

“I may be restrained now, but I would watch it if I were you, when I get out of these cuffs, I may be vengeful.”

“You assume you will be freed.” I snorted with a laugh. “Your fate is certain.”

“Fate is an ever-changing thing, small one.”

Thana snorted, “Like she hasn’t heard that before.”

“Shut it Thana, let’s get back to camp.”

“Why are you missing General Abtez already?” Thana laughed.

“Would you shut it? You know the rules.” I muttered to her. “Besides, he is not even here.” I pointed out.

“Yes, but as soon as the mission is done, you will be able to go see him.” Sáta pointed out with a grin.

“What rules?” Prince Dagon asked. “Who is this General?” He added angrily.

“Valkyries are maidens and expected to remain so.” Sáta replied. “Although General Nerine has a thing for General Abtez.”

“No, I don’t” I snapped.

“I always loved a challenge.” Prince Dagon laughed as he looked at me, like I was his next meal. “I will have to kill this General of course.”

I shuddered, a challenge he would lose. "Let’s get back to camp.”

I radioed our driver and our van pulled up nearby. Without a fight, Prince Dagon walked with us and jumped into the back when another of our team opened the door.

Wanting to avoid the vampire, I sat in the front with the driver. Bryia, another of our team was driving.

“Any luck getting the information?” She inquired as she put the van in drive and sped off toward the werewolf compound, where we had made camp.

“No, otherwise we would have whatever it is they want back, and he would be dead.” I muttered. “Any luck getting the order to dish on what it is he stole?”

“No, they are tight-lipped, which is odd. Usually, they would give us all the information, not half of it.” She shrugged, “what can you do? Orders are orders. I just want to finish the mission so we can go back to headquarters. I miss Norway.”

“Me too.” I frowned, knowing the reason we were sent here was because I had angered the higher ups. It was forbidden for the Valkyries to be in relationships without Odin’s blessing, and I had broken that with General Abtez. Especially after my history, before I was with the order, I was lucky to even have my immortality still.

My sisters acted like it wasn’t a big deal, but I knew Odin was furious with me, Freyja was a little more understanding. 

Valkyries would lose their immortality if they lost their virginity without consent from Odin and, although I was still immortal, my impure thoughts about General Abtez were enough to cause problems in the order and give them a reason to punish me.

General Abtez was lucky because as one of the Berserker generals, he was popular with women, and he didn't risk losing his immortality if he had sex with someone.

Berserkers were sexual beings and loved the challenge of convincing a virgin to bed them. They were the strongest warriors in Odin's army; they wore the furs of wolves and bears and when they went berserk, their muscles would grow and they would become bigger and ten times stronger, with claws shooting from their fingers and fangs protruding from their mouths, taking on animalistic qualities. Their eyes would glow an ice blue, which gave them the ability to see in the dark. Some of the stronger Berserkers could even shape-shift into a Bear. That ability was more common among the Generals.

"The Berserker team should arrive tomorrow to interrogate the target." Bryia informed me, interrupting my thoughts.

"Good, then maybe we can go home." I stated, "whose team are they sending?"

"General Abtez's."