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Chapter Thirty-One
Astrid
Erik’s been gone for a week. A week during which Lilli and I have been cooped up inside his house. A week since he left in the middle of the night without saying a word.
It’s clear to me now that whatever happened between me and Erik wasn’t meant to be. Just a flash fire, a physical attraction and nothing more. Hot and fast and furious, burning out almost as quick as it started.
I’d always figured he wasn’t the settling down type, so why does it sting so badly? Why do I feel like there’s an empty space in my core?
I miss everything about him. Not just his physical presence, but his magic, and his dragon. Since our joining spell broke, the loss of that bond feels like a missing limb, even though I’d only had it for a short period of time. It seemed we’d become a part of each other. I hadn’t realized how attached to him I’d become until he was gone.
But he’d been so strange and distant when we last spoke, and then he’d left while I was sleeping. I mean, he runs a business where he travels around the world, protecting people and having adventures and being a badass dragon shifter. Of course he doesn’t want to settle down with me and my seven-year-old. I’d been stupid as hell to even consider that a possibility.
The shifters he has guarding us had said he’d gone after the Night Guild. I’ve been dying to know what’s happening, but he hasn’t called once. It’s a good thing his house is huge, practically a mansion, because Lilli and I are both going stir crazy. I’m super grateful that we have a safe place to stay, and I appreciate Erik’s generosity. But I’m ready for my life to go back to normal. Just me and Lilli, like it’s always been.
Well, not exactly as it’s always been. I have to assume my role as High Priestess of Norway, so that’s something new. I’m happy I can make a difference so that other witches don’t have to go through what I did. In the bits of free time I’ve had over the last week when I’m not busy trying to keep Lilli from bouncing off the walls, I’ve reached out to some of my coven members. I’m planning a meeting so I can get input from others on the direction they see the coven going. My mother has apparently vanished to Paris to sulk, which is fine by me.
It's late on the evening of the seventh night, long after Lilli has gone to bed, that I hear noises downstairs from where I’m reading in the library. I strain to make out the voices. It’s Erik. He must be back. My heart races in my chest but I stay in my chair. I’m not going to go rushing out to greet him since he’s changed his mind about us. I’m grateful that he came into my life, and I’ll respect his decision. Even if it does break my heart.
His footsteps come up the stairs a couple minutes later, and then he’s standing in the doorway of the library, a week’s worth of stubble on his face, a duffle bag slung over one shoulder. He looks roguishly handsome in a black t-shirt and leather jacket.
“Astrid,” he breathes. “You’re still up.”
I nod. “How did everything go?”
“We raided seven Night Guild facilities and shut all of them down.” Erik smiles a weary smile. “Along with your spell to break up Darkness and Light, the Guild is all but decimated.”
“And Darkness herself? Any sign of her?”
“Yes,” he says, his gaze intense on mine. “I’ve taken care of her. Me, and the other dragon shifters in my order. She won’t be a threat any longer.”
Shock pulses through me. “What do you mean?”
“The Norse gods and goddesses built a number of magical prisons to contain such beings. You probably read about them in Viking lore.”
I nod. I’ve always been fascinated by the concept.
“Well, I knew where one was. And I trapped her.”
“That’s—that’s incredible!” I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of me. Now, truly, I don’t have to worry anymore.
“It’s what I promised to do,” he says. He trails off and looks down.
“You’ve done a great service to the supernatural community. It’s amazing you managed all of that.” I try to smile, but all I can think is how incredible he is, and how he doesn’t want me.
Erik shifts his weight from one foot to the other and shoots me an odd look. “Yeah, I think I only slept about ten hours the entire week.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Oh, wow. You must be exhausted.”
I don’t really know where to go with the conversation. Things feel awkward between us, strained. No, not strained. Just different. We hooked up. Erik probably hooks up with tons of women. I’m just not used to this kind of thing, and how to act afterward.
“So, um, I guess tomorrow morning when Lilli wakes up, we can get out of your hair.” I try to smile like everything is normal. “I don’t want to be a burden. I really appreciate everything you’ve done for us, Erik. Truly.”
Erik blinks, falling silent for a moment. “What?”
Now it’s my turn to fall silent. Then I stammer, “I mean—I thought that’s what you wanted. You left a week ago without saying anything, and I haven’t heard from you since. I just figured you considered this a short-term thing…”
A growl rumbles in Erik’s chest. He drops his duffel bag on the floor and crosses the room in three big strides, looming over me.
