Chapter 57
The next days were miserable and boring. Loki continued his plan to create trouble between Angrboda’s men, and I remained in her presence at her insistence, her way of keeping me “safe” from harm. Loki kept his word and continued to report back to Thor.
I wished there was something else I could do. But I had clearly stated in my oath that I would not use my Seiðr against her. That left me feeling useless—bored and restrained. Luckily, Loki had formulated his oath in a way that gave him more room to maneuver. He could not harm her, but he could still use his cunning and magic to undermine her from the shadows.
And I could see it was working. Yrissa began surfacing more often, while Angrboda faded to the background during our conversations. Strangely, I found myself enjoying Yrissa’s company. I could see why Loki—and even Muriel—had liked her. She was sharp, clever, and occasionally even kind to me. Angrboda made her cold and cruel, but Yrissa on her own was… different.
I still found it hard to believe that Angrboda had once managed to convince Loki he was in love with her. But I did my best not to dwell on it. With Yrissa, it had never been love—just physical attraction. It was Angrboda who made me feel truly jealous. Loki had loved her—or rather, thought he did. Even if it was a mistake. Even if it was a lie she planted in his mind.
Whenever Angrboda did resurface, she made it a point to push my buttons. She tried to hurt me with memories of their past—taunting me with words meant to make me jealous or angry. And while some of them cut deeper than I cared to admit, I did my best not to let her see it.
Still, most afternoons I spent alone. I tried going out a few times, but she had guards shadowing me like overprotective bodyguards. Every attempt to act like a royal brat and piss someone off failed miserably. The ones assigned to follow me were saints, and any time I got too close to the real nasty ones, they’d step in and send them away—ruining my plan to get myself hurt and trigger the oath.
Angrboda and Yrissa were clearly up to something. I’d told Loki, but we still couldn’t figure out what.
Not until one night, when Yrissa entered our bedroom without warning.
We were already in bed, and as soon as the door opened, Loki shifted defensively and placed himself between me and the intruder. When he saw who it was, he didn’t relax. He remained standing protectively between us, silent as she approached.
“Aurora, I would like you to follow me, if you please,” she said, her voice calm but firm.
Before I could answer, Loki cut in.
“She is not going anywhere with you unless I come with her.”
The anger in his voice was unmistakable.
Yrissa looked at him, her eyes flashing.
“Like how you left her alone in my presence the last few days?” she snapped. “When she is merely a nuisance to you, you drink with the men and leave her in my care. But now that she is in your bed, suddenly you insist on being present when I require her?”
I saw Loki’s muscles twitch, tension radiating off him. He was barely holding himself together.
“What do you want from her?” he asked.
She ignored him and turned to me.
“You swore in your oath that the bracers were mine,” she said, her voice now colder. Angrboda. “I have use for them. I need you to follow me. As per our agreement, you will be safe. You will not be harmed. But he”—she pointed to Loki—“will remain here.”
I tried to sit up, but Loki’s arm shot backward and pinned me flat against the bed. I struggled, but he was impossibly strong—I could not move.
“Can I have a moment with Loki?” I asked, still pinned beneath him.
I could feel the tension between them spike. The room seemed to grow colder. But after a long stare, she finally nodded.
“You have five minutes. I will wait outside. If you are not out by then, I will take… desperate measures. I have been lenient thus far. But remember—while I cannot harm you, I can separate you. I can throw him back into the dungeon. Per your oath, you will be free to visit him as you please. Perhaps it will even spice things up to have him chained to the wall.”
She smiled, vicious and satisfied, before turning and leaving the room.
As soon as the door closed, Loki released me and let me sit up.
Loki, I can’t have you in that dungeon again. I sent through the bond, already feeling the fear knot in my stomach at the memory of what we had found last time.
“This time she cannot hurt me. So let her throw me in there. But I do not want you to go with her. I do not like this.”
“I don’t either. But she’s right—if I refuse, my oath might punish me.”
His fury flared. I knew he hated being forced into this helpless role.
“But I need to be there, Aurora. I need to protect you.”
“I understand, my love. But she won’t allow it. Maybe this is the opening we have been waiting for. You know she cannot harm me. I’ll keep our connection open the entire time. You will be with me.”
I could feel his resistance, but also how deeply he hated it.
“No,” he said firmly. “She may throw me into the dungeon, but I will not allow this.”
“Loki,” I said gently, placing my hand on his cheek. “If you’re in the dungeon, our plan falls apart. She’ll have you guarded. You won’t be able to contact Thor or stir up the chaos we need. Please…”
His eyes flickered, and I felt his resolve start to crumble—logic slowly winning out over his fierce, protective nature.
He was silent for a long moment, and then he pulled me into his arms.
“Be very careful, my love. And keep our connection open.” Was all he said.
I nodded and gave him a soft kiss. As our lips met, I felt his passion rise. He deepened the kiss and for a moment, I let myself get swept away. But far too soon, he broke it off, breath ragged, and nearly leapt off the bed.
“You should go now,” he growled, fighting to keep his darker urges in check.
A chill ran down my spine. I could see him struggling with himself again. I got out of bed and, with a flick of my hands, shifted into my leather riding clothes. I wanted to hug him, to stay a moment longer, but I knew now wasn’t the time.
With a small squeeze of his hand, I turned and left the room.
Angrboda was waiting in the hallway with a twisted smile.
“Good,” she sneered. “It seems you still have some backbone in your relationship. I feared he had already trampled all over it.”
I ignored her and followed in silence. I had grown nearly immune to her snide full jabs these past weeks.
She led me through corridor after corridor, deeper into the mountain. A new part of the caves. A place I had never been before.
I was nervous. But I could still feel Loki through the bond.
And for now… that was enough.
After some time, we reached a door, and I could feel the strong enchantments radiating off it. I focused on Angrboda’s gestures and the words she used as she lifted the enchantment, and through the bond, I described it to Loki. I could feel that he recognized the spells instantly.
We entered a dark room, and with a flick of her hand, the torches on the walls flared to life. There was a huge, ominous-looking circle inscribed with runes on the floor. I quickly recapped the layout for Loki. At the center of the runes stood a small pedestal.
And on it sat a skull.
My heart nearly leapt out of my chest.
It was made entirely of dark crystal—diamond, maybe—but the eyes were blood-red rubies. And it radiated pure dread.
Angrboda moved through the room, gathering a few items. I kept feeding every detail to Loki.
“Aurora, I need you to do the following,” his voice came through the bond, steady but tense. “You must place the tracer spell on the Skull. But she will notice if you use magic. The symbol on the floor is a ward. If you step inside it, there will be a magical surge—it will repel you violently. It will likely hurt, but the explosion will mask your Seiðr. It is the only way.”
“Loki… would that trigger the oath?” I asked quietly, already inching forward.
“No,” he answered immediately. “The ward is meant to repel, not harm. You are entering it by your own will—it is not her forcing this on you. The intent matters, and this is yours.”
I nodded once. That was enough for me.
As soon as Angrboda’s back turned, I took a deep breath and readied my Seiðr.
The moment I stepped into the circle, a blinding flash erupted. I cast the tracer spell in the same second, just before I was flung backward. I slammed into the wall hard—my head connecting with a loud crack. Stars danced across my vision.
“What the hell?” I heard her shout, her hands grabbing my arm as I slid down the wall. But after a brief inspection, she let go.
I blinked a few times and lifted my hand to the back of my head. There was a pretty big bump, but thankfully no blood. I focused and cast a small healing spell to soothe the throbbing and shrink the swelling.
Through the bond, I reassured Loki that it had worked—and that I was okay.
When I looked up, Angrboda was staring at me with a suspicious glint in her eye.
“Why would you do that?” she asked, her tone condescending.
I pushed myself up and met her gaze.
“What the hell do you mean, why would I do that? I saw the skull and wanted a closer look. How was I supposed to know the floor was warded?” I snapped, letting frustration slip into my voice. I had to play dumb—it was the only way she might back down.
She narrowed her eyes. “How about the big glowing runes on the ground?”
I rolled my eyes with an exaggerated sigh.
“Just because there are runes doesn’t mean I know what they are. I’m still new to magic. When I first came to Asgard, Loki only taught me the basics—definitely nothing like this.”
Some of the tension left her shoulders. As I focused, I could feel her suspicion start to fade. With a wave of her hand, the glow in the runes dimmed.
“The ward is down now,” she said, turning back toward the skull. “But do not touch it. If you do, I will consider it an act against me.”
I nodded and followed her as she moved around the room, placing a few items inside different runes.
“What do you need me for?” I asked as she finished.
Without answering, she crossed the room, grabbed a chair, and placed it in front of the skull. Then she turned to me.
“You promised me your cooperation in giving me the bracers.”
I nodded warily.
“As we both know, I cannot remove them from you yet. But I wish to use their magic.”
I blinked. “What do you mean?”
“They are powerful magical artifacts. I can tap into them—siphon off their energy.”
Loki’s voice came through our bond instantly. “Aurora, that is not true. Yes, the bracers are powerful, but their strength depends entirely on your Seiðr. She does not want the bracers—she wants you. She plans to siphon your Seiðr through them.”
I looked up at her. “You mean my magic. I’ve read the bracers only function with the Seiðr of their wearer. They don’t have power of their own.”
I shrugged. “I did some research when they first attached themselves to me. Figured I should know what kind of magical cuffs I was stuck with.”
I gave her a pointed look. “So on that part, no—I’m not as clueless as I might’ve just pretended to be.”
She paused, then gave a thin smile.
“Well, if you put it like that… yes. I want to siphon your Seiðr through the bracers.”
I smiled right back.
“So then you don’t need the bracers—you need my magic. And that wasn’t included in the oath.”
Her smile vanished.
“I can make life very difficult for you and your lover without breaking the oath,” she said, voice low and strained. I could feel her trying hard not to lose her temper.
I looked back at her. “Yes, but I also know that giving you what you want means you’ll use it to create chaos—and death—in other people’s lives. So sure, maybe you can make things difficult for us. But you can’t really hurt or harm us. And you forcing away my magic by force would deffenetly hurt and trigger the oath.”
I saw something flicker in her expression—amusement, maybe—and it sent a small shiver down my spine. Then that smile returned, sharp and calculating.
“And what if I give you something in return?” she asked sweetly. “Something you truly want. Say… a vow. That while I will wage war, I will do so with intent. I will not seek out the royal family of Asgard. I will make no move to destroy them or exact revenge upon them. My efforts will be focused where they belong—on Merinor, on Alfheim. Not Odin, whose crime, while cruel, was lesser.”
My breath caught.
She smiled wider. “Ah. That struck a nerve.”
It had. I hated how easily she could read me sometimes.
“I will swear it in writing,” she added. “A binding, unbreakable vow. That your precious king and queen—you and Loki, and even the thunder oaf—will live. I know what they mean to you,” she said, voice curling in satisfaction. “Unless, of course, they come at me directly and force me to defend myself. I shall not bar myself from self-defense. But beyond that, I will leave them be.”
I didn’t reply. I turned slightly, reaching through the bond.
Loki, she’s offering to swear an oath to spare Odin, Frigga, us, and Thor—unless they come at her directly.
There was a pause. Then his voice came low and sharp in my mind. Tell me her exact words.
I repeated them back, word for word. He listened without interrupting, then went quiet again.
It is a calculated move. She would not offer this unless she believed it would benefit her more than it costs her. But… the language is clean enough, he said. So long as we tie her to the condition that your Seiðr shall not be used—
“—to harm the people I care about,” I agreed.
Loki’s voice returned immediately, firmer now. Add that clause. Tell her that before you agree, she must vow that the Seiðr she draws from you will not be used—either directly or indirectly—to slay Thor, his army, or anyone you care for.
I turned back to Angrboda.
“One more thing,” I said evenly. “Before I agree. In your vow, you will state that the Seiðr you take from me will not be used to kill or harm Odin, Frigga, me, Loki, Thor, his army, or anyone I care about. Not directly. Not indirectly. Not through trickery or manipulation.”
Her smile faltered slightly. “You ask a great deal.”
“I give a great deal,” I countered. “You want my Seiðr. I want guarantees.”
There was a long pause. Her gaze sharpened—cold and calculating. Then she exhaled through her nose and gave a curt nod.
“Fine. Add it to the oath.”
The silver parchment unfurled between us once more. Together, we shaped the terms—Loki guiding the wording with ruthless precision through our bond. When he was satisfied, I felt a flicker of approval.
It will hold, he confirmed. She will be bound.
Angrboda sliced her palm with a blade conjured from thin air, letting her blood drip onto the parchment. It shimmered with silvery-red light as the contract sealed with a hiss of cold magic.
Then she stepped toward me, her expression unreadable.
“Now,” she said, voice smooth again, “sit.”
I obeyed.
And as her hands moved over mine and we both reached toward the Skull, I whispered softly through the bond.
We’re doing this together.
Always, Loki replied. I am with you.
She didn’t waste any time.
She took my hands and placed them on the Skull. Her own covered mine, and she began to chant.
Instantly, I felt my body react. My Seiðr surged through me, funneling into the bracers before flowing into the Skull. It reminded me, almost, of when I connected with Loki—but this was nothing like that. With Loki, our Seiðr blended effortlessly. With her, it was like trying to force mismatched pieces together. My instincts recoiled against it.
I focused on staying calm, not resisting. I needed to let the Seiðr flow.
After a few minutes, I felt warmth blooming in my hands. Not painful, just intense. The heat flowed into the Skull without warming it—like it was being absorbed by something deeper. The temperature rose steadily, but still didn’t affect me. I could feel the magic pulling, the connection solidifying.
Then her chant changed. The warmth faded, replaced by a deep, strange cold. It crept through my fingers, into my wrists, a dull chill that dragged at my energy like an undertow. It wasn’t painful… but it drained me.
I started to sweat. My limbs felt heavy. I could feel my Seiðr leaving me—steadily, relentlessly.
It wasn’t like when Loki and I shared power. That always left me energized, connected. This was draining in a way I hadn’t experienced before. My breathing grew shallow, my focus dimmed. I was exhausted, completely and utterly. But I held still. I didn’t fight it. I didn’t break the vow.
Then, just as I thought I couldn’t give any more—her chanting stopped.
A flash of light burst from the Skull, and a strange, powerful voice filled the chamber.
“You have done well.”
The voice was female, cold and resonant, and it echoed as if it came from everywhere at once. A glowing form hovered above the Skull, pulsing with power.
I sat still, struggling to stay upright through the fatigue.
“Who is this?” the voice asked sharply.
From the corner of my vision, I saw Angrboda move. She walked around the chair and knelt before the floating light.
“My humble apologies, Aumlig Norn,” she said. “The bracers chose her. I had no other option but to perform the spell through her.”
I blinked hard, trying to stay alert. I needed to hear everything. I needed to bring it all back to Loki.
The light pulsed, and a sharp, dangerous laugh rang through the room.
“Then tell me why I should host inside your body… and not hers.”
The voice rang through the chamber, sharp and cold. It sent a shiver down my spine.
I saw the flicker of something—satisfaction—in Angrboda’s expression. A faint, smug smile. She didn’t hesitate. She began to speak, her voice low and urgent, explaining something to the floating light—justifying her choice.
But I missed it.
My mind drifted, my head heavy with exhaustion. My Seiðr was nearly spent, and I felt like I was swaying in and out of myself. Her words blurred together like echoes underwater. I blinked hard, forcing myself to focus again.
By the time I registered what was happening, her explanation was over.
“Then you give me no choice,” the voice said, low and cold. “But remember—it was your choice to house me without the bracers.”
Angrboda lifted her arms. Her hands were blackened, burned—yet she stood tall, proud. Accepting.
The light flashed again. Then, without warning, it surged forward, straight into her chest.
Angrboda screamed. Her voice echoed against the stone walls, raw and piercing. Light exploded outward in a wave, shaking the room—but I stayed seated, just barely, too drained to react. My limbs were like lead. My mind foggy.
I felt the surge of power settle. The light faded. And just before my vision dimmed completely, I saw her body glowing from within—host to something ancient and terrifying.