Chapter 81: Proof of Devotion

Astrid's Point of View

I ran.

Through the trees. Over the ridges.

The stars above me blinked behind shifting clouds, but I didn't stop to look at them. I didn't need them to guide me.

I knew where I was going.

Where I had to go.

Where I'd last seen him.

Where my Alpha waited.

But before I could reach the clearing, before I could even call out his name—

Two shadows moved.

Smooth. Silent. Sudden.

They stepped forward as one.

Hiccup and Luna.

Emerging from the darkness like they belonged to it.

I froze mid-step, startled.

"Where's the fire?" Hiccup asked, his voice calm but curious.

I dropped to my knees instantly.

There was no hesitation.

No fear.

Only respect.

Only devotion.

"I came to warn you," I said quickly. "Stoick... he's planning something."

His eyes sharpened. Luna's expression grew darker.

"When the day comes that someone is chosen to kill a dragon in the arena," I said, "Stoick's going to wait for the next day when you will fight the monstrous nightmare "

I swallowed, disgusted just saying it out loud.

"And when you're tired—when you're spent—he's planning to use Luna and Freya as hostages. He thinks he can cleanse you of some imaginary dragon curse. He wants to break you and make you his son again."

Hiccup stared at me.

Then, slowly, he smirked.

"...Expected," he muttered. "Typical of him."

He looked off into the distance, voice low.

"I had planned on giving him a swift death. Even after all the years of neglect... he was still blood."

Then his expression twisted.

"But now... no. Now he'll watch everything he cares about burn. I'll break him. Slowly. Piece by piece. And when there's nothing left but dust, then I'll let him die."

Luna stepped beside him, her arms crossed. "As it should be."

I nodded. "I agree. I've already turned my back on Berk. The only people I care about now are you... Luna... and Freya."

I hesitated. "The little bundle of chaos. I... I kind of want to cuddle her."

Luna didn't retort.

She didn't snap.

She just looked at me—looked into me—and for some reason, she froze.

Her expression unreadable.

She blinked once, then turned back when Hiccup placed a hand on her arm.

"Thank you," he said, looking back at me. "For your warning. For your loyalty. You'll be rewarded."

His voice softened slightly.

"What do you want, Astrid?"

Before Luna could speak, I interrupted—blurted it out.

"I want you to come with me."

They both blinked.

I took a deep breath.

"I want to go home. And I want you both to come with me... so I can kill my parents."

Hiccup raised an eyebrow.

Luna's eyes narrowed—but with curiosity, not disapproval.

"I want to sever their heads myself," I said, voice steady. "And give them to you as proof. Of loyalty. Of devotion. Of who I belong to."

"I want your trust."

Hiccup smiled—not kindly, but knowingly.

"You'll have it."

He nodded once.

"We'll follow. We'll assist if needed."

"Thank you," I said, heart thudding.

"But that," he added, "wasn't a reward. That was confirmation."

I looked up. "Then..."

I hesitated again.

Damn it. Just say it.

"...then I want a hug."

The silence was immediate.

Hiccup stared.

Luna blinked.

And I—

I flushed red from ears to neck.

"I—I just..." I rubbed my arm. "I didn't think I'd ask for that, but it's just—I haven't had a real one in years, and... you two... you're the first people I've ever felt safe around."

Luna's expression twitched with something like... surprise.

Hiccup looked at me like I'd grown two heads.

I ducked my face.

"...I'll shut up now."

Hiccup's Point of View

Astrid's cheeks were burning red.

And... okay, fine.

It was kind of cute.

The way she fidgeted. Looked away. Rubbed her arm like she was trying to vanish into the dirt.

Crap. I shook the thought away. No. Nope. No thank you.

I had Luna. My mate. My queen. My life. Beautiful, deadly, obsessed with me.

No one compared to her.

And yet...

"Was it just me..." Luna's voice slid into our mind link like a blade wrapped in silk, "or was that a bit cute?"

I froze.

Brain stopped.

Heartbeat skipped.

What?

What??

WHAT?!

I almost choked on my own breath. Was this a test? Was this one of those traps? The kind of thing mates do when they want to catch you off guard, give you a little hope—then boom. The next thing you know, you're sleeping outside with the wolves and questioning your entire bloodline.

She's a yandere, I reminded myself. My yandere. She should be hissing. Growling. Murder-staring at Astrid right now.

Not... this.

Then, before I could speak, Luna calmly said aloud, "It's fine. You can give her a hug."

I stared at her.

Then at Astrid.

Then at her again.

I think my brain short-circuited.

What in Helheim is going on?

Did I fall into a parallel universe? Did someone replace Luna? Was this a changewing prank? Is this the part where I die for no reason?

I didn't have time to ask.

Luna stepped up and pushed me gently—but firmly—right into Astrid.

My arms automatically came up to catch her.

We hugged.

It was... brief. Warm. A little awkward.

Astrid held on tighter than I expected, like she was clinging to something fragile she didn't want to break.

When we pulled apart, I cleared my throat and stepped back.

"Well then," I muttered, trying to sound normal. "Lead the way. By now, your parents should be home."

She nodded and turned to go.

I let her walk ahead—then immediately reached for Luna in our link.

"What the hell was that?!

You usually grow claws and threaten to rip out throats when a female even breathes too close to me. If I hadn't held you back, we'd have a graveyard by now—but now you're just... letting me hug her?"

There was a pause.

Then Luna responded—not with an answer.

But with a question.

"What did you smell when you hugged her, my love?"

She stepped closer, grabbing my hand and lacing her fingers between mine, her golden eyes never leaving mine.

I blinked.

Oh no.

Oh no.

This was a trap.

But I sighed and answered anyway.

"...She smelled like grease, blood, flowers, and... something sweet. I don't know what it was."

Luna stared at me seriously for a long moment.

Then she sighed softly.

"I see," she said. "I'll need to speak with Astrid... later."

That did not help.

At all.

I stared at her, heart now pounding for a very different reason.

Am I being hunted? Should I make a will? Is this how I die?

I had fought dragons.

Killed men.

Led my dragons to battle.

But right now?

I was seriously considering planning my own funeral.