The Alpha God's Luna
Chapter 31 -

Astrea took their hands, preparing herself for what was to come. She never liked that ritual, but now standing in a circle with these women was simply revolting. The plan formed in her mind very quickly, but at the same time, she couldn't help but slightly shiver at the thought that they were using her all these years. Fenrir told her that the snake tattoo was suppressing the other one.

Well, she only had two of those. And why the hell would her dragonfly tattoo need suppressing if it always needed recharging?

Unless it didn't... Unless everything she knew about it was a lie.

But why would the Teacher lie to her?

Many reasons, actually, Nova had to admit.

"Maybe because you aren't exactly a Firstborn?" Fenrir asked her once, and this should have been her best clue. Too bad she was always too busy with other things. He tried to tell her, but she didn't listen. Was Fenrir the only one who was honest with her?

Now that she was thinking about it, all the other Dragonflies were always eager to have the joining ritual. At the same time, this wasn't something she enjoyed. Not once. Not ever.

It made her feel so weak afterwards, but she hated to admit it in front of others because back when she was just a lost kid, Joran insisted it was because she was intoxicated with the power that surged through them. She didn't want to appear struggling with what the new Dragonflies thrived on, trying not to look bad.

She was an idiot.

Lenora's fingers laced with hers, and Astrea began to feel the tiny sparks as their connection started forming. They didn't need to say any particular words or perform any actions other than creating an unbreakable circle. Their dragonfly tattoos were doing most of the job from the moment they were tied and in the correct positions. The glow illuminated the rooftop they stood on with its soft silvery light. The glow that was spreading out from her. Not them. Before today, Astrea was convinced that it was because she was their leader.

She knew better now.

From the corner of her eye, she could see the bliss on the other women's faces. However, the pure ecstasy of their connection was only on their side. She felt weaker with each passing second. Like leeches, they drained her, drowning in the power that wasn't theirs.

Astrea could feel something warm and vital slipping out of her through her bloodstream and to her fingertips, entering the Dragonflies who held her hands, clenching to her as if she was their air.

Was this why she always felt nauseous while everyone else was invigorated? Did they drink her energy and make her weak?

Memories started surfacing in Astrea's mind. There were so many things that she saw in a different light now! Emma, Lenora, Adissa and Dominica were always ready for the joining ritual as if it was their drug of choice.

Meanwhile, the best Astrea ever felt was during the Luna Trials when she had a break from them. And then Emma appeared to "charge" her, which only resulted in headaches and little help.

Afterwards, when she tried to flee from the Firstborn following her betrayal, knowing they would want to kill her, she burnt her tattoo, trying to prevent Joran from tracking her with its help. That slowed her down significantly and eventually resulted in her being caught.

However, when she was thrown into the silver pit, she lasted there for longer than she was supposed to. And although some of her wounds couldn't heal because she was surrounded by silver, her dragonfly tattoo did. Was this what helped her last there for months? Was the dragonfly tattoo giving her strength?

All the signs were always there!

Astrea's whole body went rigid. They called her a traitor, but who was the first to betray their trust?

Did they know? She observed them all, absorbing her energy, not a tint of shame on any of their faces. They loved it.

Of course, they knew. She was the only one in the dark. They probably thought she was a fool, and she couldn't disagree with it now. They all played her well. Anger made her blood boil, obscuring her vision as she clenched her "teammates" hands tighter.

"Stars burn-" A voice echoed in her head. Her own voice.

She never said these words before, but they sounded so familiar.

It was so hard to breathe; her anger was overwhelming. They wanted power? She would give them power! So much that they wouldn't be able to handle it!

Light coursed through her and was released in a blinding wave that distorted the air and made everything around them shimmer.

The screams brought her back to reality, though. Loud, piercing screams.

"What are you doing?" Lenora was now desperately trying to free her hand from Astrea's grasp, the dark fabric of her sleeve on fire. The pure white and silver flames engulfed everything around them, setting the rooftop ablaze. Astrea was sure she had never seen anything like it, but not a single cell in her body was afraid now.

Adissa was in agony on her right, and it took Astrea a few extra seconds to realise what was happening and unclench her fingers, letting them both go.

This wasn't her plan. Not exactly.

Originally, she wanted to create a distraction and manage to get them all out of the border with Fenrir's bracelet and a letter to herself with coded instructions on what to do next. The bracelet would have to be enough for Joran, and maybe she could lie that Fenrir was dead, winning a day or two to flee with Nikki. This was her plan A.

The perfect plan because, in that way, the Dragonflies would forget about Solace. And Fenrir would have a chance too. He had her other letter to read.

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"What did you do?" Dominica cast a glare full of raw hatred on her, kneeling on the rooftop with her hand, trying to reach her back of all places.

"Why do you think I did anything?" Astrea arched her brow, watching the three women panting and disoriented.

"We only have one traitor!" Adissa announced spitefully, unzipping her black leather jacket to Astrea's surprise.

"And yet you were so willing to form the circle with me," Astrea pointed out, carefully assessing the situation. There were three of them against her, but they were hurt. Moreover, they were fake. Among them all, she was the only real Dragonfly. Whatever that meant.

There was only one question: did they recharge from her? Judging by how she felt weaker than usual now, she could tell that they did.

She should have stopped that sooner.

Nevertheless, they were panicking for some reason, and Astrea wondered if she could summon more of that white fire. However, no matter how hard she tried, it seemed out of her control again. Another shriek brought her attention to Adisa and Lenora, who were hectically checking each other's backs.

"It's gone!" Lenora whispered, astonished by her discovery.

"What are you talking about?" Adissa gasped, reaching out for Dominica and forcefully removing her jacket to check the girl's back. This was where the dragonfly tattoos were supposed to be.

Astrea's eyes lingered on them. The once vibrant and mesmerising dragonfly tattoos that had graced their skin were now gone, leaving a few ugly scars in their wake. These three women built their whole identities on being the Dragonflies, and she had just taken it from them.

"It's you!" Dominica bared her teeth, ready to attack any moment. "Once a traitor, always a traitor!"

"If they were real, they would have stayed!" Astrea pointed out the truth calmly, knowing that they wouldn't like hearing the truth. "Anyway, there is no time for that now. We should go back to the Teacher. I have what he wants and some urgent information too. We need to rush."

"Oh really?" Lenora raised her brow, crossing her hands over her chest. "Tell us what the information is."

"This information is not for your ears," Astrea took a few test steps, noticing the trio mirroring her movements. They were about to perform the dance of death, and she was ready.

Despite what had just happened, they still wanted to fight her.

"Don't we share everything?" Dominica sneered, growing her sharp claws out.

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"I have my mission, and you have yours-" Astrea tried to figure out which one of them would be the first to attack.

The dark silhouettes contrasted against the silver of the desert landscape as each woman moved with calculated precision. After all, their skills were honed through years of training, pain and determination. None of them was ready to lose today. This was the problem of all Firstborns. They did not know a better life and usually fought until their death. This was what Joran raised them for.

"You're right about that," Lenora ran her hand through her short ginger hair. "We do have our own task. The Teacher ordered us not to bother listening to you and just to bring you home."

This was exactly what she was worried about. Now it was obvious that Joran did not trust her, and the whole mission might have been just one big test she had already failed. Still, she had to try, even if this was the case.

"I don't know how you did this, but I will make you pay." Dominica still moved awkwardly, as if her back was causing her pain. That little fact made Astrea a little bit happier about the whole thing. They had been stealing from her for years. She hoped it hurt them, at least now.

"Ladies," she tilted her head, trying to hold back a laugh that threatened to escape her. "Let's think about our next move carefully here. You have just lost your precious advantage, and I'm not even tired yet. If you turn away now and cross that border willingly, forgetting about Solace and everything that happened here, I promise not to follow you and let you go."

"You think you're so generous," Adissa scoffed, rolling her eyes. "We're not in the same position as you, Astrea. We never were. If we ever fail the Teacher, there will be no silver pit for a few months for us. I'm even afraid to think what he would come up with to punish us for not bringing him the desired results. Let alone betrayal! Unlike you, we aren't his favourite golden girls!"

"Golden girl?" Now it was Astrea's turn to chuckle bitterly as they circled her, each assassin choosing the perfect position to start their first real fight. This wasn't the training combat they were used to anymore. "Don't you ever forget that I spent more years on this island than any of you!"

"What does it matter?" Lenora shook her head, elongating her red claws to make a point. "We are all going to die for that island and for him! But something tells me you would outlive us all! He'll make sure of that." "Aren't you going to kill me?" Astrea lifted her chin defiantly, and Dominica rolled her eyes, letting out an ugly laugh.

"You aren't paying attention," Adissa's eyes glowed amber. "If we kill you, we die. If we could do it without harsh consequences, you would have died years ago, bitch!"

"What's stopping you?" She desperately wanted them to lose their cool and go into a chaotic panic attack, but they didn't give her the pleasure.

"Simply because we like what we are about to do instead," Lenora informed her with a slight smirk. "We are going to knock you out and put those silver chains you spent months in back on you. Yes, we made an effort to bring those exact ones. Then, after you are subdued, we will call Fenrir and tell him where you are. He will be instructed to come alone to the coordinates we provide, and when he does, we will kill him in front of your eyes. This is probably my favourite part." "Yeah," Dominica smirked. "I like that version more as well."

"Please, do just that," Astrea bluffed, feeling the chill creeping down her spine at the thought alone that it was possible. "He would never come alone for me. You will just get yourself caught, and I will play an innocent victim when Fenrir arrives here with his army-"

"He will come alone," Lenora interrupted her. "You know it. I know it. We all know it. I saw the way he looked at you. And the way you looked at him." She paused briefly to let it sink in and added, "He will come for you. I have no doubts." "And it will be the last thing he does," Adissa chimed in, gloating as if they had already won.