Author's note:

Hi guys!

My apologies once again for the long wait. I will change my method of writing and directly type down everything on my computer to gain time whenever possible.

Thank you to all of you, still reading this story. Special thanks to Alecs, my awesome editor, as well as to those who have reviewed and/or followed/fav this fanfic.

Your kind words motivate me more than anything. I have been inspired lately (mainly due to the Dragoncon panel ahahah).

Anyway, I hope you will like this new little creature. I will finish writing chapter 12 this week. Enjoy!

"You are weak. You are worthless."

Kenzi was crying and screaming while trying to resist the woman above her who was pinning her down onto the bed.

"Get away from me, you stupid bitch," she spat out through gritted teeth. She was fighting for her life, fighting to keep her head clear of all the crazy thoughts and paralyzing doubt the other woman was trying to force into her mind.

Stacy, her Valkyrie face on, had unleashed her full powers on the brunette underneath her. Or at least she was trying. She had thought it was going to be an easy job to do, but the little human was stronger than she anticipated and was fighting hard against her power. Kenzi closed her eyes and turned her head every time the blonde tried to control her mind, making the task difficult for the Valkyrie.

Unfortunately, a quarter of a second was more than enough for her. Just a blink, a simple and involuntary moment of eye contact and the Valkyrie succeeded in exerting her dominance over the other girl.

"You are nothing but a stupid little human. You are useless and no one cares about you. All thy see in you is a pity case. You are a burden to everyone, and you know it."

Tears started flowing freely out of Kenzi's eyes, and Stacy smirked in satisfaction. The blonde felt extremely proud of herself and what she had accomplished. She had done her research and found that the goth girl she had just reduced to a pile of doubt and self-pity was very closed to her Valkyrie sister, so by hurting her, she would cause Tamsin even more hurt than she had the other day when she had beaten her up.

She could tell by the look on Kenzi's face that she had succeeded. The brunette was now scared, shocked and would soon start feeling the feel the indescribable pain any Valkyrie victims experience when doubt starts gnawing at their mind.

Loud screams jolted Bo and Tamsin awake. They both jumped out of bed in an instant, startled by what they'd just heard.

"Kenzi!" Bo exclaimed after a brief moment to wake herself up fully, and moved to grab one of the daggers she kept under her pillow. Tamsin exchanged a glance with her, fear written all over her face, before running as fast as her legs could carry her towards the human's room.

The Valkyrie was the first to arrive upstairs, quickly followed by the Succubus. The sight they were met with was beyond terrifying.

Kenzi was curled up on the hard floor, her back against the bedframe, holding her head tightly, as if it was going to explode any second from now. She could not stop screaming, obviously suffering excruciating pain. For Tamsin, seeing the person she cared for in this state was like someone driving a dagger through her heart. Bo could say the same, tears started welling up in her eyes and feeling utterly helpless in stopping what was happening to Kenzi.

Tamsin was the first to react and quickly closed the gap between her and the girl, gently taking hold of her wrists and forcing the human to look her in the eye.

"Kenz…"

But instead of seeing the two shinning and beautiful blue eyes of the other woman, she saw two eyes full of tears and fear. She looked so lost… so conflicted and in so much pain. Tamsin knew this look too well. This was the look she had seen on the faces of all those who had become prey to the Valkyries.

"Kenzi, please…" she pleaded. "Kenzi, look at me," she tried more firmly, doing her best to catch the brunette's eye and force her out of this delusional, Valkyrie-induced state.

After a few long moments, blue and green eyes met, as Kenzi's gaze began to regain focus.

"T-Tamsin?" she asked as if she was unsure of who was kneeling in front of her.

"Yeah, it's me Kenz."

"Please make it stop, make it stop, please!" she begged the blonde, sobbing and screaming once again.

"Just keep looking at me, alright? I know you can do this, just fight it, okay? You're doing great."

"I… I am so weak, Tamsin… You sh-should just kill me right now. Please do it, please make it stop…" she continued sobbing and trembling.

"Hey hey, Kenzi, look at me, come on, focus." The Valkyrie took her face between her hands. When the brunette stared back at her, she let her features grow darker, revealing her true Valkyrie face.

"You are anything but weak, Kenzi. You are not a failure or a burden or whatever that bitch tried to make you believe. You are everything to me, Kenz. You are my best friend, my momz and fuck, probably the only human in the entire universe who earned my respect. You are brave, courageous and one of the funniest people I know, even though I hate to admit it." She ended with a smile and earned a small laugh from the little human despite the tears still flowing from her tired eyes.

Tamsin could see she was succeeding in reversing the effects of the doubt that was planted in the other woman's head. She took Kenzi's hand and placed it over her heart. "You know what I'm saying is true, Kenzi. All I said came from the bottom of my heart, you feel it? I will never, ever lie to you. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you, I beg you to believe me."

Kenzi's features started relaxing gradually, a look of relief already on her face, as Tamsin's words were beginning to sink in.

"That's right, girl. You are amazing and I love you. We love you." The blonde let her face return to normal once again and finally turned towards Bo to let her know their friend would be okay eventually.

The Succubus had stayed behind the entire time, not knowing how to best handle this situation. Moreover, she trusted Tamsin with her life to do whatever it took to bring her best friend back. She felt significantly relieved after exchanging a brief glance with the blonde and catching her reassuring smile.

Kenzi looked better now. She had stopped sobbing and trembling which was a good sign. The pain was gone but exhaustion had taken over. Tamsin picked her up and carried her to Bo's bed where she could rest better and safer.

After she made sure Kenzi was finally asleep, Tamsin stood up without any warning, grabbed her jacket and went downstairs without a word. Bo, startled, followed her immediately.

"Where are you going?" she blurted out when the blonde was about to open the front door like a fury.

"I'm going to find and kill that bitch; where else Bo, huh?!" Tamsin answered, failing to hide how angry she was. Her jaw was clenched and the Succubus could see she was trying very hard to control her breathing and calm down.

"Who? Stacy? How can you be sure it was her?"

"Seriously Bo, who else do you think it was?"

"Well, I don't know, she's not the only Valkyrie in this world that we know, actually."

"Oh, I see where you're getting at. So what? You really think Acacia did it?!"

"That's not what I'm saying. I don't know. Who knows, Tamsin? She never liked me, that was pretty obvious."

"Not everything is about you, Bo!" the blonde almost yelled. She took a few deep breaths to calm down. The Succubus was taken by surprise by the Tamsin's reaction and did not dare to say anything else.

"Acacia would never do something like that, alright? Just... Just trust me, please," the Valkyrie added more calmly.

"I do trust you Tamsin, I really do. I'm just freaking tired and angry about all this shit. I can't think straight," the brunette apologized.

The Valkyrie nodded slightly while taking one more deep breath. She knew the Succubus was just as mad as her about what had happened to Kenzi. "It's okay. I just… I knew this bitch was poison but I never thought she would dare to come here and on top of everything, use her power against Kenzi. I should have known though… This girl is the pure definition of a coward. She would never have the balls to attack you directly or even go against me again. Instead she preferred to attack the only human I care about in this damn world, knowing that Kenzi, despite her determination, wouldn't have enough strength to resist her powers. I'm going to fucking end her."

Her face started to darken once more, anger running hot through her veins. Instantly, Bo's eyes became bright blue. Not because she was hungry or turned on, but because she could feel the rage burning inside of her, the hate and the desire of killing Stacy with her bare hands. However, it was not her rage, it was the blonde's. She started to panic when she realized her power was intensifying and she soon wouldn't be able to stop herself from becoming someone she wasn't.

"Tamsin," she called out. "Tamsin, please calm down, I can't control myself!"

The Valkyrie turned her head towards the other girl and let her dark features disappear as she struggled to calm down. Bo's tone had freaked her out.

The Succubus's eyes turned back to her natural brown, an overwhelming sense of relief washing over her as she felt that intense anger subsiding.

"What the fuck was that, Tamsin?!" she exclaimed. By the look on her face, the blonde was as shocked as she was.

"I have no idea," the Valkyrie replied honestly, but feeling rather scared by what she has just witnessed. "I have to go," she added quickly.

"Wait, what about Kenzi?"

"You stay with her. She will be fine, I was able to reverse the effect of that debilitating doubt she was feeling. She'll have a hat Stacy did reversed the effect the doubt had on her. She'll have a terrible headache and be completely exhausted. But with you she'll be fine."

"But… Where are going?"

"I need to talk to someone." The Valkyrie could see the anxiety in the brunette's eyes. "I will be right back, I promise," she added reassuringly.

She did not wait for an answer, as she stormed through the front door and nearly broke into a run on her way to the car. She slid the key into the ignition and paused for a short moment. She was surprised, shocked even. She could not believe what she had just witnessed. Not only Kenzi had been through hell because of one of her sisters, but also whatever was happening between Bo and her was all kinds of crazy and she had no clue about it.

Well, she knew some things. She knew that over the last few weeks she had felt stronger than ever before. It had happened gradually. At first, she did not even realize it. But for a few days now, it seemed her Valkyrie was pushing to come out more often than ever before. And this scared Tamsin shitless because she seemed to have less and less control over it.

Additionally, her emotions clearly influenced Bo's, and vice-versa.

There was only one thing that could explain it: the bond. The only thing was this didn't make sense – the bond should not have begun manifesting because Bo had rejected her.

"I hope I'm fucking wrong," she whispered to herself.

She needed to have a serious conversation with her mom. Her biological one.

"Meet me ASAP. You know where. T."

This is what texted as she drove to one of her most favorite and secret spots downtown.

Indeed, it was a very quiet place; she had never seen anyone else there, fae or human.

She could simply go there and admire the unique view of the city. It was perfect when she

needed some time for herself, or just to get seriously drunk. This was also where she used to sleep when the only home she had was her truck.

While driving, Tamsin had one more thing to take care of. She took a look at her watch. 5:00

am. "The bitch better be awake," she muttered before pressing the call button and putting the phone on speaker. It only rang twice before the person answered, much to her surprise.

"This better be fucking urgent, Valkyrie, or I will rip your head off."

The blonde huffed. "You can try but we both know you wouldn't risk messing up your manicure."

"I see you didn't lose your sarcasm. Now let's get to the point so you can stop wasting my time. What do you want?"

"Jeez, calm down, my dear Morrigan. Besides, what do you actually have to do at 5 a.m. besides banging an innocent human?"

"Blondie," Evony answered coldly in warning.

"I need an apartment," Tamsin said seriously. It was definitely not a question or a request, but rather a direct statement.

The other woman laughed loudly on the other end. "Tamsin, Tamsin… Why on earth would I be willingly to do that for you?"

"Oh yeah, why would you do that?! Let me think…" she started, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Probably because of the bunch of shit I have done for you, no questions asked in the past few years, and all the things I swept under the rug for you so they wouldn't come back and bite you in the ass?" she spat angrily.

"Do not forget who you're talking to, Valkyrie," the Morrigan warned her a second time. "I admit that you have a point," she added after a few moments. "You have indeed served me well, blondie. However, an apartment… That's a lot of money you are asking for. Why do you need an apartment anyway? I thought you lived with Succubitchy and her human goth."

"None of your business. And stop fooling with me. I know you're probably fucking on a mattress stuffed with hundred-dollar bills as we speak," the blonde replied rolling her eyes.

Evony huffed again but Tamsin could tell it was just for show, as she was actually feeling rather flattered by the Valkyrie's comment. "One condition," she added eventually.

"Tell me."

"You'll owe me a favor."

"No way!"

"Your choice, Tamsin. But this is the only deal that I have for you. Either you agree to help me one more time, whenever I'll need it and whatever it is, or you get nothing."

A few seconds passed before the Valkyrie spoke again. She was afraid the favor would put the people she cared about in danger. A few years before, she would have agreed without batting an eyelid, simply because she had nothing to lose. But now, it was very much different.

Deep down, she knew however that the Morrigan would never ask for something like this. As stubborn the Valkyrie was, surely Evony knew she would never acquiesce to doing something that would harm those she cared about, even if that meant going back on her word.

"You better find me something fucking great, Morrigan," Tamsin grunted.

"Deal. I'll text you the address later today. Pleasure doing business with you, Tamsin," Evony answered with a big smile on her face. A smile she knew Tamsin could sense on the other end of the line. "And if you ever feel like celebrating your new acquisition over a drink or in bed… Just call me," she added, wanting to piss off the Valkyrie even more.

"I'd rather die in Hel," Tamsin replied in disgust and hung up right away. "This bitch is like a billion years old. Ugh."

Tamsin arrived at her destination a few minutes after concluding her conversation with the Dark Fae leader. She was tired, angry and scared. But she was not scared for herself. She was scared for Bo and for Kenzi. They deserved nothing of this and shouldn't have been involved in her problems.

If Stacy was planning revenge and were to attack, she was the only one to blame, because of what had happened between them in the past. She had done so many bad things, made so many mistakes that kept on adding to her ever-growing list of enemies. She was afraid the two girls she cared about would end up collateral victims of her poor decisions.

She took a couple of deep breaths and closed her eyes. However, these few seconds of peace were quickly interrupted by a loud bang on the window of her truck.

She exhaled, trying to get mentally prepared for the upcoming discussion, and got out of the truck.

"Well, finally," the blonde said rather irritated.

"Shut up kid, I came as fast as I could," the older Valkyrie greeted her just as grumpily.

"Well then, you're getting old," Tamsin replied, a hint of mischief in her voice.

Acacia laughed. "Come here, you piece of shit, with your dirty big mouth." She opened her arms widely as Tamsin closed the gap between them to hug the other Valkyrie. "It's good to see you well, T."

"Thanks, it's good to see you, too," the blonde replied timidly.

"Alright, let's cut the shit. What was so urgent?"

"Stacy attacked one of my… friends earlier tonight," she said honestly. "How could she possibly leave Valhalla after what she did to me, Acacia? What the fuck is Freya doing?" Tamsin started feeling her anger rising again as she was talking about the attack.

"That stupid bitch!" the older Valkyrie exclaimed.

"Yeah, exactly. So what, now Valkyries can just go at each other's throats and momma Freya doesn't do shit about it?" she almost yelled.

"Tamsin, the rules haven't changed," the other Fae responded, trying to calm down her protégée. But it was no avail.

"Then what, Acacia?! Am I seriously the only one who is being punished after violating those stupid rules? I remember making fun of her during training in our second life, and guess what? Freya kept me in solitary confinement for weeks! I was tortured and deprived of sleep for days, for something as stupid as that! And what does Stacy get for beating the shit out of me for no reason, huh? The opportunity to try again!" she spat. She could feel she was on the border of losing control and paused for a second. "Just tell me, Acacia, because I really don't get it," she added, almost begging the other Fae to offer her a concrete explanation.

"God dammit, Tamsin! You know you are not one of us anymore in Freya's eyes," she huffed in frustration and kicked one of the truck's tires for good measure. "Since you've made that deal with the Wanderer or whoever that evil was, you denied Freya, your sisterhood, your heritage and above all, yourself, Tamsin." Seeing the hurt in the blonde's eyes because of her words was killing her.

"That was one mistake, Acacia. One fucking mistake. You know it, you know me. I am not working for him anymore. I've paid the price of it with my life, don't you think it's enough?" Tamsin's voice was trembling now, as tears were welling up in her eyes.

"I know, T, and I have forgiven you, despite all of those years you spent in his service. But I am not Freya. For gods' sake, you disobeyed her in front of everyone, T! You humiliated her."

Tears were now running down the blonde's cheeks. She felt remorseful. She hated having to remember these moments. She had been the best Valkyrie. The goddess had trained her personally, alongside Acacia. She had such a bright future ahead of her but decided to throw everything away. And for what? A stupid rebellion against power, rules and absolutely everything in her life that bothered her. She was so arrogant.

"She hates me, huh?" she almost whispered, her voice raw with tears and emotion.

"She will never hate you, Tamsin. But imagine being in her shoes for one second. She cannot treat you as any other loyal Valkyrie. This would be perceived as unfair, and a weakness on her part. She cannot afford to be seen as weak."

"So instead she lets one of my sisters attack me without a reason?"

"Come on, T… Stacy isn't really…"

"Wait. You're okay with it, too?" Tamsin interrupted, frowning deeply.

"I thought you were going to kick her sorry ass! I didn't know you had started to bond with the Succubus and that she denied your love that same fucking night!" she retorted.

This definitely got Tamsin's attention.

"What about the bond, A? What do you know about it?"

The other Valkyrie froze immediately. She seemed hesitant to answer the blonde's question and was without a doubt regretting what she had just said. The fact didn't go unnoticed by Tamsin.

"Tell me," she added firmly, taking a step towards her mentor to let her know she expected an honest answer and was not going to leave until she obtained one.

'Shit,' Acacia thought.

Author's note:

And this is it for chapter 11! Thank you for taking the time to let me know what you think about it, this is appreciated.

Chapter 12 will explain in more details the bond or at least my version of it as well as many other surprises along the way.

See you soon!