You're getting this a day early, since I am going camping for the weekend and just couldn't bear to leave you all hanging until Monday. Lol. Here's another LONG one to tide you over until next week as we continue along this bumpy, winding, and gut-churning ride :P

This one is a bit of a roller coaster too, but I urge you to read past the beginning and get into the meat of it. Not everything is as it first appears...

*The replies are going to be short, since I am am quickly typing this while trying to pack the trailer. Lol. Sorry. I will come back later and type longer replies. I swear!* Longer replies to come tomorrow*

CB73: I totally agree. In-Vino Astrid is dangerous Astrid. At least, in her defence, she didn't know that she was so scary... lol. She really does need a long talk with her mother though.

Guest: Angelica: Haha, I'm sorry for killing you, but hopefully this one helps ease some of the pain. You're right that Hiccup has a bond with Cuithanna, and he definitely loves her, but it is certainly not in the same way as he loves Astrid. Thank you for keeping your arms and legs inside the vehicle though ;)

Now Account: We have seen Astrid bewitching Ilweran all along, haven't we. The poor boy. To be as helpless as a human and at the whim of a vindictive part-goddess. He is REALLY lucky that he has Cuithanna's protection right now! I'm super glad you noticed that Cuithanna was actually seeming to push Astrid, rather than trying to woo Hiccup. Hence the glazed over eyes, which means that the Light Goddess is using some pretty potent persuasion magic on that boy too.

Angryhenry: It was inevitable, but not quite like this. Lol. Glad you liked it.

Guest: Aww, thanks :) I'm glad you liked it. As dark as it was, it's still one of my favourite chapters.

Surfy: The title of the book really does fit that chapter, doesn't it. I'm glad you liked it, despite of, and likely because of, just how gritty is was. I think we are all a little concerned for Illy. My poor little sacrificial lamb...

Superlego99: I know, right! My cliffhangers are already terrible, and then I had the nerve to write TWO of them! You are absolutely right that other types of mythology are starting to blend into the mix. (Yes, Hecate is Greek. Though she is believed to have originated with the Carians, a branch of Minoans, before being adopted by the Greeks into their pantheon at a later date)

IcyForest: First off, thank you so, so much for the review. It is never too late to show a little love :P I love hearing that people are enjoying my work :D As for your questions for this chapter, all I can say is that I am also a woman myself. Therefore, I completely understand why Astrid THINKS that she needs to apologize for her actions, because I would. I would feel absolutely terrible, even if it wasn't really my fault. (She did kinda rape Ilweran). Golwen never tells Astrid that she needs to apologize for what she has done though. Just that she needs to talk to the boys to set things right before the wounds are allowed to fester. All of the wounds. Astrid's included. 'Airing the dirty laundry,' you could say. As for Hiccup, well, he may just surprise you... ;)

_

Astrid felt like a cornered animal. Draped in another man's tunic and waiting for an arrow through the heart as those alarming eyes held her in place. Then Hiccup waved a gently glowing hand and the heavy darkness suddenly lifted. Allowing her to see the room, and him, clearly. He was sitting in a chair by the balcony door. One ankle crossed over his knee as he pressed his fingertips together beneath his chin. Gazing at her with a coldly calculating expression.

He was still dressed in the same red tunic and black trouser combination as earlier. His dual swords propped against the chair beside him. She kept waiting for him to say something. Perhaps start raging and screaming at her, but he didn't. He just sat perfectly still and silent as he continued to stare her down with those disorienting eyes. A feeling of ice cold and barely contained menace radiating off of him that raised goosebumps on her skin.

Finally she couldn't take it anymore. "Hiccup, I..." she started. Floundering around uselessly for the right words and coming up empty. Wanting to break the silence, but not really knowing what she had even planned to say. How do you even start to apologize for something like this? How angry was Hiccup? He kept himself so locked down most of the time. It made it nearly impossible for her to get a read on him right now, but he had seemed pretty pissed off in the glade.

"Yes Astrid," he said quietly. The lack of anger in his voice startled her. Almost as much as the chilling emptiness of it. "Is there something that you would like to say to me? If so, just spit it out. I find that it is usually better to get all of the unpleasant things over with all at once."

She tried to hold her head up and meet his gaze, but she just couldn't. The shame she felt was simply too heavy. "Hiccup, I... I'm so sorry. Gods, there is not even a word powerful enough for how sorry I am. You have no idea how much I wish that I could take back all of it. I don't even really know what happened. I just snapped. I was angry at you, and hurt when you kissed Cuithanna, but that doesn't make what I did okay."

She shifted uncomfortably as the press of his gaze felt like a crushing weight on her chest. "I could tell that she had dazzled you, but that just didn't seem to matter to me at the time. I was too jealous. We didn't actually have sex though," she felt the sudden need to point out. "Not that that makes it better, or anything."

"I know," he answered easily. His voice a cold monotone and her eyes flew up to search his face. At her expression, he added, "I have already spoken to Ilweran. He made it very clear that he did not have sex with you. A fact which was already blatantly obvious, given the fact that his will was still his own. Nice touch that. Using persuasion magic to lure him in. He would have been yours without it you know. If you had asked him nicely enough, that is."

He placed his other foot on the floor now as he leant forward in his seat. Resting his elbows on his knees and folding his hands together in an unreasonably calm manner. Astrid, on the other hand, felt her heart stutter painfully. "You already spoke to Ilweran," she asked nervously. A cold sweat breaking out on the back of her neck as her head spun dangerously. Images from her nightmares clawing their way back to the surface of her mind again. Was Ilweran alright?!

"He came to find me right after escaping you. I listened to his side of the tale and dealt with him accordingly," Hiccup replied casually. Astrid felt her stomach roll over at that. Sure that she was going to be sick as the bitter taste of bile bit at the back of her throat. Seeming to sense her unease, he added, "I assure you that Ilweran is still alive. Now, where do you propose we go from here, Astrid?"

"What do you mean," she spouted in surprise.

"I am asking you what you want out of all of this," he answered blandly. "It is quite clear that we cannot all simply carry on as if today never happened. It is a little late for games of pretend and pointless denials after all, so if you have some suggestions I would love to hear them."

"Does it really matter what I want," she asked sadly. Her voice barely more than a whisper.

"It matters very much what you want." His tone was somewhat more gentle now, and she met his eyes again in confusion. "More accurately, it matters who you want," he added softly. "I would hate for you to come back to my arms strictly out of guilt or a sense of duty. Especially if you would rather be in another's."

"Ha! As if you would take me back," Astrid snapped. Resenting the idea of false hope being dangled in front of her face like that. She knew he would never want her and she didn't blame him. She didn't even want her. "I've betrayed your trust and seduced your best friend. Worst of all, I enjoyed every moment of it. I wanted it. So much so that I even tried to force him to stay while he was trying to break free," she spat out. Wanting him to hate her as much as she hated herself. Wanting him to understand just how terrible she was. Wanting him to rage at her, because she deserved it and because anything would be better than this terrifying lack of emotion.

Hiccup's eyes narrowed ever so slightly at her then. "Of course you enjoyed it," he growled back. "Welcome to the wonderful world of promiscuous sex, Astrid. Now, I did not ask you if the man I consider to be my brother was a good fuck or not. I asked you what you want now that you have had a taste of that so called 'forbidden fruit'. If you want to be with him instead of me, please let me know now. That way I can walk away before I do something that I may regret one day."

"Of course I still want him," she choked out in disgust. Hating herself so thoroughly that she actually wished that she knew a spell for instant death. It would be easier than this. "I want you too. Apparently I'm just a godsdamn whore like that! Why in Helheim does it matter either way," she scoffed at him. Self loathing and anger feeling better than giving in to her urge to break down into ugly tears again right now.

"I've fucked up royally and ruined it with both of you. Don't think that I'm not already well aware of that fact. I stole Ilweran's will from him. I fucking raped him, for Thor's sake! I hurt him and used him for my own pleasure and vengeance. Committing adultery at the same time. The worst crime against you that I can think of!" She clutched at her hair desperately then as she doubled over. A sharp ache of painful remorse shooting through her stomach and making her want to vomit.

"Gods, I'm such a horrible person," she almost wailed. "I'm a real monster, Hiccup! I hurt people for fun! If anything I should be the one to walk away because I don't deserve either of you. At least if I leave, you and Cuithanna can be together without me complicating things. She's much better for you. I'm disgusting and pitiful, and not worth your time. I just needed to change my clothes before I go or I wouldn't even be forcing my presence on you right now. I'm surprised that you are even talking to me at the moment, to be honest. If I was you..."

"Self-pity serves no one, and it is not going to get you anywhere with me," Hiccup said. Cutting off her self-deprecating rant mid sentence. His eyes flashing dangerously. "Now, I will only ask you this one more time Astrid before I simply say 'to Helheim with you' and walk away anyways. I will not be used or played for the fool by anyone, and I suggest that you think very, very carefully before you answer because I will not do this again. So, what do you want?"

She really didn't need to think about it. After the initial pain of the situation had worn down, the truth had been like a hard slap to the face. There would only ever be one answer to that question. Although she may still desire both men, and the thought of losing Ilweran was painful, it was nothing compared to this. Astrid knew very well who she could never live without.

She was an addict after all. Given the choice between something that may be healthier, or the wickedly dangerous crutch, she would pick the crutch. Every single time. "You..." she whispered. So quietly that he would never have heard her if it wasn't for his super senses.

"What was that Astrid? You are going to have to be a little more sure than that. If you cannot even say it, then how can you really mean it." Hiccup's eyes gleamed brightly through the semi-darkness as he peered at her. A slight smirk even lifting one corner of his mouth, but it was not an overly friendly gesture.

Her stomach rolled over again as she raised her eyes to meet his. Her hands balling into clammy fists as she struggled to get the words out. Ready to have it all thrown back in her face once she had shown him that he was her biggest weakness. She could only imagine what horrible punishments he could line up for her afterwards. "I want you, okay!" She practically shouted it at him, but he didn't react at all.

Still, Astrid found herself needing to get it all out. Now that she had finally found her voice. "I was angry and jealous, and I wanted to make you pay. To make you know how it feels to watch the one you love get intimate with another by choice! When I saw you kiss Cuithanna it was like something good inside of me shattered to pieces and out came a monster instead. It promised revenge, and I just handed myself over to it. Gods Hiccup, I wanted to hurt you so badly. I did just that too, didn't I? Getting exactly what I desired and destroying all three of us in the process."

Once she had started speaking, she found the words simply flowing out of her mouth like flood waters in the spring. Every horrific truth getting laid bare to him. "Gods, I have always wanted you Hiccup! Even when we were kids and everyone else was shunning you. I pretended that I didn't like you, but it was a big, fat lie! You were incredibly clever, fascinating, resourceful, and everything that I wanted. The others called you weak, but you were honestly the strongest person that I had ever met. Your beautiful green eyes have always made my knees weak and your rare smiles were some of the most wonderful things in my hopelessly sheltered life."

She looked away from him again. Feeling a hot blush rise in her cheeks. "Of course I still want both of you. I care for both of you, after all, and I doubt that is ever going to change. I didn't realize until it was too late that my feelings for Ilweran were that strong, but it doesn't change the way I feel about you in the slightest. If, by some miracle, I could still have even one of you in my life in any way at all after all of this, I would want it to be you. It has always been you, Hiccup, and now I've ruined it all. I don't know what I'll do without you, but if you want me to go I will. I don't deserve your love, or your forgiveness. His either."

"There, I said it. Now you can go ahead and remind me that you can never trust me again and it's my own damn fault. Tell me about how you want nothing to do with me anymore and to get the fuck out of your life for good. That you never want to see my lying, cheating face again. Be as cruel as you want Hiccup. You can truly never hate me as much as I hate myself right now."

"Come here, Astrid."

His calm tone brought her up short, and she simply gaped at him in shock. "What?"

"I said, come here. Do not make me force you. I, too, am more than proficient enough in persuasion magic to steal the will of most. Including you. Although, I do not really need to use persuasion magic on you at all, now do I?" He raised a brow, and she shuddered as she pictured the Red Death, thrashing and paralyzed as he tormented it. Her mind shattered and broken as he smashed through her defences before brutally tearing her to pieces.

Seeing her fear, he smirked darkly. "Yes Astrid. I have many other equally powerful weapons in my arsenal and we both know that you are not strong enough to keep me out. Now come here." His eyes were burning much too brightly now, and Astrid found her feet carrying her forward. Almost of their own volition and likely to her doom.

She came to a stop right in front of him. A part of her honestly worried that he was going to hurt her. He was right, after all. She wasn't strong enough to keep him out. She never had been. If he wanted to make her suffer, she would be powerless to stop him. Which only made her feel even worse about what she had done to Ilweran. This was horrible.

Hiccup gazed up at her for a long moment. Then he reached out and pulled her onto his lap. Her legs straddling his hips with easy familiarity as she landed facing towards him. Gasping in surprise, Astrid braced her hands against his chest. Looking into his face with wide eyes. He simply smiled at her. "That was all I needed to hear," he said gently.

She looked at him in confusion. Before she could ask him what he meant though, he leaned forward to press his mouth to hers. That wonderfully familiar blazing inferno raced through her at the touch of his lips. Without even thinking about it, she was twining her fingers into his hair and kissing him back passionately. Pressing her body against him as if clinging to a life raft amidst stormy waters. Her arms clutching him so tightly that it likely would have been more of a choke hold to a human man.

His hands were warm and comforting, yet still unreasonably sensual through the thin silk of Ilweran's tunic. The tingling magic sending little jolts of lightning through her. She was trembling in his hands as his touch sang to her body in that way only he could. Making her realize just how stupid she had been. She would never have this with anyone else. No matter how good it had been, or how furious Hiccup made her sometimes, no one could make her feel like he did; and she had almost thrown it all away by choice. All because she had gotten angry and thrown a tantrum.

Finally pulling away to catch her breath, she gazed into his luminous eyes. Feeling an intense wave of vertigo wash through her. Along with an overwhelming relief. Somehow, despite everything, he still wanted her. "What? Why?.." she started, but he silenced her with another kiss.

"I know why you did it and you have absolutely nothing to apologize to me for," he said with a slight shrug. "I too am intimately familiar with the pull of the darkness and just how easy it is to lose yourself to it. Making you do things that you never intended to do and that you never believed yourself capable of. Everyone has a breaking point Astrid and I pushed you to yours. I should not have kissed Cuithanna. Her persuasion magic may be just as overwhelmingly powerful as yours, but it was still inexcusable. It is difficult, but not impossible, for me to cast it off, yet I did not. I cannot take it back, but I am truly sorry for hurting you. Can you forgive me?"

His green eyes were so kind. Carrying a depth of apology that was incredibly unexpected, and that she didn't deserve in the slightest. Just like that, Astrid crumbled. The floodgates breaking again as the tears flowed freely down her cheeks. She buried her face in the crook of Hiccup's neck then and sobbed. He simply held her and ran his hands over her back. Muttering soothing sweet nothings against her hair.

Finally getting herself under control after what felt like forever, Astrid sniffled and gazed back up at him. He offered her a gentle smile in return. "Only a fool would not have foreseen something like this happening one day. Thankfully, I happen to pride myself on being substantially more clever than the average man," Hiccup stated easily. "In truth, I have been emotionally preparing myself for this moment for months." Astrid felt her eyes grow wide at that. He had known this would happen?!

Seeing her surprise, Hiccup lifted his shoulders in a half shrug. "I must say that I was not expecting something quite this drastic. I would have been much happier with just a rather awkward and emotional conversation between the three of us instead. After all, it is not as if I was not already well aware of the way you two feel about each other. Perhaps even more aware of it than you two were. I thought that I would have more time to ease myself into accepting it, but maybe it is better this way..." he trailed off with a soft sigh. "Admittedly I was expecting you to choose him over me. He really is the better man."

"There is no better man than you Hiccup," Astrid mumbled quietly. "Not for me..."

"Thank you mi'lady, but that may not be entirely true," Hiccup countered with a grimace. "Just because our souls sing to each other does not necessarily mean that I am good for you. Regardless, I am glad that you still want me. Cuithanna said you would, but I did not really believe her. At best, I was hoping that you might want both of us instead of just him, and she did mention that you probably would."

"You would do that," Astrid gasped at him in shock. He was right though. She already knew that she was addicted to him. It honestly didn't matter if he was good for her or not. If it killed her. She would do absolutely anything to keep him, and clearly he felt the same. Why had she ever let herself doubt that?..

"If it was anyone else in all the realms, I would not even consider it," Hiccup answered easily. As if he really had already spent a fair amount of time mulling it over. "I love him like a brother. If it was anyone other than you victimizing him, I would likely have intervened and killed them. As he would do the same for me. Besides, he cares for you almost as deeply as I do. It would hurt both of you for me to chase him away, and I do not want to lose the best friend I have ever had that is not a dragon or my mate."

"As long as you do not try to rush me into it a second time around, for you I would be willing to try just about anything. Gods know I would never be able to make myself walk away from you when you still want me. How can I ask him to do the same," he added bluntly. Gazing up into her face and there was so much love in his eyes that it felt like her already shattered heart was now nothing but a pile of dust. "I know better than most that it really is possible to love two people at the same time, and I would rather have half of your love than none of it at all," he said quietly.

Biting back another sob, Astrid cupped his perfect face in her hands as she pressed her lips to his again. Overcome with too many feelings to put into words. How would she ever deserve this man? Breaking away, she gazed into his eyes for a moment. "You already have all of my love Hiccup. You always have. My feelings for you have never lessened or changed. Nothing could ever do that. I think my heart just got bigger instead..." Then she gave him a sly smirk. "On that note, do I only get to have each of you in turns, or can I have both at the same time?"

Hiccup snorted a laugh at that. "Do not start with me woman. Give me time to fully get over my rage, as I am not actually quite as calm as I seem right now. Then let me come to terms with whatever in Helheim this is too, before you try to get me in bed with another man. I do not care how sexy he is. Elves may be notoriously promiscuous, but I am also part night fury. Although, if Toothless was not the last of his kind, he might just whore it up like an elf too. Who knows..."

Now Astrid was giggling too, and it felt so wonderful. How did this man still manage to make her feel better even when she was actively trying to break his heart (admittedly not on purpose)? She gave him an exaggerated sigh then as she said, "a girl can dream, can't she."

"More like a nightmare," Hiccup drawled with an eye roll. "And here I thought that I was the pervert. It turns out you are the pervert and I am actually just a masochist. Why oh why did I have to lose my heart to the very wickedest of creatures," he pretended to moan, but the humour in his eyes gave him away.

"Because you are the evil Dark Rider and a filthy beast. No one else would be able to handle you," Astrid offered brightly. Hiccup allowed that with a shrug, and both of them were laughing again as Astrid met his eyes. "All kidding aside, that would actually be pretty hot. Honestly, I can't imagine my life without either of you boys in it, but I refuse to risk what we have for something straight out of one of Ruffnut's dirtiest fantasies. If I had to make a choice between the two of you, it would always be you," she told him seriously.

"I would never force you to choose," Hiccup replied simply. "My very being shies away from anything that may cause you pain." Just like that, her heart melted again.

Smiling softly at him, Astrid ran a tender hand over his jaw. "Every single time I think that you are as perfect as you can possibly be, you do something like this," she teased. "How could you ever think that I would pick someone else over you?" Hiccup just gave a half-hearted shrug in response, and she leant forward to press her lips to his again. Breaking away, she smirked at him. "I've honestly never really thought about actually sharing before, but it sounds amazing," she added deviously. Making him snort another laugh at her. "I know Ilweran has had multiple ladies at once and I'm guessing you have too. Is it really so different?.."

She grinned cheekily again as Hiccup rasped a laugh at that. "I did not love any of those ladies and I seriously doubt that Ilweran did either, but your point is still well made, mi'lady," he pointed out. Then his lips twisted up thoughtfully. "Although, to be fair, neither of us has ever actually had feelings for the same lady before either. How about this? The moment that I get a sudden and irresistible longing to roll around in the buff with him, you will be the first to know."

"Sounds good to me babe," She countered brightly. "I mean, he is pretty sexy. I'm not sure how long you'll be able to resist his roguish charms."

"Ugh... Roughish charms..." Hiccup gave a dramatic shudder as Astrid laughed again. "Dear gods, Cuithanna said you might actually be just as wicked as me, but I never thought to emotionally prepare myself for the awakening of such a beautiful and dangerous monster." He grimaced then, as if someone had just force-fed him a mouthful of bitter sorrel leaves. "We are a fucking mess, mi'lady. You do know that, right?"

"We really are, aren't we," Astrid found herself giggling in return. "Apparently we are both volatile and sadistic monsters though, so it works for us. I kind of wish that I had lashed out and killed someone instead. It would have been far less awkward. Probably would've gotten me equally as excited though. There is something seriously wrong with me..." she trailed off with a sigh. Casting her eyes down as her lips twisted into a disgusted grimace.

Hiccup chuckled quietly at that. "I think you are just fine, but then again I am pretty twisted myself. Honestly, it was only a matter of time before I made you angry enough to snap again. I am still a bit of an idiot. Feel free to take your anger out on me next time though. Leave the innocent bystanders out of it," he supplied with a smirk. Making her snort a laugh as she looked back up to meet his eyes. He smiled warmly at her for a moment before his face got serious again.

"It may have been nice to know that you can use persuasion magic," he added with a sigh. "Just so that we all might have been a little better prepared for such an outburst. I may have to speak to Golwen about that. Although Ilweran did say that it was stronger than anything he has ever felt before. If that is the case then I doubt there was much we could have done. I could not even get in the middle of it in the glade without risking you attacking me. Something I would rather avoid at all costs, frankly. Once the darkness takes over, it becomes very hard to differentiate between friend and enemy, and there is no controlling what happens..."

"He's right," Astrid said quietly. Casting her eyes down again as he trailed off vaguely. Arching a confused brow at her. "There was nothing that Ilweran could have done to stop it. Please don't be mad at him," she added. "It really was all my fault. I just handed myself over to it, and I probably would have attacked you if you had tried to stop me. I actually even considered making him attack you for me. I remember you telling Ilweran that it was important to shield against and contain the darkness, but I didn't even bother to try. It never occurred to me that I should, since I didn't know that I could use persuasion magic until today either. Golwen certainly didn't teach me dark magic."

"How is that possible," Hiccup asked. The doubt plain in his tone. "If not Golwen, then someone else would have had to teach you to channel dark magic. It is not really an instinctual art Astrid. Even I had Bríghid teach me the basics before I started to expand my skills on my own. Unless you were born with the ability, that is..." his voice trailed off at that. His eyes resting on her face with a look of speculation now, and she could tell that he was starting to suspect the truth.

"I was born with it," she confirmed gently. Watching as he arched an eyebrow at her.

"Freyja," he guessed, and she shook her head at him. His other eyebrow coming up to join the first in shock. "But... No way." Astrid gave him an apologetic grimace. Calling on that strange power that was still thrumming inside of her, she brought it closer to the surface until she felt that same tingling sensation between her brows. Hiccup's eyes flying wide as he took in the glowing crescent moon mark on her forehead.

Then, to her utter astonishment, he barked out a laugh. "Well, what do you know," he said as he continued to chuckle quietly. "Death's Dark Lady. No wonder she approved of Cuithanna's choice. Hecate had already staked her own claim long before I had even left Midgard. Albeit through blood and souls..." Astrid just continued to gape at him. The cryptic words he spoke made absolutely no sense, as far as she was concerned.

"What is that supposed to mean," she asked him. He met her eyes with a gentle shake of his head.

"Nothing mi'lady," he stated smoothly. "Just the answers to some questions that I have had for quite some time. I guess Cuithanna was right, after all. You truly are just as wicked as me. Maybe even more so," Hiccup teased. Making her blush again.

"You know, I always thought that Cuithanna and you bore a striking resemblance to each other," he added thoughtfully. "I just assumed that it was simply my mind trying to make it easier for me to perform my duties. I guess not. I am even more impressed with Ilweran now. That asshole somehow broke free from Hecate's own persuasion magic, even if he says it was your pendant that initially shocked him awake. The fact that he was able to escape at all is incredible enough. He really is a much better man than me," he grumbled with another shake of his head. "I will never doubt him again."

"You really didn't kill him? You're not even mad at him," Astrid asked in confusion as she fingered said pendant distractedly through the silky tunic. Of course she was happy that he didn't blame Ilweran, but he also seemed far too accepting for it to be normal. Honestly, he had apparently killed lots of other people for far less valid reasons. Like money.

"No Astrid. I did not kill him," Hiccup replied gently. "I was going to at first. Right there in the glade in fact, but thankfully Cuithanna talked me down since I would have very much regretted it afterwards. I am still not overly happy with him, but I would never want to hurt you like that. If you had wanted to be with him, I would not have stopped you. I love you enough that I would rather see you happy than get my revenge. No matter how gratifying it would be at the time. I would have had to walk away for a while, but only so that I did not do anything rash."

"Despite that fact, I would always be waiting in the wings. Sticking close and hoping that you would decide that you wanted me back. I would wait forever for you, mi'lady." Astrid's heart melted at those words and she leant forward to kiss him again. "I freely admit that I did almost scare the life out of him tonight," he added darkly as she broke away. A wicked smirk twisting his shapely lips. "He should recover though. It is not as if he did not earn it. At least a little bit."

"Besides, who am I to judge? We both know that my record is far from flawless. I do not feel that we really need to delve into all of the times that I have been unfaithful to you in the last five years, though. Just suffice it to say that we have both made mistakes. Never mind the fact that I have been in Ilweran's place as well, far more than once. Except, unlike him, I was not being forced and I was only there for the sex. Not to mention that I followed through and consummated the thing. Every. Damn. Time." At Astrid's startled head tilt, he gave a humourless laugh.

"I am not overly proud of it, but there was a time when I was catering to a plethora of married women Astrid," he answered with a sigh. "Yes, sometimes multiples at once. They didn't even need to use real magic to charm me into bed. As a matter of fact, I charmed many of them into bed with a combination of sex appeal and minor persuasion magic. Though I should point out that I absolutely did not rape any of them. I am not that much of a monster."

"I only ever gave a gentle nudge to the ones that were already on the fence, and though it did not happen often, I stopped and let them walk away if they changed their mind. That still does not make it okay," he added in a tone of disgust. "I even considered doing the same thing to you five years ago. It would have been all too easy. Your mind was already screaming your desire at me. A few whispered words and tender caresses, some gentle persuasion to quell your nerves, and I would have had you. Although I did manage to resist the urge."

"Not that it mattered. I got what I wanted in the end anyways," he stated relentlessly. Making Astrid blush at the memory. Even as she realized the shocking reality of what he could have done to her if he had wanted to. Frankly, exactly what she had done to Ilweran. He grimaced at her expression. Offering an apologetic shrug of shoulders. His lovely green eyes looking ancient beyond their years. Bearing the hard earned wisdom of a decade of pain and bad decisions. It was as if talking about his deplorable past had aged him a thousand years in the span of a heartbeat, and Astrid felt her heart break again for him.

"I have been comfortable bedmates with the darkness for far too many years, Astrid," he answered her shock with a sigh. "I resisted my own desires only because I had intended for you to remain as the one shining ray of goodness in my otherwise shadowy existence. As for those other women, I was more than happy to provide whatever services their husbands were not, and I performed them well. Well enough to make it certain that they would come back for more. Luring them in with my charms, my looks, and very occasionally my magic. Keeping them through the heady addiction of potent lust and a skilled touch. Then casting them aside or chasing them away with persuasion magic when I got bored of them, or if they got too clingy."

"Oh my gods, Hiccup! That's terrible," Astrid gasped. Looking at her lover in disbelief. He had willingly seduced and bedded married women?! Intentionally getting them hooked on his touch, just so that they would continue to stray? She had seduced Ilweran out of jealousy, pain, and a loss of control. Now Hiccup was confiding that he had done the same thing on purpose, multiple times, and that it had only ever been for the sex. What?! "I feel like an absolute shit for doing it once, and I didn't even consciously choose to do it really. How could you do this to someone on purpose? Never mind that actually. How did the women even get away with it?"

"Sometimes I forget just how innocent you are," he said quietly. Trailing his fingers over her arms and making her shiver. He gave her a soft smile then. Gazing into her eyes, and there were curiously dark shadows buried within his lovely green orbs. "Infidelity is so, so much more common than you think mi'lady. Even in a place as small and isolated as Berk." Despite her surprise, there was not a hint of either shame or accusation to be found on his handsome face.

"It is simply a little trickier in a small village, but certainly not impossible. Think of how often we were together before we got caught," he stated easily. "Rome, however, is a very big place with a lot of people. A hooded cloak and a little diversion, a loyal servant willing to lie for you, and it becomes ever so easy to lose oneself in a crowd. Ending up on your forbidden lover's doorstep instead. A lover that gives you exactly what you need. Pleasuring you enough that you can go back to your disappointing arranged marriage to a man you do not love, and pretend that you are happy for a little while longer. Taking it one day of varied abuses at a time."

"Every woman I bedded was of high status. Each of them equally beautiful, and beautifully broken. I know better than most that all it can take is one little push to make even the strongest woman stray. Especially when she is expected to uphold a certain moral code, or project a certain public image, no matter how much of her world is crashing down. Always there, quietly supporting her wealthy, abusive, or unfaithful husband. No matter how much of a useless dog he is," Hiccup explained.

"Their hours with me provided an escape from that life of propriety, false affection, and forced obedience. Usually I did not even need to coerce them. They simply handed themselves over willingly. Their bodies yearning for what only I could give." Then his lips twisted into a grimace. "Do not feel too bad for their husbands. Most of them had multiple live-in mistresses that their wives were just supposed to put up with. Not to mention the prostitutes and the sex slaves of both genders, and all ages, that could be purchased for enough coin. Your own mother almost became one of those sex slaves, but luckily for her she was 'bought' by your father."

"WHAT?!" Astrid shouted in horror. Her mother was almost sold as a sex slave?!

"Yes Astrid," Hiccup said quietly. "Your mother. You will have to ask her about it though, as that is really not my story to tell. The Romans destroyed the temple where she lived and then they auctioned off her and her fellow priestesses like livestock. Likely raking in a fair amount of coin too from the assortment of beautiful and mostly virginal young women. It was a disgusting practice, but it was also just a way of life. Your mother would not have been overly surprised by it, to be honest. She may have been more surprised that the man who bought her wanted to marry her..." he added with an eye roll.

"Still, I had no interest in any of those things. So I fucked the bastards' lovely and long suffering wives and daughters instead. Reaping the benefits of being a handsome, wealthy, and exotic dragon-riding mercenary from the North. Strutting around the courts amidst the upper class like some sort of stud stallion and loving the attention." He laughed mirthlessly then. "You were right about me all along, Astrid. I am a dog. If you were disgusted by Ilweran, you should be horrified by me. When I was not killing for money and fighting Hadrian's wars for him, I was dividing my time between study and sex. Not even as a way to bury my troubles either. That is what the studying was for."

"Unlike Ilweran, I did not have a void inside of me that I was desperately trying to fill. A yearning for something more that was just out of reach. Probably because I had already found you. I was doing it simply because I wanted to; because I enjoyed it. My revolving door was not a kind one either Astrid," he stated coldly. "I did not provide them with their own rooms and a few days lavish living. I lured them into my own bed and then threw them outside when I was done. Forcing them out if I had to. Drawing careful lines between myself and them as well, and taking extra care not to leave them with child. Many thought that they could trap me too, but I refused to let that happen. I did not want or need their love."

"Eventually, you really do grow numb to the nature of the beast. It took your hesitantly innocent love and completely unbridled trust in me that first night to finally wake me up and make me see what a heartless asshole I was," he closed his eyes for a moment. Taking a deep breath through his nose before opening them again. "I have stolen the virtue of so many maidens, and the honour of so many good women, all through my devilish charms," he added quietly. "Twisting them into creatures of darkness like myself before passing them back to men that could never hope to satisfy their newfound cravings. I only did it if they wanted me to though, and it was never just for the sake of hurting them. Yes, I was truly just using them for the sex, but they were using me too."

Astrid could feel the blood rushing from her face and knew that she must be ghostly pale. Her stomach churning with the same repulsed feelings as it had the first time she had seen all those bedrooms in Ilweran's wing of the palace and learned what they were for. She just couldn't help being mortified by the thought of it. "That's disgusting! How could anyone be okay with any of that?! How could you be okay with that?! Wasn't it terrible? Knowing that they belonged to someone else and doing it anyways. Getting them hooked and then leaving them wanting and broken. How could you do that?"

"Honestly Astrid? It was because I was young, stupid, and horny," he answered gruffly. "For the first time in my life, women were attracted to me. They were willing to risk everything just to get a taste of what I had to give. By the age of 17, I had learned that you did not need to love someone to enjoy sex with them. It was not a sacred act, as we were taught. It was a carnal hunger. I savoured the sweet nectar of their affection like a fine wine as I catered to their riskiest desires. Getting my own rocks off at the same time, and I did not have to give a single shit about any of them while I did it. I simply used them until I grew bored and then tossed them aside, like I said."

Astrid was drinking in his words ravenously as he finally shared glimpses of his jaded past with her. A past he normally kept locked away so tightly. Seeing her interest, he met her eyes with a look of pained resolve. "I did things that most decent people, and even some indecent people, would be horrified by and I enjoyed every moment of it. Learning about the darker sides of lust and venturing down paths that I never would have discovered if I had remained on Berk. Finding pleasure in brutal domination as my victims begged for more. Even learning how to provide erotic pain and restraint without leaving marks, for obvious reasons, as those women could not simply be healed with magic. All while using my ability to read and control minds as a way to push their limits as well as my own."

"You see Astrid, I have absolutely no right to judge you for your actions. I did not understand what my feelings for you were and I did not think that it would have mattered anyways. I was surrounded by sex, violence, politics, and war. While you were sheltered and safe in the land I had left behind. You were not mine to fantasize over and you likely never would be," Hiccup added with a sigh. "Besides, those really were just the rules of society. Those without had to serve the wealthy to avoid death. Men of all ranks were allowed to screw around as much as they wanted. Especially those in power or those that served in the emperor's guard, such as myself. We were almost expected to, in fact."

"Women were barely seen as human, Astrid. Simply there to mind the household, increase your wealth through her dowry or family connections, and bear you children. If even that. Sometimes they were only seen as a hole to stick your dick in. Certainly not equal to the obviously superior menfolk," Hiccup said in disgust. "If a woman was 'ruined' by rape, it was her own fault. If she was caught having an affair, she would be cast out of her home. Both occurrences leaving her with nothing to her name, and very few options. Unlike Berk, the council would not help her after the initial punishment period. Usually she would end up working in one of those brothels just to survive. So they were forced to seek out discreet lovers instead. Ones that respected them enough to not jeopardize their reputation."

"Which is where you came in," Astrid cut in quietly. Finally gleaning a small idea of what life had been like for him. Young, handsome, and relatively alone in a strange world full of violence, sex, and confusing politics. No wonder it hadn't been that big of a change for him to leave Midgard. He had already spent years navigating the horrors of humanity. Using and being used. Honestly, Rome sounded worse than Helheim. She spared barely a moment to contemplate just how furious and disgusted she would have been if she had heard all this at any other time. Did she really have any right to get mad at him right now though, when he had forgiven her? When he hadn't even been angry with her?

Sure, he had pushed his moral limits over and over again until he eventually grew numb to the monstrous nature of the beast within. Seeing things that she was only barely starting to be able to imagine, but did that make him a bad person. She loved the man that he had become. That both of her boys had become. Despite their deplorable pasts, and because of them. Now that she had heard both of them, Astrid couldn't help noticing that the paths Hiccup and Ilweran had taken to this place were almost unreasonably similar. They were also equally horrifying to the woman she had been raised to be, but in truth, was she actually a better person than either of them? She used to think so, but now she knew better, and they had both clearly changed.

"Naturally," Hiccup agreed gently. Reading the understanding in her eyes. "The Shadow Demon was terrifying, dangerous, and incredibly desirable. Yet he treated each of them ever so well. A true gentleman and a perfect lover. Unlike their husbands. Whatever you desire he will oblige with relish. I used those twisted skills in the bedroom to help create my image here too. I was not gentle with the temple priestesses, and word spread quickly, but the women all still chase me anyways. Not overly surprising, since murder is certainly not the only wicked thing that I am shockingly good at." He winked at her cheekily then. Lifting the dark mood, just like that.

Astrid couldn't help snorting a laugh now. "I can't argue with that," she teased. "Dangerous, desirable, and a perfect lover. Sounds like you alright. I can't say I blame them for chasing you, but I will happily kill them if they think they can touch you without my permission." Then she peered into his face again. "I really am sorry Hiccup. I never, ever wanted to hurt you, and I never dreamed it would go that far. That I would go that far. Honestly. I don't even know what came over me in the glade."

"Then again, I have been fully convinced that something was horribly wrong with me for even being attracted to Ilweran in the first place," Astrid confided with a small grimace. "Turns out, I'm not the person that I thought I was. The innocent fisherman's daughter that was raised to believe in black and white. Good and evil. There was no such thing as morally grey, and intimacy was only something to be shared with your husband. Good girls simply don't lust for men, after all," she added sardonically. Making Hiccup chuckle and she shrugged at him.

"Apparently that good girl was a lie that I freely bought into. Other than you, there was never anyone or anything on Berk that called to me enough to challenge those beliefs. No lines to blur. I think because of it, I just always assumed that I would never want anyone else anyways. Or that even if I did suddenly desire someone else, it would be a passing thing. Easily ignored or cast off. After all, according to my parents, sex without love was not worth wanting or having." Astrid shook her head in slight disgust at herself. "Turns out, just like everything else, I was wrong about that too..." she trailed off with a sigh.

Hiccup rasped a laugh and rubbed his hands over her back again. "If sex without love was not worth having, then Thor would have far fewer notches on his belt mi'lady. As would Ilweran and I," he teased lightly. "Although, you still have not really had sex without love, my dear. It was just tainted by the shadows of dark magic, but you still have feelings for Ilweran," he pointed out as Astrid's cheeks flushed pink in embarrassment. "I freely admit that the innocent fisherman's daughter routine was hot and all, but I happen to really like bad girls. Well, one bad girl in particular," he added then. Giving her another wink.

Astrid chuckled softly at that, before leaning in to kiss him again. "Speaking of Ilweran and murder though," she started quietly as she broke away. "Thank you again for not killing him. It really wasn't his fault and I feel terrible for what I did to him. I hunted him and then used him as a play thing. Wrapping him up in weirdly hissing serpents of dark magic that whispered to me. It was like I was some sort of vicious predatory animal and he was simply my helpless prey."

"I am quite sure that he did not mind overly much," Hiccup pointed out dryly. "Even if he did eventually run away, I doubt he will complain about the initial experience."

"I as good as raped him," Astrid stated firmly. "It was completely unacceptable and I would really like the chance to apologize to him for it. Even if he never wants to speak to me again afterwards."

Hiccup offered her his lopsided smirk then, and her heart melted again. "You certainly did pretty much rape him, which is why I thought that you might want to apologize to him for it. Anyone else would already be dead for touching you. Whether they were being victimized or not. Luckily for you though, you picked someone that I not only care for, but that I also have a certain obligation to keep alive. As for the whispers, well that was just true dark magic for you. It wants to consume you and use you, and your job is to ignore it and restrain it. Two things you will obviously need to do better in future," he added, and Astrid felt her cheeks heat again.

"The serpents, on the other hand, are a symbol that is strongly associated with Hecate. Not many could even hope to conjure them. Much like Ilweran's amber eyes and my green ones, they are more a signifier of the root of the caster's power. Often marking a direct connection to the Dark Goddess herself." He brought his hand around where she could see it then. Holding it palm up. Astrid gazed at it in confusion for a moment, then she gasped as tendrils of dark purple and green magic burst from it. Morphing into lovely and remarkably familiar shadow serpents with glowing green or purple eyes and lashing tongues, before dissipating like wisps of smoke.

"True persuasion magic. The serpents only appear when using the most powerful forms of it," he offered with a shrug. "When I choose to use it to its full potential, mine is much more potent than any you will ever encounter in the temples, or even from Freyja herself. It is actually equal to that of Hecate and Cuithanna, and yours obviously is too. After all, Ilweran's shields are some of the strongest I have ever encountered. Yet you bypassed them like they were not even there." That idea shocked Astrid. Could she really be that powerful?! On par with Hiccup?!

"I usually prefer to break down the shields of my target and use a lesser form instead. It has the same effect and takes much less focus and energy on my part. I am willing to bet that you felt substantially drained afterwards," Hiccup asked mildly as he arched a brow at her expectantly. She nodded at him with a grimace and he ran his hands over her back soothingly again as he added, "handing yourself over to the darkness will do that to you."

"I must admit, the way you hunted Ilweran with it was actually incredibly sexy though," Hiccup offered with a smirk. "It probably would have turned me on, to be honest. If watching him touch you had not also made me indescribably furious, that is. I know how deeply he cares for you, and that he would never do anything to hurt you, but I just could not manage to make myself care about his feelings at the time. It was a bit too sudden, unexpected, and painfully public for that."

Astrid felt another hot blush stain her cheeks as she cast her eyes down again. She hadn't been concerned with Ilweran's feelings either. He had simply been her puppet and her play-thing. A means to an end... Hiccup simply raised her face back to a level with his. "Ilweran will forgive you, you know," he said quietly. His green eyes warm and reassuring. Much more so than she deserved.

"No he won't," Astrid mumbled back dejectedly. "Why in Helheim would he?"

"Because he loves you too," Hiccup replied simply. "Even if he did not realize it before and has never said it, that does not mean it is not true. He admitted as such tonight, which is one of the main reasons that he is still walking around unharmed. I never thought to warn him that he might lose his heart, so it is my own fault. Perhaps you should give him a little time before you talk to him though," he added with a chuckle. "He is not the happiest fellow at the moment, for some strange reason. The overly emotional sap..." he rolled his eyes at her dramatically, and she chuckled through her surprised embarrassment.

It had honestly never occurred to her that Ilweran might actually love her. She had known that he desired her of course, but love?.. Dear gods, what had she done?! She had unknowingly snuck through someone's defences, only to cut them so deeply that they may never stop bleeding. She really was the very worst kind of monster...

"I actually feel worse for Ilweran than I do for myself," Hiccup added then. Pulling Astrid out of her musings as he let out a quiet snigger. Causing Astrid to raise a confused brow at him. "Aside from the fact that he is going to have a seriously uncomfortable case of blue balls, he has now officially experienced a small portion of what I have. It is almost cruel to take you away from him. That does not mean that I feel bad enough to just walk away and let him have you all to himself. No amount of feelings on his part could ever make me do that."

"You see, one night is never enough when it comes to you mi'lady. The taste and feel of you is impossible to forget. The memory of your gloriously naked form is likely going to drive him to distraction. The poor man..." Astrid felt her face flush red hot at that realization. Would she ever be able to look at Ilweran the same again? Probably not. Hiccup just laughed, before shooting her a wicked grin. "Despite his discomfort, we take this at my pace. A good portion of my mind may be adventurous, but there is still that other, thankfully smaller, part that will happily tear his throat out if he touches you again before I say so."

"I promise that I won't risk his life for my sexual gratification ever again. I already tried that once, and look where it got us," she drawled back in mock resignation as Hiccup snorted a laugh. "After all, you are both ridiculous and ruthless Haddock," Astrid added with an eye roll. Feeling another blush heat her cheeks.

"You know it," he teased. "It is part of why you love me. Speaking of which, how come you have never used your persuasion magic to try and make me your thrall? Do you not want me as your personal sex slave for eternity?" He pouted his lip out adorably and she laughed and punched him.

"I don't need to use persuasion magic on you silly," Astrid replied with a grin. "You already are my personal sex slave. You have only denied me twice in ten years and that was half-hearted denial at best, babe. I would also like to point out that I may have actually used a minor form of persuasion magic on you both of those times. Especially since you were certainly not able to resist me for very long."

"Valid point, mi'lady," he chuckled. "I am already in thrall to you so I likely would not even notice. It is probably for the best that you decided to keep me around. I mean, sure Ilweran has a dark side, but all my sides are dark. I can teach you how to properly shield and harness your wickedness while our inner monsters have play-dates together." He smirked at her then. Making her laugh. His emerald eyes were gleaming dangerously again, as if to prove a point, and her stomach filled with butterflies even as her muscles clenched with need. Gods, how was she still in the mood after all of this?...

Hiccup sniffed the air for a moment. Then he levelled his gaze back on her. "It would seem the son of a bitch managed to leave you rather hot and bothered," he growled quietly. Causing Astrid to gape at him in surprise and he simply shrugged again. His voice light and melodic again when he answered. "I can smell your desire and it is unreasonably potent. It is actually making me slightly dizzy, which is not a typical thing for elves to feel. Your magic certainly is ridiculously powerful."

Then his lips twisted into a grimace as his eyes wandered over her for a moment. "Speaking of things that stink, can you please take Ilweran's shirt off? It smells like him. That is not really helping my resolve to be a good person right now."

"Oh gods! Sorry," she exclaimed. Tugging the tunic off quickly and tossing it aside. She looked back at Hiccup apologetically. Only to find his smouldering emerald gaze wandering over her again. Promptly reminding her that she was still wearing the very revealing little black dress that was bunched high up her thighs as she straddled him. Also making her suddenly realize that she had left her undergarments in Ilweran's room. Dear gods, no...

She wasn't sure which was more mortifying. The idea of leaving them there for Ilweran to find, or making the embarrassing walk of shame to go get them. What if she met Ilweran in there! She was sooo not ready for that yet! Astrid was desperate enough to avoid both of those options that she was almost tempted to see if Hiccup was able to summon them or something. She had no clue whether or not it was even possible to summon solid objects through closed doors, but Hiccup would probably have an idea. Before she could say anything though, Hiccup suddenly asked, "do you want to go for a run?"

"Huh," Astrid asked in confusion. Too startled at the curiously casual phrase to come up with anything more intelligent to say.

Hiccup simply smirked at her again. "A run, mi'lady. I find that it is one of the best things when I need to clear my head. According to Golwen, your enhancement magic is remarkably well developed, and that was before you found your inner goddess. So, do you want to go for a run?"

"Right now," she asked. Still a little dumbfounded.

"Right now," he answered firmly. Standing up as he pulled her to her feet and led her out to the balcony. She looked over the railing and her head spun at the sight of the drop. Hiccup laughed at her expression. "I will get you to the ground safely. After that, all you have to do is keep up." With that he passed her the glittering sandals that she had dropped on the floor. Somehow he had summoned them without her even noticing.

"O-okay," she stammered nervously as she slipped the sandals on. She had never actually run WITH Hiccup. Only held onto him as he ran. Never mind the dangerous heels that she was now sporting. Grinning disarmingly at her, Hiccup swept her up into his embrace before she could even blink. Then he leapt off the balcony like it was no big deal. She braced herself for the landing as she heard him quietly mutter a protection spell. Touching down as gently as a dragon, no surprise there, before setting her on her feet.

"Catch me if you can," he smirked. Kissing her swiftly on the mouth before taking off across the courtyard. With a laugh, she started after him. Muttering speed and vision spells, followed by a quick balance spell so that she didn't break an ankle in these ridiculous shoes. She was running much faster than a human, and she could see the shape of Hiccup ahead of her, but she was nowhere near fast enough to actually catch him.

Slowing to let her almost catch up, he turned around and began running backwards. Somehow not tripping over the multitudes of roots and rocks in his path. "Come on, Astrid. You are a daughter of Hecate. An actual goddess, not just some self professed deity," he teased. "You can do better than that. The power is inside of you. Just let it out, my dark princess." He shot her a wink, and she laughed at the turning of the nickname.

Then with a jolt she realized, he was right! She, Astrid Hofferson, was not merely a human. She was part true goddess. Calling on the tingling magic, she felt her mark flare to life again. The rush of cold power radiating through her body as it left her feeling wonderfully light and free again. She put on a solid burst of speed as her movements suddenly became sinuously graceful and fluid again. More like a panther than an elf. Just like Hiccup, she thought smugly.

She blew past him then. The glowing plants and luminous crystals of this dark and chaotic world becoming little more than a blur of bright colour as small creatures darted out of her path, so she boosted her sight spell. Now she could easily pick out the reflection of eyes watching her from beneath the shelter of a vast fern ahead. Looking closer, she spotted the shapes of small lizards with six legs that looked like a cross between flightless terrible terrors and salamanders cowering out of her way. A pack of large dog-like creatures with stubby tails, oddly short snouts and glowing tusks coming to run alongside her. Cackling eerily human sounding laughs as massive dragonflies buzzed overhead. Their six luminous wings throwing rainbows of colour in the blue moonlight.

Suddenly Hiccup was on her other side, easily keeping pace, and she gazed at him in wonder. "Now that is more like it," he grinned at her. Leaving her laugh trailing behind them on the humid wind. The two of them tearing through the glowing forest like wild cats on the hunt. Leaping over the twisting roots of those shiny black trees, and ducking around the low hanging fingers of branches and trailing clumps of bright moss. Astrid laughing like a child the whole time. Gaining more confidence, she began to put on an extra burst of speed. Lengthening her strides now to try and outpace him.

A feeling of immense pride swelled in Astrid's chest as he fell back slightly. Was she seriously outrunning Hiccup?! She shouted and pumped her fists in the air as he disappeared into the darkness behind her. Then, just as she was wondering if she should slow down and wait for him, he was suddenly bounding down from a tree in front of her. Astrid skidded to a stop to avoid crashing into him and nearly fell over, but he caught her before she could hit the ground.

"What the Thor, Haddock!" she growled at him. "I thought that I was actually beating you! How did you do that?!"

"I am both an elf and a night fury," he reminded her lightly. "You will get faster with time my dear. You look incredibly feline and sexy when you run by the way," he added. Closing the gap between them and wrapping his arms around her as he spoke. "Just like a beautiful and deadly panther." His voice had dropped into her favourite sultry purr and it made her shiver with need again.

"So do you," she pointed out. Watching his luminous eyes glow brighter as he laughed. The enhanced vision allowing her the rare opportunity to properly appreciate the immense beauty of his perfect face. She could hear the sounds of the festival now, mixed in with the hoots, cackles, and clicks of the wildlife, and she realized that he must have led her in a wide arching path back towards the clearing. There was still music playing. Another slow and sensual melody. He began to sway her gently to the beat as he grinned down at her.

"I have heard that before, yes. Seems we are a match made in Valhalla mi'lady. Or should I say, Helheim..." Then he crushed his mouth to hers. Running his hands down her bare back and wringing an embarrassingly loud groan out of her as a numbing fog began to fill her mind. Chuckling against her lips, he slid one hand down her side and grasped her thigh as her leg instinctively came up to meet his hand. Just like he and Cuithanna had done in the opening dance.

Unlike with Cuithanna, he wrapped her leg around his hip before skimming his hand back up her thigh. Rucking up the hem of her skirt right to her waist. Exposing her womanhood to the humid night air and moving closer to grind himself against it. Then he began rubbing the pad of his thumb over her clit at the same time. A noisy gasp escaping her at the intense sensation.

She should want to cover herself as they were so close to the party, but she didn't. Should be embarrassed at being caught, but she couldn't find it in herself to care if someone might see them. There was a wonderful haze of freedom washing over her. Barely perceptible voices whispering to her. Urging her to surrender herself and making her long to let this dark man have his wicked way with her. Promising that she wouldn't regret it. Unable to fight them, she simply threw her head back as the waves of pleasure shot through her.

Her head was spinning like she was drunk as her hips bucked greedily towards him. Hiccup's other arm supporting her as she draped onto it. Unable to hold herself up any longer as instinctual lust pulled her centre towards this devil like a puppet on strings. The force was unrelenting and completely irresistible. She couldn't deny him. Didn't even want to try. Rather, she wanted to give him whatever he desired of her. Needed to please him...

He brought his head down to run his nose over the silken fabric between her breasts. Following the path from her chest to her throat as he gently pulled her back up against his body. She could hear him inhaling her scent deeply along the way. Humming softly in appreciation. The sound making her shudder as her back arched for him. The resulting flood of need causing her to cry out his name to the night. Not even caring who heard her.

He moved his hand to the outside of her thigh for a moment to allow her to catch her breath then. Finally, she was able to open her eyes and bring them back to meet his. Finding the gloriously predatory gleam of the Shadow Demon shining in his now feral eyes, complete with the slit-pupils. That numbing haze clouded her mind again at the sight and he smirked wickedly at her. Her disoriented mind realizing vaguely that he was giving her a taste of what true persuasion magic felt like.

It was nothing like the gentle power of suggestion Hiccup had used on her in Midgard. Not even close to the slight head-spins and curious longings she had felt near Amenmeit. This was ridiculously potent and absolutely inescapable. Her mind couldn't even begin to block it. The haze of magic was completely numbing her sense of self and she could envision those shadowy serpents wrapping glowing tendrils of submission around her. Forming a dangerous web of lust. No wonder Ilweran had fallen to her so quickly and completely.

This was both the most wonderful of highs and the most terrible of weapons. He could do anything at all to her right now. Force her to do absolutely anything for him, and she would be more than happy to oblige. No matter how horrific, shameful, wrong, or painful, and that thought was utterly terrifying. Easily as overwhelmingly dangerous as Hiccup's illusion affinity. How could one man possess so much darkness and still be so incredibly kind?! Hiccup released the magic then and the resulting emptiness was unexpectedly jarring and painful. Like missing a stair in the dark.

It made her almost miss the wonderful oblivion of that numbing haze, as waves of strangely cramping aches rolled through her body for a moment. Well, that explained why Ilweran had seemed to be in physical agony as he continually fought it off. Turns out his struggle wasn't just emotional after all, she thought as she bit back a remorseful grimace. "Now that you know just how it feels to truly lose your will to another, perhaps you will be more hesitant to use such powers in future," Hiccup stated bluntly. Astrid met his serious emerald eyes and grimaced for real now.

"Would you like to know the main difference between myself and Ilweran mi'lady," Hiccup asked softly as he took in the hints of both shame and instinctual fear in her expression. His voice a menacing purr as his fangs flashed a bright blue-white in the strangely glowing light around them. "Even with your magic calling to his darker nature, Ilweran still has a sense of decency and self-restraint. So much so that he was even able to break free, despite the physical pain of it. Not exactly the shining beacon of goodness that everyone thinks he is, but certainly lighter than me."

His eyes were searing into her. Curiously crawling shadows lurking within the luminous emerald now. The menacing sight calling to the new power now pulsing through her own body. "I, on the other hand, have embraced my wickedness with open arms. I really am the Dark God, Astrid," Hiccup said quietly. The words seeming more like an admission of truth rather than just a casual comparison. The bold statement feeling perfectly right to her somehow. As if she had always known it to be true.

Before she could dwell on it though, he added in a low growl, "I would not have been so morally light in his place. Rather than run away, I would have used my own darkness to cast off your magic and then fucked you anyways. It would not have been gentle either. I would have punished you for your arrogance at the same time as I let you think that you were winning. Then I would have simply left you lying alone in the bed afterwards. Abused and aching. Ensuring that you would not easily forget just what the cost of your hubris was."

"That is exactly what I did with Amee. Along with countless others before her that thought they could use me for their own gains. Except you would not have gotten the luxury of an illusion after unleashing such dark magic on me. The pleasurable pain would have been very, very real," he stated coldly as Astrid sucked in a sharp breath. "Once the pleasure fades, the pain becomes the only thing left," he added quietly.

"As the red marks fade to purple and blue and the ache of the swelling sets in, the realization that you were the one getting used would slowly consume you as well." His eyes were glinting menacingly, and she felt a shiver run through her. Almost as if he sensed it, his lips twisted up into a slight smirk in response. "I really would have laughed as it broke you. Completely confident in the fact that no one stood a chance of ever making me pay for my actions, and I would never allow myself to feel a single shred of remorse for it. And the best part of all, you would still come back for more and you know it. They all did. Eventually your mind lets you forget about the painful fall, as you only remember the pleasant high of ecstasy."

Astrid felt her eyes fly wide at that. He was right. That utter remorseless darkness really was the main difference between the two men, but it did not scare her the way it would have before. The instinctual fear had once again been washed away by desire for him, and now she knew that she was obviously capable of being just as cruel. Deep down, Astrid knew full well that she only felt remorse for her actions because it was Ilweran that she had hurt. If it had been anyone else, she likely would have laughed as Hiccup killed them because it would have made her feel loved. After all, it had not bothered her for a moment to watch Stormheart die. She had only been shocked by how easily Hiccup had done it, when she had never pictured him as a killer before that moment. She knew different now.

The bleak and unavoidable truth was that his darkness sang to her. It had turned her on in Midgard, and it turned her on now, and that was apparently because she was just as much of a monster as he was... "I will never lose a war of dominance to anyone, and I did warn you that I was not a good man," he reminded her quietly. Dragging Astrid's swirling and chaotic thoughts roughly back to the present. "That being said, I would much rather share this darkness with you instead of residing here alone."

"You do still have more light in you than I do mi'lady," Hiccup added in a softer voice. A note of warning now concealed within the gentle tone that made her meet his eyes nervously. "I need your love to help keep me walking the boundary too. When you lose control, you risk hurting those nearest you. If I lose control of the darkness within, all you will be able to do is hope to kill me before it consumes the worlds."

"You own me completely Astrid, and that means that you could very well hold the fate of the universe in your lovely hands. Be careful with me and my heart please. Not just for the sake of us, but for the sake of all." Then he leaned in to kiss her again. Stealing the gasp right off of her lips as he brought his hand back around to pleasure her until she was falling apart in his arms.

As he carefully laid her down on a bed of the softly glowing mosses and settled himself over her, Astrid felt as if every nerve ending in her body was coming to life. Her new magic seeking him out as his immense power washed through her in floods of dark ecstasy. Hiccup's mouth left hers to start kissing his gentle way down her jaw and neck, but she didn't want it gentle. She wanted him to take her. Wanted it aggressive and possessive. She wanted him more than she wanted air to breathe. Needed him like life giving water in a sea of hot sand.

She was dragging his lips back to hers and fumbling desperately for his belt before he could even tense in surprise. Rasping a laugh against her mouth, her gave in to her desire. Letting her tug his trousers down enough to free his erection as he rucked her skirt up. Sitting back on his knees and grasping her hips, he pulled her roughly towards him. Arching her back up and plunging into her hot depths without a moment's hesitation.

Astrid cried out loudly as she tightened around him. A violent shudder running through her as she clutched him to her. Bringing him back down on top of her body and crushing her lips to his again as she reached out to brush against his consciousness this time. Asking to connect like they had in Midgard. Wanting that same feeling of being one person all over again. She felt his smirk, but before she could open her eyes, another wave of intense ecstasy was crashing over her as his desire suddenly joined with her own too.

His lips on her were so hot they burned, but that was still not as hot as the fire that raced beneath her skin for him. His hands rough and needy, but not nearly as rough and needy as her in this moment. As he claimed her body on the soft forest floor, a few short steps away from an entire crowd of elves, she finally understood what he had meant all those years ago in the cove. When she had wondered how she compared to the other women he had been with and he had told her that it was so much more with her.

At the time she had thought that he was just trying to make her feel better. Now she knew different. She had tasted desire without emotion. Though she certainly cared for Ilweran, the icy tendrils of darkness had sufficiently smothered her feelings at the time. Leaving nothing more than carnal lust in their wake. It had certainly been good, but not like this. Hiccup was her dark prince and she was his dark lady. They were a perfect fit. Two shadowed souls destined for each other from birth.

From now on, she was going to treat his heart like the rare and precious gift that it was. He trusted her with it, and she would not risk damaging it again. Whatever else may happen between the three of them, or how their relationships would change or grow, only time would tell. Astrid refused to let it drive the two of them apart though and she suspected that Hiccup felt the same. After all, this right here was what 'more' truly felt like.

_

Well, they weathered the storm. Of course Hiccup was never going to hold it against her. Though he probably came across as pretty callous at the beginning there. I tried to give you all the hints that he was trying to shield himself with the darkness to keep from doing something rash, but if you missed it, I will say it now. Remember, he truly believed that Astrid was going to pick Ilweran over him. He said as much in Chapter 13.

Some of you may feel like Hiccup was a bit of a dick to Astrid at the start because of it. Maybe he was, but if you were in his place and preparing to hear the woman you love tell you that she would rather be with your best friend, wouldn't you be a wee bit of a dick too? Not because you blamed them, but because you were trying to protect your heart. Letting her go with your chin held high, just so that you could break down later while no one was looking...

Speaking of Hiccstrid, those two were absolutely made for each other, and now we know why. Hecate staked her claim on the Dark God a long time before Cuithanna could. Using her own blood and a soul-bond on two kids from a little village. Planning it out even before Hiccup or Astrid were even born. I guess that also means that Hiccup was destined for his role long before he got his seal too. After all, he was never really tired after using complex magic when he was still completely human, and he picked up on magic unreasonably quickly as well.

It's almost like he was already stupid powerful, and he just received the *specialty* powers when he finally took on his official (and pre-ordained) role as the Dark God ;) And for all that are wondering... No, Astrid is not quite as powerful as Hiccup. She is certainly a heck of a lot more powerful than most, but she is more like a demi-goddess rather than a full fledged goddess. Honestly, that's probably good though, since she is a wee bit more prone to emotional outbursts than her boys are... Don't worry though. She can still kick some serious ass and wreak some serious havoc :P