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Gaze flying to Queen Doirean, Hopper wasn’t surprised to see the Lightning Queen of the Amazon lighting up the skies.With every pull of her bowstring and from every poisoned tip arrow that she and her Clanswomen shot into the air, bolts of lightning struck the enemy, set them ablaze, and left a smoldering pile of ash that did not revive.

Then there was Princess Isolde and she and her Clan did not disappoint.Shooting from the tips of every sword were long, pointed, dagger-like icicles.Piercing the black hearts of every mini-Scrub in their path, the Amazons refused to be beaten.

Amidst the fray, taking all comers and leaving none standing were Pat, Liv, and Dade.Not only was Pat a much better swordsman than Hopper ever hoped to be, he and Liv were so coordinated that Hopper had to wonder if there was a deeper connection he’d missed.

Ready to ask that very question, he stopped when He’s shout of“Go low, Hopper!”shot through his mind.Refocusing him on the task at hand, something he always needed, her voice and her voice alone was all it took.Then she added,“Slide, Minn Félagi!Slide!”

Once again, Hopper was blown away when Hel spoke the old Norse language, calling him ‘my Mate’.He would have done anything, followed heranywhere, and would always doeverythingin his considerable power to be anything she needed whenever and wherever that need arose.

Pulling the image of exactly what she wanted him to do from her mind, Hopper reached into the ether, wrapped his fingers around the jeweled grip of the diamond-bladed Sword of Hope he’d been given by the Big Four on the day he was breathed into existence, and brought it into view.Thrusting the tip forward, he ran as fast as he could, dug the heels of his boots into the soft earth and slid toward the backward-bending knees of the ten-foot bug.

Slashing the tendons at precisely the same moment that Hel drove the bone blade of her Nightsword into Scrub’s chest, he wasn’t surprised that the beastly creepy crawler didn’t fall, but that didn’t mean he would give up.Oh, hell no!He would fight until the bitter end to ensure his Mate’s safety.Scrub was one beasty that was going back where she belonged come hell or highwater.

Assaulting and stabbing with wild abandon, Hopper cut away at Scrub’s outer scales with laser precision.Digging with the tip of his blade, he severed every tendon and joint in sight but still there were more.Fighting the constant regeneration with every ounce of Magic flowing through his veins, he refused to stop… refused to be beaten… refused to let his Mate down in any way.

Head flying up and eyes locking onto the Warrior Dragoness as the thud of her massive paws shook the ground, he watched in awe as she turned a complete circle, mowing down a hundred or so mini Scrubs as the ice and flames of Helheim shot of the tip of her blade and her Army of the Dead continued to cut through the enemy with keen precision.

“Form the perimeter!”Hel’s order was loud and clear.It took no time at all before the Raven Guardsmen dropped from the sky.Forming a diamond shape around their goddess and Scrub, they turned their backs to the two combatants and took on all the mini Scrubs who dared to attack.

Hel may not have known her beloved Ravens were the renowned Protectors of the Realms, but she’d quickly adapted and became their Leader as if she was born to the position.And who knew, maybe she was.If Hopper knew anything, it was that his Mate was a woman of many talents, most of which she’d yet to realize herself.

Still unable to access the full strength and magnitude of his Enchantment, Hopper was just about to ask Hel if she felt the odd vibrations coming from Scrub’s underside when his Mate yelled, “Back off,Elskan mín!”

Doing as she asked without hesitation, Hopper couldn’t take his eyes off the magnificent Warrior Dragoness.Hel and Carys were of one mind in every way.He’d seen many Shifters in action, but none compared to the goddess of Helheim and the Dragon Queen of Wales.They were poetry in motion.They were that deadly mix of passion and fierce determination that was nothing short of intoxicating.They led with their heart, believing in every uppercut, undercut and thrust of their blade was just and for the good of those they were sworn to protect.

Best of all, they were his and he was theirs for all of forever and ever amen.

“Oh, my, lookie at that!”Scrub’s grating cackle hacked through the sounds of battle, assaulted his ears and had the little hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.Sadly, she wasn’t done either.“The little goddess has found her backbone.She’s finally going to stand up for herself and not going running to daddy or the All Father.”Grotesque oddly round head turning from side to side, she mocked, “Fortunately, you will eat well tonight my little Scrubs.You will dine on the entrails of a goddess and her ragtag bunch of friends!”

“I’ll show you backbone!”Hel’s voice snarled through the snout of the Warrior Dragoness.“You have no idea what you have called down upon yourself and your minions!”

Taking a step back, the Warrior Dragoness circled to the left.A cruel sneer curled her lips revealing her extended canines and double rows of sharp, pointed teeth perfectly suitable to rip the flesh from anyone or anything that stood in her path as Scrub followed her lead.Another step backward and Hopper felt the triumphant need of both Hel and Carys to pump their massive fist and cheer.Scrub was taking the bait, moving farther from the horde of mini Scrubs and into the large open area where it would be fair game… where it would meet its death.

“Isn’t she fantastic,” Liv whispered.With her back to Hopper’s, the two fought the returning throng of mini Scrubs as she spoke as if they were having lunch.“Did ya’ know she trained with her Uncle Thor and when she was able to best him, she went on to spar with Lady Sith and Heimdall?”

“She is amazing,” was all Hopper could say.No, he hadn’t known who had taught Hel to fight until that very moment, but the one thing of which he had no doubt was that she was a natural at everything she ever tried.

However, he wasn’t sure she believed that to be true.He’d seen what was in her mind, felt what was in her heart, and already knew her soul as he knew his own.Hel’s life hadn’t been easy.She’d suffered unjust and uncalled from cruelty in such abundance that there were times she believed her tormenters words.

“No more!”Hopper ground out through gritted teeth to anyone within earshot.

Putting all the rage and injustice he felt for what his Mate had suffered, every strike of his blade hit its mark.Driving the mini Scrubs back, he made a promise to not only himself, but to the glorious woman made for him to spend every minute of every day of forever showing her how very wrong her tormentors had been.

Oh, yeah, Hopper vowed with every fiber of his being, every beat of his heart, and every breath he took that no one would ever hurt Hel again.

Wielding his sword like a master, Hopper’s eyes rarely left the Warrior Dragoness.He had to watch her, not only to see her in action, but to be sure she was okay.

Then he saw it, the tiniest wink of her left eye and everything became crystal clear.Hel and Carys were finally done toying with the enemy.Mind linked to the Warrior Dragoness, Hel, Carys, and Hopper’s hearts beat as one.They were one in every way that mattered, so much so that he could feel each of the Warrior Dragoness’s movements in real time.

“It’s all you, my girl.”Carys’s voice was filled with love and adoration making Hopper appreciate the Dragoness Queen even more with every passing second.Then she said,“Take all my strength, all my Magic, anything you need.You must see this battle to the end, Hel.This is your defining moment.Everyone, especially you, my girl, will see what you are made of.That you are and always will be a goddess.”

Hopper didn’t understand what the Dragoness Queen meant.Of course, Hel was a goddess.Then, like a thump to the back of his head from one of his Auntie’s everything became clear.It was as he thought, as he felt, his Mate had believed what others said about her.She believed their taunting.She took it to heart and let it make her doubt herself.

The giant insect before Hel and Carys fought was not the true enemy and neither was Einn.The battle itself was something Hel needed to,had tosee through to the end.She had to defend herself against someone she loved and until that moment had believed loved her.

Echoing Carys’s sentiment, Hopper cheered directly into Hel’s mind,“YES!Yes, my love!There is no doubt you are a goddess!You are MY goddess, and you always shall be!”Then he added with a whisper,“Take all that you need!Everything I have, I give to you.”

Holding his breath as the Warrior Dragoness slid her foot to the side, shifted her body weight, then crossed her left foot over the right, Hopper could see what she planned to do playing out in her mind.Every movement, no matter how small, brought her closer to the center of the imaginary ring in the middle of the mountaintop and drew Scrub ever closer.Within striking distance of the enemy was where she wanted to be.It didn't matter that the fighting all around was slowly dwindling to a small roar and the Amazonian Dragons were chasing and dispatching the few mini Scrubs that continued to regenerate–Hel and Carys only had eyes for the enemy.