A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

Hearing his question, Astrid closed her eyes and took a deep breath. NovelFirearious memories of that fateful day when Sigurd betrayed her mother seemed to pass through her mind as she spoke, "Some loyalists managed to smuggle me out before Sigurd got to me on the day it all went down. I don't… know what happened to them afterward."

Erik noticed her trembling as guilt and anger filled her. He said nothing but squeezed the arm around her shoulders a little tighter.

"I knew those men and women…" she mumbled, "Some of them I considered… well, not friends, but something close to it. They're probably dead now…"

Erik nodded. He understood her feelings perfectly. In a way, the people of Frostvik also gave their lives so that he could escape.

"It may not bring them back," he said, in the most comforting tone he could muster, "but all we have left is revenge now. Which means that all we can do… is make it a good one."

Astrid's fire returned to her eyes, and she nodded with a steel gaze. "Yeah."

So far Emma had just been listening to their conversation with changing expressions, but now, she suddenly spoke up with a bright smile, "Revenge… and each other, though. Right?"

Astrid and Erik blinked before Erik chuckled and the dour mood was suddenly broken. "You're absolutely right, Emma. In fact," he began, as he beckoned Emma closer, "we don't only have each other, we have you, Elora, and Emily, as well." He said, before grabbing Emma's wrist and pulling her on his lap.

Emma yelped and giggled while her outfit fluttered, before landing on his lap and wrapping her arm around Erik's neck and shoulders.

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Feeling Emma's soft body against his, while her love and care overflowed, made Erik chuckle to himself, 'She really is too cute.'

While Erik's right arm remained around Astrid's shoulders, his left now snaked across Emma's waist to pull her closer to him. Smiling warmly, he lightly kissed Emma, before saying, "I didn't mean it that way, though. I meant that all we have left of the dead is revenge."

Stubbornly, Emma pouted. "Revenge and memories." Clearly, she didn't want Erik and Astrid to be overly focused on revenge, so Erik could only relent. He chuckled, "Alright, alright. Memories, too."

Despite his words, a dark flash went across his mind, 'But I certainly won't forget about the revenge,' he thought.

Having finished his thought, he turned towards Astrid with a playful grin, knowing what awaited him. And indeed, Astrid was staring at him with an angry glare from narrowed eyes. "I think it's about time you tell me your story. Particularly, what the hell is going on between you and Emma after you just made that declaration to me."

Despite her overtly angry glare, Erik could see many emotions playing behind her eyes. Anger was there, sure, but also disappointment, fear, anxiety, and depression. She was also clenching and unclenching her fists, clearly ready to create a second hole in as many walls.

"I suggest you quickly explain yourself," giggled the mischievous voice of the fairy in his head.

Rolling his eyes inwardly, Erik quickly lost the playful grin and smiled softly instead. "I meant every word of what I said, Astrid, but… Emma is my second wife. If you wish to reignite your feelings for me and see where things go, then you'd have to share me."

Astrid's eyes opened wide, and most of the previous emotions had been replaced with utter shock. She turned her gaze towards Emma, seeking confirmation, and naturally, Emma simply nodded with her signature bright smile.

Immediately, she jumped up and pointed at Erik. Not in an accusatory way, but more simply out of pure shock. "You?!" she yelled, "Timid little Erik, following around Edda like a puppy?! You of all people are creating a harem?!"

Hearing her outburst, Erik could only chuckle with amusement. "You already know I'm not the same Erik you knew all those years ago. So why not a harem?"

Hearing his admission, Astrid fell back onto the sofa and sagged against the backrest with her hand on her forehead and her eyes still wide in shock. "Why not a harem, he says…" Several thoughts seemed to be passing through her head as she lay there.

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Watching her, Erik was glad her initial reaction was one of shock, rather than disgust or anger. Although, whether she would accept, and want to be a part of, his lifestyle, was still in question.

Yet, before anyone else could say something she suddenly sat up with eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Wait a second. If she's your wife, why the hell is she calling you Master and serving you like a maid?"

Anger flashed across her face and she seemed ready to continue their earlier fight, "Do you need me to beat you up until you remember how you're supposed to treat your wife?"

Before Erik could answer, Emma took this one on herself with a bright smile. She didn't really like how Astrid was insinuating Erik would force this role upon her, but she realized Astrid was saying it out of worry for her. Besides, Emma had very little capacity for anger.

"Don't worry! Master made no demands of me!" she said, cheerfully. Her face then flushed red a little in embarrassment, "I just enjoy it…" she said softly and with a smiling pout.

Had her arm not been hooked around Erik's neck, she surely would have poked her fingers together.

Astrid nearly had a heart attack when she looked at Emma's cuteness, causing all anger to drain from her face. "I- I, uh. T- That's okay then," she stammered.

Chuckling, Erik couldn't help but kiss his cute wife, "And so do I…" he whispered in her ear.

Watching their display, Astrid had a complicated expression on her face. On the one hand, she felt a little jealous of Emma. On the other, she still wasn't sure what she wanted herself, especially with this new information…

After a few moments of silence, Erik looked at Astrid and raised an eyebrow. "So… what do you think…? About the whole harem thing?"