Akira was startled by the howl that broke the silence and stillness of the night. She looked up from Kairos’ night black fur. Teylie stood silently siluted in the doorway to her room. As soon as Akira saw her, she turned and disappeared down the hall. This struck her as odd. Akira rolled out of bed, well more like fell. She stood on shakey legs and shuffled to the door. When Kai didn’t stop her, she knew something was terribly wrong. She stumbled and tripped and shuffled down the hall, following Teylie’s silent figure. The hall seemed endless to her, as she hadn’t regained even half of the strength she had before Loki’s curse had been removed. The howl grew louder as she made her way towards her father’s room. She didn’t want to believe something had happened, but Levi’s mournful howl was one indication. Teylie’s appearance in the middle of the night was another. By the time she finally made it to her father’s room, she was exhausted and just wanted to go back to sleep. But something told her she needed to be right here.

“Kira? Is that you?” her father rasped, so quietly she almost missed it.

“Yes, father, I’m here,” she replied, her voice thick with emotion.

He motioned her closer. She went slowly and painfully to him.

“My little Ylva.”

Akira smiled at the old nickname.

“You found her?” he asked putting a hand on her cheek.

Akira nodded.

“You met her too I take it?”

Akira placed her hand over his and nodded again.

“Tell their story to the world, as only you can.”

“Papa, don’t go just yet,” she pleaded tears pooling in her eyes.

“Oh my little Ylva, if I could stay I would.” He gave a weak smile. “It is time my shadow was surpassed by yours. Prince Ehren and the king will help you. Let them assist you.”

“Father, the royal family has done too much for us. I couldn’t possibly accept more help from them.”

“Kira, the king is the reason I was able to cast a shadow in the first place.”

“And what does Prince Ehren have to do with me?”

He gave a small chuckle.

“That boy has been in love with you since the two of you were young.”

“But he doesn’t remember anything but the last time we met.”

“Really? He insisted on visiting you at the school your mother sent you to.”

“But I don’t remember him ever being there and neither does he.”

“Well I suppose it makes sense neither of you remember. You protected him from the Mother Superior after she knocked him unconscious. Why do you think you were punished less than a week after your last whipping?”

“So he’s the reason I nearly died?”

“No, you took the punishment meant for him. You protected your future king. You did nothing wrong.”

“Then why don’t either of us remember it?”

“It was tramatic for you, so you edited it and blocked certain parts. As for the prince, he hit his head and that affected his memory. That injury and his lack of memory doesn’t change his feelings for you, my little Ylva.”

“Papa, I’m scared.”

“I know my little Ylva. I know. But Hel has come to take me to Freyja’s hall to join your mother, brother, and sister.”

“No! Please, anything but that! Hel, please don’t take him yet. Please.”

Hel laid a hand on Akira’s shoulder.

“Child, it is time for him to go to his place in Freyja’s hall. He must join your family there.”

“NO!” she wailed. “Please don’t leave me, papa. Stay just a little longer.”

“Oh my child, he cannot stay,” Hel told her. “Look at him. This is not what I call living. It is time to let him go. Let him join your mother and siblings.”

“Seona?” Her father’s voice was barely a whisper. “Is it really you?”

He took one last shuddering breath, then his chest stilled forever. Akira clutched his limp hand to her cheek as she let out a low, keening wail that slowly grew louder and joined Levi’s mournful howl.