Hiccup's Point of View
I opened the door.
The scent of firewood, blood, and pine drifted out into the cabin as Luna stepped behind me, silent and composed—though I could feel the hum of her body heat still clinging to mine. Her claws brushed my shoulder, possessive but not restricting, before she let her hand fall and followed me into the main room.
Astrid looked up from where she sat, back straight, eyes sharp.
She was trying to act like she hadn't been waiting tensely for every sound from behind that door. Trying to seem detached.
She failed.
Not that I blamed her. What she'd stepped into was far beyond anything she could have imagined back in Berk. And she was about to fall even deeper.
I moved to the table and leaned against it, arms crossed. My eyes locked with hers.
"It's time I explain a few things," I said, voice low.
Luna leaned beside me, folding her arms like a queen preparing to judge.
Astrid nodded. "I'm listening."
I took a breath.
"I hate Berk," I said flatly. "Not just for what they did to me. But for what they are. What they did to Freya. What they did to dragons for generations."
Her eyes didn't widen. She already suspected that part. But I wasn't done.
"Before I even found Luna and fell for her….before I even knew what I was... I already knew Berk was broken. Arrogant. Proud. A village built on the backs of suffering and ignorance."
"But," I added, "the raids? The attacks? The burned farms? That's not me."
Astrid's brow furrowed. "Then who—?"
"A Queen," Luna answered coldly. "An Alpha. One who calls herself 'The Great Mother of Fire.' She's been sending her swarm to tear through coastal lands—dragons who've been corrupted, enslaved to her will. Including me... once."
Astrid turned sharply to Luna. "She controlled you?"
Luna's expression hardened. "She forced me to bow. Forced me to betray my instincts. Bent my mind. Even now, I can still feel the scars. I was made to obey until I broke free thanks to hiccup."
I stepped forward, voice calm and deliberate.
"We're going to kill her."
Astrid stared between us. "You can really take down an Alpha? That easily?"
Luna smirked. "We will."
But I held up a hand. "There's more."
I walked around the table and sat in one of the chairs, the firelight flickering across my face as I stared at Astrid.
"We're not just going to kill her. Not yet."
She blinked. "What?"
"I'm going to use her first," I said.
"How?" Astrid asked cautiously.
I gave no answer.
I didn't need to.
The silence spoke.
Luna raised an eyebrow, looking mildly amused—until I added:
"And I already know how to kill her."
The words slipped out casually.
Too casually.
Luna's head turned toward me slowly—almost like a predator scenting blood.
"You what?" she asked.
I didn't flinch. Instead, I reached up, grabbed her wrist gently, and pulled her into my lap, just like before.
She allowed it—but her eyes never left mine.
I rested my forehead against hers.
"I've known for a very long time," I said softly. "Even before I met you."
She didn't pull away.
But she was listening.
"I never forgot the stories. The anatomy. The weaknesses. While others worshipped the myths, I studied them. And when I realized what she was—what she really is—I started planning."
Luna's voice was barely a whisper now. "And you didn't tell me."
"I will," I said. "Now that it matters. When the time comes to face her, trust me... I'll make sure she dies in by the same fire that she claims she is the mother of."
Astrid looked stunned. " You really have it all figured out huh."
I nodded once.
"She's no goddess. No unkillable force. Just an overgrown tyrant who's forgotten what fire really feels like."
I tightened my grip on Luna's waist.
"She'll burn, my love. In a storm of fire and destruction so complete, even the bones of her throne will turn to ash. And the sky will remember her as nothing but a lesson."
Luna exhaled slowly. "You should have told me."
"I'm telling you now."
She studied my face a moment longer... then kissed me once, gently. The tension in her spine eased.
Astrid was still watching—half in awe, half in disbelief.
"You're really going to take her down," she said quietly.
"We're going to unite the dragons," I replied. "One kingdom. My kingdom. Far away from Berk. Away from the filth. Away from their chains."
"And Berk?"
My eyes narrowed. "Berk will learn what happens when you abuse the children of flame."
Then as unexpected as ever.
The door creaked open behind us.
The scent hit first—embers, ozone, and wildflowers—followed by a gust of wind that fluttered through the cabin like a soft warning.
I didn't need to look to know who it was.
Freya.
My little hatchling.
Claws gently padded against the wooden floor. Her breathing was even, but her presence crackled with raw potential. I turned just in time to see her step fully into the room—half Night Fury, half human, her eyes glowing a vivid emerald that burned like Luna's when she was angry.
Her wings twitched slightly. Scales shimmered across her arms and neck like black silk woven into flesh.
Her gaze locked instantly on Astrid. She froze.
And then—so did Freya.
I saw her pupils narrow, her jaw tighten. Her claws flexed.
Reflex.
Instinct.
Prepared to kill.
"A threat," her body said.
"Freya," I said calmly, stepping between them before she could move. "Relax."
Her eyes flicked up to me. Confused. Protective.
"She's with us," I said, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "She can be trusted."
Astrid, to her credit, stood perfectly still. No movement. No attempt to defend or run. Just a tiny glimmer of hope in her expression that—somehow—this moment wouldn't end with fangs.
Freya blinked. Then again.
And just like that, her entire body relaxed. Her claws retracted. Her wings softened.
She stepped around me with that innocent smile of hers, the glow in her eyes fading slightly.
"Congratulations!" she said, beaming at Astrid. "You joined the team!"
The team, she called it.
As if we were just some game squad assembling for a mission.
Astrid's mouth opened.
Then closed.
Then she made a noise somewhere between a gasp and a squeal—and promptly fainted.
Luna caught her by the shoulder instinctively, steadying her as she crumpled to the floor in a dazed heap, cheeks flushed and eyes fluttering.
I sighed.
Deeply.
Again.
"Apparently," I muttered, rubbing my temples, "my daughter's presence doesn't just affect dragons. Humans aren't immune either."
Freya tilted her head. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, sweetheart," I said with a faint smirk. "You just broke her mind a little. She'll recover."
I knelt down beside Astrid's unconscious form and gently brushed a strand of golden hair away from her face. That scent was back again—sweet, enticing, dangerously comforting. That same pull. The one that made something primal in me twitch with interest and caution.
Luna was watching. But she said nothing.
I carefully slid one arm under Astrid's legs and the other around her back, lifting her effortlessly into my arms.
"If she's going to be with us from now on," I said, rising, "she needs to look the part."
Luna quirked an eyebrow. "You want me to...?"
"Give her a proper bath," I said. "Scrub off the blood. And when you're done, go to the lower storage in the cliffside vault."
She blinked, then smirked. "That one? The one with your trophies?"
I nodded. "Clothes. Armor. Materials from my raids and kills. Pick something that screams battle-ready, but regal. She doesn't need to dress like Berk's perfect little puppet anymore. She's one of us now."
Luna's grin sharpened.
"As you command, Alpha."
Freya giggled beside her. "Ooh! Can I help pick her clothes?"
"No dresses," I warned.
She pouted. "Fine..."
As Luna moved to gather the supplies, I cradled Astrid in my arms and glanced down once more at her peaceful, unconscious face.
Whatever was happening between the three of us...
It was far from over.