By the time Caleb had found his way back to where he had left Ashleigh, another firework had gone off, and the actors had returned to the stage.
Lily lay dead on the ground, holding a single lily of the valley in her hand.
Geri sat beside her on his knees, whimpering. His hand at his side, he leaned forward and placed his forehead to hers letting out soft sobs.
“Rise, Alpha of Winter,” a voice called to Geri.
Caleb glanced at the other end of the stage. Three women approached Geri, all wore Valkyrie helmets and plated armor.
“Are you… Valkyrie? Have you come to take my Lily to Valhalla?” Geri asked.
“She has died a noble death. We will honor her,” one of the women said, while another approached and lifted Lily into her arms with ease. “But you must rise, the battle is not done.”
“You must defeat Loki, or her death will mean nothing,” the other woman said.
“I will chase him to the depths of hell if I have to,” Geri said. “I will avenge my Lily!”
