Chapter 154 Fire and Ice

Nikolai

Dimitri, Max, Nat, Andrei and Mikhail were standing outside, talking amongst themselves. They paused when they saw me.

Huge smiles formed on their faces as they all pounced on me, hugging me. At least someone is happy I'm home.

"We missed you!" Nat exclaimed.

"I missed you too. All of you." I looked at my family. I did. I really did.

My eyes fell on Dimitri. He had been silent and was looking at me silently. My happy brother was lost. There was a lingering sadness in his eyes. I could feel sadness clinging to him like a second skin. And it would most probably remain that way.

I patted his shoulder and squeezed, silently telling him that I was here for him. And that I was here to stay.

"It's good to have you back." He gave me a small smile that was gone as soon as it appeared. I'll have to do something about that.

"We thought you were dead, Nikolai. What happened?" Andrei asked, his eyes bright with excitement.

"It's a long story. I'll tell you all after I win my fight." I said and began walking outside.

"Fight?" Mikhail asked.

"He challenged me for the position of the Alpha King," I informed them.

Max clapped me on the back. "He is a formidable opponent, it will be difficult, but you can win it." They have no idea how much I have grown in time. I was trapped in that world with Fiyona and Valerie.

"You have to win it!" Nat hissed.

"This is not a good idea." Natalia protested. "It's not just about you two, Nikolai. You need to think about your kids too."

"I'm not going to lose. So there is no need to worry about them." I replied.

"Just go easy on him," Valerie muttered as she walked beside me.

"It's scary how much you both look alike," Mikhail muttered. "Fiyona too."

"Like mother, like daughter." Valerie smiled at him.

When we reached the training grounds, I turned to look at my family again. I hesitated but asked, "Is he a nice person?"

"Yes." Max gave me a sharp nod.

I gritted my teeth. But what needs to be done needs to be done.

"A lot had happened in the last seven years, brother," Mikhail patted my shoulder, "go win first and then we will tell you everything."

I nodded and then turned around.

Andrei walked to the centre. "Gabriel Volantis has challenged Nikolai Volkov, the Alpha King of Soare- Luna, the King of Air and the King of Fire for a duel to death for the position of the Alpha King."

The crowd started gathering around us, curious to see what was happening. My lips twitched. Let everyone see just how much of a pussy he is.

"The fight won't be on equal footing. I have powers, and he does not." He told Andrei. "I can fly and he cannot."

I snorted. He was one of those. The overly righteous ones. The worst kind.

"Don't worry about me. I can handle myself just fine." I said nonchalantly. "You have powers. I have a couple. You have wings; I have a wolf." I waved my hand. "Just begin already."

"Nik—" I gave Andrei a look, and he shut up before he nodded.

Ava went to him and whispered in his ear. "You have my best wishes. Win." And then kissed him.

I didn't look away. I stared straight at her, letting the scene anger me.

'Go easy on him.' Valerie mind- linked me. 'He is not as strong as those monsters; you don't need to use your full strength. And he sure as hell isn't as strong as you.'

I turned my head to look at her. 'Are you really taking his side?'

'He is a good soul, Nikolai. And I've finally met my daughter. I don't want to see her hurt.' She replied pleadingly.

'To be hurt, you need to have feelings, Val. She has changed. She still might be your daughter, but she's not the Ava I once knew. You'll be disappointed if you know how she was and then see what she has become.'

'She's my daughter, Nik. I love her. Just like I love you.'

'Are you asking me to not kill him?'

'Yes.' She replied. 'Please. This will be the last thing I ask of you.'

'Okay.' I let out a breath.

Not killing him does not mean I cannot make a show of the fight.

I looked at Ava and saw that she was looking directly at me before turning away and unclenched her fists. She saw the exchange between Valerie and me. And she didn't like what she saw.

Like she didn't like me having a sort of bond with her mother. Did she really hate me that much?

"Begin!" Andrei's voice whipped in the air.

I stood lazily in my place, flicking off the invisible spec from my t-shirt.

He stood in his place, too, expecting me to make the first move.

Not happening. I'm going to put on a show first. Let Ava see what she's missing.

He was smaller than me—a couple of sizes at the least. And I had grown so much in the last seven months, it wasn't even funny. Fighting deadly monsters every day, for months did that to you. But it was seven years now, I guess.

I took off my t-shirt, flexing my now eight pack abs and larger-than-ever-before biceps as I did so. I heard a lot of female sighs, and I controlled my smirk.

I moved my head sideways and cracked my neck, creating a loud popping sound.

I shook my head side by side, making my hair wave. They almost reached my shoulders. They were the longest they have ever been. And then I trailed my fingers through my now blond hair—they had changed colour after I had gained power for some reason, flexing my biceps as I did so.

Cue another sigh from all the females that had gathered around us.

I rose on my toes and raised my hands in the air, stretching my arms first up and then sideways, still flexing.

"Oh, dear goddess." I heard a female sigh, and I couldn't stop my smirk this time.

This reminded me of the time I had hit puberty. When I was all about showing off and fucking every woman with a nice pair of tits and ass.

Ava was glaring daggers at me.

I gave her a cheeky wink.

I heard a snarl, and then he was running towards me at full speed.

I stood in my place, unmoving.

When he was about to reach me, I pulled back my fist, lit it on fire and punched him across his pretty face.

He flew back a couple dozen feet and crashed in the ground, his face in the dirt, where it belonged.

Gasps arose in the air.

No one was expecting this. No one had seen this kind of strength in our dimension. And to me, all this was nothing. It wasn't even that strong of a punch.

He lay on the ground for a solid minute before he used his hands and pushed himself up. His entire jaw was disfigured, and his mouth was bleeding.

He popped his jaw back in place, and his eyes blazed with anger as he glared at me.

"Come on. The fight has just started. Don't run away just from a small tap." I taunted.

He raised his hands and directed his palms towards me. He waited a couple of seconds and then looked at his hands and his eyebrows furrowed in confusion when nothing happened to me.

"I'll save us some time." I smiled sardonically. "The powers of Royal Fayes like Avalyn, Valerie and Fiyona don't work on me, not unless I want them to. So even thinking that the powers of a lowlife faye like you will work on me is funny. Don't spend more of your limited energy trying."

Gasps arose around the crowd. This was unheard of. Unseen. Unknown.

Resistance against the powers of a faye was simply impossible.

But for some reason, I could do it.

His shoulders sagged, knowing he won't be able to compete with me like this.

And then suddenly, he curled his wings from his back, his long, light blue, and soon to be proven useless wings.

Goddess, I hated him.

I didn't even know him, and I hated him. Was that even possible?

He flapped his wings and then rose in the air, flying in circles before he started flying straight towards me at full speed.

His eyes had changed colours, and he was looking at me with silver irises.

I looked up into his eyes and smiled. Again, I remained in my place—no need to move and make unnecessary movements.

I simply took away the air around his wings, making him unable to fly.

For the second time in ten minutes, he crashed on the ground. I think I heard a crack. It was his rib.

"What the hell?" He groaned, unable to get up from his place.

Now enough for the show, I'm going to end this.

I pushed my legs and jumped. Using my power to control air, I jumped for a much longer distance than any normal supernatural species can and landed straight above him.

Both of my feet were on either side of his waist.

I grabbed him by his collar and pulled him up. "You will never amount to even half the man I am," I growled in his face and punched him, making him fall down again.

I grabbed his shirt and yanked him up again. "This is for stealing my mate." Punch.

I picked him up from the ground. "This is for trying to steal my position." Punch.

I picked up again. His face was a fucking bloody mess. One which I loved. "This is for thinking you could ever be the father of my children." And then punched him so hard, and that flew a couple of feet away from me.

"Stop!" I heard a distant yell of Avalyn.

I couldn't see past my anger.

I couldn't stop. I just couldn't. I want to end this motherfucker. Right here, right now.

Fuck my promise to Valerie.

I'll win Avalyn again. I'll do anything to win her again. I'll mark her again. I'll be with her again.

And all that will happen once I end him.

I walked to him again.

Take your last breaths. I'm going to kill you now.

I picked him by his throat and raised him till his feet dangled in the air. The was no fight left in his useless body.

One of his eyes was swollen shut. His entire face was swollen, and there was no spot from where he wasn't bleeding.

I knew that I had cracked his skull open too.

He coughed, his weak arms trying to loosen my hold on him.

I squeezed his neck until he met my eyes.

I wanted him to see I was the one who killed him. I wanted him to look at me in the eyes and know that I held his life in the palm of my hands. I wanted him to see death. I wanted him to feel it.

"Nikolai, stop!" It was Valerie this time.

Not happening.

And then, as if he was suddenly energised, his drooping eye opened wide, and I saw his iris was golden instead of silver. He kicked me away, and I stumbled back a couple of steps.

He created a protective shield around him. It was a translucent golden coloured bubble.

I looked at Ava.

I know this was her doing. She was giving him strength. Only a Royal Faye had golden irises, not a normal one like him.

This was cheating, but I didn't care. I'll show her that I can win against her too.

I took more steps behind me and raised my hands. Combining my powers of air and fire, I attacked him.

A spiral flow of air and fire that I released from my hands clashed against his shield, pushing him back a couple of steps before he found his footing.

His arms were raised, trying to keep his protective layer, and he was attacking me at the same time.

I increased my force and pushed forward, breaking through his attack and making his protective shield crack.

I could feel the fire course through my veins. I could feel the fire light up my entire body. The fire consumed me. And I was unstoppable.

I growled, bringing my wolf forward. My force increased, and he slid back on the ground, some of my powers slipping inside his shield and hitting him.

"Dadda!" I heard a shriek.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Viktoria running towards me, oblivious to her surroundings.

"Viktoria!" Ava yelled, trying to catch her, but Viktoria evaded her and came straight for me.

I looked down at myself. My entire body is on fire.

I'm not sure if she is fire resistant.

I stopped. I didn't even need to think about it—every fibre of my being wanted to protect this little girl.

I immediately cooled my body down just in time for her to hug my leg from behind. "Why is he hurting you, Dadda?"

My eyes widened when I saw that his control wasn't as good as mine, and he shot an attack at me before he could regain his control and stop.

In a split second, I turned around, got on my knees and hugged Viktoria to my front, covering her small from the attack and acting as a body shield.

I felt the full blow on my back, and I fell forward. Holding Viktoria with one hand, I used my other hand to support me up, so I don't fall down. I will crush her if I fall on her.

The blow was so strong that the dust around us started floating, and I could barely see anything else.

Viktoria was coughing, and my heart squeezed.

I created a bubble around her head that only had pure air in it. Once she stopped coughing, she was looking at me with tears. "Are you hurt, Dadda?"

"No, baby, I'm fine." I smiled and looked at her entire body, searching for any injury.

"Tori!" Avalyn was kneeling next to me, pulling her from my arms as she hugged our daughter to her chest. "Are you hurt? Are you okay?" At least she shows some emotions towards the kids. That's a relief.

"I'm fine, Mamma!" She pushed Ava away. "Why did Gabriel hurt Dadda?" She started crying. "He told me he would never hurt me. He hurt me by hurting Dadda."

"He didn't mean to, baby," Ava replied, pulling Viktoria towards her again. Still, she evaded her and hugged me, her arms going around my neck.

"I hate you!" She screamed at him, making me smile.

She turned to look at Ava. "You told me you like him. But I don't like him. I don't want him to be my Dadda! My real Dadda is back now! I will not let anyone hurt him!" She screamed. "I will never talk to you if you hurt him." A slash of hurt struck through Ava's eyes.

"Viktoria!" I reprimanded.

"I love you, Dadda." She jut her bottom lip out and widened her blue eyes. My heart melted.

"I love you too, Princess." I stretched my lips in a smile. But they were trembling at her declaration. "Let's go inside, yeah?"

I picked her up and walked away.

I headed straight to our bedroom.

"We can't go in there." Viktoria shook her head.

"Why?" I asked.

"Mamma said so. It's forbidden." Aw. Look at her using big words. Didn't Ava use this room anymore?

"Well, Dadda says we can go." I placed my hand on the circle in the middle of double doors, and they opened.

Victoria looked at me in awe. "Klaus and I have tried so many times. It never opens!"

"This used to be my and Mamma's bedroom," I said softly.

"Did you miss Mamma like you missed me, Dadda?" She asked me softly, resting her head on my chest.

"Yes. Everyday." I replied, my voice thick with emotions.

I looked around the bedroom. The bedsheet on the bed was spread out neatly, except my side. It was a little rumpled. Viktoria twisted out of my arms, so I placed her down as I took the room in.

The entire room smelled of Ava. The whole room was filled with memories of her.

Ava might have changed and become a different person now, but she can never change my memories.

"Dadda! The bathroom has two pools! Two!" Viktoria exclaimed.

A smile slid on my face as I entered the bathroom. The pools that were once always filled with water and milk were now empty. I missed having long, lazy baths with Ava.

She was looking everywhere with those big grey eyes of hers, taking everything in. Her shoulder-length silver hair that curled near her shoulders bounced with every step she took.

I wondered what was going through her head. It must be nice to not know the cruelties of this world and live in a bubble where everything and everyone is nice.

She opened the door that directly led to the closet, and I followed her.

She gasped. "So many clothes!" Not a single item was moved. If Ava didn't use this room anymore, why didn't she shift all the things too?

She twirled around herself.

Her eyes caught something, and she ran towards it. She picked out two red high heels and placed them on the floor before she slid her tiny feet in it. She hardly filled half of the shoe.

"Do I look pretty, Dadda?" I loved hearing her call me that.

"You look beautiful, princess." I leaned against the shelf.

She grinned at me. "Thank you, Dadda."

She explored the closet while I went into mine and wore a fresh shirt. My back stung a little, but it was nothing I couldn't handle.

I went in search of Viktoria and found her going through Ava's jewellery in awe.

"Here." I chose a small gold chain with a small heart-shaped ruby pendant. I crouched in front of her a little and showed it to her. "Do you like it?"

Her bright blue eyes sparkled when she looked at the pendant and then at me. "I love it, Dadda."

"Think of this as my heart. And now I'm giving it to you. No matter what happens or how old you become, always remember that you have my heart. And that I love you. I always will. No matter what."

"Is this really your heart?" She looked at it in awe.

"My heart is here, baby," I caught her small hand in mine and placed it on my chest, right over my heart. "It has you in it. But if you ever forget that, especially when you grow older," I first hand knew how difficult teenage girls could be—Sofiya was a nightmare for Mom to deal with, "just look at this and try to remember that Dadda loves you."

"How will you remember that I love you?" She questioned.

"Every time I see you wear it, I'll be remembered." I smiled.

"Okay. Can you please help me put it on?" She asked giddily, turning around and holding her hair up.

I fastened it around her neck, and she took a few moments to admire it.

My beautiful baby girl was going to break hearts when she grows up. And I might have to break a few bones. I was sure Klaus would help me.

"Come here. I want to show you something." I extended my hand, and she immediately grabbed it, clutching my three fingers that filled her entire hand.

My heart squeezed again.

I think I'm going to have a heart attack if she keeps doing these things to my heart.

I led her out to the balcony and then picked her up again to see the view properly.

She remained silent for a while as she took in the mesmerising view. One I had missed dearly.

"You see the ocean there?" I pointed towards our old house.

She nodded, her eyes focused on where my finger was pointing.

"I used to live there with mamma and my brothers before we came here," I told her.

"You used to live near the ocean?" Her identical wide eyes stared into mine.

"Yes. The beach was a minute's walk from the house." I'll take her there someday, along with Niklaus.

"I have never seen the beach." She frowned. "Mamma didn't tell me she lived there." Her head lowered. "She doesn't tell me so many things." She whispered under her breath like she resented that fact. "She hardly told me anything about you."

"It's because she wanted you to know me yourself. Isn't it better to know me by asking me questions than asking her those questions?" I took a deep breath of her scent that had a hint of Ava's.

She burrowed her head in my chest and sighed softly. "Yes. Dadda. Do you know why I'm saying your name again and again, Dadda?"

"Why?" I asked, my tone soft.

Ava might not have welcomed me the way I had expected her to, but this is enough. I felt like my heart was so full of love, so full of warmth that a little more and it'll burst. I've never loved anyone as much as I love my daughter. Not even Ava.

I love Niklaus too. I yearned for the day he would let me hold him like this. I would do anything to get in his good books.

"Because I missed you. All my friends had someone to call daddy. But Klaus and I didn't. I want to make up for all the lost time. I don't want to be away from you. I want to spend every day, all day with you, Dadda." She mumbled.

"I'll never leave you again, Princess." I kissed her hair.

I turned around when I smelled Ava enter the balcony.

"You should only make promises you can keep," Ava spoke, taking Viktoria from my arms and placing her down.

"Can I talk to Dadda for a second?" She asked her.

Viktoria nodded and waved towards me enthusiastically. "See you later, Dadda!"

"Bye, Princess."

"Don't say bye!" She shook her head. "Bye means going away, Dadda. I don't want you to go away. I want you to stay with me and Klaus and Mamma and Gabe. Forever!" She wanted him too.

I gulped and nodded. Gabe. That's what she called him too. "I'll see you later." I waved her away.

"Turn around," Ava told me.

"What?"

"You are hurt. Turn around so I can heal you." She repeated.

"I didn't even notice it. It'll heal in some time. What did you want to talk about?" I asked. Is she here just to heal me? Is this obligatory, or does she care about me?

"You might be the King and I the Queen, but that does not mean we need to rule together. Let's divide the work. I'll take care of the people and t—" the Ava I knew would have insisted on healing me before talking to me. And this definitely would not have been the topic.

"No." I cut her off.

Her eyes flashed with anger.

"I will look after everything with your help. It's not fifty-fifty. We both do the hundred percent together." I'm not budging on this.

"No. I won't do that." She said firmly.

"Won't or can't?" I stepped closer to her, crowding her space.

Her heartbeat spiked, but she looked calm. "There is nothing I can't do. I took care of our pack when you weren't here, all on my own."

Her smell assaulted my senses. I could see the pulse of her vein. Where my mark was still there. We are mates. And we always will be.

"Exactly. It's our pack, Love." I lowered my head and darted my tongue out, licking my mark.

She shivered. I could feel her body warming up. Not so cold anymore, huh?

"I'm back now. So there is no need to do everything on your own. We will be rulers together. We will be parents together." My canines extended, ready to mark her again, to remind her who her mate truly is.

But I think that was the wrong thing to say because she pushed my back and glared at me. "We will never be together in anything."

"We are together right now." I stepped closer again. "We will always be together. Not even the Gods and Goddess' wish will change that. Because I'm always going to be with you, Moya Lyubov." She took a step back, and I took another step ahead. "Another mate is just semantics. I had one too. It doesn't come in our way, and you know it. Our love is stronger than that." She kept stepping back, and I kept stepping forward until we were back in the bedroom, and she had her back again the wall.

I placed my hands on either side of her head, and her breath spiked further. "No one can make you feel what I made you feel." I lowered my head till our lips were inches apart. "Not even him."

But I guess that was again the wrong thing to say because she ducked out from under my arm and backed away from me.

"You may be stronger than him, Nikolai, but he is much more of a man than you ever were."

I think Ava has become a sadist.

I remained silent at that. Does she really think that? Does she really hate me that much?

"You really feel that way?" My voice shook.

She remained silent for a while, and then tears rose in her eyes. "Yes." She whispered, and a fat tear rolled down her cheek.

A weight slammed on my chest, and it got difficult to breathe.

The bedroom doors opened, and Viktoria walked in with Niklaus, holding his hand, pulling him inside.

"See! I told you that the room is unlocked! It has two pools! Two! And an awesome view! And Dadda and Mamma lived by the ocean before. How cool is that? Dadda, show Klaus the ocean; he hasn't seen it either!" Viktoria ran to the balcony.

Niklaus took one look at Ava's teary eyes and glared at me. "You made her cry again?" He asked angrily. "Again? Really? She had finally stopped crying! Finally! Why did you come back? Huh? Why?" He hugged his mother and turned his face to glare at me, "You should have stayed dead!"

"Niklaus! No!" Ava gasped.

"It's fine if he feels that way, Avalyn." I forced the words out with a smile. "Unlike you, he at least has the guts to say it to my face."

And with that, I slipped out of the room.