Chapter One

"Try not to break my wife's pretty face," Loki teased from his seat on the railing, his eyes glittering with laughter as Bri flipped her hair out of her eyes and huffed at him. The distraction gave Sif another opening and she kicked Bri hard in the ribs knocking her to the ground. She spat up a little blood then forced herself to her feet.

"She is not your wife yet and if she learned to block she would not have a mark," sneered Sif as she took her stance.

"Mother will be harder to beat." Thor strolled out onto the landing, leaning against the railing near Loki's feet and looking down at the women as they began fighting once more.

"Yes. Thank you. Got that." Bri was panting but managed to parry every punch that Sif threw at her then flipped into the air and over Sif before spinning and catching her in the side with a punch. The grunt that escaped her opponent made her smile. It was finally the third strike of the day. When Sif spun to glare at her she almost backed away but she stood her ground. After three months she was learning not to cower when anyone tried to put her in her place.

A few more strikes and Bri was done for the day, she had made her goal at the very least. No broken bones but she was going to need a hot bath and a deep tissue massage before the end of the day. She bowed to Sif then rolled her shoulders. "Three!" Sif shook her head at Bri's enthusiasm as they walked up to join Thor and Loki.

"It has only taken you three months to achieve it." Sif rolled her eyes, nodding to the two men then heading back inside.

Bri stuck out her bottom lip in a pout as she came to lean against Loki's legs. "That's all I need…"

Loki pat her head, smoothing her hair and twirling her ponytail in his hand. He had come to love the light blue color that never faded or grew out. She was more Jotun than human now. At least, that's what the servants and guards seemed to think when they saw her practicing her magic. "Yes, you are improving my little pet. And when you face her you will be allowed to use all of your abilities."

Three months had passed since his proposal and she had been preparing ever since. To be his wife she would need to become a Valkyrie like his mother. A guardian to the king or prince she was assigned—although of course she would be with Loki. His smile faltered when he saw his mother walking out to join them with a warm grin. She had been training Bri in what it would be like to take her position as a Valkyrie but he knew all too well his mother's fighting abilities. Bri still had a long way to go before he would be able to land three strikes to her.

"Congratulations are in order! I understand you have finally made it past Lady Sif!" Frigga wrapped Bri in her arms and squeezed hard enough to get a wheeze out of Bri.

"Thanks…" Bri pulled back and leaned against Loki, glancing at him gratefully when he wrapped an arm around her to keep her standing while feigning only an interest in holding her.

"She will be on to see the Norns then?" Loki's arm tightened around Bri when his brother mentioned the fates. It was the next step in her journey, of course. To meet with the three sisters and see if her fate was to be by his side. She would also learn his history so as to be able to protect him better. Frigga had done the same, as had every queen and princess before her, mortal or not.

"Yes. She will leave in the morning." Frigga's cheerfulness had lessened with the mention of the eerie women but she had faith that Bri would survive their odd tests.

Loki slipped from the balcony to stand behind his beloved and hold her close. If she angered the Norns she would not return to him. He had only visited them once but he had nearly lost his life, he was not sure what would happen should they find her unsuitable.

Bri leaned into him and intertwined her fingers with his. "Then I guess I should get a good night's rest." With a nod of respect to Frigga and Thor she pulled Loki away and toward their bedroom. "I want a massage," she declared as they weaved through the halls. She had learned to ignore the looks the servants and guards gave the two of them. She knew they had no real respect for either of them. The Jotun monster and the Midgardian/Jotun mutant. They at least knew their place. Only Dragmar truly seemed to enjoy being around them, well, Bri at the very least.

"As the Lady wishes." Loki lifted her up as if she were nothing then transported him to their room, dropping her onto their bed as he conjured a massage table. She grunted when she landed, narrowing her eyes at him and tsking irritably.

"Just 'cuz the bed is soft does not mean you can just throw me like a sack of potatoes," she grumbled while sitting up.

He lifted an eyebrow. "I do not believe I have ever seen such an attractive spud." He winked and snickered as he summoned a table for the massage oils he brought from the bathroom. It had become custom for him to give her a massage whenever she was finished with her sparring. Or for her to take a bath. Sometimes both. He offered her his hand and helped her to her feet, breathing in the scent of her. Even covered in sweat and dirt he could smell the familiar winter that radiated from within. His hands slipped down her sides as he banished the clothing he had made her earlier.

Her breath hitched and she bit her lower lip as his warm hands slid across her bare skin. They had been together nearly a year and had yet to be more intimate than a little heavy petting. She wanted him with every cell in her body but she would not yield. She would go to their marriage bed without knowing any man's touch, even her husband's.

"You should lay down now." His voice was husky as he leaned down and whispered in her ear, his hands resting on her hips as his thumbs made circles in her flesh.

She leaned up and pressed herself against him before kissing him. Heat spread throughout her as he grasped her bottom and held her against him. His tongue slipped in to her mouth to war with hers, drinking in her moans as he lifted her onto the table and slipped between her legs. Her nails ran along his back while she pulled his shirt up. They broke their kiss as she yanked it over his head and tossed it to the floor.

Both of their eyes were clouded over with want as he leaned in to claim her mouth again, his hands running up her thighs to massage away the knots formed while fighting. She leaned back as he trailed kisses down her neck and moved up to cool the heat coming from the bruises on her ribs. "You will be the death of me," he breathed when she bit his shoulder.

It took all of his self-restraint to stop before anything went further. "Our wedding night cannot come soon enough," he grumbled, his gaze dropping to her naked breasts. He shook his head and put his hands on his face to cool the rush of blood. "Lay down on your stomach…"

She followed his orders reluctantly. "Agreed," she whispered. If it hadn't been for Loki she was sure she would no longer be a maiden. But, apart from her own wishes, if they were together before their marriage she wouldn't be allowed to become a Valkyrie. They were maiden warriors first after-all. Her eyes drifted closed as he poured a lavender oil on her and began to work at the knots in her back. She just needed to get through the Norns and then beat Frigga in a fight. Simple.