Pretty hype about this chapter. It covers a main plot point throughout the story, so that's exiting. Next chapter is a dive into Vanir.

—

Loki unlocked the door and led her into his chambers, her hand still resting in his. It wasn't the first time, or even the second time she'd been there, so any awkwardness had been long gone. This was practically the only part of the palace where they could talk without fear of anyone eavesdropping.

"No one can know Eir," He started, finally dropping her hand and marching to his closet. "I really shouldn't even be telling you about it." His voice drowned itself out as he descended into the wardrobe.

She looked around the room, taking note of a new couch. It was centered under a massive mirror that stretched to the ceiling, with a coffee table and matching chairs tying it together. Her eyes began scanning the room top to bottom, and she realized it was almost unrecognizable. Instead of bookshelves lining the wall, there were mirrors. Hardwood covered the floor, leaving only one floorcloth underneath the sitting area.

No astronomy pieces laying out, no notebooks on the windowsill, and not even a tea cup in sight. The setting was comfortable, but not something she was used to. It had been a while since she last wandered to see him, but she didn't think it'd been that long.

"Not much, but more information than you would find anywhere else." She turned to face the closet as Loki's voice came back into range. "Most everything is either destroyed or locked away."

"Is it truly that disturbing?" Her eyebrows rose at the sight of only two, thin, paperback books.

What kind of town is this?

"I wouldn't go as far as disturbing, but it is a little unsettling."

He moved from the closet and towards a closed door, motioning for her to follow. She entered the new room, smiling softly at the familiar feeling.

—

The massive bed still sat in the corner, unmade and pressed against the wall. Teacups littered the night stand with books stacked underneath, and an unhealthy amount of throw blankets were scattered in various parts of the room.

"Are you okay?" Loki asked. She hadn't even noticed he'd settled himself on the bed, and her face flushed in embarrassment.

Hopefully I hadn't been staring too long

"Yeah," Her lips pressed together, while her blush faded out. She took a deep breath before joining him on the bed. "No, I'm fine. A bit of time has passed since I've been here is all."

Instead of engaging anymore conversation, Loki handed her one of the two books, and then began flipping through the other. At first glance, it was only a thin, worn down, paper book. Not even a title. Curiosity took her further, but fell flat as she opened the pages.

"Names?" Eir whispered, mostly to herself.

"Those my dear, are all the names of each soul that has never come back from that town." He explained, still skimming the other book.

"What do you have?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at him. A devilish grin spread across his sharp features, and he quickly shut the book.

"A semi-detailed layout of the town," He paused to yawn, and began uncrossing his legs. "Where most things are located, how to access hidden spots, the kind of folk that lived there..." Loki continued to trail on, earning him a shove from Eir. "Oh, and just added notes from Odin himself. Nothing important really."

"Give me." She tried snatching the book but he was far too quick. The God shook his head, holding the same mischievous grin.

"Uh-uh."

"Seriously Moonshine?" She pouted and let her shoulders fall. He licked his lips and arched his brow. Eir's eyes narrowed while she let out an over dramatic sigh. "What do you want?"

"Do the thing with your legs."

"You are a grown child." She grumbled while crisscrossing her legs, letting him lay his head on her lap. A soft chuckle escaped from the prince while he handed her the book.

Comfortable silence fell over the two. The blonde lost herself in the book; the prince lost himself in the blonde. He began thinking on what she had said, about how long it'd been since she visited him.

It had been quite some time, and it wasn't time he particularly he enjoyed. The pair went from inseparable, to average friends overnight. He had always wondered what he'd done to spark the separation, but nothing added up in his mind. The fact that there weren't any pieces that fit together, drove him up the wall.

"This is fascinating. Extremely bizarre and chilling, considering it isn't far from here, but fascinating nonetheless." The startling information had her awestruck. "How is this such a well-kept secret?" She wondered aloud.

"Most death-lists are exactly what they're called; a list. The one for all that was lost in that town and it's surrounding areas," Loki paused, moving his head out of her lap, and sitting back up. "That one has a book." He looked towards the discarded book beside them.

Eir closed the pages and let out a deep sigh. The more she discovered, the more excited she became. Still though, she couldn't let the trickster catch on.

"Well, I am thoroughly spooked for the evening. I think it is about time I take my leave!" She announced, clapping her hands together and throwing her legs over the bedside.

"Why did you stop coming?" Loki asked suddenly, his voice wavering a bit.

"Beg your pardon?" She turned to face him. His lips were pressed together, and his eyes were focused on his lap.

"It's been—" He stopped to collect his thoughts, then continued. "Eir, what happened eleven months ago? Was it something I did? Or something I may have said?" The questions were spewing from his lips, one after another. "I apologized, you said there was nothing to apologize for. Did someone say something to you?" His mouth snapped shut and he closed his eyes.

"Loki." Eir grabbed his attention before he could ramble any further. "Eleven months is not all that long, and we still see each other every day. We just haven't spent much time alone together, nothing's wrong though." She placed a hand on his lap and moving closer to him. "I assure you, with the gossip going about, I don't mind giving you privacy." Her voice hinted at something towards the end. The God's eyes shot open, clearly catching on.

"I mind," Loki started, hoping not to sound overly upset. "But do elaborate on this gossip." He pressed on, his tone dropping daringly low. This was far from how Loki wanted this confrontation to go, but it peaked his interest on what gossip she implied.

"Loki, I-"

"Put a ring on it." He snapped, leaving her jar agape.

"Really? Using our coming clean phrase against me is a low blow." Eir rolled her eyes and gave him a nasty look. "Even for you."

"Bite me."

"Well from what I've heard, you may enjoy that." She snapped back.

Terror overtook her face as she realized what just came from her mouth, too shocked to look away from the man next to her. His head was tilted to one side, and a dangerous smile dangled on the corner of his lips.

"Oh, I would. Amongst many other things of course." He teased.

Loki took her hand from his lap, holding it firmly, causing her body to shift towards him. The comment had taken him off guard, and he needed to have some upper hand in the situation. It wasn't like Eir to be so snarky. Maybe he had rubbed off on her a bit.

"Was there anything else you may have heard?" He questioned, moving himself to his knees, still trying to gain some control.

"Loki, I didn't mean to say that. It just slipped out." Eir tried explaining herself, but she was aware that it was useless. She knew him better than he knew himself sometimes. He needed to be in control, and the way he was moving around her, control was exactly what he was going to get.

"I asked you a question Sunshine," Loki kept a tight hold on her hand, weaving his arm around her waist and pulling her back against him. "it would probably be in your best interest to answer." He whispered, his mouth hovering over the nape of her neck.

Shivers went down her spine at his touch, and she couldn't help but become uncomfortably aroused by it.

"Loki." Eir whimpered his name, tugging at her hand to be released.

His grip lightened up, but mischief still preyed upon his mind. He let out a soft hum before tightening his hand back and pulling her even closer, placing light kisses on her neck.

She gasped in shock that warped it's way into pleasure. His thumb made patterns onto the side of her hand, going over the same spot multiple times. Eir's breath hitched when he softly latched onto a sensitive area. In that moment, she was sure she saw stars.

"I have missed you Eir." He murmured, pulling away and letting her waist go. She brought a hand to the warm spot on her neck, tracing where his mouth had just been.

Stunned. Everything he'd just done left her stunned. Her mind raced with heated thoughts and how much she loved the way he had just made her feel. She inhaled deeply and finally turned herself around, her knees touching his. A lost look covered his features, he was looking at his lap again.

"Loki," She paused to place a hand on the prince's cheek. "Me too."

Ocean eyes flashed up to meet thick brown ones, dilated beyond belief. "Then why did you stop coming?" He asked again.

She dropped her hand while her heart pounded uncontrollably and she fiddled with her fingers, unable to drop his gaze. It was hard to form words, the tightening in Eir's chest made her want to cry. The last thing she wanted to do was cry again. She didn't want it to spill out.

"I am so sorry Loki, I truly am. You were, well, you are my best friend. We," She pointed between the two of them. "have been inseparable since before I remember. You've almost ruined that though Loki." And here it came, spilling out.

"How? I've apologized," His eyes narrowed and broke contact. "I've apologized without knowing what for Eir. If you have to be angry with me, can you at least tell me why!" He rose his voice steadily as he spoke.

She fought away the pricks at the corners of her eyes. It wasn't his words that had gotten to her, it was his eyes. His eyes spoke more emotion than his mouth ever did. And those orbs that had held her gaze for so long, broke her heart.

"You stole my very first kiss you fool!" Her eyebrows drew together while her voice broke. "You kissed me, told me you loved me, then lost your stupid virginity that exact same night." She couldn't stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks, but she wasn't going to let out any sobs yet. "Are you truly so foolish Loki, to think that wouldn't upset me in the slightest? Why would you ruin our relationship, ovrer a stupid kiss?" She snapped her jaw shut to hold back a cry.

Loki's face softened and he began looking over the bothered girl. She truly wore her heart on her sleeve, and he finally understood why he'd been avoided. Well, he understood to an extent at least. His chest filled with guilt, it was never his intention to hurt her.

The blonde scooted herself off the mattress, and when her feet hit the floor she marched to the door. Opening up to the prince wasn't a hard situation for her to be in, he was her confidant. It almost came naturally. This time though, she felt like an idiot.

They were best friends. He'd never made any romantic advancements towards her before, and she'd never wanted him to. She listened to all the women that plagued his mind, no note of jealousy coming from the girl. Centuries worth of memories between the two, and it was being greatly impacted because of an innocent kiss. And it killed her.

"Eir." Loki called for her, right as she stepped out of his bedroom. "Swear you won't say anything about what I've shown you." He could hear her feet padder through his chambers before the entry door opened.

"Swear!" She promised, raising her voice loud enough for him to hear. The door closed directly after, leaving Loki to his own thoughts.