I don't own anything but my OC.

Sera brushed her hair back, studying the creek as it rushed by. The water was colored the same shade of gold that dusted practically the entire realm of Asgard, but was as clear as the ice on Jotunheim. A curious hand reached for the surface, breaking the molecules that scattered at the touch of her fingers. The water was as warm as she felt to others – several degrees below the typical Asgardian body temperature. What monster am I? I cannot even touch an Asgardian without threatening to mark him. Somehow, she had gotten through the ball a few nights ago without marking any of her partners. She owed her luck to the thick armor that the men had worn. She had not touched any women to the best of her knowledge, knowing that contact with their bare skin would warrant unwelcome reactions to the sudden ridges that would have protruded from their skin.

As she turned her head, she noted the form of her companion. He was stretched out on the blanket, his emerald eyes closed to the world. His breaths were slow, his heartbeat a steady drum. His hair, usually slicked back with care, was loose and gently moving in the breeze that carelessly tossed the raven locks around. Loki had drifted off to sleep after a few more kisses, Sera's head originally having been laid on his chest. Why she had suddenly wriggled out of his embrace, she didn't know. She had been so comfortable, so safe...

You are doing well, Sera.

"You couldn't leave me for a day, could you?" Sera murmured, barely audible above the lapping of the creek.

Absolutely not. Otherwise, you would be tempted to deviate from our plan.

"You mean your plan." Sera glanced back to Loki, seeing his eyelids twitch. "I cannot speak here," she whispered, standing quickly to her feet. She tiptoed out from under the cover of the willow, creeping toward where she and Loki had entered. Looking to her right, she saw a few rocks scattered across the stream in a strange path to the opposite side. Leaping to the first rock, she teetered a little on the edge, her arms flailing. As she began to fall, she extended her leg and found footing on the slippery stone. She crossed using the last few rocks and started to search the opposite side. As she walked parallel to the creek, a large briar bush attracted her attention. "Perfect," she muttered as she slipped behind the thick brush.

Yes, my plan, Laufey continued, as if she had not interrupted him, but you agreed to it. Sera pressed her fingers to her temples as she sat on the leafy ground, the briars surrounding her. She felt horrible for leaving Loki behind, but he could not become knowledgeable about what she was hiding from him. Not yet. You know you will require him later, Sera. He is the key to Asgard's downfall.

"And how is that possible?" Sera asked. "He is the son of Odin, and though he may not be the prized prince, he would never betray his realm."

Au contraire, mon cher. He harbors a grudge toward his brother as well as his father. I am not aware of the reason, but he holds some hatred toward them.

"He does not know who he is," Sera murmured, remembering their earlier conversation. "He knows he is different."

As he is. Sera frowned. If Loki had questions of his heritage and also held a deep-seated hatred for his father and brother – whom he seemed to love unconditionally, despite his brother being favored above him – there was something much larger going on beneath the surface. Sera examined the hem of her gown, playing with a loose string that had caught on a briar.

"You are the first I have met in years that has had the same appearance as me." Loki's words echoed in her mind. Was this a hint? Did he know of her origin? Sera bit the inside of her lip. A small thought began to creep into the back of her mind, something that nagged at her. Something wasn't right. Something was right in front of her, but she couldn't see it. She knew the answer to Loki's unanswered question, but the answer was dangled before her like the proverbial carrot in front of the horse. She sighed softly. "How long do I have?"

Seventeen days. It must be completed by sunset of the seventeenth day, or our deal will be invalid. Am I clear.

"Crystal," Sera hissed. She stood from her seat on the ground, avoiding the briars. As she made her way back to the spot she and Loki had been occupying, she couldn't help but notice how deeply she was digging her hole. If she were to be caught, she would die as a traitor to her new realm. If she refused to comply with Laufey's orders, she would be a traitor to her homeland and would die a traitor's death in Jotunheim. Shivering, she brushed back the veil of willow leaves to the sight of Loki's curious expression. Questions were flashing in his emerald gaze as she stopped in her tracks. With a small grin, she chuckled sheepishly and said, "Nature called."

Loki raised an eyebrow, but didn't question her alibi. He stretched, a feline quality to his long limbs as he groaned softly.

"Good morning, sunshine," Sera said with a laugh. "Or should I say evening?" She nodded to the dimming light over his shoulder. They had spent most of the day out here, missing two meals. Loki gave her a faint smile, exhaustion in his face. Sera stepped to his side, noting the disappearance of the picnic basket. He had been up for a while.

"Shall we head back? I'm sure Thor misses your presence." His voice was soothing, soft and easy on her ears. She nodded and held out a hand to help him to his feet. As her hand touched his knee, he disappeared, smoke following his body as he flashed into view beside her.

Sera gave him a look, but didn't say a word. He grasped her fingers, bringing her back to her own height. He stood only a few inches above her, his eyes level with her forehead. "Sera, if our interactions back there made you uncomfortable... there does not have to be a repeat performance." There was concern in the tone of his voice, concern that he had put her on the spot.

"If you recall correctly, I kissed you first," Sera pointed out. She entwined her fingers with his, pulling him toward the path they had entered on. Loki shrugged in answer as he allowed her to guide him out of the small forest.

As they made their way toward the palace, he couldn't help but examine her. She was amazingly beautiful – to him, at least – and the way she could mirror his thoughts intrigued him. She had been spunky from the start, something he admired in a woman. Any woman who could hold her own in an intellectual or magical fight was high on his list of regards. His eyes roamed up her form, holding at her face. Her dark eyes were dull, duller than when he had first met her. There were bags under her eyes that she had tried to cover up with enchantments and quite possibly some facial makeup, but were still visible. Her cheeks were becoming more hollow and her cheekbones were more pronounced, and he could only attribute this to lack of sleep and food. She had barely touched their picnic breakfast and at meals, she had eaten as little as possible. She usually stared at her plate, blank and thoughtless.

It was becoming harder to enter her mind for him. Whether it was a moral issue or simply because she was growing stronger, he wasn't sure. She was an enigma, a mystery he wanted to solve. She was intriguing to him, much more than any spell book. Sera, as unknown as she was, was his sole favorite topic of interest. He wanted to know so much more about her but she kept her walls up around him, keeping him at arm's length. Their kiss – well, kisses – had been the first time she had been vulnerable emotionally around him.

That kiss. She had awoken something within him, something that had laid dormant for centuries. He could not fathom why she had kissed him in the first place. He was sure that she had been adamantly against any form of ties to the Asgardian people, especially after being thrown out of her own home and being forced to be a peace offering to his father. But by the Norns, was she ever a wonder. The way she walked, the way she spoke, the way she could distract him from important matters he was discussing... she was the type of person he could see spending the rest of his life with. You've known her a month, barely even that. Be logical. There is no such thing as 'love at first sight'. It's a warm season fling. You'll be over her once the season's over.

Loki turned his attention to her, clearing his throat. She looked over her shoulder at him, her dark blue eyes expectant. "If it is not too intrusive," he began, "how long are you in Asgard for, if not here for the rest of your life?"

She paused, seeming to mull over his question. Her steps slowed as she examined the ground before her. Her eyes returned to his as her lips parted. "I will be returning home on the first day of the cold season. Our ruler wishes to have my presence in his courts to report progress and to see if the Asgardian realm is adhering to their treaty."

Loki swallowed slowly. That was seventeen days from now. He barely had any time left with her. He nodded as he processed this new information. If she was leaving at the end of the season, would she ever return? "I see," came his unsteady reply.

Sera stopped, turning toward her companion. Both of her pale, thin hands raised to his face, clasping it gently. She brought herself close to him, staring into his eyes. "Loki, do not seek me when I leave here. If I do not return, it is not on you. It will be on my head." Her eyes searched his as she continued. "I have a task to complete, to ensure that the treaty will be carried out. If I come back, it will be under the good graces of my King."

Loki nodded. His hands caressed her wrists, feeling suddenly vulnerable and open. Dammit, why did she make him feel this way? Why did she open him, reveal him to the world? He sighed. "Will I ever see you again?"

"That is up to my king," Sera replied. There was a sadness in her eyes, hidden deep in those midnight depths. He wanted to hold her, tell her that he would take the pain away. A woman in pain was his greatest weakness. She leaned forward, standing on her tiptoes to press her lips to his. There was a longing within the gesture, one that he mirrored as his hands slid down her arm to her shoulders. His right hand dropped to her waist, pulling her close to him. As the kiss broke apart, he felt a smile break on his lips.

"We should return. They will be sending a search party soon," he laughed softly. She nodded in response and gently tapped her hand against his cheek. She laughed, the bell tones music to his ears. She dropped her hands and returned to the course they had set toward the palace, Loki in tow.

As they re-entered the gardens, Loki grasped her hand tighter, stopping her and turning her toward him. "How... accustomed are you to staring?" he asked.

She raised an eyebrow. "Since I came here, everyone has not begun to quit staring at me," Sera answered. "Why?"

"Because the staring is about to begin again." Loki nodded to the windows, where a blond head was watching. Thor was examining them, his blue eyes holding questions that Loki could see from where he stood. As Sera gripped his hand tightly, he brought his eyes back to her. "It will be alright, Sera. There will be questions of courtship... but I will leave the answer up to you."

Sera nodded. He saw her gaze dart to her left for a brief second, as if someone were standing there. He knew better than to look; he would look a fool to start chasing ghosts that didn't exist. His own line of sight drifted to where Thor had been standing before; his brother was nowhere to be seen. He grasped her hand firmly and began to step into the doorway. It was now or never. Time to set his brother's simple mind at ease.

So this was a short chapter, but this one and the next two chapters were blank on my plotline and this was the best I could type up for a chapter. Chapter 14 will be the beginning of the end, meaning that the ending will be set in motion as of that chapter. Secrets will be revealed, promises broken, and relationships tested. I hope you guys liked this chapter and I hope you guys like the rest of the story. Reviews are loved and welcomed! Thank you for reading. :)