A/N: The next few chapters will be relatively quiet, especially after the events of the last two. Bear with me if you start to get antsy. Things will eventually pick up. Think of this as the calm before the storm.

Thank you to subjunctivemood for being such a great beta! This chapter turned out so much better because of you.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything having to do with Marvel Comics or any of its creations. I can only appreciate the characters they've given us to work with.

Chapter Thirty-Four

"The divine is not static and humane; the divine does not play nice. The divine is full of monsters, and they will eat you alive, everything you are."

2013: England

"You came back…"

"You doubted I would?" Thor closed the gap between them, dropped Mjölnir with a resounding thud, and framed her face with both hands before kissing her deeply. It didn't last long, but the underlying intensity of it took her breath away. When he pulled back, it was only so far as to touch his forehead to hers. "How I've missed you, Jane."

What should have been a natural response wedged in her throat, so she used the silence to take him in instead. He looked exactly the same. Then again, why wouldn't he? Loki had barely changed over the course of a millennium. Why would Thor in less than a year? That was nothing more than a drop of water in the immeasurable lifespan of an Æsir, a fleeting breath. Although…

"Your hair is longer." She hesitantly touched his breastplate. "And your armor is new."

"Not new, only improved." It was a poor greeting, but he didn't seem to mind. With a soft smile, he swept a thumb across her cheekbone. "You haven't changed a bit. I see you've found new ways of making trouble in my absence."

She followed his gaze to the building that was now engulfed in flames. "That? No, that wasn't me. I mean, I was there when it happened, but it wasn't my fault. Although it might not have gotten to that point if I wasn't there to start with, but that still doesn't… I'm not doing a very good job of explaining this, am I?"

"No, but I enjoy watching you try."

Overwhelmed by a sudden rush of affection for the ever-sweet, ever-loyal, ever-reliable God of Thunder, Jane threw her arms around his neck. Too late, though, she realized the implications of her actions. Thor encircled her waist and lifted her off the ground, turning in a slow circle while she mentally kicked herself.

It was wrong of her to encourage him when she didn't, wouldn't, couldn't feel the same way. Still, he held her close – her face pressed to his armor, his buried in her hair – until wailing sirens kicked up in the distance. When he finally set her down, the sound of glass crunching beneath her feet effectively scattered all other worries and brought the events of the past hour to the forefront of her thoughts.

"Oh, no!" Jane wormed free of the embrace and knelt to pick up the ruined phone. "He won't have any way to get ahold of me. I bet he's freaking out." Then she remembered the reason for Erik's call in the first place. "Thor…" She scrambled to her feet and grabbed his arm. "Thor, someone took Loki's scepter! They stole it from one of the labs!"

All traces of contentment drained from his features, leaving him grim. "I know."

"That's why you've come, right? You're going to get it back?"

"Were it not already gone from this realm, I would."

It was a simple enough explanation, but something about his expression gave her pause. The way his lips thinned into a thin line, perhaps, or the slight dip of his brows. Jane leaned back. "You already knew it was gone." The lack of response she received was answer enough. "Why are you here, then?"

Thor laid his hand over hers. "Heimdall informed me your life was in jeopardy."

"Please don't tell me you chose me over the scepter." The thought made her physically sick. "I've seen what that thing can do. If you let it fall into the wrong hands because of your feelings—"

"Your wellbeing is paramount, Jane. My feelings for you have no bearing on that. I've long been taught that ruling involves making decisions for the greater good. I could not prevent the scepter from being taken, but I could get you to safety." He pointed to the crumbling building. "That is only the beginning. A taste of what's to come unless we find a way to stop it."

Smoke billowed up into the early morning atmosphere, and Jane watched the flames lick at the stained sky. "You know what really happened up there?"

"Do you?"

She worried her lip, pointedly avoiding Thor's gaze when he drew even with her. They were entering dangerous territory, skirting that invisible line of no return. Lying wasn't an option. She'd spent too many hours berating herself for abandoning Loki in his time of need for that. The truth was long, though. And complicated. And would require more detail than they had time for at the moment, so she ultimately settled for only the bare bones of it.

"I know that something has to be going on in the realms. Anomalies are occurring all over the place, stronger and more frequent than ever before. Not just in deep space like when you first came here, either. They're happening locally too. I also know that, while I was up there studying one of those disturbances, this… creature came out of the rift." A shiver raced through her body. "Thor, what's going on?"

"The sons of Muspel are on the move. The realms are no longer safe. Yggdrasil's very existence is threatened." Flashing lights zigzagged through the farthest parking lot as the emergency vehicles approached the fire, and he pulled her out of view behind one of the shipping containers. "But this is a conversation better had elsewhere. Will you come with me?"

It was all so sudden. With the pieces of her phone strewn across the concrete, she had no way of letting anyone know where she'd be going or who she'd be going with. No one even knew she'd left the house this morning. When they eventually tracked her movements, saw the combined smoldering warehouse and circular imprint left by the Bi-Frost, and realized where she went… she cringed at the thought.

Darcy would be worried.

Erik would be furious.

But this was Asgard Thor was offering. Asgard and inter-realm travel and opportunity. She'd have the chance to experience the Bi-Frost again and see the Realm Eternal in all its grandeur for more than one chaotic evening. The chance to receive real, honest answers to questions she'd been chasing for so very long. The chance to aid in what was to come. The chance to make things right.

"Please, Jane. I need your help."

Wait passively on Earth or take action in Asgard. It wasn't even an issue, really. Her mind was made up long before Thor's appeal, consequences be damned. Not even the mystery of why he needed her help, of all people's, was enough to deter the anticipation worming its way into her limbs. She'd never been one for standing on the sidelines or letting others fight her battles. In the end, what else could she do?

And so, nodding breathlessly, Jane stepped into his waiting arms. They stared up into the hazy sky together, and she heard Thor call upon Asgard's Gatekeeper, felt the familiar pressure take hold, watched London dissolve into a rainbow of light. Then they were flying. Magic hummed beneath her skin like a living thing as they rushed through the infinite expanse of space, lingering even after the Bi-Frost had deposited them safely and powered down.

The first thing she noticed was the reconstructed globe. She'd last seen it nearly two years ago. Jötnar had invaded the realm, Thor and Loki were locked in a duel, and she'd been galloping towards the mêlée when an explosion had ruptured the bridge. She'd watched it fall off the edge of the world, leaving travel between the realms virtually impossible. And yet, here it stood.

Jane rotated to take it all in. The only difference she could spot was the lack of stars. Instead, the sky outside was streaked with the red, orange, and yellow brushstrokes of sunset. Other than that, everything was exactly as she remembered, from the raised dais to the crystal floor to the engravings that adorned the interior. Even Heimdall stood atop the platform as he had before, hands on his sword. But when her eyes cut to the figure at his side…

"You!"

"Me, indeed." A tall man sporting silver armor and white-blonde hair returned Jane's inelegant gawk with a smirk and descended the dais. Ignoring Thor completely, he bent low in a bow, snagged her fingers, and pressed a chaste kiss to her knuckles. "It's been far too long, my lady."

Jane yanked her hand away. "Or not long enough."

"Still angry after all this time…" Feigning disappointment, he shook his head. "And here I thought we'd moved past all that."

"Lord Freyr, where are the Warriors Three?"

The deep timbre of Thor's voice carried easily within the dome, and Jane had never been more welcome for an interruption. Having been on the receiving end of the Vanir god's brazen interest once before, she resolved not to let it happen again. The less time spent with him, the better. However, while Thor's voice commanded attention, it was not enough to compel respect. Not on its own, at least.

"They are not my warriors." Freyr continued to focus fully on Jane. "Why should I have any knowledge of their whereabouts?"

If his tone wasn't a direct snub, his inattentiveness was, and Thor frowned. "Because they were here when I left, and now you stand in their place."

"I'm their sitter now?" Freyr arched one brow in her direction, lips quirking in a lazy smile. "Should I see to your human, as well?"

Jane saw it coming before either of them had even moved. With a barely-contained growl, Thor shoved his way between them, forcing the Vanir back a step. Twin pairs of blue eyes finally met in a heated clash, a silent battle of power between the crown prince of Asgard and the ruler of Alfheim. Tucked behind Thor's shoulder, she nervously glanced to Heimdall who only stared calmly on.

"Might I remind you that you are a guest in the Realm Eternal. An honored guest, to be sure, but a guest nonetheless. It would serve you well not to insult Jane's honor again."

The tension in the room was tangible. Dense and bitter, she could well near taste it in the air. She had no great love for Freyr, but she also knew he was only trying to get a rise out of them. After spending who knew how many centuries together, Thor should have realized that as well. But then, he had the tendency to be rash. Loki had said as much long before she'd ever witnessed it for herself.

Unwilling to let the situation deteriorate any further, Jane tugged gently on his cloak. "Thor."

He visibly relaxed at her touch, although the keen edge to his voice remained. "I will ask you again, Freyr, where—?"

"They were summoned by the All-Father." The three turned as one to Heimdall who pulled the sword free and sheathed it in one smooth motion. "It is my sworn duty to notify the king of crimes against the throne. You knew that when you left."

"When he learned what you'd done, I was asked to retrieve the Warriors Three. It was only after that I decided to remain until your return." Freyr's charm was back in full swing when his gaze landed on Jane once more. "I'm sincerely glad I did."

She wrinkled her nose. A sharp quip was on the tip of her tongue, but before she could respond, the Vanir disappeared behind the plated lines and gunmetal grey of Thor's newly fashioned gladiator-esque armor. His hand was extended between them, palm up, waiting for hers. She blinked, then met his eyes. They crinkled at the corners in a reassuring smile.

"Come, Jane."

She didn't know where they were going or why. In all honesty, she didn't even know what she was doing in Asgard. Thor had asked for her help. That was the extent of her knowledge. It wasn't much to go on, but she'd always trusted Thor. Even when she didn't know him for who he really was and his concepts of other realms had seemed crazy, there had always been this instinctive sort of trust. She accepted his hand and allowed him to lead her away with that same sort of blind faith.

"Best of luck, my lord." Any genuineness the farewell might have had was erased by Freyr's smug smirk, although he did dip his chin respectfully when she passed. "My lady."

Dusk was nearly upon the realm by the time they exited the Bi-Frost. Dying rays of sunlight barely peeked over the western horizon while two moons began their ascent to the southeast, bringing with them large swaths of indigo and violet to slowly consume the sky. The first of what would become many stars winked in the distance.

Jane stifled a yawn as they walked down the bridge. The warm breeze and soothing shh of the Great Sea reminded her that she'd been awake since early that morning and suffered a fitful night's sleep before that. Second time in Asgard or not, she'd be happy to fall into bed later.

"I apologize for Freyr's behavior." Thor stared unseeingly at some point in front of them. From the hard set of his jaw, he appeared embarrassed. "It is unbefitting for a man of his station to act in such a way."

She shrugged it off. "That's alright. He did pretty much the same thing last time I was here." It was hardly the most offensive thing a man had ever said to her anyway.

Behind them, the Bi-Frost stood like a shining sphere against the darkness. Two figures were silhouetted in the entrance, and she absentmindedly wondered why Freyr would choose to stay behind. It had seemed like his sole purpose in being there was to taunt Thor, but maybe that was only part of the reason.

"Thor, how long has it been since the Bi-Frost was repaired?"

"Little more than three months. Reconstructing it was no easy feat, even with the power of the Tesseract. It might have gone faster if my…" He cleared his throat. "If others were able to help. Why do you ask?"

The correction didn't go unnoticed, but Jane chose to overlook it. That didn't prevent her heart from lurching painfully all the same. "I was just curious whether it had been used much or not."

"Initially, it was. A group known as the Marauders had taken advantage of the Bi-Frost's destruction to openly revolt against Asgard. Many of the Einherjar were sent to restore the balance of power, including the Warriors Three, Lady Sif, and myself."

"I'm guessing you were successful if you were able to come get me."

"We were." Thor cast a brief smile and gestured her forward. "Though, I would have come to your aid regardless."

Iridescent crystal gave way to flagstones as they passed through an archway that signaled the end of the Rainbow Bridge, and Jane eyed the elaborate houses of the castle town that rose around them. "What are you using the Bi-Frost for now?"

"Peace treaties. The All-Father has forbidden its use for anything else. Several ambassadors have been sent to negotiate terms with the rulers of other realms." He paused, reconsidering. "Well, some of the realms. There are those that will always resist."

"Like Jötunheim." Muspelheim, also, but she couldn't exactly reveal her knowledge of how deep that animosity ran without delving further.

Beside her, Thor nodded. "Peace was hard-won after the last war. I imagine it to be near impossible this time around." He rubbed at his beard idly. "Few things bring about ruin so easily as bad blood."

Unfortunately, he was right. Enmity, discontent, resentment… those would always prove to be the greater stimuli. Progress was made in times of harmony, but it was war that instigated true evolution. Jötunheim was no different. She'd witnessed their brutality, the extent of what they were willing to do in the name of revenge.

Loki had said it would take centuries for the frost giants to unite behind another leader. Then again, he'd also once scoffed at the idea of them ever holding him captive. Underestimating the enemy wasn't a mistake she planned to commit. Loki had stolen something from the sons of Muspel, and Surtur had held on to the vendetta for a thousand years. Why would the jötnar be any different?

They wouldn't forgive.

Nor would they forget.

But while the future actions of a vengeful race weren't something to ignore, it wasn't something she could change. However, there was something she could. Or influence, at the very least.

She'd received the answer to her unspoken question in a roundabout way. If the Bi-Frost was only open to those realms willing to discuss peace and the jötnar were too hostile to even consider, that meant no one had travelled to Jötunheim. And if no one had travelled to Jötunheim, that meant Jane hadn't fulfilled her end of the bargain.

Technically, she'd been released with the condition she find Loki and restore the Bi-Frost. And she'd done that, albeit indirectly… but Gerðr remained in Jötunheim, a prisoner among her own kin. Which, in turn, explained why Freyr was so keen to loiter at the Bi-Frost. If he couldn't go to his wife or bring her back, he could at least be kept aware of her safety through Heimdall. In the end, until Gerðr was back in Asgard, the weight of their pact remained.

Broaching the subject would have to wait until later, though.

Jane blinked and stopped. The last time she'd made this journey, the Warriors Three and Sif had led her down the side roads to a more discreet entry. Now, a long flight of steps stretched before her, culminating in a grand entrance to the palace. Upon realizing she was no longer following, Thor stopped as well, looking back to her from several steps above.

"Where are we going?"

"To see my father." In what seemed an almost nervous gesture, Thor bumped Mjölnir repeatedly against his leg. "It's a bit sooner than I anticipated. I would've preferred you be able rest first. But with him having found out where I went…"

Jane's focus darted from Thor to Mjölnir to the stairway and back again. "Use of the Bi-Frost is limited to emissaries only. You weren't supposed to bring me here, were you?"

"I was not given permission, no."

If not for the seriousness of the situation they were about to enter, she might have laughed at his sheepish expression. It was the most… human she'd ever seen him look. "Do you think he'll be mad?"

"Perhaps. The All-Father has never held mortals in high regard." Thor backtracked to where she stood and cupped her face in one hand. He didn't appear nervous anymore, but she worried her lip all the same. "But whatever else he may be, he is, first and foremost, my father. And I am his son. Do not fear, Jane. He will hear me."

"My words are mere noises to you that you would ignore them completely?"

The voice resonated loudly in the cavernous room. Just shy of a bellow, its steely edge sent a collective wince through the six individuals kneeling before the throne of Odin All-Father, King of Asgard and Protector of the Nine Realms. Even the Einherjar standing guard flinched. Jane glanced at Thor from the corner of her eye. So much for listening.

"Father, I—"

"I often wonder if you take pleasure in testing my patience. Going against your king's command is treason. Do you understand that? The law is clear for everyone from the cook to the warrior. That you are a prince is of no consequence."

"If you let me explain—"

"Is one son not enough? Am I to condemn the other as well? What's more are those you involved. The greatest warriors the realms have ever seen… would you see them thrown into the dungeon for your own selfish deeds?"

"It was never my intention to—"

"The threat of the Convergence shadows all of Yggdrasil. Long-forgotten beings emerge from the deepest corners of the realms to invade your homeland, murder your family, and steal that which is ours. Meanwhile, you deliberately disobey me to search for a mortal harlot to share your bed."

Jane stared resolutely at the patterns in the stone floor and bit the inside of her cheek. A combination of indignation, embarrassment, and outright anger had her face blooming in a brilliant flush. To her right, a muscle in Thor's jaw twitched, and she half-hoped for a repeat performance of the Bi-Frost. But Odin was not Freyr.

"With all due respect, I must disagree." Thor hesitated for a moment, continuing only when it became clear he wouldn't be interrupted. "My actions were treason, yes, but my motivations were purely honorable. It was because of the Convergence that I brought her here. I did what I had to for the good of the realm."

Something nagged at the back of Jane's mind. Because of the Convergence. For the good of the realm. Please, Jane, I need your help. Clearly, Midgard wasn't the only realm experiencing strange events… but what did all of this have to do with her?

Thor bowed his head. "Of course, I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit for my insubordination."

While the Warriors Three and Sif quietly echoed the sentiment, Jane risked a peek through her lashes to the All-Father. He stood before the throne, staff in hand, outfitted in both armor and helmet that gleamed in the firelight. His mouth remained a stern line, but there was the barest hint of concession in the tilt of his head, the intrigue in his eye as he considered his son.

"You say it was because of the Convergence you fetched her."

One almost-question. That was all it took to spur a shift in the conversation. Thor must have likewise sensed his father's interest because he stood without waiting for approval. "She was in danger."

"She is mortal. When are they not?"

"She is also the only one to which he will speak." Still kneeling on the floor, Jane snapped to attention and looked up at Thor in surprise. "He knows more than he lets on, you cannot deny it. If there's even the slightest chance he will cooperate, we must act on it."

Hope was a dangerous thing. It was fine in small doses. Encouraging, even. But gather too much… she'd endured the sting of disappointment and grieved as the world came crashing down around her on multiple occasions, which was why she'd scarcely let herself feel any measure of it over the past year when it came to Loki. Especially when it came to Loki.

Last time she'd seen him, he was being taken back to Asgard. Thor had implied a severe punishment for his crimes against Midgard, but she'd never learned what the sentence consisted of. For all she knew, Loki had been executed.

She'd treaded the sea of distress before, spent months preceding the Battle of New York agonizing over ways to find him, what she could have done differently in Jötunheim, if he was even still alive. Never again, she'd told herself. She couldn't survive that twice. In the end, the easiest thing to do was nothing. She never imagined the worst, but she didn't hold on to hope either. Ever since they'd left, she'd drifted in the in-between, but now…

Now hope twisted her stomach into a tangle of knots, sent her heart somersaulting crazily in her chest as she stood. "Who wants to speak with me?"

"Why her?" A quick glance revealed Odin to be staring at her shrewdly. "Who is she to him?"

"I wish I knew, but after giving his ultimatum, he's refused to see me."

The four warriors on the other side of Thor rose, and Fandral stepped forward. "Is spite not reason enough? It would not be unlike him."

Jane brushed her fingers against the back of Thor's hand in an attempt to draw his focus. "Unlike who?" When he still didn't look, she shook his arm.

All her efforts were wasted, though. He merely reached up, caught her hand, and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "It could only be her importance to me, but…"

"But nothing. He does nothing without predicting everyone's actions and weighing all the outcomes. Never has." Odin's tone was unmistakably colored by scorn, but there was a layer of something else beneath it too. Weariness, maybe. Or regret. "He learned that well from Frigga."

The effect on the Asgardians was immediate. Some averted their eyes, others shifted uncomfortably. Even Thor lowered his head and took a deep, steadying breath before lifting it again, jaw squared. Jane frowned, wondering at the cause of their restlessness.

"Trust is delicate. He has done much to lose it and little to gain it back. I doubt we'll ever be able to fully trust him again." Thor's hand settled in the small of her back. "But even if he were to prove false, Jane can still help."

"No."

Despite the ring of finality, Thor stiffened. "She is wise, Father, and knowledgeable of the realms."

"More knowledgeable than we?"

"She is a scientist of great renown."

"It was in the name of science that Midgardians turned their back on the truth long ago. They now believe themselves to be the center of all things, celebrating their achievements, crowing over their believed supremacy. If only they knew how lacking they truly are."

Jane's lip curled involuntarily. It wasn't so much what he said that grated on her nerves but the way he said it, as if he had any room to talk, like they were so very different. No race was perfect, but she was really tired of dealing with gods and their insufferable superiority complexes.

"I've heard enough." Odin waved a hand in her general direction. "Guards, take her back to Midgard."

"You haven't…" Thor's words dissolved into a growl as the Einherjar began to approach, and he pushed her behind his back. "Our inability to track the Convergence has already allowed us to be taken by surprise. If mortals are so lacking, how is it Jane has developed machines that can?"

Odin slammed the butt end of the staff against the marble. "Silence! I will not watch my son beg over a mortal."

"Neither will you see reason." The Warriors Three and Sif hovered nearby, torn between joining their prince and obeying their king. They weren't needed, though. When Thor adjusted his grip on Mjölnir, the two Einherjar faltered. "She is the only one who can help."

"The Realm Eternal has been challenged since the dawn of creation, and she has yet to fall. Her strength will not fail this time either. We will deal with the Convergence as we always have."

"But Jane belongs somewhere she—"

"She belongs in Midgard. She does not belong here in Asgard any more than a goat belongs at a banquet table."

"You know what, that's it." Every face turned towards Jane as her voice cut through the argument. She shoved past Thor, eyes trained on Odin. "I don't care who you are, I'm sick of being insulted and talked about like I'm not even here." One of the Einherjar lowered his spearhead, and she slapped it away before fisting her hands defiantly at her sides. "You're not better than me. You're not better than anyone. The only reason you're king is because you happened to be born into a royal family, and if this is how you treat others, then you deserve what's coming."

An awkward silence blanketed the room.

Realization of what she'd said filtered in a second too late. It didn't matter, though. Given the chance, she'd do it again. She wasn't a harlot, and she wasn't helpless. She might not be a god with special abilities, but that didn't mean she was a nobody with nothing to offer, some worthless mortal to be cast aside.

Thor's hand slipped around her elbow, but she jerked it free and continued to glare up at Odin. Resilience held her ramrod straight. That, and an overwhelming sense of resentment. This was the man who once stripped Thor of his powers and banished him to Earth. The same man who had abandoned both her and Loki to their fates in Jötunheim, who saw their suffering and left them there anyway.

If the Realm Eternal had prospered and thrived under his rule, as she'd been led to believe, he must have made a decent king.

But that didn't make him a good father.

Adrenaline fueled her righteous anger – for Thor, for Loki, for herself – and quickened her pulse to a rapid staccato. Blood roared in her ears. And she was still grappling with the whirlwind of emotions scratching like static beneath her skin when the All-Father finally spoke.

"Leave us."

The two Einherjar, Volstagg, Hogun, Fandral… one by one, they filed out of the throne room through one of the side entrances. Only Sif hesitated in the doorway, turned to fix Thor with a searching look before disappearing behind the carved mahogany. Once they were alone, she felt more than saw Thor move to stand next to her.

"Jane Foster…" Odin began to descend the steps to their level. "What do you know of the Convergence?"

Thor shifted so that their shoulders touched, a subtle reminder that he was on her side, and some of the fight drained from her muscles. "Every five thousand years, the realms align. It causes gravitational anomalies, huge shifts in magnetic fields, atmospheric disturbances. The thinning boundaries between the realms also lead to the random formation of traversable rifts in space-time."

"From whom did you learn this?"

"A friend." When Odin's countenance darkened and darted to Thor, she quickly butted in. "It wasn't Thor."

Understanding smoothed his features. "Your comrade. The one who aided Loki."

"Erik didn't help. He was forced." Jane swallowed down the instinctive need to defend Erik. It wouldn't do any good, anyway. "But he did learn about the Convergence during that time. The Tesseract showed him."

"He shared that knowledge with you?"

"Yes."

"And that was all he discovered?"

"Yes."

Odin tapped a finger against his staff. "How is it, then, you know what comes for us?"

"Because I was studying an anomaly right before Thor came, and I saw the thing that came out of it." Obviously, it wasn't the whole truth, but it would do for now. "If rifts are occurring in the realms and those creatures come through all of them, you should be worried. Especially since they have Loki's scepter." Jane glanced at Thor. "They were the ones who took it, right?"

However, Thor wouldn't meet her eyes. "No."

"No?"

He shook his head. "It wasn't a son of Muspel."

"But you said it wasn't in the realm anymore. You said it was gone." Fresh stirrings of dread plucked at her heart. "Who else could've done that?"

"The same being who used the Convergence to steal into Asgard's vault and take the Tesseract."

"The Tesseract's been taken also?" Jane looked back and forth between the two Asgardians in horror. "By who?" But she already knew who, knew it deep in the marrow of her bones, knew it even before the answer fell from Odin's mouth.

"He who courts Death. A titan of the ancient world."

The throne room seemed to tilt and spin dizzily. Loki's warning rattled around in her brain, drowning out everything else. He will make his move when the Convergence begins. By then, it will be too late. She'd always assumed he meant Surtur. After all, the fire giant had been the one hunting them all these years. She never imagined the titan from the Realm Between Realms would come back into the fray.

Then again…

We are no longer the only pieces occupying the game board. Far bigger things than you or I are now at play. Loki had told her. For months, now, the answer had been right under her nose, she'd just been too blind to see it. And that wasn't the only thing.

You will never understand what all I have sacrificed for you.

But she did. She did understand, and the realization was terrible and devastating and tragic. Loki had not only stolen something from Surtur, he'd slighted the titan too. Even if he hadn't been the one to activate the failsafe, he'd made Erik incorporate it. He'd betrayed a titan, chosen his side knowing the destruction it would bring about, and if she was right, he'd done it all for her.

"Ready, Jane?"

She jerked back to herself to find both Odin and Thor staring at her, the latter's arm extended, awaiting her own. "What?"

"I'm to escort you to your room." When she didn't respond, Thor's brows arched, lips quirking in a half-smile as he patiently reminded her of a decision she hadn't heard. "The All-Father has graciously allowed you to remain in Asgard."

"I… what?"

Odin stared pensively at one of the nine tapestries that lined the throne room. One for each of the realms, they were fashioned in their likeness. Alfheim's was a spiral of precious metals, Vanaheim was illustrated by a towering tree comprised of warm earth tones, Jötunheim's was a blizzard of blue and white. It was the fiery one of Muspelheim that had captured Odin's attention.

"The sons of Muspel have slumbered nearly two thousand years. This is the first I've heard of their movements. If they have chosen now to travel between the realms again, it is not by coincidence."

Really, they hadn't just awakened. They'd been on the move for probably half of that time, only no one except Loki and Jane knew that. Until now. That meant they weren't hiding their actions anymore. That meant something fundamental had changed.

Odin frowned at the tapestry. "That they might be working in tandem with the titan is a troubling thought. Unfortunately, only one possesses that answer." Then he turned to her. "Thor is right. We need more information. If this is our sole way of gaining it, so be it. You will remain here until we do so."

A series of wall sconces bathed the room in a soft glow the moment they opened the door, and Jane turned slowly as she entered, taking in every inch of the ridiculous extravagance with as much grace as she could muster.

Open and spacious, it was decorated almost entirely in shades of blue and silver. To her immediate left was a sitting area comprised of four chairs and a large Oriental rug. The woodwork was flawless, scrolling delicately to match both the elegance of the silk upholstery and the ornate desk farther down. Centered on the right wall opposite a fireplace was a massive four-poster bed. An armoire stood just past it, along with a privacy screen and dressing table complete with all the brushes, perfumes, and jewelry she could ever ask for.

But it was the way the finery opened up into a balcony that made her mouth fall open.

Jane crossed the room and pushed aside the sheer drapery. The marble flooring continued out to form the balustrade around a balcony nearly as large as the room itself. Beyond that, a sprawling garden dotted with statues and water features was highlighted by the mass of stars overhead. She ran her fingers over the small table, the two chairs, the chaise lounge, and inhaled deeply. The balcony smelled of jasmine. Jasmine and roses.

It was with a hint of reluctance that she eventually made her way back inside to where Thor was watching her with a gentle smile.

"These will be your chambers. There are several dressing gowns to choose from on the bed. More will be fashioned overnight." He opened a door on the right wall. "You have your own washroom, too, if you'd like to freshen up."

"This is…" Jane trailed off, gesturing vaguely.

"Not the best, admittedly." Closing the bathroom door, he leaned against one of the bedposts. "But it was all that could be prepared on such short notice."

She breathed a quiet laugh and moved to stand in front of Thor. "I was going to say too much."

"You are a guest of Asgard, Jane." He caught her chin between his forefinger and thumb, stroking absently. "My guest. It is no less than you deserve."

"Your father probably wouldn't agree, but thank you anyway. And for earlier, too. Thank you for sticking up for me."

Surrounded by the marble and silks and gilded accents, Jane leaned her head against the bedpost and studied Thor. Kind, steadfast, protective… he was the type of man any woman would want. He was the type of man she should want. Falling in love with him would be all too easy, if she'd just allow herself to let go. There was only one problem.

He wasn't Loki.

Exhaustion crept up on her out of nowhere, and she hid a yawn in the back of her hand. Meeting Odin had momentarily banished her fatigue, but now she was relaxed. With one eye, she peeked at the bed in all its plush and luxurious glory. It looked so very inviting. When she yawned for the second time, Thor straightened.

"Rest." He enveloped her in a hug, pressed a kiss to her forehead, stroked the length of her hair. "If you need anything, my chambers are just down the hall, third door on the right. I'll come for you in the morning."

In what little space existed between their bodies, she fiddled with the ends of her scarf. "When are you going to tell me why I'm here?"

The twirling drew his attention, and he freed the scarf to bring her knuckles to his lips. "Soon."

"Thor…"

"Tomorrow, then." His chuckle rumbled through her bones. "You have my word."

There was one last kiss before he spun on his heel, a parting farewell – sleep well, Jane – reaching her as he closed the door. Then she was alone. Jane glanced around the room. It seemed even larger without Thor's solid presence and unbelievably surreal. Who would've imagined the last-minute trip to London would culminate in this.

Fingering the dressing gowns, she considered whether to crawl into bed or take a bath first. But the longer she thought about it, the less either option appealed to her. Instead, she returned to the balcony, a lightweight throw in hand, and collapsed onto the chaise lounge.

Twilight was in full swing with stars sparkling brightly, pinpricks hung in the inky depths. Even to someone who had made a career out of studying them and centuries more in general admiration, it was breathtaking. More stunning than the room or the palace or the whole of the Realm Eternal. And so it was with a contented sigh that Jane tucked one arm behind her head and fell asleep to the slow dance of the moons across the sky.

A/N2: Nothing to really mention or explain this time around. We'll save all that for the next chapter. But I did want to let everyone know the next update probably won't be until mid-November. I was late getting the chapter finished thanks to an addictive show (please watch Stranger Things if you haven't already) and a wonderful couple of books (please read the first two books in the Shades of Magic series if you haven't already and then sadly wait for the third with me). Now, I'm getting ready for an extended trip to Montana to visit family and play in the snow. We'll pick back up when I get back!

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