(LOKI)

I couldn't look her in the eye. Couldn't catch my breath, either. Pain sizzled over my body in the familiar burns of Thor's lightning. The taste of iron poured over my tongue, even though it had been hours since my lip was severed. My wrists were too tightly snarled behind my back, forcing me to lean forward unnaturally. Hiding behind my hair was the only way to avoid Sigyn's stares, which begged for guidance I couldn't offer.

She shouldn't have been brought into this. No one should've known how close we were. But I was naïve to think my ruse was perfect, just as I was naïve to think we might've had more than a single day of happiness.

When I awoke in her arms the day before, it felt natural. Easy. Like I spent my whole life searching for a place I needn't compete for, and here it was. She welcomed and desired me, even praised me when I hadn't asked for it. It was a balm I didn't know I needed, like everything she did. I gave her my garment because it no longer belonged to me—every time I looked at it, I thought of her. She deserved some affirmation of security. For the first time in my life, I wanted it to last.

Theoric was late to war council, as I predicted, though I had to act as if I knew nothing about why. He wasn't his usual, congenial self, and he whispered to his soldiers with a scowl.

"Ivanson," I said, drawing all eyes to him, "your delay reflects upon us all, does it not?"

He stood with an obedient solute. "My apologies, Allfather."

I let the silence bleed some of the tension away, though it still pulsed from him. "Anything you wish to—"

"No, Allfather," he said, taking a risk to interrupt me, though no one accused him of doing so.

"Right...perhaps it is best to keep that which is personal to yourself." I gave him a sideways glance, commanding myself not to smirk in the process.

Theoric averted his gaze, prompting one of the men to speak up on his behalf.

"Or perhaps he should celebrate being free of such a wench..."

I shot up from the throne, not sure what I could say that wouldn't expose myself too much.

But Theoric took the man by the neck before I had the chance, still filled with rage he hadn't yet exhausted before reporting to council. "She is no such thing. I'm not certain of what I heard, but I'm certain Sigyn will become my wife in due time, so you had better mind your tongue." He released the other soldier with a shove, nearly toppling him to the floor.

I stepped closer. "What do you think you heard?"

He hesitated, glancing at his remaining men. A collective, uncomfortable silence settled over them. "I need to discuss it with her alone. It is not...prudent to share in the king's audience," Theoric said.

"Surely you lacked prudence when you said whatever made this man describe her with such ugliness. Before you claim it does not concern me, know that everything regarding the people of this palace is my business."

He gritted his teeth, still unwilling to be truthful with me, but what choice did he have? "I passed her chamber last night and believe I heard—" His reluctance to be explicit spoke volumes of his immaturity. He sighed after choosing a tame innuendo. "It sounded like carnal pleasure. I've upheld my oath and given her nothing but my care. I pray she hasn't betrayed me."

"Betrayal?" I scoffed. "Your life has been laid out for you with precision and fairness. Losing a woman to another lover—it's a trifle of a problem. She didn't accept your nonexistent proposal. Sigyn doesn't love you. Give her up and seek someone who does." Convinced that would be the final word on the matter, I turned to sit in the throne again.

"Allfather...how do you know she does not love me?"

I froze. Did I just say that?

Theoric's increasing volume was laced with his unrequited heartache. "A nonexistent proposal...I hadn't asked for her hand yet. What else do you know? Has she come to you?" He puffed with angry breaths and stepped closer. "Do you know the bastard that made her scream?"

"What if I do?" I spun to put our chests together. I'm ten times the man you'll ever be.

"And you would protect a servant over a captain?"

The many soldiers surrounding us erupted in whispers that weren't in my favor. Their examination of my every word was too close. Too risky.

I had to think like Odin, though more of myself shined through than I intended. "A captain who relies on his king to understand a woman might not be worthy of such an honorable position. There will be no more discussion of this matter. That goes for all of you," I yelled, meeting the gaze of everyone present. "You are dismissed."

However Theoric wanted to confront Sigyn, I trusted she would hold her own. None of the soldiers followed me to Odin's chamber, which I took as a sign that I'd made the impression I needed to. Come tomorrow, the soldiers would surely be wrapped up in some new scandal that would take the attention away from our affair.

Once inside the inner doors past the foyer, I studied the man in the Odinsleep, resting in the same position he was in months ago when I placed the spell upon him. A foolish part of myself wanted to wake him just to brag about all I had accomplished. Could he claim Thor was still superior if he saw all the improvements I brought to Asgard? Would he be grateful that I found an Asgardian woman instead of someone from Midgard?

Indeed, would Sigyn be proud if I surrendered my position back to him so we could go elsewhere and openly live?

I banished the thought. Such a thing was impossible.

To avoid any lingering questions from Theoric, I remained in Odin's chambers through the whole afternoon until I couldn't bear it any longer. Sigyn would be finished with her own duties by sunset, and I could have her for the rest of the night. It was still too early to try and pass through the halls invisibly, so I chose to disguise myself as a common guard instead. With luck, I could make my way to the second floor without any interruptions.

But before I could even exit Odin's foyer to the hall, a blast of lightning crashed through the doors and thrust me against the back wall.

"How much would I wager that you're not who you seem?" Thor said, tossing Mjolnir and catching it again before marching toward me. "All my father's gold, and then some, I'd say."

My lungs wouldn't let anything in, and I choked in panic, desperate to inhale. I held up my hands to surrender, still holding my disguise for as long as I could.

"Who is that?" Theoric said, peering in through the chasm.

"If you don't know his name, I surely do." Thor grabbed me by the neck and lifted me high above himself, nearly strangling me.

Still unable to breathe, I kicked and mouthed, "Please...please."

"Imagine my concern when I'm beckoned home by Heimdall over concern for my father, only to find out he was ordered not to inform me about an entire war?" Thor pulled my face closer to his, spraying me with saliva as he spoke. "A war with enemies I was familiar with, no less? Why would I be kept away from that, I wonder?"

My throat finally opened enough to let in new air, which was barely enough to keep me from losing consciousness.

The bad luck.

"But that's not all—then come reports of outbursts, odd behavior, new traditions, even skills that no one's seen Odin perform in centuries." He threw me to the ground and hovered over me, putting Mjolnir against my cheek. "Now I find a nameless guard in Father's chambers with no one to vouch for him. Except you aren't quite nameless, are you?"

I coughed, groaning with every excess pound of pressure he let down. "Thor...wait—"

"I should crush you right now. Stop lying, Loki. Reveal yourself."

A slew of gasps from the hall flooded in.

And like that, it was over. What had they told him? Was it as simple as he made it sound? If Heimdall finally peered through all my magic and found me, did he bring Thor because he couldn't defeat me on his own?

Thor's reaction was a far cry from the grateful brother's tears he shed for me on Svartalfheim. Now I had no choice but to give him the truth to keep from perishing for good under his hand.

I closed my eyes and did as he asked, showing myself in an informal tunic and trousers. My vulnerability proved how unprepared I was to be discovered as much as it said how much I trusted Sigyn and her expectations.

"I knew it." Thor yelled, raising Mjolnir as if ready to strike me into the floor itself.

I kept my eyes wide open, refusing to even blink. "Wait, brother, please—"

"What did you do with Father? Is he dead? Did you kill him to get what you wanted?"

"No, no, he's not dead." I cowered under him, praying he would hear even a few of my words and spare me more pain. "Odin's alive. He's well. A-and I'll bring him back if you let me go."

He furrowed his brow. "Let you go?"

"My lord, do not believe him," Theoric said, rushing to Thor's side. Heimdall did the same, though he remained silent.

The gatekeeper's bright eyes saw past everything I tried to hide. It was all in the open now.

"I swear it." I kept my hands open, though nothing I did could reduce their tremble. "He's in the Odinsleep. I'll wake him and leave. You'll never see me again."

"That's what we all thought the first time," Theoric sneered, glancing at one of his Hawks and simpering.

"Silence," Thor said, his great voice echoing off the walls and making my head pound. "You'll do as I ask without question? What is your aim here?"

"Nothing." I shook my head in tandem with my fearful shivering.

Frigga, please don't let them find her.

Thor relaxed somewhat, bringing Mjolnir closer to his side, but he didn't guard me any less. "I want to know how long you've been in his place."

"I came here when you f-followed Malekith to Midgard."

"So the blessing to pursue Jane was, what? Part of your act?"

"I did..."—gulped, praying he would see some light in my confession—"...did only what I'd hope Father would say to me if I wished to choose love over duty."

He squared his jaw. "Now we'll both look like idiots before him."

"You did what you were going to anyway. I merely removed your guilt." I smiled with only a corner of my lips. "Did you find the happiness you sought?"

Thor's face crumpled and he looked toward the floor, holding that position for a few anxious seconds before shaking his head.

My expression fell the same way. If he had nothing else to lose, there would be little reason to spare me.

"Malekith. Months upon months since then." Thor glared at me. "What are you hiding?"

My mouth hung open without a sound.

"You wanted vengeance against Father, against me, and against all those who doubted you. Yet you claim not to want Asgard anymore?" He chuckled and leaned his face close to me again beneath him. "Why aren't you fighting me?"

"Because I will lose."

"That's never stopped you before." Thor cocked a brow and searched my face for something I didn't know I was projecting. "You reek of fear."

Was it obvious because of my easy surrender? Or maybe he knew the same way I did when he returned after meeting the woman on Midgard—an unspoken change that only those closest would notice. Thor was, after all, the only family I had left. Whatever the reason, he guessed correctly.

"You're protecting someone. Who else knew about this?"

I blurted, "No one."

"Criminals rarely work alone," Theoric said.

"Precisely," Thor agreed, then snapped his fingers. "Who was it outside when we came to the door? The girl?"

Is she here? I strained to see who they brought in, but Thor wouldn't budge from atop me.

"Yes, Sire?" Thyra said, then caught a glimpse of me and covered her mouth. "Gods, is that who I think it is?"

"Did you know anything about this?" Thor asked.

Theoric stepped toward her as well, intimidating an answer from her.

"I...no, of course not." She looked between them. "Where's the Allfather?"

As she asked, four soldiers broke down the inner door toward the Odinsleep, confirming what I'd already confessed. "He's in here. Appears well enough."

Thor continued his interrogation. "Did anyone else have close contact with him? Other servants? Healers? Soldiers?"

"I don't think so." Thyra shook her head, clearly afraid of me, despite my being subdued on the floor.

Theoric, on the other hand, wanted to hurt me. His biting tone was the best he could do. "If I find any soldier kept such a secret, I swear they will be punished in equal form as him."

"Gather your men and find out what you can," Thor said, dismissing him to the new task.

I breathed more easily with his exit. He would find no accomplices in the armory. I would suffer alone for my actions, as it should be.

But even that was a wish thought too soon.

"Unless..." Thyra started, squinting at me.

No.

"What is it?" Thor asked.

"There is one other. Someone who had close contact with Allfath—with him." She folded her arms, now unable to take back her revelation.

Don't you know what you've done? Tears welled in my eyes, which still fixated on Thor. I prayed he'd see my own panic so I could convince him not to go after her.

He didn't. "Have you a name?"

"Yes. Sigyn, daughter of Edda. She's been acting suspicious of late."

"I don't fear a servant. We'll fetch her in the morning." Thor picked me up from the floor and squeezed my shoulders. "As for you, you're going to do exactly what you said you would. We'll leave the punishment to him."

If I could've done anything different, it would've been those months ago when she found me in Mother's chambers, weeping. But I wouldn't have hurt her. Wouldn't have sent her away. I simply would've checked that door twice.

I'm sorry, Ginny. Please be wise and save yourself.