Althia crowed and jumped up and down as Loki laughed at her. Together they walked back to his room. There was no need to return the dining hall with her sword bare in her hand. She was storing her blade in the low case of the main chamber and as she went to straighten she found him pressed against her body his hand running from the base of her spine up to twine around her throat pulling her against him. "This really is the most fascinating dress." She swallowed "Loki we need to talk but not like this. The All Father expects us back." He chuckled against her throat the lust in his head rolling through her like a drug. He kissed her again and she pulled away sharply. "Stop it." she fought to say. "I am not going to have sex with you Loki!" For a moment she wondered if he was listening. "Yes, you will and willingly too." He whispered listening to the moan that fell trembling from her lips. "The light within your skin; a promise. You cannot lie to me when they rise to my touch." She whispered a name like a desperate prayer and he released her so suddenly she stumbled. "Come, our adoring subjects await." He announced straightening his coat. She was trembling as the onslaught of his emotions broke off. Her body ached with needs she couldn't express and her own anger boiled slowly over the surface. He took her hand as if he'd done nothing and led her back to the dining hall in silence. She licked Bruce's name off her lips like water in the heat of the deep desert. Even galaxies away he was saving her.
Once they were welcomed to the dais she went to the king and kissed his cheek. He patted her hand and smiled at her briefly. In those few moments she told him about Lady Grissa spilling her husband's secrets. She sat beside Loki watching the crowd till all the food had been cleared and the music shifted to a waltz. "A dance before we retire?" Loki said in her ear. She nodded and followed him to the floor her mind reeling anew. "I was very proud of you today." She said finally. He looked at her like she had offered him raw fish. She knew when he was lying and she smiled at him. "Shall we see what the masses think of your dress?" he asked. "Loki are you looking for an excuse to kiss me?" she threw back at him her anger sudden and hot chasing away his own heated influence. "It does seem to happen quite often as a duty to king and crown does it not?" he gave he a sly look and it made something in her snap. "It's been lovely dancing with you, you are a wonderful dancer." She stepped back and curtseyed carefully. "Good night Loki." She said and walked away.
Althia went to the room without seeing the halls she passed through; her mind millions of miles away. She undressed and bathed and sat brushing her hair. She realized that part of her attraction was the amount of Loki's magic that had tainted her power the memory of healing Lady Grissa disturbed her. There wasn't a way to undo it as far as she could tell her power called to Asgardian magic like a lode stone. The link between them that allowed his emotions into her head had nearly cost her the honor and respect of her friends and the one love she valued more than her sense of self. None in the dining hall would have seen the faint glow she couldn't stop beneath her lip stick from Loki's kiss and Bruce's memory. It had held and when she went to tell the All Father of the events she had seen the desire of Odin's heart at dinner. He wanted a stronger queen for Thor and a gentler creature for Loki. Someone like the frightened woman he had first met; not the unpredictable powerful and wild one who plotted against petty criminals. She stopped brushing her hair and suddenly wanted to go home.
Loki came in a while later he was indifferent to her presence and simply dressed for bed and sat at the table reading. "Did you know your father would seek to wait out Jane's life before forcing Thor to wed me?" she asked in a low and casual voice. "I knew he wanted one of us to do so yes. Though I didn't think he cared which one." He replied and she nodded. She rose and walked around the table stopping in front of him. He looked up and she slapped him. He caught her hand and pulled her across his lap. "Be careful my dear, my patience is not endless." He purred in her face. "For the God of mischief you suck at lying." she said through clenched teeth. "Ah, but I am not lying so why should you say such terrible things." He tapped her on the nose like a misbehaving kitten. She fought him and he laughed pinning her ruthlessly to him. "Tell me little queen why are you so eager to anger me?" he said calmly. She knew he was calm she could feel him in her head. She huffed but didn't reply. He turned her over and spanked her once before flipping her back. Trailing his fingers over her leg where the robe exposed the flesh. "We can do this until dawn. Actually I would rather enjoy that." She growled at him and he laughed "You are no animal, just as I am not truly a god of mischief. Tell me." He said "Oh and by the way I spoke with Thor and Jane. You've been very erratic lately we agreed not to take you back until you settled down." She made an inarticulate yell of frustration and struggled against his arms. He rose and carried her to the bed. "Whoops!" he laughed as he tossed her down. Pouncing on her he quickly had her trussed to the bed and considering the foulness she was spewing he gagged her for good measure.
"You filthy bastard!" she yelled in his face just before he completed his handy work. He looked at her "hmmm, dirty mouth." He went to the door spoke with someone and came back. "Now we won't be disturbed." he said crawling over her "I've sent word to the All Father that we are indisposed." He said with a leer. "I doubt he will be anything but delighted in the idea that even now I'm trying to fill your delicious body with my seed. Making you ripe with a child." She muttered "What's that? Can't hear you dearest." He laughed at her gagged face and went to sit at the table quietly reading a book she'd taken from the library. She lay on the bed ignored for hours her thoughts careened back and forth. Fighting and struggling against the bed ties she only succeeded in hurting her wrists and feet briefly. It was useless, she heard him moving around doing something but he'd closed the drapes at the foot of the bed so she couldn't see what. She heard Rayeth at the door gasp and apologize. Loki laughing came to the bed. He was shirtless, barefoot, and his pants were unlaced giving the appearance that they had been together. He had a flagon of mead which he sipped at and occasionally tickled her foot. She struggled, giggled and then glared at him while he drank. A discreet knock and Loki bounced on the bed making it groan before smiling as he went to the door. "Thank you." She heard him say and he came back with a tray of food. "Now will you behave?" she huffed and nodded. He set the tray down disappeared and came back with a towel. Untying first her gag and then her wrist he dodged out of the range of her flying fist. "Feed you it is." He said. She screamed as he tied her back down straddled her belly and began offering her tidbits. Three times she tried to bite him three times he laughed at her.
Well into the night as he read she started crying. He came to her untied her and held her to him as her body trembled and shook. He didn't understand the erratic way she'd been acting but whatever was bothering her could break the surface now. She could feel the worry in his mind and his affection. It was the first time the only thing she defined no lust or hunger in him; she let herself fall into the warmth and slept. Odin come the next morning entering soundlessly as they slept through his visit; her tucked in his arms like a lover the robe slipped and hidden somewhere in the covers. She was showering when Jane stormed into the room screaming an hour later. Loki told her to mind her own business and to go pack they would be returning to Midgard. When Althia came out Loki was sitting on the balcony reading she hadn't heard Jane's visit over the water. She watched him for a while; he was aware of the moment she entered but ignored her. He wanted to see what happened and if she remembered the joint dream they had shared the night before. She walked out to him with a cup of tea and set it on the table between them before sitting in the other chair. He picked it up and brought it to his lips "Will I be trapped here sleeping, eating, and dancing till I grow too addlebrained for the bifrost to take me home?" she asked as he took his first sip of the tea. Which ended up not in his belly but all over his lap as he burst out laughing.
She jumped up and came over to him. Kneeling she used the corner of her bathrobe to dab at the tea on his shirt and gently wiped away the tea from his mouth. She had a wicked smile on her alluring mouth; he had to sit back or do something foolish. She didn't give him a choice in the matter. "A gentleman prefers a lady to know when she is being kissed." She quoted him and leaned forward to brush her lips across his with a fine trembling tension in her body as she leaned into his. He let her and watched her pull back to sit between his knees. She watched him quietly she didn't fidget or shift around she just waited. He looked at her, the curve of her braid lay damp across her collar, darker against the tan of her skin. "I never said anything about the lady kissing me." He said finally before sipping his tea watching her. "I believe that is my second actually." She blushed and looked down at her hands. "I remember but I felt you deserved it this time. No tricks or false pretenses to make it less than what it is." She said picking at the sleeve of her robe. "Ah, so this was what?" he asked watching her and calmly waiting for her to explain. "Something I had to find out. I apologize for imposing on you." She stood slowly and turned to enter the room he saw the shine of tears in her eyes and it confused him. She was so exasperating at times. He stood and grabbed he arm turning her into his body pinning her there. He touched her face where the tear had left a trail down her cheek. "I asked you a question little queen. I expect an answer." He had no idea why she would suddenly stop the conversation but he assumed she thought she knew his mind. "I have fairly good control over my emotions normally with one notable exception. I do have a terrible temper." His fingers lazily grazed over her lips. "I will ask again and you will answer. What is this? Try not to lie to the god of mischief its embarrassing." He said.
She nodded and looked away he grabbed her jaw and turned her head back so she could see how serious he was and with one long finger tapped her lips. "I wished to know if you felt anything for me." She whispered against his finger. "You did not react at all. So…" she didn't get to finish as his lips replace the finger over her lips. He sat down with her in his lap holding her where he wanted her kissing her how he had wished for great deal of the time. She moaned into his mouth responding to his demanding kiss. When he finally broke the kiss and relaxed his hold on her she stroked his cheek tracing the lines of his face with her fingers. "Is that what my lady wished?" he asked calmly watching her face. "Why are you mad?" she asked touching his brow softy "I can always feel you in the corner of my mind. What you feel, how busy you are at a moment. I have tried to suppress it like I do my power but when your emotions get too strong I can't figure out if it's you or me I'm fighting against. When I healed Lady Grissa my power had small streaks of green in it pale enough I doubt anyone would notice. I have you inside me all day and night. Not even the nightmares stop me from feeling your emotions." She watched the shock wear thin on his brow as he absorbed the information. His hands stopped moving and she burrowed into it. Stroking her face against his palm as he thought. She felt the shift and glanced fearfully up at him.
"Ah so that's how you've managed to side step my retributions so often!" he stared holes in her. "Loki, honestly I never wanted you angry with me to begin with. Before I found that even away from you I could feel you." She curled in his lap her head against his shoulder. "I'm scared of this change. I want to go home, please Loki, take me home." her voice quaked with the need and fear she'd hidden. He agreed and left to make arrangements he barely spoke to her and his emotions rolled too fast from one to another for her to understand him.
Althia dressed, Rayeth had discarded her clothes from the compound but the silver bracelets she kept and Althia kept touching them as she paced the room. She didn't realize she'd left until she found herself at Thor and Jane's door. She knocked lightly and waited staring at the floor. Jane open the door and stared at her bowed head. "What?" She asked angry till she saw the shining trails on Althia's face. She grabbed her arm and dragged her in closing the door. "What happened, I was so sure you wouldn't cheat on Bruce but last night." She cut off and walked over to the table and sat down. Althia stood there not knowing how to explain. "He's inside my head." She started trembling again. Angry that she couldn't explain better. "I feel him even now; he's happy but frustrated and scheming and in general feeling very pleased with himself." She started spinning one of the bracelets trying to regain her conposure. Jane wasn't sure she understood what she was hearing. "Are you saying last night you …what were overcome by his …desires?" she didn't know if it was rape or some emotional over load from the excitement. Althia laughed bitterly. She switched bracelets "Jane I haven't … with Loki." She sighed tossing her head back she stared at the ceiling. She didn't say she hadn't wanted to, just that she hadn't done it. "That is not entirely my resistance either. At this point Loki is pretty much the only reason we haven't..." Althia walked over to the balcony and looked out over the gardens. "He gave his word to Bruce that he wouldn't destroy our relationship and unless I came to him willingly he would leave me with Bruce." Jane looked at the woman in shock.
"So what exactly happened last night?" Jane asked and Althia told her as she replayed each moment and she finally understood. "Oh gods be warned! Jane he's doing this for you and Thor!" she spun around. "Are you packed? We're supposed to be leaving today." Jane was having a hard time catching up.
Althia started packing the second she got back to Loki's room. She took a couple of the gowns for any return trips. By the time she'd finished packing for Loki he came back. "So eager to get back to your lover?" he said mildly. "Perhaps I am eager to get away from prying eyes, my lord." She turned her back to him and held her hair up he could see the lacing partly done but at a point she likely couldn't reach. He strolled forward and stood behind her. "What if I decide not to help?" His voice a whisper. "Then I will likely go mad." She responded. "Useless to anyone at that point." She hadn't moved simply stood there. He ran his fingers down her spine. "What am I feeling right now?" he asked "Lust, pride, anger, in that order." She answered him in a whisper. He was silent a while, "If I were to take you to bed could you refuse me?" he wrapped his fingers around her waist. "You know the answer to that." He step close enough she could feel the heat of his body but he did not touch her his emotions clearing to just lust. A hungry wave that threatened to drown her she moaned arching into his touch her body trembled and shook till she dropped to her knees moaning. 'Always fear the ravens' Hela placed the thought before she was swept away completely. "There are ravens on our balcony my prince. Often times I have seen them." His toying with her stopped the lust cut off like a faucet. She shivered and sat back wrapping her arms around her legs and struggled to look at him."They watch me as I watch them and then they fly away." Slowly she stood her legs threatening to give if she moved to quickly. "I fear these strange birds. I fear what thoughts they have hidden from me." She leaned back against him pulling his arms around her waist as she whispered the last words. She turned her head and inhaled his scent filling her mind with every moment they had been near each other. They stood that way for a while neither moved away nor spoke. A knock broke the silence, "Brother?" Thor called. Althia pulled out of his arms and went to the door. "Please, come in." she said as she opened the door. "It is time to go. Have you all you need?" Thor asked her as he moved into the room. "Yes, thank you I packed for both of us while you were busy. Jane has done the same." She went to the table and poured three glasses of wine. Tasting it first to ensure nothing had been done to it. She no longer trusted anything in Asgard except Thor, Jane, and Loki. Thor left after the wine. She was standing looking around the room when she felt his hands on her hips. His mind was full of frustration she didn't understand. She was still as he laid his face in her hair his hands slowly gliding up her body she gasped and moaned the sudden wild lust rolling through her, overpowering her reason and control. "Please, Loki!" she arched into his hands aching for the touch that crept so slowly up her body. He squeezed her hips as she pressed her body against him. Nothing to save her it was too sudden too much for her to handle. She moaned as his breath eased over her skin. One minute she couldn't think of anything but his hands, his body and the next he closed her dress as she had asked him earlier and left the lust and desire cut off like a switch. She cried out in frustration as he walked away. He locked down his emotions, tears welling in her eyes, snatching up her glass she threw it and anything she could find. Vases shattered and books lay crumpled on the floor when she collapsed panting onto the rug.