A/N: Bit of a time jump here from the last chapter. Basically, I didn't want to write three months worth of lessons. Starts out as Sigyn's POV and then switches to Loki's after the "* * * * *". Second note after the story.

EDIT: So, just adjusted the jump in POV's since it wouldn't take my lovely asterisks as a way to do it. Loki's POV starts after the line break.

Slowly, I made my way around Garen's garden, careful to keep my footsteps silent. A low chuckle brought me up short. "I think you are missing the point of invisibility," Loki quipped wryly, his green eyes watching me from the door leading back into the house. I felt my jaw clench and I gave him a dark look, the prince simply smirking. It had been three months since he had first attended my lessons, making it a point to join Garen and I each day since. I do believe he found more amusement in my failure than anything else. After the first few awful days, I grew somewhat used to his presence and focused relatively well on my studies. That is, until about a month ago. The prince decided that Garen's instruction was not sufficient enough and started to "help". He pushed me, keeping my studies going with a dizzying pace that usually left me with just enough strength to collapse into my bed. More often than not, I was biting my tongue to keep back some sort of retort and he knew it every time. His smug little grins told me so.

I watched him warily as he pushed off the doorframe and started towards me. "Forgetting something?" he asked, arching an eyebrow down at me. His eyes flickered to my left hand, my gaze following. A small squeak escaped me as I found my hand missing. Loki loosed that annoying chuckle yet again, stopping in front of me and waving his hand over mine.

"Thank you, your highness," I murmured as my hand returned to normal, giving a small bow and taking a step back from him at the same moment. His proximity always unnerved me.

The dark prince's expression was amused as he watched me, his gaze sliding up to the sky. A sigh passed his lips and he returned his green eyes to me. "I must take my leave of you for today, little one," he said. I grimaced at the pet name he'd taken upon himself to call me. Loki grasped the hand he'd made reappear and brought it to his lips, like he did every day. A shudder passed over me at his touch, the hint of coolness in his skin mixed with his warm breath bringing goose bumps out on my arms. "Till tonight."

My brow furrowed as he turned away, but I held my question until I was sure he had gone. "Tonight?" I asked, turning to Garen as the older man stepped up beside me.

"It does not surprise me that you have forgotten about the banquet," he mused. It was a moment before recollection fell upon me and I gasped. "He has been working you quite hard."

I snorted, rolling my eyes. "That is an understatement," I countered. My eyes slid sideways. "Why did you agree to this in the first place?"

"It is difficult to refuse a prince, Sigyn," Garen replied, leading me back into the house. "Especially one like Loki."

I felt my brow knit together in a brief frown at the wariness in his tone, but I shrugged it off. "He deserves to be told no," I said carelessly, pulling down a tome and opening it to the spells concerning invisibility before sitting at my desk. "He is arrogant, annoying, and acts like a petulant child." I jumped as Garen's hand clapped over my mouth suddenly.

"Unlike you, Sigyn," the sorcerer hissed, leaning close to me, "our prince has mastered the art of invisibility. You would do well to watch your tongue." I swallowed hard at his words, nodding meekly before he removed his hand from my mouth. "Now, study carefully. We will attempt again in a half-hour."

I sighed. "Yes, Master Garen," I said, turning my gaze to the book in front of me. I focused on the words as the sorcerer tinkered about the room when something brushed through my hair suddenly. The chair clattered to the floor as I jumped to my feet, a startled expression on my face.

"Sigyn?" Garen asked, his brow furrowing as he turned to stare at me. "Are you all right?"

"F-fine," I stammered, his warning coming back to me and I glanced around the room, searching. A familiar soft chuckle sounded beside my ear and I jumped again, spinning to find the source but there was only air. My breath turned a bit erratic as I righted my chair and returned to my book, knowing my next attempt would be an utter failure as my gaze kept darting around the room. I wrapped a single, auburn curl around my finger and worried it in a desperate attempt to return my focus and calm.

Loki watched the girl from his new spot leaning against the wall near the window. Her gaze flitted around the room every few moments, the trepidation in the gray-blue orbs obvious. The smirk slid across his face before he could stop it. Sometimes the simple mischief worked wonders. It was within his right to go farther, but her cheek continued to amuse him. Oh, her words had made him furious. Who was she to say such things about a prince? Her fear was enough of a punishment for now, though.

He studied her intently. Her talent was nearly enough to rival his own. Nearly. Loki tilted his head, his green eyes sliding languidly over her form as she stood and utterly failed at the spell. Sigyn's eyes darkened and he choked back a disbelieving laugh as she cursed him, even as her gaze tripped warily around the room. She was brash.

Most Asgardians regarded him with little more than barely concealed hostility, if he had made them the target of a prank, or wary intrigue if not. All showed him the deference owed to a member of the royal family.

It grew tedious.

Perhaps that was why Sigyn intrigued him. She was unlike the women he usually encountered, the simpering and pandering that accompanied them all but non-existent in his interactions with the witch. He wanted her.

The realization gave him pause. He had had many women share his bed, discarding them after a few days. Their novelty wore off rather quickly. But he knew Sigyn would not give into his ministrations quite as easily as his partners in the past. A mischievous grin slid across his face. He did enjoy a good game.

Calling on his power, he teleported behind her and snaked an invisible arm around her slender waist, grinning as she froze in shock. She trembled in his grip as he lazily slid his tongue along the shell of her ear. The flush that washed down her neck almost matched her burnished auburn curls and made her dark gray-blue eyes, like the sky after a storm, pop. The witch was attractive. Like fire and water combining. Striking.

Loki grinned and pressed a kiss to the junction of her jaw just behind her ear. The gasp she gave washed over him and he thrilled slightly before releasing her and vanishing from the sorcerer's house. Yes, this would be fun.

A/N 2: Wow. Nearly 400 views! And here I was barely expecting 4! And thanks to the followers and favorites added since my last update! Sorry about the absence. Work got a bit crazy. Had to work an overnight shift, sleep, and then back to work eight hours later; what I affectionately term a "turn-around". Had to repeat the process two days later, minus the overnight.
Also, just an FYI: my chapters will, most likely, never be consistent in length. I tend to break up a story as I see fit and will post chapters accordingly. Especially since I have quite a bit of the story already written.
Please, please, PLEASE review! I love the feedback!