Author's Note: First, let me make note that I did go through with changing my penname to xxDustNight88 (previously DustNight25832), so make sure to update any bookmarks or linsk you have saved! Well loves, this chapter was a doozy to write! I actually had to cut myself off and take another direction than I'd originally planned. It sure did work out in the end though. I think you'll be pleased! (wink wink). Thanks again to my reviewers. I replied to those of you I could, and to the guest that reviewed, thanks! I love that you all love this story as much as I do! Many hugs to you all! Huge thank you to Tina for Beta Reading. Okay, so enough of that, I'm sure you're eager to read!
Disclaimer: All non-original characters, plot points, and information belongs to those at Marvel Studios, Warner Brothers, or J.K. Rowling. The title, "Wolves without Teeth" comes from the song of the same title by the fantastic Of Monsters and Men. The cover photo is a mashup I created from photos found on Google. The story plot and dialogue belongs to me. I do not write for profit.
Full Summary: In the age old fight of good versus evil, two souls converge in a battle to stop the end of all worlds. With the universe crumbling around them, Loki and Hermione find themselves connected by more than just their magical abilities. A myth becomes reality when an old foe comes tearing through the realms seeking revenge upon those who wronged him. What will happen when Loki and Hermione discover there's much more to their connection than meets the eye? Will they be forced to sacrifice everything they've ever wanted in order to save the nine realms or will love prevail?
Wolves without Teeth
Pairing: Hermione Granger/Loki Laufeyson
Rating: M (Rated Mature for adult language, violence, and sexual situations)
Part Seven: The Rime Diamonds
Song Recommendations: "Monster" by Skillet, "Addicted" by Kelly Clarkson, "Love is a Battlefield" by Pat Benatar, and "Surrender" by Blake Lewis
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Between what is said and not meant,
and what is meant and not said, most of love is lost."
— Khalil Gibran
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Rime Diamonds
Three days later, and Asgard was officially on lock down. Thor notified the entire kingdom to take precautions for safety. The guards were training for battle whenever they were not on duty. Lady Sif and the Warriors Three were on standby as well. Heimdall kept the Observatory closed in hopes that Fenrir would be unable to breach the Bifrost. Unfortunately, the answer to that mystery was unknown to them. Hermione was too afraid to risk attempting it, in case she spliced herself, or worse. They would just have to take their chances. In the meantime, Thor worked closely with his comrades and the guards as they prepared for the oncoming war. Jane, Darcy, and Hermione continued researching in the Asgardian Library. They were unable to locate information about the Rime Diamond, and this angered Hermione greatly. Loki, well, he was still refusing to talk with anyone but Thor, and even then it was a rare occasion that he allowed his doors to open for the God of Thunder. Needless to say, everyone was on edge and ready for Fenrir just to show up already so they could destroy the beast and save the universe. If only a battle with Fenrir was going to be that simple.
Thor worried about these thoughts among others as he stood in front of Loki's sealed bedchamber door. After five minutes of pounding, his insufferable brother was still denying him entrance. Sighing heavily, Thor pounded once more before stepping back and undoing Mjolnir from where it was tied at his hip. He smirked slightly as he gripped the handle, twirling it within his palm.
"I advise you to grant me entrance, Loki, before I use my hammer to destroy this door you enjoy oh so much." He waited patiently for a moment before preparing to swing the hammer at the door. Just as predicted, the door swung open at the last second, his hammer hitting nothing but air. Laughter boomed from his chest as he returned Mjolnir to his hip once more before stepping through the doorway. "I believe that was a wise decision, brother."
"I believe you appear more insufferable every single day, Thor." Loki revealed himself, sauntering in from the balcony where he had been watching the city below. "To what do I owe the displeasure of your visit?"
Ignoring Loki's lackluster insults, Thor made himself comfortable in one of the lush chairs his brother preferred to have in his bedchamber. Reclining, he relishing the softness of the back-pillow before smiling sadly up at the God of Mischief who was eyeing him wearily from the middle of the room, his arms crossed. Even with all the horrible misdeeds Loki performed in their overlong lifetime, Thor still found that he held a larger than necessary soft spot for the only brother he ever knew. It broke his heart each time Loki did something else to get into trouble. This time Thor really had beene rooting for him…perhaps there was still time to repair the fissure Loki had created with Hermione.
"I came to discuss a few matters of importance with you."
Loki snorted, disdain clear upon his pointed face. "You are referring to Lady Granger, of course?"
"She is a part of it, yes." Thor examined Loki's face thoroughly, noting the tiny change in demeanor. He may like to deny it, but Loki clearly harbored feelings for the Midgardian Witch. "I believe it is time you remove your pride from that damned pedestal and apologize for the way you treated her after Jotunheim. Hermione did not deserve how you spoke to her, and she most certainly does not deserve your continued silent treatment and lack of apology." Loki glanced away, regret evident in his green eyes. Thor wanted to smile to himself for finally making some progress on this topic, but he did not wish to ruin the moment.
"I do not quite understand how I insulted her," Loki whispered, "I believe it came across the wrong way." Returning his gaze to Thor, Loki uncrossed his arms and opened his hands in a gesture of confusion.
"You told her, 'Leave me alone—I do not need to be rescued by some human-bred witch like you.' Actually, you screamed it. It was quite intimidating."
Cringing, Loki sighed and ran a hand through his dark locks. "Perhaps, that was not the best way to articulate my feelings at that particular moment in time." Human-bred witch. It was no wonder Hermione was keeping her distance. Loki could only imagine the hurt she felt since those words left his mouth. He glanced over at the ornate dresser and eyed the Rime Diamond ring sitting atop it. After he'd spoken those words, Hermione had gasped, eyes growing wide with unshed tears. She'd thrown her wand to the ground before digging inside her cloak and extracting the ring. Not even taking the time to unclasp the chain, Hermione ripped the jewel from her neck and flung it at his face. He caught it of course, but the intent to hit him was obvious enough that he was taken aback by her burst of anger. Then, dropping to pick her wand from the ground, she pointed it at him threateningly before turning and disappearing. It was the last time he saw her—the last memory he had of her. Without her wearing the ring, there was no way for him to use the scepter to see how she was faring. He had to rely on his oaf of a brother for details.
"With the impending fight with Fenrir looming, we could really use the combined effects of you and Hermione's magic. It's time you apologize." Thor's words evoked a growl from Loki.
"How am I to apologize when she refuses to come see me? You told me yourself, she continues to decline my wishes to come to my chambers!"
"Can you blame her?!" Angrily, Thor stood and marched over to Loki, grabbing his shoulder and shaking slightly. "You insulted her heritage, her character, and her essence. How would you feel if it were the other way around? When has Hermione ever insulted you?"
In an attempt to avoid Thor's accusatory stare, Loki shrugged out of his grip and walked to the dresser, gently touching the ring that lay there, shimmering in the light from the open balcony door. Thor was right, of course. Hermione was supportive of him from the very beginning. While she obviously did not agree with his previous misdeeds, she always strived to make sure he was a better person now. Constantly advocating for him to be a part of their plans and missions, Hermione noticeably expected more from him than what everyone else assumed. To the others, Loki was nothing but a villainous scoundrel. To Hermione, he was…well Loki did not know exactly what he was to Hermione, especially now that he insulted her so thoughtlessly.
"Hermione has never insulted me. Not once." Picking up the Rime Diamond, Loki waved his hand overtop it, effectively repairing the broken chain. He then turned and walked back to Thor, holding the chain out so the ring dangled between them. Thor looked down at the ring once before returning his gaze to Loki, confusion muddling his expression. "I will make this right. Return the ring to her."
"What are you planning?"
"I'm going to use mine to help her discover the information regarding the Rime Diamonds. I cannot leave this room, so I will have to use other means to achieve this task." He dropped the ring into Thor's open palm before turning away from his brother once more. Loki crossed his arms and made to resume people-watching from the balcony. He was stopped, however, by a whispered accusation from Thor.
"You are falling for her." Eyes closing slowly, Loki breathed deeply allowing his arms to fall down, hands clenching into fists. Still, he said nothing as Thor continued his deductions, staring at the diamond he held. "It has been weeks since Hermione has worn the diamond, and yet, you still feel a connection with her."
"I will not deny it."
"Oh, Loki—"
Rounding on Thor, anger flashed dangerously in Loki's eyes. "Do not give me your sympathies, brother. I am fully aware of the repercussions from loving a mortal being. The stars know I have tormented you enough over the years for falling for Jane." Chest heaving with emotions he refused to acknowledge, Loki continued his tirade, "My only hope is that somehow Hermione manages not to fall for me in return. I am a villain, a scoundrel, a—a monster. I could never be worthy enough to earn her love." Hands came up to hide his face as Loki accepted the torrent of sadness that made his heart ache, and eyes burn with unshed tears. Having revealed far more than he'd initially intended, Loki turned his face away and pointed at the door. "Now, leave. Please, return that to Lady Granger. I will help her find the information she seeks."
Keeping his face turned away, Loki used his peripheral vision to keep track of his brother's departure. As in most situations, Thor knew not when to keep his mouth shut. Stopping right before the point where Loki could slam the doors, Thor faced him once more, sadness reflecting in his blue eyes. "You're not a monster, Loki, not really." Then, before Loki's emotional surge of magic could do any damage, he disappeared down the hall, leaving Loki to slam the doors shut behind him. Tears finally fell from Loki's eyes as he stomped forward and placed both hands heavily upon the closed door. He let his head fall onto the hard surface, eyes shutting as he allowed himself a rare breakdown. Hermione was better off not loving him. It did not matter what Thor said—Loki saw himself for what he really was; a monster.
Pushing away from the door, Loki moved to his bed, throwing himself down upon the mattress and hiding his face in an oversized pillow. He would help Hermione discover the truth behind the Rime Diamonds and then aid his brother in defeating Fenrir. After that he would make sure Hermione returned safely to Midgard before either being forced down into the dungeons or live out the rest of his days in this four-walled hell. In truth, Loki never really did pay for his transgressions. Maybe having to love a mortal from afar was his own personal form of punishment.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For once the smell of books was more nauseating than relaxing for Hermione as she sat in the Asgardian Library. Presently, she was rubbing her tired eyes with the tips of her fingers after setting yet another book in the 'Return' pile. How was it that after weeks and weeks of searching, they still had yet to find even a single line on the Rime Diamond? Without help from Loki, they were bound to be stuck researching forever. Deciding that rubbing her eyes raw was probably not the best idea, Hermione dropped her hands away and sighed heavily, her fringe flickering off her forehead. Darcy lifted her head from the text she was reading to give her a raised eyebrow.
"Are you ready to call it a day yet?"
"I don't know, Darcy," Hermione sighed, "I feel like we're missing something."
Jane slammed her book shut and slid it across the table so Hermione could add it to the reject pile. She'd been fairly quiet all afternoon since Thor told her at breakfast they were planning to reschedule their engagement feast for two days from now. Jane didn't feel like having a feast in the middle of a crisis was the best of ideas, but Thor thought it would bring the realm some sort of unity to celebrate their engagement. Hermione couldn't help thinking back to fourth year when they'd held the Yule Ball right in the middle of the Triwizard Tournament and Voldemort's imminent return. It was all a bit reminiscent for her if she thought about it too much. Jane sat back roughly, beginning to tap her fingers upon the ancient table.
"Maybe Loki will finally share some information with Thor today."
"I doubt it." Darcy smirked, shutting her own book since everyone else was taking a break. "He's hardly given Thor anything at all these past few weeks. Shit, he barely even lets him into his room!"
"He took Mjolnir with him today."
"Oh."
"Oh, yeah. We're definitely getting something out of him today." Jane grinned proudly at her fiancé's tactic. Hermione wasn't sure it would work, though. She had seen exactly how uncouth Loki could be and the thought of him giving them any help at this point was debatable. Blinking rapidly at the sudden dampness in her eyes, Hermione shoved her chair back and pretended as if she were perusing the nearby bookshelves. The hateful words Loki screamed at her still reverberated inside her mind even after all this time.
Human-bred witch.
He might as well have called her a Mudblood for all the difference it made. It still made her blood boil just thinking about it. Merlin how she wanted to curse the life out of him in that moment. Somehow she managed to drop her wand and remove the blasted diamond from her neck. All this drama over the fact that she saved Loki from dying on Jotunheim. Granted, she knew revealing her identity and abilities to the Frost Giants was probably not the best course of action, but there was no way in hell, she was going to allow Loki to sacrifice himself for her. Instead of being thankful, the ever prideful Loki lashed out instead. Hermione thought, "What a complete and utter prat."
With her emotions finally under control, Hermione looked back at her two friends who were happily sipping tea. She hated that even without the damned Rime Diamond hanging from her neck, she still experienced all sorts of feelings she shouldn't about Loki. Deciding she'd better rejoin her friends, Hermione sat back down and prepared a cup of tea while listening to Jane explain a theory with Darcy about how the Convergence battle created fissures in the Bifrost, possibly allowing for others to travel through without Heimdall knowing. It was an interesting concept, but Hermione's mind was elsewhere. She kept thinking about the effects of the Rime Diamond what would happen to her in the long run now that she no longer wore it. The first few days after returning the diamond to Loki, she was still able sense what he was feeling. As the week progressed, she could feel less and less. By the time the second and third week arrived, she didn't feel anything at all.
Well, nothing at all unless you counted the complete and utter sadness that threatened to overwhelm her both day and night. It was a sadness so deep that she sometimes had trouble breathing. The feeling had only gotten worse since seeing Draco and realizing she no longer loved him. That was the interesting part though—if she didn't love Draco, did that mean she loved someone else? Someone who at this very moment was floors above her probably cursing her existence? If she was no longer connected to Loki, then shouldn't these feelings have gone away? These were the questions that plagued her thoughts continuously. It was becoming quite the nuisance, especially seeing as they still had absolutely no information about the Rime Diamond to go on.
"Here comes our thunderous god now!" Darcy cheered, playfully toasting Thor with her teacup as he entered the library. Hermione turned in her chair, so she could see him better, and was surprised to see a smile on his face. Jane began to get up from where she sat, but he gestured for her to stay seated.
"Good afternoon, ladies. How is your research coming along?" He stopped next to Jane's chair and placed a large hand upon her shoulder, squeezing gently before dropping a kiss to her cheek. Jane blushed slightly before covering his hand with her own.
"Utter rubbish!" Darcy laughed and elbowed Hermione, who she learned the phrase from. "We still haven't found a thing!"
"Darcy is right. We have nothing to go on, so there's no way to locate the information we need." Hermione crossed her arms and slumped down in the chair, feeling ready to give up.
"Perhaps this will help." Hermione's eyes shot up to Thor's as he reached into his Asgardian garb and extracted the Rime Diamond ring she'd thrown into Loki's face mere weeks ago.
"What are you doing with that?" She eyed the ring wearily, worried it might set her into a seizure after being out of her presence for so long. Thor looked down at the ring a moment before extending it towards her, smiling softly.
"Loki insisted you have it. He says it will help you with the research." Reaching out, Hermione made to grab for the gem before pulling her hand back.
"The chain, it was broken before."
"He repaired it for you."
Looking up at Thor hesitantly, she opened her palm once more allowing him to drop the ring on the chain into it. She closed her hand around the ring, immediately feeling it warm to her touch. She swallowed before unclasping the chain and securing it around her neck, somewhat disappointed when she was unable to feel Loki's presence. Once the ring was situated, Hermione lifted her eyes to take in the faces of those around her. Thor was smiling slightly; Jane looked worried, and Darcy was smirking with an eyebrow quirked. Rolling her eyes, Hermione tried to laugh off the uncomfortable feeling that settled among them.
"Back to work, I suppose?"
"You know, Hermione; Loki really does appear apologetic about what happened. Perhaps you could go and see him this evening." Thor tucked a stray lock of hair behind an ear, looking a bit sheepish about urging her to visit his brother.
Happy feeling gone, Hermione narrowed her eyes and placed her hands on her hips. Was that why he'd returned the ring? So she would finally come and see him? How ridiculous? He had insulted her, told her to leave him alone, and broken her—no! There was no way she was just going to drop everything, including her morals, and pop on up for a visit with the infuriating god. He deserved her silent treatment. He asked for it!
"I really do hope you're teasing with me, Thor. You know what he did—I don't need to go into the details again." She got up from the table and walked to the aisle that would lead towards the historical section. "I'll keep the ring for research purposes, but I have absolutely no reason to go and see Loki after all this time. He should be the one to come to me. With one final nod, she turned and disappeared into the endless shelves of books leaving Thor and the others staring after her bewildered.
"She's really going to hold onto that grudge, isn't she?" Darcy was still smirking as she turned towards Jane. "I don't know; I thought one of them would have caved by now."
"What do you mean by that," Jane asked picking up the stack of books that needed returning to the shelves.
"Oh, you know—I thought they'd be all over one another. There's so much sexual tension between those two."
"What exactly do you mean by that, Darcy?" Thor looked terrified just asking that question let alone what the answer could be. "Certainly, you are not implying that Hermione and Loki are going to end up fornicating?"
Jane stopped in her tracks and stared back at her fiancé with wide eyes as Darcy dissolved into a fit of laughter. "Seriously, Thor? Fornicating? You couldn't have put that any other way?" She shook her head as she let loose a few giggles at the sight of Thor's pink tinged cheeks.
"I apologize, but I feel slightly uncomfortable discussing the romantic interests of my brother and Hermione." Rubbing the back of his head, Thor tried to regain his composure. The idea of Loki being with anyone made him uneasy. Granted, he knew there had been a handful of women over the years for the two of them, but they rarely discussed such matters. Fandral was always the one who liked to discuss his romantic endeavors while the rest of them listened and cheered him on. "I believe I will head out and help train with Lady Sif and the Warriors Three."
Darcy threw her head back, still laughing. "Aw, I think we embarrassed him, Jane!" Shaking her own head, Jane refrained from laughing.
"Okay, Darcy, let him be. We should be getting back to work as well."
"Spoil sport!"
With one last nod towards the two ladies, Thor turned to exit the library, resolving to hopefully never again discuss Loki and Hermione's sexual relationship. While he suspected that something vast was looming in the near future for the two of them, he truly wished to remain on the peripheries of the situation. Whether it was an epic fight or the realization that they both were falling for one another, Thor still did not know. For now, he would continue preparing for Fenrir's imminent arrival and pray that whatever happened between the two magical beings was not of catastrophic proportions. At present, there were more important situations to worry about.
As Hermione wandered through the shelves, she tried not to think about the diamond hanging around her neck like a heavy weight. After feeling normal for so long, it was strange to experience it warm against her skin and the shiver that signaled her and Loki's connection was beginning to repair itself. In the back of her mind, she thought that perhaps she should not be wearing it as she was refusing to communicate with Loki in any way, but at the same time she couldn't resist the temptation of feeling what he was feeling. It was like an addiction, an all sorts of fucked-up addiction that she thought she was rid of until the moment that ring was back in her possession once more. One thing was certain, for the first time in weeks, that aching sadness that encompassed her was slowly dispersing and Hermione did not know whether to be relieved, or terrified.
Just as she was turning a corner, a sharp pain began behind Hermione's eyes causing her to stumble. Reaching out she grabbed hold of a shelf, so she didn't fall over. Breathing heavily, she blinked to clear her suddenly blurry vision. Fear and uncertainty began to prickle up her spine as the pain intensified. It was as if her eyes were not her own—she couldn't get them to clear. Gripping the shelf, she pushed back into a standing position only the fall heavily against the shelf, her hand snagging a book as she tumbled to the floor. She landed hard on her knees, the book missing her head by inches. Hurried footsteps could be heard as Hermione shook her head gently, trying to clear the pain and fog away.
"Hermione?" Jane stopped in the aisle, her eyes wide with fear. "Oh my god! Are you alright?" She dropped to her knees as well and made to touch Hermione's shoulder. However, Hermione's head was starting to feel slightly better, so she leaned away from her friend.
"I th—think so. My head…it's probably just a side effect of wearing the ring again after all this time." She made to get up, but the ache returned, this time sizzling through her head so painfully that she yelled out and fell face first onto the book. Jane scrambled forward awkwardly, attempting to help her friend in any way possible. She turned Hermione onto her side and brushed the crazed curls out of her face. After a moment, the convulsions died down, leaving Hermione breathless and sweaty on the floor. She took a few calming breaths and attempted to sit up, the while time her hand tightly grasping the book from the floor.
"That's it Hermione, just relax." Jane guided her so that she could lean against the bookshelf. She also tried to take the book out of Hermione's hand but found that the witch had such a death grip on the thing her knuckles were turning white. "What the…? Can you let that thing go?"
Hermione swallowed and blinked a few times, glad that her vision was finally clearing. However, she found that she could not be persuaded to drop the ancient book in her hand. In fact, it was as if a voice in the very back recesses of her mind was urging her to open it—to read it. Unfortunately, the book was in another language meaning, she would have to translate the damn thing. It was helpful Darcy had become rather skilled at translations these past few weeks. Clearing her throat, Hermione handed the book to Jane, finally able to let go of it now that her mind knew she planned on reading it.
"We need Darcy to translate this. I think it's what we've been looking for."
Jane gasped, reaching out to take the book with two hands. She examined the cover before glancing back up at Hermione's pale face. "How did you find it?" Hermione merely shook her head, unable to answer Jane's question. The answer was still trying to formulate itself in her mind…, and it was almost too crazy to articulate aloud. Keeping her assumptions to herself, Hermione began to stand, with Jane's help of course. By the time they reached the table where Darcy was sitting with her face in her hands as if she'd had absolutely enough research for one day, Hermione felt nearly back to normal. Her head no longer ached, but she did feel a current of unease that made her skin feel like it was crawling. No doubt Loki's current emotions were trickling through the connection once more. She wondered what exactly he was doing.
Jane helped Hermione into a chair before nudging Darcy with her elbow and plopping the dated book down in front of the startled woman. Darcy raised a single eyebrow before smiling. "Have we found something, then?" It was at that moment, she realized Hermione's distraught state of being. "Jesus, Hermione, what happened to you?" Hermione inhaled deeply, running a hand through her tangled hair.
"I'll be fine…, but we need you to translate that as quickly as possible. I'm fairly certain it is the exact book we have been searching for all this time." She stopped talking as Jane shoved a goblet of water into her hand, clearly indicating she needed to drink it. After she drained the goblet and replaced it on the table, she did feel slightly better, but still uneasy. "How long will it take you?"
Picking up the book, Darcy rubbed her hand across the blue surface. She flipped it open and used a finger to begin scanning; the Jotun language swirled back and forth across the tattered pages. "Maybe a couple of hours…hopefully less if I can figure out how the book is organized." With a nod, Hermione acknowledged it would take more time than she wished, but this was their only option. She jumped a bit when Jane placed a comforting hand upon her shoulder before sliding into the next chair to wait with her. Pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose, Darcy smiled at the two of them before grabbing her previous translation pages and setting to work. Taking Jane's lead, Hermione tried to distract herself by going over star charts and examining maps that indicated possible weak spots in the Bifrost. It was difficult work, but it passed the time.
As the afternoon moved towards evening, the Book guards came through, lighting lanterns and replenishing their water jug. The room was immensely quiet save the sound pages being turned and the shuffling of parchment. Darkness was beginning to overtake the library by the time Darcy made any indication that the book was, in fact, going to be of use to them. She whispered out an excited 'Yes' before grabbing for a fresh quill and parchment. Jane and Hermione shared a hopeful look, finally setting aside their work as Darcy made quick work of writing down a translated passage from the back of the text. Hermione's heart was beating so rapidly she was certain Jane could hear it next to her. Hell, Thor could probably hear it up in the dining hall. She clenched her hands under the table, both anxious and fearful of what Darcy found. Finally, her dark-haired friend set aside her quill and glanced up at Hermione with a grave look upon her face. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she gestured for her to say something—anything.
"Okay, I think I've got it. Are you ready? This is some heavy shit." Ignoring the disapproving look Jane shot at Darcy, Hermione nodded, clasping her hands together and leaning forward as if that might help her hear any underlying meaning to the information. "Here we go…"
"The Rime Diamonds, or Frost Diamonds, were formed from a falling star the day that Laufey fell in love with Farbaute. Taking this as a sign, Laufey set out in search of where the falling star landed. Upon his arrival, he found a pile of smoldering ash. Within this pile sat a large diamond assumed to have been forged from the immense pressure and heat of the falling star. Laufey secured the diamond and returned to Farbaute, presenting her with his extravagant gift. Accepting the beautiful gift, Farbaute felt saddened that she had nothing to share with Laufey in return. Taking the diamond in her hands, she used all of her strength to tear the diamond into two pieces and gifted the larger of the two to Laufey. Upon their marriage, Laufey had his half fashioned into a crown and Farbaute's into a ring. Together, they contentedly ruled Jotunheim for many centuries until the Jotuns traveled to Midgard with the Casket of Ancient Winters. During this time, Farbaute conceived a child, but due to her lack of strength and the pressure from the raging war with the Asgardians, she perished during childbirth. Distraught over the loss of his beloved, and the fact that their son was far too small for a Frost Giant, Laufey cast his son out, vowing to destroy the Asgardians if it was the last thing he ever did. In the end, King Odin overpowered the Jotuns, stealing the Casket of Ancient Winters, and both Rime Diamonds."
When Darcy stopped speaking, Hermione slapped her hands down on the table, her frustration taking over. "That's all it says? It doesn't tell us what the diamonds do?" Darcy gave her a troubled look as she tucked her hair behind an ear before smoothing out her parchment. Sitting back, Hermione tilted her head to the side, clearly confused about why she was being stared at so strangely by not only Darcy, but Jane as well. "What?"
"Think about what you just asked, Hermione." Jane spoke quietly, as if she couldn't believe Hermione had missed something so important. Breathing heavily, Hermione sifted back through the information slowly. It doesn't tell is what the diamonds do? What do the diamonds do? Diamonds. Diamonds!
"Oh! Diamonds! There are two!" Joy radiated inside of Hermione as if Loki too was excited she finally figured out the big secret. "Okay. Okay…there are two of them…but what do they do? Does it say any more, Darcy?" Her friend nodded before glancing down at the parchment, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
"The Rime Diamonds are said to wield a number of magical properties. This magic is thought to come from the falling star who helped create the original diamond. When separated from one another, one can be used to observe the person wearing its counterpart and vice versa. Most notably, the Rime Diamonds allow you to share a connection with another person, giving the ability to feel one another's emotions and communicate telepathically. It is foretold that the Rime Diamonds can bind you to your soul mate if you each happen to be wearing one at the same time. However, if separated, the two souls can experience unequivocal sadness and anguish. This notion comes from the story of Laufey and Farbaute, as the shooting star appeared just as they proclaimed their perpetual love for one another, and the despair Laufey was thrown into after Farbaute died. When the two souls converge, their love will be powerful enough to harness magic from the stars. As the Rime Diamonds have been lost, there is no way to test this theory."
It took a moment for Hermione to realize that Darcy had stopped speaking and that she and Jane were staring at her with wide, worried eyes. Hermione couldn't process what she just heard—it couldn't be true. The connection, the shared feelings, the telepathy…sure she understood all of that. She'd experienced it all. It was the soul binding portion, she just couldn't wrap her mind around. Was that why she felt so lost and sad these past few weeks, because she and Loki had been separated and not wearing their diamonds? Could that explain her sudden and heartbreaking realization that Draco no longer was the one her heart beat rapidly for? Continuing to process this information, she blinked slowly noticing that Darcy was mouthing the words, 'Is she okay,' to Jane, who simply shrugged, her face pulled into a grimace.
Very carefully, Hermione reached out and picked up the parchment Darcy had transcribed the treacherous words onto and dragged in forward until it was in front of her. She spent the next few minutes re-reading the information, praying that she was wrong, but that was not the case. The words remained the same. She was apparently bound to Loki. Forever. What the bloody hell? As her heart rate picked up speed again after its apparent loss in function, Hermione crumpled the parchment into her fist before reaching forward and grabbing her bag. As unbridled anger began to overtake her body, she slammed her chair backward before standing, shoving the crumpled ball in her hand into her bag as she turned away from her friends. Oh Loki was going to pay for this.
Darcy could be heard asking Jane, "Where do you think she's going," as Hermione stormed towards the exit, her magic simmering just under the surface of her skin. A smirk formed on her lips as she heard the frantic reply, "Oh, I think we both know where she's going…" She was thankful that neither tried to stop nor follow her. Confronting Loki about this immoral intrusion into her privacy, to her very being, was something she had to deal with on her own. The further she moved from the library, the more livid she became until she had to stop and remember that Loki could feel her emotions. How many times had he warned her that he knew she was coming ages before she even graced his doorjamb? Countless. Now that she knew he possessed the counterpart to her diamond, and the properties, they both held, Hermione was curious as to whether he was watching her at this very second, preparing wicked lies to sway her to his innocence as was his custom. What had he said to her before? That he had to immoral intention when he gifted the ring to Thor? That was a hard line to believe now.
How utterly senseless she was to fall for such fabrications. She felt like a fool standing here in the open hallway trying to get her raging emotions under control. Everyone had warned her of the kind of person Loki was, and she knew of his previous misdeeds. It was that Gryffindor pride of hers that wanted to be right this time; hoping Loki somehow changed for the better. Placing her bag across her body, she leaned against the cold stone wall, her eyes falling closed. She was playing right into his hands. Just earlier Thor had asked her to go and see his brother, and here she was ready to march straight up there. Running hands through her tangled curls, Hermione tried to decide the best course of action. Should she go to Loki and confront him or let him suffer a bit longer? Uncertainty and a tinge of fear prickled across the connection as if suddenly Loki was unsure whether or not he really wanted her to see him. Well, that undoubtedly cemented her decision, but there was no way she was just going to let him allow her access to his room—she was going in on her terms.
Standing upright once more, she used her emotions, the anger, in particular, to allow her magic to surge outward. A guard who happened to be walking towards her stopped, did an about-face, and headed back in the direction he'd come from. With Hermione's magic making the very air around her seem heavy; she slapped a hand against the stone wall and altered the anti-apparation wards. Her magic reverberated over the palace with such force; she was certain everyone currently inside felt the intensity of her rage. Then, smirking, she drew her magic back, deep into her core before disappearing from sight.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Having sent Thor away with the Rime Diamond, Loki felt both relief and trepidation at what was to come. After returning to his senses and realizing crying on his bed like some insipid teenager was not the way gods behaved, he decided instead to prepare for the moment Hermione placed the diamond on her body. That was, if she didn't throw it in Thor's face and demand he return the cursed object. He had high hopes that would not be the case. Hermione's lust for knowledge would outweigh any indecision she felt about the piece of jewelry. Pacing back and forth within his bedchamber, Loki cleared his mind and waited impatiently for the hum in veins that he missed more than he cared to admit. These past few weeks had been torture, and had he been more prudent with the use of the Rime Diamonds, perhaps he would not be in this particular position right now.
He had read the lore, studied it obsessively really, once he'd found the Rime Diamonds hidden in a dilapidated crate where Odin liked to keep his stolen relics. His original goal was to use the Casket of Ancient Winters to create a new scepter, but when he had entered the Vault where the relics were kept, his attention was drawn to the far corner where a shelf was situated. Upon the shelf was a single box, and of course, Loki had pocketed it. Immediately returning to Odin's chambers, he examined the box carefully before opening it and finding a golden crown and ring both with similar-looking diamonds. Feeling the magic within the diamonds, Loki began his quest to figure out what these relics really were. A few weeks later, he was not disappointed when he stumbled upon the blue Jotun myth book in the Asgardian Library. Then he hatched his plan—give the diamond ring to Thor for Jane and use the other to infiltrate their lives. This way he would know exactly when they prepared on returning to Asgard allowing Loki time to plot their demise.
It was true that Loki told Hermione he did not have nefarious plans when it came to using the ring, but that would be a lie as was his nature. He knew that there was no way to continue playing the imposter king—he would have to destroy Thor and Odin in order to remain the one true king. The plan hit a snag when he began having dreams, dreams of a certain bushy haired witch. Seeking answers to his strangely vivid dreams, Loki sought more about the lore and discovered that if the diamonds were touched by two souls that were meant to be as one, then they began connecting. The dreams were only the beginning. Later, there would be intense feelings and emotions, followed by shared thoughts and a single soul that could supposedly harness the power of the stars. Loki didn't plan on being forthcoming with that particular bit of information with Hermione just yet. It was not written in a book—Loki had traveled far to discover that tidbit of information, and then killed the only Jotun that knew. That was powerful information; so commanding it could be used to destroy not only him and Hermione, but the rest of the universe as well.
By not taking precautions, Loki was now irrevocably bound to Hermione Granger, and there was nothing in his power, or anyone else's, that could separate them. Their souls were already beginning to bind together; that much was evident by the excruciating ache he felt from not being connected to her these past few weeks. Stopping his pacing, Loki ran a frustrated hand through his hair. Why didn't he feel anything yet? Surely his irritating brother gave her the ring by now? Just as he was about to risk breaking the wards, a shiver trickled up his spine sending a tingling sensation down his body from the top of his head. Complete and utter relief washed over him in that moment with the realization that Hermione had indeed decided to wear the ring once again. Now, the next part of his plan could begin. He strode to his wardrobe and extricated his scepter yielding his Rime Diamond. Trying to ignore the disquiet Hermione was currently feeling, he spun the golden staff a number of times before blowing on the shimmering diamond, projecting a current view of what his better half was doing in the library.
He watched with fascination as Hermione thoroughly scolded his brother about something before disappearing into the endless maze of books, her hair bouncing and a stern look upon her face. She looked absolutely beautiful, and Loki tried to quell the giddy feeling that overcame him at finally seeing her after weeks of separation. He needed to focus his mind in order to guide her towards the book that held the information needed to unlock the mystery of the Rime Diamonds. Taking a deep breath, Loki gripped the scepter tightly and pushed his magic through the enchanted diamond and into Hermione's, planting the suggestion to stop and browse the shelf to her right. Instead of just stopping to look at the shelf, Hermione stumbled blindly, clutching at her head. Concern laced Loki's brow as he leaned in to view the projection closer. What happened? The witch continued to lean against the shelf he'd suggested, but it was as if she couldn't see. A tinge of fear laced with worry made Loki uncertain this was the best action, but as Hermione made to move away from the shelf, he panicked. Watching in abject horror, Loki sent out a burst of magic causing Hermione to fall forward, but with the needed book in hand.
As she landed hard on her knees, Loki swallowed roughly, gripping the scepter and hating himself for causing her such pain. Hadn't Thor mentioned Hermione experienced seizures and episodes that were triggered by the Rime Diamond? Why had he forgotten to look further into this information? Now he was potentially hurting Hermione's precious mind all for a stupid book! In the next instant, Jane appeared in the projection allowing him a second of relief before realizing Hermione was about to leave the book behind. Closing his eyes and vowing never to use this bit of magic again, Loki planted the idea in Hermione's head to hold onto the book and not let go until she found the information she sought. Opening his eyes, Loki found his cheeks were wet, and he was breathing erratically, but Hermione was alright. Jane was helping her into a sitting position, and they appeared to be talking about the book. He had done his part, and now it was up to them.
Swiping his hand to clear away the image upon the wall, Loki turned and angrily threw the scepter onto his bed. How dare his brother to keep such information from him? Granted, Thor had mentioned it briefly before their mission to Jotunheim, but that was not the time to discuss such matters. Furious with himself for forgetting, Loki sent out a surge of magic, knocking over a chair and meaningless trinkets that were scattered on various surfaces around the room. Seizures were not to be taken lightly—he could have killed Hermione without even realizing what was happening! Pulling his emotions back, he attempted to calm himself and prepare for the extensive wait that loomed before him. It would take hours for Lady Lewis to decipher to Jotun book. Loki decided he should mentally prepare for the verbal lashing Hermione would unleash upon him later this evening.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
It was as he stood on the balcony staring at the setting sun, that Loki felt the immeasurable explosion of infuriation that indicated Hermione finally knew the truth about the Rime Diamonds. The tenacity of her emotions was enough to bring him to his knees, and he did right then and there. Letting his head fall forward, Loki splayed out his hands on the cool concrete, relishing in the flurry of sensations the connection with Hermione unleased within his body. There would be repercussions for his transgression, of that he was certain, but for now he let himself be overtaken both physically and mentally. She would come for him shortly, there was no doubt about that. It would be unwise of him to believe that she would be lenient about the information he withheld from her for so long. Opening his eyes, Loki used one arm to help push back to his feet, his dark hair falling away from his flushed face.
His plan was to wait patiently on the balcony, arms crossed behind his back, as he tracked her progress through the castle by tracing her magical signature. Unfortunately, that was not the case this time—Just as quickly as Hermione's emotions and magic were revealed to him, she disappeared completely as if she used her special transportation magic right off of Asgard. Impossible. Turning towards the door, panic seared his chest as he crossed the room in long strides. Wards be damned; he was going after her. Just as Loki passed his bed, there was an explosion of magic as his doors were blown inwards, ricocheting off the walls. That explosion was nothing compared to the blast of outrage that erupted within him. Loki stumbled backwards, grasping the canopy pole to keep from toppling over. His eyes widened as Hermione stormed through the doorway, eyes glistening with rage and her hair appearing to crackle furiously.
Before Loki could utter a single word, she swiped her hand, sending the doors crashing closed before marching forward with her hands clenched into fists. Unable to do nothing but blink down in shock, Loki took in her wild appearance. Even in the midst of battle back on Jotunheim, he never expected Hermione to hold such a ferocity as he was currently seeing her command. It was intimidating. It was awe inspiring. It was arousing. So much so that his tongue darted out his mouth to wet his suddenly dry lips as she came to a stop in front of him.
"What have you done!?" Hermione's scream echoed around the room, and Loki wanted to smile at the witch before him. It was pleasing to see she could to lose herself so completely. She must have seen the mere twitch of his lips because Hermione lashed out, beating his chest with her fists as she continued to rant. "Answer me you insufferable, no good, loathsome—"
Loki removed his hand from the canopy pole before reaching forward and snagging her frantic wrists in his palms. He squeezed gently to avoid from hurting her delicate mortal form as she continued to trash about. Taking a calming breath, Loki tightened his hold until she began trying to wriggle free. "Lady Granger, take a breath. Calm yourself—"
Going completely and utterly still, Hermione glared up into his face. "Calm myself? How dare you tell me to do such a thing after what I've just found out?!" Face crumpling, she dropped her gaze to her restrained hands. "Let me go." Now that she was somewhat calm, Loki reluctantly released her from his grasp. Stepping back out of her personal space despite feeling as if he wasn't quite close enough. "What have you done to me, Loki? What the bloody hell have you done?" She trailed off at the end, her anger spent for the time being and a sadness overtaking her features.
"It is safe to assume you have finally discovered the true properties of the Rime Diamonds." Trying to speak in calmly, he examined her face for any signs of discomfort. She merely glared in response to his words.
"Rime Diamonds. Prat, you could have told me there were two of them." She crossed her arms, pushing her bosom up underneath her white, button-up shirt. "I am beyond livid that you kept this information from me, Loki! We could have really used the telepathic ability in Jotunheim. You lied to me…I trusted you."
Scoffing, Loki rolled his eyes. "God of Mischief and Lies, Lady Granger. That was a foolish mistake to make." He made to turn away, but she reached out and grabbed onto his leather-covered arm. Staring at her small hand for a second, he sighed and allowed his gaze to drag upward until it met her shimmering brown eyes. "I warned you that you may not like what you found out about the Rime Diamond, Lady Granger."
She released his arm and ran the hand through her tangled mess of hair. "I was hoping it was going to be good news. I wanted it to be so badly. Instead, I find out I've been bound to someone I barely know and without my consent! Do you know what that feels like, Loki? Have you any idea what I might be going through mentally, and I'm not talking about what you feel through our connection?" She stood there, hands on her hips and breathing heavily as if she was trying to refrain from crying.
"Perhaps—Perhaps I can relate." He spoke softly, despair enveloping him as he took in her distraught appearance. When she simply blinked at him, her eyes soft and sad, he decided to elaborate a bit more. "I was forced into this family without a choice, Lady Granger. Despite growing up in a privileged, royal family, I have always been seen as the black sheep. In recent years, I acted upon the urges to lash out at the ones who wronged me, but look where it has gotten me—a prisoner in my own home with restrictions and enemies all over the galaxy." Pinching the bridge of his nose, Loki turned away to go and stand in the doorway to the balcony unable to look into her hurt eyes any longer. They were quiet for a while, both allowing their thoughts to stew properly. Lifting his eyes to the starry sky above, Loki whispered, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Why didn't I tell you what?" Startled, Loki glanced down to his right, noticing Hermione had moved to his side at some point.
"About the seizures." Regret sizzled in his chest as he watched her face cloud over.
"I thought you knew…I thought Thor would have told you at some point."
Loki faced Hermione, and gingerly reached out to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. He was glad when she did not flinch or pull away. "He mentioned it briefly before Jotunheim, but we did not discuss it in length. I wholly forgot until today. I apologize for hurting you in that way. I know you value your mind above all else." Instead of responding, he watched as she swallowed and nodded once before turning her head away to gaze skyward like he had been doing.
"Why do the Diamonds affect me like that?" Her jaw clenched, and he felt her fear rippling underneath the surface of his skin. Unsure of the exact answer, he decided at least to tell her his theory.
"I suspect, that when I send magic through the connection, it interacts with your magic and causing you to seize." The harsh intake of breath from his companion was enough to make feel more remorse than he'd experienced in eons. "I will not attempt such a feat again; that I can assure you." Refraining from reaching out to touch her, Loki locked his hands behind his back and continued to observe her motionless form. Her eyes glistened in the starlight making him wonder why she was still so upset before he realized he had not apologized for insulting her after Jotunheim. "There is one other indecency I must apologize for, Lady Granger."
Her gaze snapped to his with such urgency that he was taken aback. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes, leaving hateful trails upon her flushed cheeks. Hermione bit her lip briefly before letting it go and swiping furiously at the treacherous tears. "I expect Thor enlightened you to the effect your hurtful words had upon me?" He nodded once before dragging his hand through his dark hair, glancing away from her accusatory stare.
"Thor described the similarities between the derogatory slur I used and one you have been called in the past, yes."
"Human-bred witch."
They both flinched at her daring to say the insult aloud. "I can assure you that I did not mean to insult you in that way. I was embarrassed at my inability to protect the both of us. I allowed my presumptuous pride to mix with other feelings, and the outcome was not to be desired." Worried that his apology was not taken as such, Loki opened his mouth to elaborate further when he saw Hermione's befuddled look. He didn't get the chance to speak; however, as Hermione snapped at him.
"Do you know what they used to call me before we won the war?" Terrified of the answer, Loki shook his head. "The Pureblood witches and wizards had a particularly dirty word they liked to call us magical folks with Muggle parents." A grimace formed on her face, and she ground her teeth together as if even contemplating saying the insult left an awful taste in her mouth. "Mudblood." She nodded, lips pursed. "They called us Mudbloods. They were insinuating that our blood was dirty because of our parentage." Stopping, she inhaled sharply, a sob escaping her mouth as tears began to slide down her cheeks once more. "I thought—I thought that I would never have to hear an insult like that aimed at me a—again. Then, of all people, you call me a human-bred witch like it's the easiest insult in the universe. It was like being back at Hogwarts my second year and hearing Mudblood for the first time all over again." Breaking down entirely, Hermione turned away and gripped the balcony railing.
Unable to do anything but watch as Hermione sobbed; Loki ignored the chill that overtook his body. Mudblood. He insulted her in the most heinous way possible without even realizing it. It was no wonder she'd taken heed of his words and left him alone for so long. If she was unable to forgive him, he would not be surprised. The Rime Diamonds be damned, if he did not repair this fissure, he had caused, there would be no future for the two of them. Inching forward, Loki rubbed his hands together, warming them before placing them gently upon Hermione's shoulders and turning her body until she was facing him. Unsure of what to do next, he lifted a hand and attempted to wipe away some of her tears. Her anguish reverberated within Loki's very soul, and he found himself almost on the verge of crying himself. Hermione closed her eyes at his touch, but her crying did not subside.
"Please, stop crying, Lady Granger."
"You have no idea the hell I went through to eradicate the use of that word and the Pureblood laws." Shaking her head, she swallowed and stepped back, away from his touch. "You will never understand…" Reaching into the small purse she wore; Hermione dug around until she extracted a book and shoved it at his chest. "Read that. Be grateful I didn't send you on some long-winded goose chase until you found it." Then, with one last attempt at removing the tear tracks from her face; she bit her lip and 'popped' out of his room.
Shocked, Loki glanced around ridiculously before realizing she'd used her teleportation magic to leave him alone once more. Pulling the text he had clutched against his chest, he glanced at the title, 'A History of Pureblood Laws and Mannerisms' by Hermione J. Granger. Surprise bloomed on Loki's face at the realization that Hermione was a writer among her many other skills. Walking back into his room, Loki set the book down on the bed next to the forgotten scepter before beginning to remove his armor. Once he was left in his soft black trousers and long-sleeved shirt, Loki settled onto the bed, crossing his ankles and picking up the book. If Hermione wanted him to research the history of the disparaging name, he had called her, Loki would read everything he could find starting with this book.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The entire kingdom appeared to be asleep as Loki stood on the verge of risking triggering the wards. Having plowed through Hermione's text in the matter of a few short hours, he now wanted nothing more than to talk with her about the words she had beautifully inscribed in order to explain a most complex and, at times, monstrous group of people. The book had been so captivating that Loki barely even looked up as a guard brought him a late supper. In fact, the untouched try still sat on the dresser where he'd ordered the guard to leave it. Now he stood at the ward line deciding whether or not to risk everything. Sending his magic outwards, Loki was still surprised to find that the wards appeared to have been altered in some way. Whether this change was because Hermione had fractured them with her intense arrival earlier, or if she did it on purpose, he did not know.
What he did know, was that there was no way in hell, he wasn't going to see her this very minute to apologize even more fully about calling her a human-bred witch. Especially after learning what the Pureblood wizards, particularly that demon Voldemort, did to her kind over the centuries. So, taking a deep breath, Loki lifted his bare right foot and slid it across the entryway to his room. When nothing happened, he stepped forward once, twice, and then again, until he was completely in the hallway. A smile formed on his lips realizing that he could potentially wreak havoc right now, but damnit, if he wanted to make things right with Hermione, he would have to quell his mischievous side for the time being. Determination taking over, Loki began walking towards the end of the hall, rolling up his sleeves as he went. There were two guards stationed there that needed to be dealt with. Using his limited magic, he projected an illusion into both of their minds so that it would appear as if his walking by them was only a dream.
Once the guards had been taken care of, Loki quietly made his way down to where he knew Hermione's bedchamber to be. Upon arriving, he realized there were two doors in the hallway, so using the connection forged by the Rime Diamonds; Loki was pulled to the door on the right. Not knowing how Hermione would react to his visit, he knocked gently on the door three times before stepping back. It was quiet within the room for a spell before a rustling sound began. Then, there was the soft padding of feet as they whispered across the cold stone floor, and the door opened inwards revealing Hermione in the faint light from a single candle. She appeared absolutely breathtaking standing there in nothing but her white, button-up shirt with her massive curls flowing down her back.
"Loki?" She scrunched up her face and ran a hand through those tangled curls. "I must still be dreaming…" Before she could close the door, Loki held up his hands and stepped forward.
"I promise you this is no dream, Lady Granger. I am truly here."
"What? How the hell did you get past the wards?" Okay, clearly she did not mean to damage them earlier. "Come on, we have to get you back before the guards find out." She went to grab his arm, but Loki shook his head moved out of her grasp.
"I finished your book. It was very enlightening."
"And you couldn't tell me that tomorrow without breaking out of your room?"
"No. I had to see you straight away. I wanted, no, needed to apologize for the hurtful words I called you." It was true, the urge to see her face and have her understand his deep sympathy at hurting her was all he could think about. It was truly maddening knowing how much he wished for her to perceive him as someone she could trust, someone that she could potentially love. "You are a beautiful and bright witch, Lady Granger, and I will forever be embittered in myself for even suggesting otherwise." Hermione continued to stare at him as if annoyed, her arms crossed across her chest. Feeling almost desperate, Loki began to plead with her, an ache building within his chest, as if her rejection was physically wounding him. In retrospect, it probably was a side effect from the Diamonds they shared. "Please, if you'll allow me to come in, perhaps we can discuss some of the more pressing matters. I'd like to explain how our bond can be of benefit in the future—"
Sighing; Hermione placed gently placed a hand on her forehead. "Leave me alone, Loki." She turned her face away from the searing look Loki was giving her, causing him to close his mouth.
"As you wish. Have a good night then, Lady Granger." Attempting to keep the hurt from showing on his face, Loki turned, prepared to make the journey back to his bedchamber. He had barely walked two steps before Hermione called out to him, shock evident on her round face.
"Wait—you're going to leave? Just like that?"
"You asked me to go; I was simply respecting your wishes." Slowly turning back to face the open door, Loki's heart pounded hopefully, wanting her to change her mind. He scanned those russet eyes eagerly, searching for any sign that she truly wanted him to stay.
"I just thought—I didn't think you would really—"
Loki didn't wait for her to finish—rushing forward and pulling her to him in one swift lunge. His lips crashed down onto Hermione's with such force that their teethed clicked together, effectively cutting off her ridiculous explanation. Forget waiting for her to make the first move; Loki was all in, letting his hands tangle through her unruly curls as he maneuvered them inside the bedchamber, away from prying eyes. He didn't stop until he had Hermione pinned against the dresser, his body deliciously pressed as close as possible to hers as he deepened the kiss. Before he lost all rational thought, Loki willed the bedchamber doors closed and then tilted Hermione's head further back so that he could lick into the warmth beyond her lips.
Hermione responded to the kiss, pushing upwards as if he was oxygen, and she was drowning. Intoxicated by her taste, Loki lost himself as she trailed her hands up his arms until those delicate fingers were tangling in his dark locks, pulling his mouth harder against her own. Undoing his fingers from her hair, Loki reached down and gripped her hips before lifting her onto the dresser, scattering her belongs across the surface. His hands slid up her silky thighs, wanting her closer. Breaking free of her mouth, Loki kissed a trail from the corner of her mouth down her neck, before nipping lightly at the sensate skin at the base. Hermione's head fell backwards, a soft mewling sound escaping her reddened lips.
It was a slow kind of torture finally being able to kiss, caress, and experience Hermione in this way. There were so many things Loki wanted to do to her—with her—that he did not know where to begin. Bringing his head back up to her face, Loki cupped her cheek before brushing his lips against hers once more. With his other hand, he guided her to wrap her legs around his waist. A growl was drawn up and out of his throat at the feel of her hot core brushing over his hardness once, and then repeatedly as they began a steady rhythm together. He felt almost dizzy with lust as he massaged his tongue against Hermione's, her hands coming down to slide under the shirt he wore. He shivered as her hands splayed across the cool skin of his back sending electric jolts up and down his spine.
Bringing his hands around, he slowly began to unbutton her shirt, letting his fingers trail down the curve of her breasts until reaching the expanse of her stomach. Continuing to kiss Hermione indulgently, Loki slid one hand around to hold her in place while the other drifted up to cup a breast. He squeezed slightly, causing Hermione to throw her head back against the mirror as she whispered, "Loki," her legs locking around his hips. Smirking, Loki took advantage of his free mouth, dropping his head to nibble at her hardened nipple through the lacy fabric of the simple brassiere she wore. She dug those fingers of hers into his back so hard he knew there would be marks left behind from her nails. As he continued to tease her, Hermione whimpered and ground her hips against his urgently.
Unable to resist the sight of her wet lips, Loki dragged his mouth higher, nipping and licking along the way. He stopped briefly to tug gently on her earlobe with his teeth before moving over to trace the outline of her lips with his tongue. They were both breathing heavily through their noses as the kiss intensified, their hips continuing their rhythmic thrusting. If he didn't have her soon, he would absolutely lose his mind. Moving to push the shirt off Hermione's shoulders, Loki was forced to stop as a pounding began on the closed door. Separating, they both stared wildly into one another's eyes as the pounding continued. Biting her lip, Hermione attempted to get her breathing under control as her legs slowly undid themselves from around his waist.
"Ye—Yes?" She called out, her wide eyes never leaving his heavily lidded ones.
"Lady Granger? We suspect Loki has escaped, but the alarms never sounded. His door was left open. Should we wake Thor?" It was only a guard. Most likely, one of the two Loki has tricked. Loki slowly closed his eyes, annoyance overwhelming him. Hermione watched him carefully before sitting up properly and pulling her shirt shut.
"No, do not wake Thor. I have Loki here with me. We were discussing battle tactics." Loki's eyes shot open from the blatant lie Hermione told, pride and gratitude making him smirk. Hermione rolled her eyes at his antics. "I will return him to his chambers shortly. We simply…lost track of time."
"Very well, Lady Granger." Loki and Hermione waited until the guard's footfalls could no longer be heard before speaking.
"I suppose it's time for you to leave." Hermione lowered her eyes, beginning to button her shirt.
"I don't have to."
"No, this is probably for the best. We can talk more tomorrow." Finished with her shirt, she gently prodded his arm until he moved away, allowing her to slide down from the dresser. "It appears, we have much to discuss." She smiled gently, and Loki knew immediately she did not regret what almost happened between them.
He sighed heavily and made an attempt at returning his ruffled appearance to normalcy. It was horribly difficult not to pull her body back against his to finish what they started. Loki knew he would get no further with her tonight, and he respected that. Moving towards the door, he ran a hand through his now tangled hair before stopping and looking back at her.
"You will come see me tomorrow?"
"I will." She took a tentative step forward, crossing her arms and shaking her head to get the hair out of her face. She smirked. "I have to repair the wards." Then, more seriously, she added, "Don't get any ideas about attempting to escape."
"I wouldn't dare." They both chuckled and Loki was reminded of exactly how hard he was falling for this woman. "Will you allow me to escort you to my brother and Lady Foster's engagement feast?" Loki was just as stunned as Hermione was by his question, but he held his breath, nonetheless, as he awaited her answer. Biting her lip, Hermione appeared to struggle with whether or not it was a good idea to accompany him to such an event. With his past, Loki could not blame her for having some trepidations. After some time, she shrugged with a smile.
"I guess that would be nice." A burst of happiness exploded inside of Loki, taking him by surprise. "Now get back to your quarters before we both get into trouble." With one final nod, Loki opened her door and vanished down the hall. For the first time in many years, Loki felt less like a monster and more like the person he used to be before hate had filled his heart.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
End Notes: So I have no words for how much I'm in love with Loki and Hermione! Anyone else feel the same way? So what do you think about the Rime Diamonds? Any predictions for what may happen later with them? Did you hate that guard as much as I did for interrupting our lovers? I promise their time is coming soon! Honest! Feel free to leave a review answering these and asking any you have of your own! I also appreciate hearing ideas and song recommendations you may have! Also, check out my group on Facebook. Just search: DustNight Fanfiction. Until next week,
xxDustNight88