FYI, I went back to the last chapter and changed the name of the guy Thor wrestled. Because I forgot that Tyr is already dead in this fic and I'm a space cadet. Sorry for any confusion. Moving on...

"Tell me what you are thinking." Thor said in his alpha voice. The resonance of the deeper vocal cords sent a shiver up Loki's spine and made his lower abdomen curl with arousal.

"I love you, and I hate you for it." Loki said. Thor chuckled.

"Do you trust me now?"

"Yes, against my better judgement. I feel enslaved by my baser instincts."

"I will not use my commanding voice on you when we conduct royal duties. I reserve that for the bedroom only."

"You swear it?"

"I do." Thor said. They were getting ready for court again. They'd spent the entire day yesterday in bed doing things to each other that Loki had only read about in books filled with erotica. The memory of Thor embedding his face in his crevice and mapping out his slick opening with his tongue still got him erect just thinking about it. Loki's face blushed and he focused his attention on his armor to keep his excitement in check. He finished with the last clasped, looked in the mirror and frowned.

"What's wrong?" Thor asked, coming up behind him and wrapping his arms around Loki's waist.

"I'm so tired. I hate this. I don't want to pretend anymore." Loki looked himself up and down. His attire looked ridiculous to him now. Ultra-masculine with his cape jutting out from his shoulders to make him appear broader. He had padding in places to make it appear that he had more bulk than he really did, including his manhood. The black leather and silver trim made him look sinister and dangerous.

"How do you mean?"

"Other omegas do not dress this way."

"No, but then they aren't the prince of the realm either. You have good cause for wanting to intimidate the people around you. Perhaps once your father is back on the throne, you can experiment with some softer fabrics."

"I don't know if that is wise." Loki said.

"You've endured many changes over these last few weeks. Give it time." Thor pressed a kiss to his temple and held his hand. A knock came at the door.

"My King Regent, My Prince?" Kelda asked.

"Enter."

"My I take your linens?" She asked.

"Of course. Kelda where did you get that bruise?" Loki asked. The top of her hand looked like it had been smashed.

"A heavy casket iron skillet landed on it." She said.

"Let me guess, the cook accidentally placed it on top of it."

"Something like that." She said.

"You'll have to forgive Gertrude. She's a fiercely loyal servant and she probably thinks you'll slit my throat in my sleep." Loki said. "How are you holding up?"

"As well as can be expected. I'm only getting tripped about once a day now. It is still a vast improvement over my previous circumstances." She said.

"Yes well, you've suffered enough abuse to last two lifetimes. I'll speak with her and the other servants on the matter." Loki said.

"Thank you my liege." She said. Kelda had gained a good twenty pounds since coming under their care. Her body, starved for nutrition was holding onto every calorie and she looked bloated though she ate no more than anyone else. The healers said her metabolism would be wonky for a while, but that she would level out. She gathered up the soiled sheets from the bed, smiling to herself. It was the first time she'd noted the stains of sexual activity from their marriage bed, and she deposited them into her basket before opening the windows.

The room smelled pungent with their intertwined musk. Just because she was a beta, didn't mean she was immune to the heady scents emitted by both of her masters. She made a hasty exit. She left their chambers with her basket of laundry and headed down the long halls and down several sets of stairs. She went to a small back courtyard where the giant laundry tub was located for the palace.

The area was swarming with servants all either dropping off, picking up, or performing the palace washing. Many of the servants openly sneered at her while others made a show of avoiding her or ignoring her. She made her deposit and picked up a fresh set before heading back. Thankfully, no one stuck out their foot to trip her, this time.

As she walked down the long corridor alone she thought about what life would be like alone in a modest cottage on her own patch of land. With scant neighbors or a new identity perhaps she could find a husband and have children. Maybe, if she were given her freedom before her womb shriveled up and became a wasteland.

A hand reached out from a shadowed cornered and yanked her into an alcove. She shrieked, but her mouth was muffled by a large rough hand. She found herself looking up into the eyes of a man she did not recognize.

"It goes without saying, if you make any more noise, I'll kill you. You're a pretty little thing for being so treacherous. Tell me Kelda, how do you like your new masters?" He removed his hand from her mouth to let her speak.

"Fine. They're fine."

"Are they?" He looked down at her swollen blue black left hand. "My master would treat you far better than they. He would reward you with your freedom, if you assisted us that is."

"What do you want me to do?" She asked, trembling. He pulled out a set of sheets from another basket and switched them with the ones that she had.

"Make their bed."

"What's in the sheets?"

"Never you mind your pretty little head. You'll be rewarded by my master with freedom and riches for your assistance…and if not, I'll find you again." He said. He shoved her back into the hallway. Kelda looked back but the man had slipped away through one of the palaces many hidden corridors. Kelda trembled as she fretted over what to do. Her walk back to the royal chambers was a slow one.

XxXxXxXx

"…your price for the new armor is too high." Thor said. He could feel the amateur bluntness tripping out of his mouth. He didn't care though. This business deal rankled him on a personal level.

"What my husband meant to say, was that your calculations for the raw materials and labor have not taken into account the current prices for iron ore. The supply glut from the new mining colony has brought down prices considerably. The armor should be cheaper to make. We would appreciate it if you passed on some of those savings to us." Loki said.

"There are plenty of Asgardian blacksmiths that would love to deliver on this contract for a much more competitive price, and the quality would be better in my opinion." Thor added. Loki glared at Thor.

"If the Asgardian Army finds our work so displeasing, then perhaps I will seek contracts elsewhere." Tyrion said. The little man was shrewd and insufferable. Thor couldn't stand him.

"We are presenting this new commission because we have found our current armor design wanting. The chest and back plates are well formed; we simply need to rectify a small but important weakness. We have the utmost faith and confidence that your craftsmen can perfect our already superior armor." Loki said. Thor frowned openly. He did not understand why such a large contract could not be given to his own countrymen. He would have killed for a contract this large when he was a smithy. Instead he had to survive on repair work and commissions from the nobles. Even the blacksmiths in the heart of Gladshiem only maintained the army. They seldom crafted anything new.

Thor's poor attempt at diplomacy had unraveled within minutes and his terrible poker face was non-existent. He scowled at the dwarf delegate. Loki pinched Thor on his triceps, hard.

"Perhaps, I was being a bit greedy. One gold coin per half dozen sets."

"8 sets per gold coin." Thor growled.

"My King Regent, that is a slave wage." Tyrion said. Thor laughed at him.

"You have my pity Lord Tyrion, for you are not used to dealing with someone who knows the true time and cost required to make the things we need. I am being generous. You will take my offer or seek business elsewhere." Thor said.

"You drive a hard bargain King Regent. I accept." Tyrion gave a short bow and left the hall.

"That is all for today. Court adjourned." Thor said.

"You lost your temper." Loki said.

"Why do we not employ our own people to this task?" Thor asked.

"Countries that rely on one another economically are less likely to go to war with one another. The dwarves might be short in stature but they are warriors, and they have no qualms about using dishonorable means to win."

"What do you mean by dishonorable means?"

"The last time the dwarves went to war with another country, they hid from the army and attacked the women and children left behind. They are brutal creatures Thor. Their favorite weapon is fire."

"I'm tired and I have a headache. I'm going straight to bed." Thor said.

"You need to eat dinner. Trust me. Not eating will only make it worse."

"I suppose. Dinner, then bed after." Thor said.

"Yes, then bed, and other things." Loki said with a smile.