Loki awoke first. It was still early, just dawn and the world glowed pale yellow, it's rays seeping down through the treetops above them.
He looked down at the girl alongside him. She had been drawn unconsciously to the heat of his body during the chill of the night and she was now so close he could see the dew that still clung to her hair.
She was a pretty thing, he didn't regret bringing her along, if only for the view.
And what a view.
He allowed himself to take her in with his eyes. Her hair fell about her face, livid red against her cream skin. This close he could see the light spattering of freckles across her nose, constellations on the perfect white sky of her face. The V-shape of the tendons in her neck pointing over her throat to the curve of her breasts under her rough, prison shirt. And further down her body, where her shirt had ridden up to her naval, her hips, curving downwards, tantalising him with the promise of what lay beyond.
He drank her in, feeling himself grow harder as he fought the urge to pin her to the deck of the small ship and force himself into her, relishing in her whimpers for him to stop.
Letting out a sharp breath as his stomach ached with lust, he rose quickly to walk off his arousal and collect fresh water from the small, clear river nearby.
When he returned, Rebecca had awoken and was rubbing the last remnants of sleep from her eyes, unused to the daylight.
"Good Morning." he said, curtly, almost blaming her internally for inciting his lust.
She looked drowsily to him and repeated his words in answer. He ignored her, setting the water down and arranging a light breakfast between them. Joining him, she asked;
"Where are we?"
"The forests of Alfheim."
She noticed that he would not meet her eyes as he answered her, the tension in his jaw and shoulders as he began to eat. She retained the silence between them and looked around her, stomach flipping with joy at her freedom. She longed to explore.
"How did you come to be imprisoned?"
His question shattered the quiet air between them and she turned to find his emerald eyes boring into her.
"I... I told you.", she stammered. "My people sent me to take as many of your court's lives as possible."
"Including my own." His expression was blank, unreadable.
"Yes...", she unwillingly admitted.
"And yet evidently, you did not succeed."
Her pride was spiked, and ire flared in her. Why was he asking this?
"Evidently.", she snapped.
"I disguised myself as a Meretrix and stole to your brother's quarters. He didn't remember ordering me but, funnily enough, he didn't turn me down."
Loki's jaw tensed tightly but she continued, standing up to leave.
"I had my dagger to his throat before he wrestled my hand away. I was seconds away from spilling his blood because he was so preoccupied with his desire. So easily manipulated are Royal men with a woman in their bed!"
"Stop.", he growled. "Before I lose my patience with you."
But she had been burned and all her resentment poured out to him.
"Why? Because I dishonour the family you claim to hate so? You asked and I answered!"
He leapt up and dug his fingers into her arms, roaring his reply.
"Because I cannot stand the thought of him having you!"
He threw her to the ground.
They both froze, panting with rage, in shocked silence.
His own admission stunned and disgusted him. His earlier carnal thoughts burned deeply within him.
She slowly rose from the floor, eyes brimming with angry tears.
She stalked up to him, face inches away from his own and locked his eyes with hers, before hissing bitterly;
"Oh you have nothing to fear on that account, my lord. I swore long, long ago that I would never allow any Crown Prince of Asgard inside me."