Chapter 25
Thor walked with determination in his stride, though his thoughts were scattered and confused. He couldn't think properly. He couldn't understand.
It was all wrong.
All of it.
His breaths were faster than usual as he walked, body carrying him to where he knew he needed to be. Right now, he did not feel like a king. Right now, he felt afraid. He felt confused and didn't know what to do, didn't know what was right. Above all, he didn't know who to trust.
He never imagined his life would take such an awful turn and the longer it persevered, the more he just wanted to ride away on his horse and leave it all behind. He didn't think he could do it – how could he possibly kill his own wife?!
He knew Koli's confession. He knew people did not like Imogen. He knew she was secretive and distrusting.
But she was his wife and he knew there was more to her than that.
What about the times when she had cradled Shelby and sung to her through half the night to keep the child settled? What about how she held Thor when he came back from a testing day with the nobles and listened to his troubles? What about how she loved him? She did; he could see it in her eyes. Everyday he had seen it. Even in the last few weeks before she had been taken, her adoration still gleamed in her orbs every time she looked at him – it had just been dashed with heartbreak.
Was that woman really capable of murder? Of planning to kill the man that she slept next to every night…
Everybody said so. But in his heart, Thor didn't believe it.
His footsteps were a solid rhythm and her let his mind focus on that as he walked, the guards outside Imogen's room finally coming into view at the end of the corridor. They parted for him instantly, door moved aside for him. He didn't even break stride as his strode through.
Walking through the palace, he'd kept his face stone cold. His mouth had been a thin line and his eyes had been hard, keeping his true jumbled emotions hidden.
As soon as the door closed firmly behind him though, he felt his façade crumble. And he didn't care. When he was distressed, he had always sought comfort from the one he loved the most: Imogen. He was doing the same now, when it felt like everything was falling apart.
His eyes scoured the empty room, frown digging into his brow in a heartbeat. Where was she?
For a moment, his heart skipped a beat with panic. Where had she gone? Had someone taken her away? If so, who? Was she safe? Had she somehow slipped the guards? His eyes darted to the window; still daylight outside. If she had escaped, she wouldn't get far in broad daylight. She couldn't fit through the somehow window, could she?
Just as his heart plummeted and he was about to run to the window to check the courtyard below, he heard something that made him freeze: a whimper.
He held his breath and stood silently as slowly, he started to notice the quiet sounds that came from the bed. Quiet sobs and whimpers, sharp breaths and sniffles… someone was crying. Thor's heart cracked in his chest long before he quietly stepped around the bed and saw his wife curled up on the floor, sobbing into the hands that covered her face.
"Oh, Imogen." He breathed, feeling his heart melt in his chest.
Suddenly, he forgot everything and he didn't care anymore. The execution was swept from his mind. His frustration, his confusion, his anger… they were all wiped clear in a second as he strode forward and gathered Imogen in his arms.
She was his wife, and she needed him. In that moment, that was all that mattered to the god as she held the weeping woman, his stroking gently over her hair as he held her against his chest.
He screwed his eyes shut and blocked the room around them, trying to imagine they were back in their chambers, like things were back to normal and he was comforting Imogen after a bad day…
When he opened his eyes again and the grim reality sunk back in though, he felt sick.
He pressed his lips into the top of Imogen's head, heart breaking as he listened to her cry. She must be distraught if she didn't care about him seeing her cry; the Imogen he knew would never show such weakness.
"I'm so sorry, my darling." Thor breathed, feeling Imogen start to catch her breath back slightly in his hold. "I'm doing the best I can. They want me to make a decision, but I can't hurt you. I don't think it's possible…"
Koli's execution had only given the council a taste of the vengeance they wanted. Ever since that day, Thor had been confronted with more and more pressure to give justice to the second 'traitor', and he knew full well the justice they had in mind. They all bayed for her blood, for Imogen to be the next to perish under Thor's reign.
Only Thor still couldn't believe his wife was a traitor, only more sure as he held her sobbing form in his arms. She was not a killer. She was strong but she was not that heartless, she could never be.
Even when Thor had been angry with her, he had had his doubts. Words echoed continuously in his head, filling him with uncertainty, but they were not his words. It was not his head, nor his heart that gave him such advice. Despite what Imogen had confessed to with Koli, despite her stubborn attitude, despite the horrific claims against her, Thor wanted to cast it all aside and bring her home with him. Everybody else could be damned.
Against his chest, Imogen's hands curled into little fists. He couldn't believe it when they started to push away from him. "Get off me."
She stood up and with all her strength pushed against his chest at the same time. They both knew she couldn't throw Thor off unless he let her, but he did, standing up with her and staggering back. His brow furrowed with confusion, hand moving to is chest as if she had burned him.
Finally, Imogen lifted her head and Thor couldn't help but stare at her and the tears that were crusted over her cheeks. He rarely saw Imogen cry. The last time he had seen her cry was when she had been in labour with her son, dying…it scared Thor to see her like this. And it killed him to know he had done it to her.
Her hands rose and ran though her hair, eyes gleaming with absolute despair. "Why must you torment me like this?" she choked, voice quivering. Her arm flew out to the side, pointing to the window. "Why did you have to make me watch?"
Thor's heart sank as he realised what she was talking about: the execution. From her window, she would have seen everything. He had been advised by the council to use the courtyard, to make it public…gods, he wished he hadn't listened. That must have been horrible for her. This was the first time she had truly shown it though, her emotions usually so in check…
Gulping, Thor wet his dry lips. "Imogen, please…"
He wasn't sure what to say. He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting when he'd come to see her but it wasn't this. This, he had no idea how to handle.
"It's my life!" Imogen choked, more tears streaming down her face. "And you would end me on the word of some possessed fool?! I thought I meant more to you than that! Did it mean nothing to you when I pledged myself to you on our wedding day?!"
Her hand reached out and found the tray with her breakfast on it, resting on the bed. Her hand grabbed the plate and without thinking, hurled it at Thor.
His arm shot up to shield his face and the plate shattered against his rock solid armour. When it lowered, instead of the furious blue orbs she'd been expecting, she found them gleaming. To her surprise, Thor's gaze was soft and imploring.
It wasn't enough though, as her head fell into her hands in despair. She'd been a wreck ever since Linda had left and if she was never going to see Thor after this, it didn't matter what he thought of her anymore.
Choking back a sob, her legs crumpled beneath her and she dropped to her knees. "Is this what you wanted?" she forced out in a shaky voice, hands falling from her eyes. "A humbled, submissive wife? Am I good enough for you at last? Is this what you wanted-"
Thor strode forward and picked her up before she could finish, hands on her shoulders as he silenced her with a bruising kiss.
He could taste the saltiness of her tears on her lips and felt her hands flatten over his chest, pushing against him for a moment. He didn't back away though, pressing his mouth firmly against hers. Gods, he had missed this. It had felt like a lifetime since he had kissed her and as soon as their lips touched, he knew he had no intention of letting this woman go, no matter what had happened. She was his; he didn't believe this sobbing woman was a killer. She was his treasured wife.
Slowly, Imogen's hands started to soften against him. She melted into his hold as his thumbs stoked softly over her shoulders, letting her eyes flutter shut.
Gods, it took her back. The feel of his soft lips against hers shot her right back to before all this had happened and she couldn't fight the rush of calm warmth that bathed over her, feeling comfort in his presence as she always had done before. It broke the already shattered pieces of her heart to think she would be leaving this behind tonight, possibly forever.
Most likely forever.
Imogen didn't want the tender moment to end, but finally, Thor drew back for breath. His forehead stayed rested against hers as he sucked in a shaky breath.
As his hand cupped her cheek lovingly, Imogen felt her heart pound inside her chest, bringing her back to life. Gods, as much as she wanted to hate him, she couldn't. He still managed to make her treacherous heart thud helplessly with adoration, even after everything they had been through.
"I love you." He sighed lovingly over her lips, voice cracking slightly. "I can't bear this, Imogen, my heart cannot take it. Whatever it is that you have done, I will help you. But I beg of you," the god screwed his eyes shut as he felt his heart crack painfully in his chest, the breath catching in his throat. It took all he could to hold back the glistening in his arms from becoming traitorous tears. "Please tell me the truth."
Imogen's eyes closed too, feeling her own tears prick at the back of her orbs testingly. She wanted this all to go away so badly…
"I have told you the truth." She insisted emotionally, hand rising to run loosely through Thor's glorious golden hair. "I have not betrayed you willingly. He touched me and kissed me that day in the forest but I have never seen Koli apart from that day. I did not lie with him or with any other, and I most certainly did not wish you harm. I could never do that to you."
Thor's arm wound around Imogen's waist and he could not help himself drawing her closer. Pulling back slightly, his hand found the slight curve of her stomach.
"And the child," he breathed. "Is it mine? Swear it, Imogen. Swear it by our son's spirit that you are telling me the truth."
Gulping the hard lump in her throat and letting the tears now flow freely down her face, Imogen let her heart burst as she thought of their lost son. "I swear it." She near sobbed, her hand finding Thor's over her belly and gently holding it there. "I swear on the spirit of our son that this child is yours. I swear it. I never betrayed you."
Thor groaned as if she had physically hurt him with her words, but in reality they brought the best relief possible. That was good enough for him. This was what he had been desperate to hear for so long; only now was he open to listen to it though.
And believe it. He believed her. "I trust you." sighed helplessly from his lips as he drew Imogen close. "I knew you would not do that to me."
"Never." Imogen agreed, voice breathless as she tasted the sweetness of Thor's breath in the air. "I love you."
For the first time in months, Thor's lips pricked in a smile. His hands firmed on Imogen's cheek and belly as he leaned in and claimed her lips in a tender kiss, mouth teasing hers lovingly. His hand wound round to the small of her back and pulled her to him, her body moulding with his just as perfectly as he remembered.
Imogen's tongue ventured out to meet her husband's as he held her body pressed against the hard planes of his armour, hand in his hair curling into a fistful of his blonde locks. Thor responded with vigour.
He took Imogen's breath away when his tongue invaded her mouth, fingers delving into her hair. It was like he flicked a switch on her body, bringing her back to life in a heartbeat. Imogen could feel her breasts press against the firm shapes of his armour, felt her nipples straining at the material of her dress with arousal. All of a sudden, she knew exactly what she needed: Thor.
Even after all this time, he still had this affect on her. Perhaps it was because of all this time! Pressing herself against him, fingers twisted in his hair, there was nothing Imogen wanted more than to have Thor inside her again.
"Imogen." Thor sighed breathlessly.
The god was feeling the same as his wife as his hands roamed over her delectable body, longing to feel more of her. His fingers rubbed at her dress, longing just to tear it off of her.
Alas, he had to be a bit more composed than that. Reluctantly, he pulled back for a moment, nearly gasping.
"Do you-"
"Yes." Imogen said before he could even finish, clasping his face in her hands and pulling him back to her mouth.
He needed to ask?! Could he not see how much she wanted him? All she wanted was to feel his skin on hers, to have her husband cherish her body like he had done in their chambers, but she knew they did not have that luxury. As her hand wondered sensually to the front of his trousers, feeling the impressive hardness of his manhood, she didn't really care for now.
As her fingers felt him through the material of his trousers, Thor's lips pressed down heavily on hers and his hands ran firmly up and down her thighs.
When they frantically started to gather her skirt up though, her heart soared. Her own fingers fumbled with the waistband of the god's trousers, pushing them down over his hips frantically as he ripped her dress up and bunched it around her waist. As soon as Imogen's nether regions were exposed, he lifted her up and her legs automatically wrapped around his waist.
There was no time for a build up, for teasing and playing with their bodies. They had no time and they had waited too long for this moment to wait for it any longer.
Imogen's back thudded against the post of the bed as Thor's lips crushed down to hers, her legs splayed either side of his hips. She gasped as his hips pinned her in place, feeling the hot harness of his manhood press up against her centre. His hands were everywhere – her hips, her waist, in her hair…ultimately, he held her close until every curve of her figure was flush against his.
She missed being this close to him, but there was no place for such sentimentality now. Thor literally stole her breath away from her as his fingers slipped between them, feeling between her thighs.
The god's moan caught in his throat; she was so ready.
Imogen didn't need much encouragement though when Thor kissed her like that, when he caressed her so deliciously. She'd longed for his touch for so long…
Thor's hips ground against the slickness of her core as his arms moved to crush Imogen back against his chest again, tongue invading her mouth possessively. Imogen threw her arms around his neck and thrust her hips against his, desperate to have him inside her again. She felt like she was burning from the inside out and a part of her longed for Thor to tear her dress from her and rip his own armour from his glorious body. She knew they didn't have time for that, but the primal ache to feel his bare skin on hers was almost too strong to ignore.
The instinct to be one with him was stronger though. Imogen didn't even bother to bite back her moan as Thor buried his face in the side of her neck and - with one hard thrust - rammed himself fully inside her.
The sound melted from her lips as he claimed her, her fingers clinging to his broad armoured shoulders; he filled her so well!
Her eyes fluttered shut, while moans bled from her lips as Thor rutted into her. His breath was hot against the side of her neck and she could hear the way his breath caught in her throat. Neither of them cared for gentleness. All either of them could think about was how good the other felt.
Thor's hands gripped her waist, teasing at the material of her dress. She knew he was itching to tear it from her, but they both knew they couldn't do that this time. They had to keep this secret. At least until Imogen's trial was over.
All the same, Imogen wasn't exactly complaining. The god claimed her hard and roughly, her back thudding back into the hard wooden post with every brutal thrust. It was everything she needed after so long.
Her legs clenched around Thor's waist as he moved furiously inside her, hitting the back of her walls every time. Her hand moved to the back to his neck, holding on for dear life as the god consumed her. The rush of lust he brought washed the thoughts from her head, wiped all emotion clear except for yearning and adoration. It was absolute bliss, and Imogen sighed in relief.
The god couldn't get enough of her, hands roaming over every inch of Imogen's body as he took her. One moment he was at her waist, the next squeezing her breast, and then steadying her hip as he thrust himself fully into her in fluid, hard strokes.
Her core clenched around him with every thrust and he knew it wouldn't take him long to reach his limit. He could already feel his skin warm under his armour, starting to sweat ever so slightly. It had been so long…
He had nearly forgotten how perfect her body was. She swamped his thoughts nearly every night but nothing in his imagination even came close to the goddess his wife truly was. Holding her body now, moulding her curves against his torso, he knew it was going to be a wrench to let her go when he left there.
It only made him more determined to fight for her now though. She was his wife, and he would be damned if he would let her be harmed. He would bring her home, back to their daughter and how things used to be.
And then he would make sure that he loved her like never before, so there would never again be any room for doubt.
Imogen thrust back against him as much as she could, feeling her breath start to catch the closer she got. Her cheeks were flushed with colour, adrenaline drowning in her body. It felt so good to have Thor fucking her hard against the bed post, taking control of her body. She had no choice over her body's traitorous reactions, lustful moans torn from her lips helplessly.
Thor pulled his head back slightly – just enough for him to crush his mouth to Imogen's, one hand fisting hard in her hair. He could hardly bear it as the heat in his gut gathered faster and faster. The hand at her hip pulled her hard against him, relishing in her breathless moans and the way her fingers twisted in his hair.
His thrusts were hard and erratic and all he could think about was that bliss of completion. Imogen found it first though; Thor silenced her high pitched whine with a bruising kiss as her body convulsed around him, arms clinging to him for dear life as the pleasure claimed her.
With a few short, sharp thrusts, Thor followed her into orgasmic oblivion.
His eyes fluttered shut with a throaty moan as he lost himself in his wife and his body slumped forward, trapping her between him and the bedpost.
Both were breathing hard and clinging to the other as they stayed in place, coming down from their highs. As rational thought started to return to the god, he softened his hard embrace around his wife.
Delicately, his fingers brushed her hair to one side and he pressed a tender kiss to her shoulder. His palm moved to cup her thighs, still trembling slightly as he eased her down from the bedpost. They both sunk to the floor, Imogen's legs trembling still from the pleasure. Thor folded her into his arms, holding her loosely against his chest as they both got their breath back.
Imogen rested her hand against her husband's chest and wished that his armour was gone, so that she could feel the strong thrum of his heartbeat. All she could feel was the hard, cold metal instead.
Still, she leaned into him, heart finally feeling at peace for the first time in months – Thor did still love her.
Then she remembered where exactly she was and the witch that was trying to kill her and she wondered if she would ever get a chance to relive this with Thor. Perhaps not. Their life together could be cut short at any moment.
Or she could flee and never see him again.
Her heart balked at the thought and her fingers curled against his chest as she sucked in a sharp gasp. She cursed herself when it was swiftly followed with moistening eyes.
Her heart bowed low to try and hide it from Thor, but it was hopeless. As betraying tears slipped betrayingly down her cheeks, Thor hooked a gentle finger under Imogen's chin and lifted her face to his. His kind, serene blue eyes connected deep with hers, as if he was staring into her very soul; it only broke her heart more.
"I'm sorry." She breathed, meeting his gaze tearfully. She wasn't sure what she was apologising for yet, but she knew her fate would hurt him, whether she perished or fled. "I'm so sorry."
The god's chest ached as his hand cupped Imogen's cheek, brushing away her tears gently. More just took their place. "Fear not." He sighed, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I won't let any harm come to you. I'll keep you safe, my love."
Imogen's heart just crumbled. "Thor…"
Her teeth crashed down on her lip and she felt the air change as Thor frowned, sensing something else was wrong.
Gods, she wanted to tell him. She wanted to tell him everything. After all they had been through, what they had just done, what Thor had confessed and promised her, didn't he deserve the truth? Did he not deserve the same trust that he had placed in her?
Tears stung in Imogen's eyes at the thought of leaving Thor behind. Worse, though, was her shame; if she confessed to Thor, she had to tell him everything - including how their son was conceived.
She screwed her eyes shut. "I love you." She breathed, heart aching. "Whatever happens, know that I love you."
That was the most important thing. Whatever happened, he had to know that she had never meant to hurt him, that she loved him more than life itself. He and Shelby were the most important things in her life, the only things that mattered…
She felt Thor's warm hand cup her cheek softly. "I told you." He sighed back, though his voice was hardened slightly with determination. "I'll not let any harm come to you. So long as there is breath left in my body, I'll fight for you." When he watched the way Imogen bit her lip though and stayed silent, a frown nudged into the god's brow. "You don't believe me?"
Finally, Imogen's eyes peeled opened again – they were glistening emotionally. "It's not that." She insisted, hand covering his over her cheek. Gently, she eased it down. "But this is more than just politics."
Her heart sank horribly and she couldn't bear to see the hurt look in Thor's eyes as her hand let go of his. She turned away so she didn't have to.
"Then what is it?"
Imogen fixed her eyes on the dull print of her bed spread as her heart and thoughts raced.
She could feel Thor's eyes on the back of her head, not understanding her sudden distance. She wasn't sure what else to do though. Come sundown, she would be gone, and she was not sure if she would ever see Thor again. Every time she looked at his face reminded her of that, and she was starting to wonder how much more of it she could take.
Her hand reached out to the bedpost Thor had just fucked her against and she screwed her eyes shut, fighting her emotions.
Finally though, she couldn't bear to hurt him any longer.
"The witch."
The word seemed to echo in the silence, ringing over and over again in Thor's head until he finally found his voice. "Witch?" he asked quietly, frown deeper than ever. "What witch?"
Just thinking about it; all the rage, all the hurt, all the sorrow that had been caused by that woman… Imogen blinked furiously to clear her eyes of the moisture that quickly blurred her vision, but it wasn't enough. Her will snapped. She span around, lip quivering.
"The witch that has orchestrated this whole plot to ensure my death," Her voice choked out brokenly. Despite that, her eyes burned with a strong defiance, hands fisted at her sides. "She killed our son, she killed Koli, and now she is going to kill me for what I did to Elga. Then she will come for you."
Thor's face was marred with confusion, but the more Imogen spoke the more his eyes darkened – first with alarm…then with a calm sympathy. Letting out a sigh, his gaze dropped to the floor. "Imogen…" he murmured quietly, running a hand over his face. "What happened to our boy was ill fate. What happened to Koli was by his own undoing and what will happen to you…" the god's head shook lightly as he lifted his gaze to hers. It was heavy with pity. "You will be safe."
Cold washed through Imogen's system as she read his expression – he thought she was mad. Her jaw set. "If you don't believe me, ask Linda." She pressed stiffly. "She told me everything."
Thor's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Linda?" Had he heard her right? Imogen hated Linda… "Linda was here?"
As Thor spoke, something in Imogen's orbs cracked painfully again and Thor watched her eyes water again. Her breath started to quicken as her mind obviously raced behind her gaze, and for a second Thor glimpsed something he rarely saw in his wife – fear. Something he had only seen once, in fact: when she had been dying, in labour with their son.
Imogen gulped hard. "The witch - your new healer - she's Elga's mother and she is taking vengeance on all who wronged Elga. I did not know until Linda told me today. She was working for them to protect her father, but it no longer matters; they plan to kill us all anyway."
She wasn't sure if Thor would believe her but it didn't matter. She had nothing more to lose anymore. This was her hope, and she prayed that after what they had just done together, their newly built trust wouldn't crumble so soon. She knew she was asking a lot of his faith though – she had no proof, just her word.
His eyes were dark and serious. And impossible to read, Imogen thought to herself. There was more to tell him, but where to begin?
"The new healer is a skilled mage." Thor said, the tiniest of frowns starting to edge into his brow. "It was her medicine that cured your mother. She saved Koli's life after he grew ill in the dungeons. Why would she do that if she was just going to kill him anyway?"
Imogen shook her head instantly. "She can't be trusted." She insisted in a heartbeat. "She concocted her evil and forced Linda to poison Koli to wrench a confession from him, to make him have delusions and believe that he really had… that we had…" she couldn't finish, feeling ill.
Thor cast his mind back to that day Koli had been mad – raving even! The healer had subdued him then, with mutterings and mist, things Thor had never seen any of the healers use before. At the time, he had had more pressing matters on his mind than to question it.
Now, though…
Vaguely, he remembered a sense of unease. Not just from the unfamiliar rites, but from the woman herself - and curiosity at how a healer brand new to the palace was granted such access to work on a high security prisoner instead of one of the more senior mages. Perhaps he should have questioned it more, listened to his gut.
"And you trust Linda's word?" He still found it hard to believe. "The woman who had once tried to drive us apart?"
To his surprise, Imogen's resolute expression did not flinch. "Her eyes did not lie." She said boldly. "For what she has told me, she will probably not live to see tomorrow's sunset if she stays here."
"And Elga? Is she a danger too?"
Imogen's head shook, but her brow furrowed slightly as if unsure. "I don't think so. I don't think she has any power of her own. I think she just serves as the witches motivation to target us all, for what we did to her."
Thor remembered sentencing Elga for framing Imogen for theft, trying to incriminate her name all those years ago. Gods, that felt like a lifetime in the past. Obviously though, the wound must still be fresh for Elga, even if he and Imogen had forgotten about it.
"We only served justice for the crimes she committed." He said, casting his mind back. He had not been unfair that day, nor when her sentence was extended. He would have done the same to any other.
Imogen's head shook instantly. "The witch does not see it that way." She insisted, eyes hard but glistening with a deep rooted fear. "She will take revenge for how we slighted her daughter, with our blood."
In his head, Thor could feel pieces reluctantly clicking together. After her demotion to mere maid, Linda could have had the opportunity to poison Koli's food in prison. It would explain Koli's uncharacteristic behaviour. From what Thor had seen of the man, for as arrogant as he was, he had not been mad; even at his death he had been collected! The raving, the violent lashing out, the sudden illness in a healthy man…it was not normal for him. Someone's intervention was a believable explanation.
If Imogen was lying to him, she was an impressive actress. So far, the fear he saw in her orbs, the pain…he could believe it. It looked very real, enough to wrench his own heart.
But if he was to believe this, there was something else he had to consider. Something Imogen mentioned earlier.
"What do you mean she killed her son?" he asked, voice low. A part of him didn't want to ask, didn't want to know. But it was their son – a part of him needed to know. "How could she have? We did not know her then." It didn't make sense.
In front of him, he watched Imogen bite her lip. "I did."
Thor's heart stilled at Imogen's almost silent confession, her voice was so quiet. He didn't even need to ask.
"We needed a son." Imogen breathed, without prompting. "I wasn't falling pregnant and – and I was desperate. We needed that child and she said-" Imogen screwed her eyes shut. "She said she could help me."
By the time her eyes fluttered open again, Thor's face had paled worryingly.
"By the gods, Imogen," the god near hissed. His orbs had hardened into solid crystal, glinting warily. "What did you do?"
Guilt twisted in her heart, but she knew she couldn't run from this anymore. She had to face up to what she had done. "She gave me something." She confessed. "She told me that if – if I took this powder, I would fall pregnant with a son. And I did, but I-" a hard lump caught in her throat and a traitorous burning tear slipped over her cheek. She couldn't hide the quiver in her voice. "I did not know it would poison him."
For a moment, Thor said nothing. His face sent ominous shivers down Imogen's spine, but she didn't dare look away. His face was calm and smooth, but she didn't dare let that fool her; his eyes betrayed the thunderous fury that was brewing inside, fuelled by grief.
Finally though, they could hardly bear to look at her. If what she said was true, then their son had not perished by an act of fate and gods as he'd previously believed. As he'd previously made peace with.
If what Imogen said was true, then she had killed their boy.
"How could you do this?" he breathed, feeling sick.
Just seeing her face made his stomach turn, but he couldn't bear to look away. He needed to hear it for himself, know the truth.
The witch didn't matter any more. This was so much more important, so much more eye opening. To think his wife was really capable of such a thing was just unthinkable … wasn't it?
Imogen's eyes were shimmering brilliantly with glistening tears. "I thought I was barren-"
"That still does not give you the right!" Thor roared, cutting her off before she could finish. Hearing her try to defend it, like it was something so permissible…it broke something inside him. "He was my child too. I had the right to know!"
Imogen's lip quivered, heart crumbling in her chest. "I'm sorry." She gasped. "If I could go back-"
"But you can't! You can't bring him back! He is gone – forever! And you…you just…"
The god ran his hands over his face and tried to compose himself through the pain, the agony that wrecked at his left breast. Words failed him. All there was was raw pain, raw grief that burned like an open wound.
Tears fell shamelessly down Imogen's cheeks as she silently took her husband's rage. Gods only knew she deserved it. She deserved every once of his rage for the lifetime of happiness she had robbed him of. Her actions had torn away a life with their first born son, the life of an innocent, tiny baby.
But she hadn't intended to hurt him – the witch had. ""I didn't know." She forced out calmly, biting back her tears. Her hands tightened into tight fists at her sides, nails digging hard into her palms. The pain helped to distract her slightly from her heartbreak. "I thought I was giving you your firstborn son and at the time, I saw no other way for me to do so. If I had known what she had really given me, do you really think I would have taken it?"
She hadn't known. She shouldn't have meddled with such matters in the way she had, but she had never intended for any harm to come to such an innocent child. Her child…
Suddenly, thinking about him, she felt sick and she started to tremble as something inside her broke. She remembered her boys little face, how tiny he had looked…the pain in her chest was indescribable as she fought for her suddenly harsh breaths, feeling the bile fight up her throat.
"I didn't mean to-" she gasped, more to the tiny, sad face of her infant son shining in her mind than to Thor. "I never meant-"
Her throat closed up around the words and weakly she lowered herself down to her knees, feeling her light head start to swim. To her surprise, she felt strong hands close around her shoulders and glimpsed Thor's knees kneeling on the floor in front of her as she struggled to compose herself.
Forcing her breaths to slow, there was nothing she could do though to combat the burning tears in her eyes.
"Why did you do it?" Thor asked. His voice was still deep with rage, but Imogen's heart cracked when his words faltered and broke as his grief shone through. His soft, but clenching fingers betrayed the same torn emotions. "Was a son that important to you? Were Shelby and I not enough?"
Biting her lip, more tears leaked over Imogen's cheeks. "Shelby cannot be your heir." She choked emotionally. "You need a son, and I was afraid I would not be able to give you that. It had been so long… she lied to me…"
Imogen covered her tearful face with her hands, weeping quietly.
For as furious as Thor was, he knew he could not fully hold Imogen responsible. The more he breathed, the more he drank in the wreck of a woman before him, the more he reminded himself that it was not Imogen that had devised the poison, but the mage. She had concocted it, lied to his wife and knowingly poisoned their son. She had killed him.
His fingers on Imogen's shoulder tightened, but Imogen didn't offer any protest, even when her muscles twitched in protest under his touch. The god screwed his eyes shut, feeling the white hot anger surge through him once again. "I'll kill her." He snarled ferociously.
That growl would have sent fear wracking through her once upon a time, but right now she didn't care. And she knew his anger was no longer for her; now they were uniting in their grief, in their fury.
Thor had walked into this room knowing nothing about his new mage, and now he wasn't sure how he would ever be able to leave it without tearing her apart instantly afterward. For all his initial doubts, there was one thing Imogen would never lie about – their son. She didn't have the heart to lie about that, he knew that.
And that accusation alone burned him inside. The witch had murdered their son! Regardless of what she had done to Koli, to fool Thor, to Imogen even – he would see her burn for what she had done to his firstborn son.
"I'm leaving." Imogen finally gasped through her tears. "Linda will come for me tonight. We have to flee, or we'll just be waiting for her to kill us both."
Thor's heart unexpectedly balked, hearing that. The grief of their son fresh in his heart, struggling to raise his little girl alone, and now his wife was not only going to be separated from him, but gone. The breath caught in his chest and his anger melted away in a heartbeat, replaced with a hurt loneliness.
In his head though, he understood what Imogen said. If what she said was true then she was right. But his heart didn't understand. It felt like he was losing his family all over again.
His hand rose to gently cup his wife's tear stained cheek and he was almost ashamed when his own eyes moistened. Almost. He leaned forward until their foreheads were touching, feeling his heart ache for his wife and lost child.
"I will stop her." Thor promised in a raspy voice. "I will bring her to justice for what she had done and see her burn in the streets of Asgard. I will destroy every curse she has ever brought upon us and find all evidence of the treachery she has brought unto the house of Thor."
Imogen's hand covered Thor's on her cheek. "Thor, she is powerful." She breathed in a steady voice. "She is cunning. You would not be able to lock her away while you convict her as you have done me."
That stung Thor, but he forced himself to ignore it, knowing she was right. If this witch was mastermind enough to have plotted all this and gone undetected thus far then she was indeed intelligent and manipulative. Her plans had nearly had him murdering his own wife.
For that and for murdering his son, the god could not let her live. The rage seethed inside him desperately.
He knew that this would be dangerous. His brute strength was no match for manipulative, murderous sorcery. He needed something more. Imogen was right; if he tried to lock this witch away while he fumbled for evidence that probably wasn't there for him to find, he had no doubt she would escape, leaving blood and bodies in her wake. He could not risk that. Imogen had told him how the witch reacted to grudges – Imogen, Shelby and the rest of their families would probably be slaughtered before Thor even knew the witch had escaped.
"We need evidence now." He murmured, thinking. They needed something solid, so that they could safely strike her off the map of Asgard in an instant. "We cannot wait."
Thor needed something that meant once it was found, he could personally walk Elga and the witch to the burning post.
But what was there?
A witch so cunning would not be so careless. She would not have brought her wares into the palace – not beyond what she would quickly use anyway. The witch was smarter than that. There may be some dark poisons and witchcraft left in her old shop, but there would be nothing to find under the palace walls. That was for certain.
The same thoughts were running through Imogen's head. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open – or was it certain? Then she remembered one poison, one evidence of the witch's evil that remained in the palace.
In her draw, in their chambers.
"Thor."
The god's eyes peeled open at her gasp, and his brow furrowed slightly at his wife's wide eyed expression. "What?"
Imogen's eyes shimmered. "The poison." She breathed quietly, glimmering orbs scouring his face. "The one she gave me to help me fall pregnant… I still have it."
Thor's heart stopped.
His hands fell back to Imogen's shoulders as it sunk in exactly what she was saying. When it fully hit him, his heart soared with hope. That was exactly what they needed! If they could prove that substance was poison and find similar in the witch's shop, along with Linda's testimony, they would have firm evidence of the witch's treason.
And of Imogen's innocence. She could come home…
"Where?" Thor pressed urgently. "Tell me, Imogen. Where is it?"
She had kept it in the only place where she knew Thor would never touch – her rag box, for her monthly bleed. She told him so.
It had been safe there; not even the maids looked in there, especially after she fell pregnant. No one would have found it. And after she had no further use of it she had forgotten about it.
A part of both of them felt sick that the substance that had killed their son had slumbered so innocently amongst them all this time in their chambers but there was no time for bitterness. Imogen's hands clasped either side of Thor's face, the air sighing shakily from her lips. If they could do this, it would be over. She could be free with Thor again.
Safe.
"I'll fetch it." Thor said in an eager rush, both of them knowing what these actions would bring. "I'll fetch the alchemist. I'll fetch the guard. I'll fetch whatever and whoever I need to bring her to justice."
Imogen leaned forward, feeling truly alive for the first time in months. Her blood raced in her veins and heart pounded with excitement – and fear. If this went wrong…no, she scolded herself. She couldn't think like that. Thor would do it. The witch didn't know they were on to her yet. They had enough time.
Her hand curled lightly in Thor's hair, breathing in his sweet scent. Soon, they could be back in their chambers. This time tomorrow, she could be cradling her child again…
Thor's hand smoothed against her stomach, over their unborn child. His spare fingers curled around hers, gently peeling her hand from his face. "Go." He whispered. "Tonight, you must go. I must know that you are away, that you are safe. Go with Linda. When Asgard is safe again, we shall send up fireworks. Then you can return and know that I will be here waiting for you, and things can be as they once were."
For once, Imogen did not argue with him, only nodded silently. She didn't want to think that Thor would fail, but she knew it would still be dangerous for her, knowing her life was the witch's prime target. If they were going to draw her out, that would only endanger Imogen more.
"Have faith in me." Thor sighed, bringing Imogen's hand to his lips. He felt his heart ache, when he finally had to let her go.
But if he was to do this, they needed to act quickly.
Imogen bit her lip as Thor stepped away, knowing he had to go. Go to save her life. It didn't help to ease the pain in her chest though, or stay the tears that started to burn behind her eyes. "I do."
She hoped he succeeded, for his sake as well as hers. She was entrusting her life into his hands again, only this time he was also willingly throwing himself in front of a powerful foe to save her. They were both at stake this time, both risking their lives to be together again.
Thor backed away to the door, not taking his eyes off of his wife until he absolutely had to. Every step took everything in his willpower; his heart was screaming at him to go forward, to take Imogen in his arms and never let her go again. But to truly help her, he had to go, to catch this witch and make sure she could never harm his wife or children again.
The last thing he said before he whisked himself away hung in the air.
"I'll not fail my family again."