A/N: You are all wonderful. Honestly. I adore you all, and I'm amazed at how passionate you are about this story. Big hugs and boxes of chocolate (or sweets if you don't like chocolate) to every one of you :)

Anyway, here's the latest chapter. Enjoy!

Eva walked. Through corridors, through doorways, until she came to the room that she could supposedly call hers. She hurried inside, and turned around to lean back against the wall, closing her eyes.

"It seems Thor disclosed more than I thought."

Eva jumped, and her eyes shot open. Loki was sitting upon her bed, glancing with a distasteful expression at his surroundings.

"You were here," she said quietly. "Before I woke… why?"

He did not immediately answer, but he slowly turned his head to look at her – and his gaze chilled her blood. Dressed in the suit that she knew meant business, he could not have looked more dangerous.

"I had to ensure SHIELD would not defile that which is mine."

"How many times must I get this into your obstinate head? I am not yours. Nights in your bed do not make it so. Would you claim a mortal concubine as yours? No. You have them, and disregard them. So why can you not do the same for me?"

In a split-second, Loki was up off the bed, and she fought not to panic at his fingers grasped her jaw. His thumb leisurely caressed her cheek, and he leant down to whisper in her ear.

"You are no concubine, Eva. Do not debase yourself so."

"Oh, so I have worth now?"

"You are the King's lady. I should think you do indeed have worth." His lips ghosted over her rapidly colouring skin, and she tensed, her fingers gripping his suit jacket. This could not happen. Not again.

"Loki…"

"I would not worry, Eva. SHIELD simply believes you are in the bathroom, cleansing yourself. And I do hope your skills at falsifying have improved, because you'll need to lie in, oh, perhaps half an hour?"

His mouth claimed hers before she could speak, and outrage bubbled at the seizure of opportunity, only for the damned desire to set in. Eva inwardly cursed hormones, and she knew that she was going to regret this. Loki was playing a dangerous game – but then, when was he not?

She let herself take pleasure in the kiss, her hand trailing down his chest, and a sound of surprise and barely concealed arousal slipped from Loki's mouth as Eva's hand closed on the apex of his legs, squeezing the organ she found there. Soft laughter from his mouth, and his fingers gripped her wrist, restraining.

"Patience, little one. You'll get what you want."

"You'd better hand me a knife then, because you'd be pretty damn useless without that cock of yours, and nothing would make me happier."

"Such vulgar language," he breathed, his eyes glinting. "Hardly suited to a lady of your standing."

"Oh, I have no standing, Loki, so I can use whatever language I like… ergi."

She had been expecting a slap. What she got instead was a chilling laugh and a flickering gaze, and it was somehow worse than physical violence. His fingers skimmed her collarbone, and paused between her breasts, as they had done before. He pressed against the bone, hard, and Eva stifled a cry of pain.

"You truly are a weak race," he mused, his eyes lingering on the bruise on her throat. His lips twitched, and he leant close once more to whisper in her ear, "Calling me such an insult will do you no favours, Eva."

"No, but it'd work better if Asgard hissed it," she retorted. "Did they? You, wielder of magic, user of shadow, shunner of everything that makes an Asgardian man. Did they whisper it as you passed, Loki?"

"I find it intriguing that you would use such a slur when you privately believe that all genders are equal," he replied calmly, though Eva could detect a steel edge to his tone. "Am I to be called debased and debauched by you because I have also lain with men? I know your views on that too are well disposed. Thus, your insult – if I can truly call it that – are meaningless, woman. I have been called many things many a time, and they affect me little now." He tilted his head, and as his eyes glinted, Eva knew she was in trouble.

His fingers lifted her chin up to meet his gaze, and his voice was low, dangerously so.

"Know your place, Eva Manning."

"And if I refuse?"

Loki leant down to press his mouth to her throat, and she tensed as his voice echoed in her mind.

There will be consequences.

Eva wanted to laugh in his face and remind him that he had been bluffing about her parents – and Aidan – but it occurred to her that baiting the god of mischief was not the brightest idea. And she had no idea of his limits. For all she knew, he was capable of any torture and trickery he could conceive of – even if her loved ones were supposedly safe on this ship.

"I could say the same about you," she replied quietly. "There are always consequences for what you've done, Loki. Have your demons caught up with you yet?"

Loki did not respond, only kissed her, running his thumb along her jaw. He pulled back before she could try to push him away; with an amused smile, he turned away and simply vanished.

"Bastard," she muttered.

Though SHIELD did not trust her, Fury had instructed that she receive some sort of training. Eva had raised an eyebrow and asked exactly what it was that they would be training her in when physical strength and skill was something Loki outweighed her in by the ton. Fury's expression remained unreadable, but nevertheless she found herself in one of the training rooms, Natasha by her side. When the Avengers had learnt of Eva's excellent aim, Natasha had volunteered in her own deadpan way to "aid the civilian" – and now here Eva was, blade in hand, Natasha's quiet yet clear voice sounding in her ears.

"Aim slightly above the target," the assassin spoke. Eva fought an eye roll, and promptly launched the throwing knife forwards.

It hit the bull's-eye dead centre.

The others had been watching – not that it bothered Eva to have the extra pairs of eyes on her; she figured at least somebody would be monitoring every move she made, and what were five extra people?

Stark, usually quiet, let out a low whistle, and even the usually inscrutable Black Widow looked vaguely impressed.

"You've got a good aim," Natasha said dryly, glancing at Eva with a quirk of her lips as she moved forwards to remove the blade from the target. "What did you practise on?"

Eva's own lips twitched, and she looked to Thor. "Your brother. No offence, or anything. I could never actually manage to hit him, but I came pretty close. Of course, he had to use the same tricks on me too, the bastard." She picked up another knife and hurled it, yet again hitting the bulls-eye right at its heart.

Thor didn't know whether to be amused or horrified, and Hawkeye's smile was an indicator enough of his reaction. Eva had found out what Loki had done to the archer – and she couldn't help but feel relieved that the god had not done the same to her.

"Were you trying to get yourself killed?" came Steve's incredulous tone, and Eva sighed.

"When will you realise that you have to fight fire with fire, Rogers?"

"He's dangerous, Eva – "

She shot him a look then, and he had the grace to stay silent. Having picked up another blade, Eva set it down, and fixed the soldier with a gaze of steel.

"And you think I don't know that?" she said quietly. "I lived with him for a month, Rogers. I know damn well that he is dangerous. There were several times he could have let me drop from the top of the Chrysler, if he'd so wished. I never stopped being on edge around him. Not once did I think myself safe from him, not even when I was in France. You want to know how I know he's dangerous? Hm?"

Without another word, Eva began to strip, ignoring Steve and Thor's protestations. Off came the training apparel, until she stood there in nothing more than her underwear.

"There. Now you know," she said softly.

Her body was dotted with bruises, and Steve looked as though he wanted the ground to swallow him whole. The rest of them were speechless, and Thor wore a face of sheer guilt. Against her alabaster skin, the purples and fading yellows looked ugly, like a canvas painting gone wrong. Loki might have found poetry in them, lyrical beauty reeking of sensual possession, but all Eva saw was brutal ownership.

"Eva, I… I am sorry," Thor hesitantly said. Eva sighed.

"It's not you who needs to apologise, Thor. You can't keep asking for forgiveness for the things your brother has done." Slowly, she began to redress, running her hands through her hair to tame it. "You're not half the bastard he is… and that can apparently be taken literally. Word is that Daddy abandoned him. Which would explain all his… bitterness."

"Do not speak of him so."

Eva's eyebrow lifted at that. "And why not? He has ruined my life, Thor. Ruined it. I can't go home, I can't live the life I want anymore because of him. I would be swarmed by the press, and more likely than not I would be killed by some hateful idiots who believe that I stood by his side willingly." Her voice suddenly broke, and she closed her eyes, forcing the anguish away.

"I have nothing, Thor. He took what I love and made a mockery of it. Even that one lecture I gave was a joke to him. He threatened my family – and now they cannot live as they please. Aidan hasn't gone to school in weeks! He can't be a normal child – and Loki has not even touched him! I haven't seen my friends in weeks – and after this, it's unlikely they'll want anything to do with me. I'm the King's lady, remember? Or is it 'whore' that they all truly mean?"

Thor began to speak, to protest against her declarations, but she held up a hand.

"No. Please, don't. You know it's true, Thor. There's no point in trying to refute my words." Eva turned away, but a large hand caught hers and gently pulled her back. She closed her eyes as the warrior embraced her, and she rested her head against his chest. Trying to give her some semblance of security, she knew. And she was grateful for it. At least there was someone who did not think she was the betrayer of her own kind.

"We will stop him," Thor said softly, his voice vibrating through her. "You will not suffer any more than you already have, Eva."

Appreciate his words she did. Doubted them also. She knew it was only a matter of time before Loki became bored and snatched her back from the Helicarrier, taking her to the Chrysler, and she would resume her status as one of supposed rank. But there was no grandeur to her new moniker. She held no power. Nor did she wish to. It was a matter of self-preservation now. As long as she stayed alive, the longer she had to try and manipulate Loki. It would be difficult – he was the most skilled manipulator she'd ever come across – but she had outplayed him before. She would do so again.

"Thank you, Thor," she whispered. "I hope you're right."

"I want you to take them back to England. Get the government to ensure their safety."

At once there were protests. The father did not want to leave his daughter alone on the ship. The mother did not long for a home that was no longer a home. Fury said nothing, his eye flicking between the three of them sat at the table.

"No, listen," Eva cut in, interrupting their objections. "You can't live here. You have a job, Dad. Mum, you need a safe home. You need to see your friends. And Aidan… he needs stability. The Helicarrier is no place for him. A couple of days? No problem. But for weeks? This calm mood of his won't last forever. He's intelligent, understanding – but even he will lose his cheer if he does not go home soon. Please." She took her parents' hands, and her expression was soft, pleading. "Go home. Be safe there. Fury will ensure that the government keeps the press from swarming. Won't you, Fury?"

The last sentence was spoken with a degree of icy steel, and the director raised an eyebrow, before steepling his fingers.

"It would be arranged. But there is of course one problem. Loki."

"I'll talk to him, get him to – " Eva began, but Fury was not finished.

"The minute you let your family go, Ms Manning, what in hell is stopping him from taking them as hostages?"

"What indeed," came a soft, high-pitched voice from the doorway. Aidan.

Only the cadence and posture was not that of the little boy.

Eva's mother let out a scream, and her husband leapt back with a shout, horrified.

Loki.

In a split second, Fury had cocked his gun and aimed it at the not-Aidan, whose eyes were gleaming with an alien amusement, the irises more green than the usual blue. Only Eva had not moved, though her gaze never left the boy. Wary, of course, though it did not surprise her. Possession was not something she'd believed to be beyond Loki's skill, particularly after hearing what had happened with Clint.

"Loki," she said quietly. "Leave him. Let him go. He is only a boy."

He laughed, something that made Eva's mother tremble with apprehension. It was high and utterly cold, a complete contrast to the warm vivaciousness which usually burst from that mouth.

"Toying with you truly is quite amusing," Loki continued, walking forwards, disturbingly graceful even in the boy's skin. "Though nothing seems to shock you now. Pity. I am sure I could find something."

"Get out of my son," Eva's father hissed, his eyes blazing. "I don't care who you are, but he is my son. He does not deserve to be used like this, so get the hell out before I – "

"Before you what?" Loki – Aidan – elevated an eyebrow, his lips twitching. "Rend me limb from limb? I would like to see you attempt such a thing. You would be dead on the floor in a single second, mortal. Your race is weak, feeble. No match for a god."

"Stop this!" Eva cried, finally roused. "Stop it!"

"Ah, see how she pleads," he mocked, and Eva could not hold back the sickened expression which dominated her face as she watched her little brother hiss and deride her as only Loki could. It was surreal, horribly so. If only it could have been a nightmare; at least then she could wake up, safe in the knowledge that it was simply a figment of her imagination.

It was then that Loki addressed Fury, the only one who had not made a sound.

"Will you shoot, Fury?" Loki spread his arms wide, inviting the director. "Come, come. He is only a boy, after all. Meaningless."

"And what's stopping you from possessing someone else if I do?" Fury questioned warily. Loki laughed again, seeming almost pleased.

"You are learning, I see. Clever man."

At once the boy collapsed, and Eva's parents let out cries of despair, instantly.

But Eva had not moved.

The slender fingers wrapped around her throat from behind rendered her incapable of it, and she tensed as she felt the tickle of his breath against her skin.

"Soon, lítteinn."

And then, he was gone.

No one else had even realised he was there, not even Fury. Loki had remained invisible, and it was with desperation that Eva flew to her brother's side, cradling his lifeless face.

"Aidan, please…"

The child was taken straight to Medical, and the news that he was only unconscious filled Eva with a mix of rage and relief. She slumped back against the medical room wall, closing her eyes as her parents sat there in chairs.

"I'm so sorry," she began, after a silence that was too stifling and too heavy to let lie. "If I had known… You need to leave. He's too dangerous, and I don't want you hurt. Or used, like Aidan was."

She could feel her parents' gazes upon her, and anyone could have predicted the words that left her father's lips then.

"Eva, what did he do to you?"

A short, bitter laugh escaped her mouth, so bitter it shocked her, and she regretted it the moment it sounded. A soft sigh, and she ran her tongue between her lips as she thought best how to phrase it all. It was unlikely that her parents would relent in their questions – after all, they hadn't seen her in a month, had had next to no idea what had happened to their only daughter. Eva could hardly blame them.

"Many things," she murmured. "I won't deny that I thought he would kill me on several occasions. There was the time I believed he would drop me from the top of the Chrysler. He is not a gentle being, but you don't need me to tell you that. It takes skill to survive around someone like him; I made some idiotic choices, and got out of them by the skin of my teeth. I've thrown knives at him, smashed wine glasses," here she fought a blush as the memory of what followed surfaced in her mind, "and I've called him things that, if they were English insults, would probably have me reprimanded by you for speaking them. It was like I had no regard for my own life. Either that or I wanted to push him, test him. A combination of both, I think. It became a game of cat and mouse, I suppose."

"And did he catch you?"

Eva tried to reign in the sarcasm, for it was such an obvious question that she almost could not believe her usually shrewd father had asked it.

"Of course he did. You can't outrun a hunter forever, not one as single-minded as he. I have the marks to prove it." Her eyes opened to see her parents' ashen faces, and she slowly rolled up her sleeves, revealing the bruises that lingered there. "There's your proof. As I said, not gentle. Not gentle at all."

Eva's mother, when she eventually spoke, looked sickened, and tears were forming in her eyes as she asked the question that necessitated a lie and damned Eva to whatever fate lay in wait. And she knew that fate was not going to be kind now.

"Sweetheart… did… did he… rape you?"

Eva swallowed, glancing away, before giving a single, curt nod.

Her mother's choked sob cracked Eva's heart, and she bit her lip, hating the lie but knowing it had to be told. The truth could have even more disastrous consequences, especially if SHIELD knew. And Eva had no doubt the agency had been listening to every word of this conversation. Give them what they want, and perhaps they'll trust me, if at least a little. Because if they knew the reality… I'd never be let go. And Mum and Dad need normality. I have to get them out of here. Lying is the only way that will happen. So I'll do it.

I just hope that Loki will agree to the deal.

And it wasn't a deal Eva was looking forward to making.

A/N: I hope this was up to scratch. Let me know your thoughts, I love to read them!

Lightning xoxo