The plane landed on the tarmac an hour north of the City at an inconspicuous airport. As she was herded into a limo, Annalise inquired about their accommodations but the agent in the driver's seat glanced at her in the rearview mirror and remained silent, his face emotionless.

Though the drive wasn't long, Annalise, sporting minor dark circles from Loki's late night attentions, drifted off while the King pestered her regarding the purpose of dual locations for wedding ceremonies and receptions. Twenty minutes later, an agent shook her awake as they drove up to Carrollcliffe. Loki peered out the window at the sumptuous castle, a satisfied smirk unfolding across his lips.

As she rubbed her eyes, she gazed up at the fortress before her and her jaw dropped. It was then that Annalise realized their lavish lodgings were chosen for several reasons. Firstly, Loki's ego. She was certain he'd highbrowed the concept of a dwelling with less than ten bedrooms, and the gargantuan Medieval Norman-style citadel surely had thirty, if not more. Secondly, what had been a castle appeared converted into a high end hotel which meant that it came equipped with toiletries, linens, food; enough supplies to sustain Loki's small entourage for months.

Loki's guards exited the limousine and strode into the castle. Moments later guests and staff filed out the front entrance. Only several had those frosty blue eyes, but she wasn't going to question it. Whatever the agents did to get everyone out was fine with her. People were safe, and soon they'd be out of Loki's reach. Cars and trucks with various state license plates caused a minor traffic jam on their way out of the hotel parking lot, but within fifteen minutes it had remedied itself and the premise was vacated of civilians. With the exception of Annalise, more or less.

The girl entered through the grand front doors with her head tilted back. Preoccupied with the 40 foot ceilings, she cursed as she tripped over the corner of an ornate rug. Annalise chewed her lip and glanced over her shoulder. There was commotion near the reception desk when the remainder of the hypnotized SHIELD agents began depositing a copious amount of shopping bags on the carpeted floor. Apparently Loki insisted on procuring Annalise a wardrobe that better reflected her position in society. Normally, she'd appreciate such a gesture. But she knew anything Loki did was for his own personal gain. She rubbed her temples as she took in the furnishings and décor. The entire castle was a display of superfluous affluence, surely what peaked Loki's interest.

Loki's men continued to haul shopping bags in from the car like pack mules, and Annalise chose to bank on the distraction. She ducked into the closest sitting room and held her breath. When no one came looking for her, she sprinted for the next doorway, looking desperately for an exit sign. Her heart was pounding and her palms were sweaty. This was not a good idea. In fact, this was a really bad idea. She kept telling herself she just needed some privacy, that she hadn't had time to herself since she'd been kidnapped. Her heart knew better than that. She wanted to leave. Her mind spun as she fumbled through making a decision.

He'd hurt her. She wasn't sure how, but he would. The thought of punishment at the hands of Loki's agents—or worse, Loki himself—made her stomach roll. She wrapped her arms around herself and leaned on the wall, resting her forehead against the wooden paneling. Shoulders slumped, she sighed shakily and retraced her steps.

After backtracking through several rooms, she found herself in an unfamiliar area. She'd tried to escape, chickened out, and got lost. She was the worst prisoner ever. There was a dull throbbing at the base of her skull, the place her migraines usually stemmed from. Huffing, she plopped onto one of the couches and stuffed a pillow against the arm. Curling her knees to her chest, she pulled the binder from her hair so that she could lay down comfortably. Her eyes fluttered shut and she gave a deep sigh before nodding off.

It was dark when she woke. She stretched with a groan, popping a few vertebrae in her back. Blindly she fumbled for a lamp, almost knocking one over in her effort to flip it on. When the room illuminated, her heart stopped. Loki was sitting in the room for her, his ankle crossed on his knee, his hands curled around the ends of the chair arms. The King tilted his head, eyes narrowed as he watched her.

"Why did you come here?"

"I—. No reason. Just wanted some privacy," she mumbled.

Loki first grinned, then shook his head in mock sadness.

A familiar voice came from the doorway.

"I was hoping you'd be honest with me, my dear."

Annalise shrieked. Her head swiveled on her neck as she looked between the two identical figures, her hand going to cover her mouth. She took several heaving breaths of air, but when that wasn't enough to calm herself, she grabbed a pillow from the couch and held it to her face. She opened her mouth against the velvety fabric and screamed, her fingers digging angrily into the plush material. Sometimes you just gotta scream it out.

When she lowered it to her lap, her face was red and her eyes welled with tears. Both Lokis watched her, the chair version smirking, the other appearing almost concerned. The form in the doorway waved his hand and the chair was no longer occupied.

Annalise closed her eyes, tears dribbling down her cheeks. It was all too much.

"Please," she whispered. "Just let me go. I just want to go home."

Raising his brows in pity, Loki strode forward. The cushion she was on dipped with his weight and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Initially she froze, waiting for the other shoe to drop. When all she felt was his thumb rubbing reassuring circles against her arm, she relaxed into him, practically boneless.

"Please," she repeated with a sniffle.

"Oh, sweetling. I can't, you know that. I need you," he husked against her ear, making the poor girl shiver.

"Don't do that," she whined, embarrassed at how childish her tone was.

"Don't do what?"

His lips kissed the shell of her ear, then her lobe, which he sucked gently.

She squirmed, but stayed seated and brought her hands to her eyes to rub her tears away.

Slowly he kissed his way to the pulse point on her neck. She felt his tongue against her skin and she whimpered. She could smell him; a combination of leather, sweat and pure Loki.

Annalise held her own, putting all effort into staring forward as he teased her. But when he gently, almost tenderly cupped her jaw and turned her to him, she was done for. He kissed her like he was afraid he'd break her. She was the one to press her tongue against the seam of his lips, pleading for his attention. For as carefully he'd treated her seconds prior, his pace quickly turned relentless. The memory of how she came to be in his lap was hazy, as was at what point she began dry humping him. Everything became clear as day when an agent turned the overhead light on and awkwardly cleared his throat.

"It's time, your Highness."

Loki's posture changed immediately. He lifted Annalise from his lap and set her on her feet before standing himself and taking a moment to straighten his armor and wrap his hand around the shaft of his spear. He made for the doorway but paused, facing her but speaking to the agent.

"Watch her. Don't let her out of your sight," he ordered, looking Annalise in the eye as he gave instruction.

"I'm not coming with you?"

She hadn't realized how tight with fear her chest had been.

"Oh no, little peach. It's far too dangerous. What kind of King exposes his Queen to his brutish army?" He chuckled and strode through the doorway.

She watched him bark orders at a pair of agents, then proceed through the lobby until he disappeared. An engine started, and he was gone.

If she was relieved, why did his departure make her stomach roll?

x

After Loki left, Annalise desperately wanted to crawl in bed and burrow beneath her comforter so that all that existed was muffled silence. But no amount of bedding could silence the commotion that was echoing up the Hudson. At first it sounded like thunder, but when she saw smoke rising in Manhattan she knew the noises were more than that. There were explosions. Her stomach churned as she thought of the harm Loki was bringing upon innocent people. She had been forced into supporting him. She had helped him up until now, and she couldn't exist as a bystander a moment longer. She prayed he'd allow her to appeal to him.

Shaky, but determined, she stepped under a cool shower, shivering as it startled her into alertness. Once clean, she chose a cream sheath dress, nude pumps and a staggeringly large emerald pendant necklace. She reviewed her appearance in the mirror as she swept her hair over her shoulder to fasten the clasp. She fingered the pendant, straightening it so that it hung evening between her breasts. The gaudy piece gleamed, even in the dull light of the hotel room. Loki would be appreciative.

Convincing the agents to drive her to Loki threatened to take time and patience, neither of which she had in excess. So she practiced her diplomacy skills, more or less. In this situation, that meant spending five minutes total on the negotiation. She asked nicely to be taken to New York; asked to be taken to New York; announced that it was time to leave for New York; and then threatened to tell Loki they disobeyed their queen if they didn't depart for New York right then and there.

As they neared the City, she couldn't pull herself from the window. Dark armored forms rode airborne machines that looked like Jet skis, darting between buildings as they fired, shooting at people, cars and structures alike. Massive slug-like creatures the size of whales slithered through the skies, crashing into skyscrapers and sending victims fleeing for their lives. Overturned cars blazed with engine fires like a scene from Godzilla.

Her driver rolled to a stop 300 yards from a giant crowd of dirty, frightened people corralled in the middle of an intersection. They clung to one another, staring in fear at the tall, dark haired man hovering before them on one of the monster's machines.

There was too much destruction to drive through. She'd have to navigate on foot. Close to where she stepped out of the car were several news anchors still filming, whispering into their microphones and looking back at their cameramen with wide, frightened eyes. As her shoes crunched on glass and rubble, her eyes flitted to piles of debris—that were at one time buildings—partially burying a red sedan. She caught several pairs of eyes staring at her through the window of the overturned car and silently she held her finger to her lips. The two women nodded and ducked back down.

As she drew closer, she saw that surrounding the pitiful group of humans were clones, like the one Loki tricked her with earlier that day, armed with replicas of his blue-tipped staff. The Chitauri, the dark creatures bedecked with slate colored armor, stood menacingly with their other worldly guns and spears pointed at men and women. Some dressed in business casual, others with the backpacks and tennis shoes of tourists.

Slowly making her way forward, she stumbled over a beam of wood, at once drawing the attention of all the creatures in the vicinity. For a moment, she froze. Loki watched her intently with a haughtily raised brow, as if he were eager to see how his little toy would act now that she was caught disobeying orders. She cleared her throat and stepped forward, avoiding a lone tire, eyes set on her Loki; the original Loki, standing regally before his subjects on a Chitauri craft.

"L—. My King," she began, speaking from her diaphragm so that all could hear and bowing to the best of her ability.

"Ah, my fair, rebellious Queen. Be a dear, come say hello," he bid her, motioning for his alien driver to lower the aircraft. Two of his clones suddenly appeared on either side of her, gripping her forearms to escort her brusquely to the true King.

Once he had both feet on the ground, Loki lazily waived his hand and conjured a grand golden throne and seated himself, a false smile playing about his lips. He extended an arm in invitation to Annalise. There was no second seat for his queen. It was clear he wanted her in his lap like a little pet. Penance for her disobedience, she assumed.

Annalise moistened her lips and took several steps forward, her throat constricting as the duplicates escorted her past the normal, everyday people-turned-victims that were terrified and looking straight at her with desperation.

She closed the distance between herself and the King, warily eyeing the Chitauri warrior behind Loki leering openly at her. One of the duplicates at her side roughly shoved her towards the throne before disappearing as the real Loki snapped his fingers.

Annalise stood awkwardly before him, fiddling with her dress, running her palms over the material and smoothing out imaginary lines. When she couldn't find a reason to stall any longer, she spoke to him though her eyes were on her feet.

"What's going to happen to them?"

Loki motioned at the petrified humans.

"Oh, them? Do not worry yourself darling. They are mere spoils of war. They shan't be missed. You should be much more concerned for your own wellbeing, my undisciplined darling."

She looked up, her brow furrowed. Ignoring the bit about her, she focused on the people behind her.

"Spoils of war? A—are you going to kill them?"

Dramatically Loki looked upward in thought and tapped his chin as if searching for an answer. He spoke to her as if she were a child.

"Well, dearest, slavery doesn't have a low mortality rate, and the Chitauri are a violent species I'm afraid. If the humans are intelligent enough to do as they're told, I am sure that they will be fine."

Annalise closed her eyes, trying to block out the screams of crying children and the hushed murmurs of the panicky crowd as she attempted to think. She only knew of one way to appeal to the god.

Bravely, Anna tread forward with an air of confidence she most certainly did not feel and perched on his lap. Immediately his hands were on her, one curling around her waist and the other situating itself far too high up her thigh for her liking. Tentatively she slid her hand to his shoulder for stability, but he yanked her to him, forcing her to clutch at him. He stroked her upper leg, idly playing with the hem of her dress.

"You seem to object to my ruling, darling," he crooned in her ear.

She shivered. Perhaps sitting in his lap wasn't a very strategic move. In an attempt to fight fire with fire, she turned, nuzzling her nose against him and whispered.

"Maybe I'm just being selfish," she purred. "What if you were to give them to me?"

"Give them to you? As a reward for your unruly behavior?"

She took in a breath as if to speak, but thought better of it. Loki would only twist and manipulate her words. Instead, she nodded silently.

He pulled back, narrowing his green eyes at her.

"And give my army what? Rubble?"

He was going to refuse her. She could feel it. Quelling her discomfort, Annalise smiled coyly and buried her fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck, tugging him back to her. When her breath stuttered against his ear, it wasn't for show. Her heart was pounding as she resorted to the last idea she had.

"As a wedding gift, my King. Please? For your Queen?"

To emphasize her eagerness and sincere appreciation, she squirmed in his lap, making sure to rub her rear against places that made him hiss.

When he spoke next, he addressed both the cluster of humans and the aliens. He also made sure to look at the news cameras back near his man's limousine; apparently he'd been aware of them the entire time.

"How can I deny my sweet queen? She has asked for these humans as a wedding present and I simply cannot refuse her. Chitauri, gather the remaining people in the area for transport. You may have the city. Your patience will be rewarded."

He knew he'd chosen his queen well. As he'd hoped, the entire world had just witnessed Annalise putting herself on the line for them. If that didn't buy loyalty, he didn't know what would. Of course their allegiance would only extend to the human half of their ruling couple for now, but they would grow to worship him as well.

He turned to face the media and pulled Annalise to her feet, tucking her against his side. Dizzy from standing so quickly, she clutched his long leather jacket.

Loki looked directly into the news cameras with his lips curled into a haughty smile.

"It is thanks to your benevolent Queen that these people go free today. Do not forget how she begged for your mercy, how she was willing to sacrifice herself for all of your miserable lives."

Annalise flinched at "miserable."

She watched nervously as the victims of New York City were herded into Chitauri transport ships that then flow away in the direction of the castle. Brows furrowed in worry that Loki would go against his own word, she turned to him in panic.

"Hush, little peach," he soothed, tucking her hair behind her hear and kissing her cheek.

"Your new playthings are being taken to Carrollcliffe. They'll be cleaned, watered and fed and we'll deal with them in the morning."

Relief hit Annalise so suddenly that could no longer stand up straight. Her shoulders slumped, she struggled to keep her head from drooping forward. The adrenaline was gone and she was fading from her efforts. As she sagged against her King, he caught her. Compared to his seven-foot frame, she was small enough that he could practically cradle her to his chest like a child. After conferring with the leader of the Chitauri, Loki carried her through the ruins back to the car.

"Thank you," she breathed, her eyes sliding closed as the tightness in her chest finally released. The limousine car door clicked shut after him.

"Don't thank me, love. You were brilliant."

She was almost asleep, he knew. But Loki watched her face with anticipation, so eager for a reaction. After several beats, her lids flew open and her ears rang. Blue eyes squinted with confusion, then widened as she realized what he had done. What he manipulated her into doing for him. He knew she'd come, knew she'd see her fellow humans in danger dsand beg for their safety.

He watched her as her cheeks flushed and her lip curled.

"What did you do? What did you make me do?"

"Dearest, when you look back at this moment, you'll see it had to be done. When has post-invasion rule ever started on a positive note? They needed to see that you're on their side. You're their hope, their savior, and you'll get them through this transition."

Her jaw kept opening to speak, but she couldn't choose which words best expressed how she felt. She wanted to strangle him. To hurt him. Her fingers curled into fists and, though seated, her back straightened, and she held her head high.

"You are the worst man I've ever met. You're a cruel and selfish and narcissistic," she all but yelled, jabbing him in the chest with her pointer finger. Finger against leather armor wasn't a good match, but he seemed to get an idea of the level of her fury. She'd never laid a hand on him before. Not in this sense, at least.

Despite the steady speed limit at which the vehicle was traveling, she reached for the door handle.

"Stop! Let me out. Now."

In one hand he snatched her wrist with a bruising grip, with the other grabbed for her throat. He applied threatening pressure to her windpipe with his thumb, cutting off the majority of her air.

"Listen to me, my little whore. Did you not see the TV crews when I granted you your wedding gift? You just pledged yourself to me in front of hundreds of millions. What do you think will happen to your caravan of slaves when they reach the castle and you're not in sight? Do you think I'll just let them go?"

He squeezed tighter, causing her to grip his arm, desperately raking her fingernails against his skin to break his grip. She couldn't breathe. The perimeter of her vision began darkening and the energy to fight him disappeared.

"Are you going to be an obedient little slut, Annalise?"

He didn't let go completely, but let up on the pressure of his thumb and allowed her to suck in some oxygen to answer.

"Yes, Loki," she rasped.

The pressure to her pharynx returned.

"Your Grace!"

"Better."

Finally, he let her go and her hand flew to her red throat as she greedily gulped in air. The car rolled to a stop—they were back to Carrollcliffe. She may not be permitted to leave Loki, but she sure as Hel didn't need to be this close to him. Her eyes were wide with fear as she fumbled for the door handle. By reaching for it blindly, she accidentally locked it once, then groped desperately for the button to undo the action.

Loki crossed his arms in annoyance and surveyed her. Finally, she pulled on the door handle and scrambled out from the back seat, kicking her heels off as she ran barefoot into the castle.