Over the past few months, Loki had taken to visiting Erna's chamber every night before bed. They used the time to discuss the day's events and go through any plans they had for the next one. And while full intercourse was off the table, they often found themselves having their daily chat in bed after finding creative ways to pleasure one another.

After the welcome feast for the little party from Midgard, Loki seemed particularly intent to reassert his position with Erna. He didn't even greet her after tromping into the room. Pulling her into a bruising embrace, it was all she could do to keep up with his heated kisses and roving hands.

"Loki," she finally managed to splutter when he moved his lips to her neck. "You're behaving like a man possessed!"

He simply growled in response and continued to suck and nip at her, clearly intent on leaving a mark. She pushed him away as gently as she could manage and took a step back. "What's the matter with you?" He looked startled, clearly not expecting his motives to be questioned. "It's not that I don't enjoy it when you're being particularly vigorous, but you don't seem yourself."

"I just… I need you right now." He looked almost feral, but there was a melancholia about him she hadn't seen in months.

Stepping back over to him, she cupped the side of his face and looked searchingly into his eyes. She didn't think he was lying to her and thought maybe he didn't fully understand why he was behaving this way. "All right," she said simply, before pulling him into a passionate kiss.

It didn't take long for either to find their release and they only had time to fumble clumsily with their hands, garments only half removed before it was done. He held her tightly to his chest as they panted, trying to recover from such an intense encounter. Her brain only peripherally noticed him pull away and begin to remove her clothes. He gently undid laces and pulled the layers off of her one by one, until she was bare to him.

He scooped her up and carried her to bed, his motions as calm and controlled as they were frenzied just minutes before. She didn't speak until he'd similarly undressed and climbed into bed beside her. "Care to tell me what that was about now?"

Wrapping an arm around her, he pulled her close. "I don't exactly know. I just felt this need to claim you."

"Not that I didn't thoroughly enjoy myself, but you know that wasn't necessary. I'm marrying you in less than a week."

"I didn't say there was any logic to it." He kissed her forehead tenderly and she nuzzled his neck. The time they were able to spend like this felt like a reward for successfully navigating the day and bending court politics to their will. "I can't wait to be able to bed you properly."

"And you said there wouldn't be romance," she laughed and kissed the edge of his jaw. "I feel the same though. It will be a relief to end all this sneaking around."

"I was thinking more that I just wanted to be able to fuck you any damn way we pleased."

"Well, there's that too."

His hand carded lazily through her hair and she felt more content than she'd expected so close to the wedding. She ran a finger along his arm, absentmindedly tracing any scars in her path. The fact that he'd seen battle never failed to astound her. He just didn't seem the warrior type, not like his brother. But she knew he'd led men into battle many times. With a jolt of uneasiness, she realized he would continue to do the same as king. It was an unwelcome thought and not one she wanted to ponder that moment.

Instead, she'd attend to a practical matter. "Loki?"

"Hmmm?"

"Will you stay with me tonight?" Every time she asked, she felt like he'd spurn it as needlessly sentimental, but most of the time he agreed. On the occasions he did leave her, he refused her request gently and always with an explanation.

"That was my plan."

"Good." She shifted position, draping more of her body over him and felt him chuckle. "I'm glad your brother came. It will be good to have him at the ceremony."

"Why do you say that?" There was a sharpness to his question that she should have expected.

"Because," she sat up and looked at him, "he's your brother and he loves you." His expression was guarded, but based on his behavior that day, she guessed what the issue was. "Are you worried I'll prefer him to you?"

"Of course not!" Something told her she'd been correct in her assumption, despite his vehement assertion to the contrary.

"He's to be my brother too, Loki. I had to meet him eventually."

"I didn't… it's not that-"

"Loki, I'm not blind, nor am I particularly stupid. I know there's history between you two, but I can also tell how much he loves you. And I can assure you I see him as nothing but a brother. I just wanted you to know that."

"I… thank you." He pulled her back down against his chest and ran a hand soothingly up and down her back. He claimed she enjoyed being petted more than a cat and he was probably right.

Her curiosity also rivaled that of any feline and she felt if she could ask anyone without offending them, then it would be Loki. He usually shared her inquisitive nature, always striving to understand the full scope of any situation. "Loki, do you know why Thor and Jane haven't had children yet? They were wed years ago."

"I'd advise you not to bring it up with them, little elf. It's a sore subject."

She half-heartedly swatted at his chest. "I'm not a simpleton, Loki! That's why I'm asking you. I would never be so crass with them."

"I don't know or wantto know all the details, but it's not that they don't want a brood of their own. The healers aren't sure how Jane's body would handle carrying Asgardian progeny. There's enough of a possibility that she wouldn't survive to make the decision a difficult one. Historically we've had about a fifty-fifty chance with Midgardians."

"How awful for them," she sighed unconsciously pulling closer to her betrothed, knowing there was nothing she could do to help and hating the fact.

"We should rest now, little elf. Tomorrow promises to be lengthy and tiresome." He extinguished the nearby lamp with a lazy wave of his hand, the last sight she saw before darkness descended.

"Good night, my king," she whispered, pressing a kiss to his chest.