When his worst fear comes true, Asgard's Dark Prince will stop at nothing to rescue his pregnant consort. Yet, not even the threat of Asgard's forces looming in the skies over Alfheim can force the Unseelie Winter Realm Elves to produce Shannon when...
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I bailed.
No way to put it nicely.
I freaked out and escaped.
I don't remember making the choice to teleport away. My thoughts had descended into a chaotic fog of pain and confusion.
Not even sure where I was, I walked and walked. Time lost all meaning.
Eventually, I shifted into a raven and flew, but my destination was unclear.
After drifting on the breezes, I finally found myself looking down at the treaty plains. Desolate and empty, they reflected my mood perfectly. Dropping to the ground, I shifted and landed on my feet.
There was no sign of anyone. Fog crept along the wind-swept grasses at the edges, like the ominous soul-stealers of Niflheim waiting to suck me into the eternity of their shapeless, formless depths. A walking death.
"Heimdall, please open the bifrost," I asked, my voice harsh in my ears.
The swirling rainbow lights caught me and deposited me in the golden chamber. Its light seemed dimmer to my eyes, lacking its usual sparkle. I caught my balance more by instinct than any actual intended thought.
"Prince Loki, welcome back." Heimdall's deep voice came from my left.
I nodded without really looking at him, before I shifted back to a raven and flew.
Soaring on the familiar winds, I headed to the mountains, to my retreat, my fortress of solitude. A private place; it was where I retreated when I needed time alone, was hurting, or otherwise not wanting to be near others. Where I'd recovered from the loss of love before.
It was my secluded refuge where no one would bother me.
Landing in the meadow, I shifted back to myself and walked towards my cabin nestled in the tall fir trees. Something thumped to the ground behind me, hard.
Not even needing to turn, I knew who it was.
"I can't talk right now, Thor." My voice came out raspy and strained.
"That's okay then, Brother. You just need to listen because this isn't about you." His tone reverberated with anger.
Mid-step, I stopped walking as fresh betrayal shattered my numbness. My own brother? How would he feel if his soulmate... I couldn't finish the thought. It was too painful, even in my head.
I spun to face him, fists clenched with my own fury rising. How dare he—
"She. Is. Dying," Thor thundered, each word bitten off sharply with a crack splitting the air.
