╟╫╫╫╫╢

Loki began to spin me around the dance floor, taking the lead on a fast-paced dance to the tune of some Nordic folk song. Others danced around us, and some people watched and clapped in time to the music on the side lines. I wasn't very familiar with this sort of dancing, but I'd grown up in hip-hop, acro, jazz, and other forms of dance, so keeping up wasn't an issue.

Loki seemed surprised that I could match his pace, though I was tempted to 'accidently' step on his foot. I refrained, though, and let him whirl me around.

I began to grow dizzy, feeling a buzz crawling up my finger tips. I couldn't have been drunk already, after only one glass of wine? But then it occurred to me that the alcohol contents of Asgardian wine might be slightly different than on earth.

But I quickly found myself not caring, too lost in having fun with Loki. Loki, whose face was becoming more and more attractive the longer the night went on. I kind of wanted to kiss it. But that was just the drink talking.

Loki downed a few drinks too as the night wore on, and I managed another. I vaguely noticed Thor and Bersi pass in a blur, as I clung on to Loki, our dancing becoming more lopsided as we drank. Loki seemed a little tipsy, I could tell by the way his eyes wandered and how he slipped up as we danced.

Eventually, we found ourselves on a terrace overlooking the garden with several other guests. I couldn't really remember why we were out there.

"I've got to admit, tonight hasn't been awful, contrary to my expectations," I said as we walked the length of the terrace.

"You know," Loki began, pointing at me with his finger, "You really ought to be nicer to me. We could have all sorts of fun. Plenty of nights far from awful spent in my company."

"But arguing with you is so much more entertaining," I responded with a smile, still clutching his arm as we strolled absently into the gardens.

"I can think of several things far more entertaining than arguing, dear," he said, his lips pulled into an amused smile and his speech slightly slurred.

"Like getting to impale you with a sword?"

"The only chance you'd have of beating me in that duel, darling, is if I'm as intoxicated as I am right now."

"Noted," I bobbed my head.

"Good luck with that."

"Don't underestimate, I have contacts. I'm building a network."

"Are you?" he chuckled, "My, perhaps I ought to reconsider the terms of our duel, then."

"Too late, I'm afraid."

My cheeks hurt from smiling but I continued to. For the first time in days, I felt genuinely happy, as Loki and I entered into a set of doors in the palace and continued to stroll and chat aimlessly. Eventually, we wound up in my chambers.

I dropped Loki's arm as he strode further in.

"I guess this is goodnight then," I said, leaning against the doorframe, "I actually had a half decent time, so thank you."

He said nothing, his back to me.

"Loki?" I asked, frowning, "Having a melodramatic episode?"

He turned to me, a strangely sincere look on his face. His eyes crawled up the skin of my exposed leg, my torso, my chest, neck, and finally my face. As his eyes moved, he took a step closer.

"Close the door."

My heart stuttered when he said it, but I obeyed, silently pulling the door closed behind me.

He began to stride toward me, closing the distance between us in a few quick steps. He placed a hand behind my head, and we locked eyes.

"I'm going to kiss you now."

I didn't know what to say. But I didn't have to speak, because all at once, he was kissing me; his hands were on my body, leaving sparks of electricity in their wake. Heat flooded into my face, pooling in my stomach as his hands dropped to my hips, and then my ass. I squeaked in surprise and I felt him smile against my lips as he scooped me up, placing me between him and the wall.

His kisses were mixed with bites along my lips and his hands held me firmly in place. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he began to trail his kisses along my jaw, down my neck, and over my collar. I shuddered, and felt my hand involuntarily slide into his black curls, pulling them as he bit down and sucked, leaving small marks. Marks to claim me as his.

One of his hands ventured to my upper back, where he fiddled with the back of the dress, before it began to slide from my shoulders.

"Loki," I sighed against his ear as he kissed me.

"Don't speak," he demanded, "Not unless I tell you to."

I shut my mouth as his lips pressed against mine again. He pulled away and smirked.

"My, if I'd have known this was the way to subdue you, I'd have done it a long time ago," he remarked, eyes falling to my nearly exposed breasts, "I've never seen you quite so complacent."

"Shut up and kiss me," I said, placing a finger against his lips.

He smiled again, that devilish, sly grin, before lowering to kiss my neck again.

That was when Bodil waltzed in, a glass of wine in her hand as she called out my name. I immediately scuttled behind Loki's broad frame, lifting my clothes back up to cover me as her eyes landed on the scene laid out before her. A beaming smile immediately overtook her face.

"Care to join us?" Loki asked with a raised brow, looking between us.

I gaped, smacking his arm. "Pig."

"Oh, I was only making sure Alivia made it to her room alright, I couldn't find her at the party, so I'd assumed she left," Bodil said, eyes darting back and forth between us, "Seems she wasn't alone."

"Bodil, I will pay you any amount of money to forget everything you saw."

"I'm afraid you won't buy your way out of this one," she smiled, turning for the door with a drawn out, teasing, "Goodnight."

"Now, where were we?" Loki turned to me, stooping to get back to it. I pushed him back, pointing to the door.

"Out."

"Darling—"

"Don't darling me, I'm going to bed," I said, waving my hand at him, "Turns out you keep pretty boring company."

He mocked offence, before turning for the door.

"You're certain?" He stopped in the doorway, not looking back at me.

"Very."

╟╫╢

A searing headache greeted me the next morning, followed by a flood of memories of the previous night. I winced, as heat crawled into my face, as I recalled how my night had ended. Had I really gotten so close to sleeping with Loki? A centuries' old god with a superiority complex that was going to kill me in two weeks?

I got up and began to clean myself up, but frowned as another memory came to me. When Bodil had intruded in on us, Loki had asked her if she would like to join. Had he been joking? Or was all of it just a meaningless bit of fun to Loki? I scoffed at myself. Of course it was just that. He was the god of mischief for Christ's sake.

I felt even worse at the jealousy intruding into my thoughts. I shouldn't have let myself think he'd wanted me. He hadn't. He'd just wanted someone to mess around with. Bodil, me, it didn't matter who.

I sighed, rolling my eyes. How had I gotten so caught up in this drama? It didn't matter one bit. What mattered was finding out where my powers had come from, and more importantly, how I could control, or even get rid of them.

I made up my mind, deciding I would no longer involve myself with Loki and his drama.

Two weeks flew by quickly in the palace, and the only thing I had to suffer was Bodil's teasing about Loki and I. Thor and I practiced with the blade each day, to the agony of my throbbing muscles. But, I began to notice some vast improvement in my skill.

I made sure to avoid Loki, or at least, being alone with him. He seemed to want to speak with me, always asking for a minute of my time, but at each turn I denied him until he gave up.

But I knew I would have to face him eventually. And that moment came the day of the duel.

╟╫╫╫╫╢