Your hand nestled in your hair as you slumped forward on the desk in the library. Odin had given you tons of reading to do before you would be able to rule on your own. It was hard to conventrate. It was currently about thirty degrees outside and the sun was shining bright. All you wanted to do was go outside, instead of reading rubbish and guilttripping yourself about your parents.

It was odd. You hadn't shed a tear over them. Then again; you didn't know them. Was it wrong not to mourn about their deads, but about not knowing them?

"I thought you were supposed to study, my Queen," a silky voice mocked. You groaned, running a hand through your hair and facing the tall, raven-haired prince.

"I'm drowning," you said, gesturing to the books. Loki snickered, raising an eyebrow.

"I wish you were," he said, earning a glare from you. He always seemed so smug. Something in his demeanor was different however. "You need a break. Do you want to go outside for a bit?" You frowned and eyed him up and down, determined to spot was had changed about him. You could put your finger on it though.

"With you?" you asked suspiciously. He rolled his eyes and gestured to the library.

"Do you see anyone else?" he taunted. You sighed, glancing at your book. What choice did you have? If you were going to remain seated here, you would only stare into space and get nothing done anyway. So yes, maybe it was best to go with him and at least get things off your mind.

"Okay."

"Okay?" he asked, wanting to be sure he heard you right. You mockingly gestured across the room.

"Are you deaf?" you taunted. He bit the inside of his cheek, pressing his lips together.

"Just follow me, spoiled brat." You snickered at the nickname, although it was meant to be mean, you found it funny. "The woods?"

"Fine with me."

Your feet rustled through the grass as you stepped in the shadows of the trees, into the woods. The both of you walked in silence, as you desperately tried to keep up with his long strides. He was going beyond fast as if to wear you out, or something.

After awhile, you got tired and you stopped dead in your tracks.

"Can you please go a little slower?" you panted, grabbing the side of your waist as you caught your breath. Loki stopped in his tracks and grinned smugly.

"Is that what you're going to say when things get hard while you rule? Because that sounded pathetic." He walked back to you, coming to a stop in front of you. "Tell me your plan." You rose an eyebrow, licking your lips and avoiding his gaze.

"My plan... my plan is to bring back peace between Vanaheim and Jotunheim, of course," you said. Loki laughed mockingly, running a hand through his hair.

"And how will you do that, Queen Y/N?" He took a step closer to you, resulting in you taking one back.

"I'm going to talk with Jotunheim's ruler... Odin said that was a good start. See if we can come to an arangement?" You squeacked out every word, now not sounding so certain of your plan anymore. It did sound pathetic.

"Well, that's ridiculous. What are you willing to give up? You're going to give them a piece of your land and hope they're satisfied?" You bit your lip, shrugging. He laughed in your face, shaking his head. "Perhaps we can come to an arragement."

Your head snapped up, eyes meeting his emerald ones. You frowned. The voice in the back of your head screamed that a deal with the God of Mischief was asking for trouble, but part of you wanted to know what he had to offer.

"What do you have in mind?" You cursed the way your voice sounded so helpless. A smirk crept up his lips, stretching over his face.

"Marry me." Your face grew pale, and you suddenly felt dizzy. Blinking, you stared at him a unfocused eyes.

"Excuse me?" Loki sighed, irritated that you didn't see the advantage that would bring with it.

"Obviously I know how to rule a kingdom. I've proven that many times, yet no one acknowledges it." You bit your lip. "I know how we could bring peace to your realm and Jotunheim."

"How? The Jotuns clearly want Vanaheim, even Odin doesn't see a solution for it," you rambled, still taken aback from his earlier statement. He grinned.

"Rule them both."

"How?" you asked again. His story didn't make sense, you thought. Although he seemed very certain that would actually work. How? You had no idea. Loki chuckled.

"Let's say my true lineage will finally work to my advantage." Crossing your arms across your chest, you shook your head.

"I still don't know what you mean by that." He rolled his eyes.

"Y/N, if you do what I ask you to, you will never have to think again.," he promised. You huffed. Now he was discrediting your intelligence.

"I'm not marrying you," you stated, popping your hip out and raising your brows. He gritted his teeth.

"Look, Y/N, the crown is now within my reach. My birthright was to have a throne. I'm not going to give it up. We could make it together. What do you say?" He grasped your shoulders, bending down to your level, searching your eyes. You shook your head.

"I'm not marrying you, that's a final." The hope in his eyes switched to a stormy grey.

"Why not?" His nails dug into your shoulders, making you wince.

"Because you're a dick," you explained. He bared his teeth, cursing under his breath, letting you go and turning his back to you. "Look, you've been really mean to me my entire childhood. You took my stuffed bear-"

"Are you seriously bringing up that ragged bear? That was five decades ago, you have to let that go," he sneered, throwing his hands up in the air.

"I took that personally," you explained. "Plus, you call me names like every day. I lost my parents today, Loki, and all you care about is a fucking throne." You were panting hard and so was he. He gave a single nod, biting his tongue, eyes on the leaves on the ground.

"I'm sorry you lost your parents," he said genuinely. "But please, consider my offer. I could bring the peace you desire and more. Think about that."