Page 45 of Loki

Loki snapped his fingers, and his pants materialized. “Are you sure?”

No. She sure as hell wasn’t.She nodded.

He pulled her hand into his and turned it palm up. He stroked down her palm several times before sucking in a deep breath and looking into her eyes. For a moment, she felt nothing, and then it happened like a movie playing in her mind. He saw her being pulled from her mom. Her ardent training. Her wars and battles with various worlds. And finally, Ragnarök. One by one, her sisters fell until she alone protected Elle’s mother. Taken captive, she relived her torture at Surtr and his men’s hands. Then Elle’s mom died once again. When the memory finished, she couldn’t handle anymore, and she pulled away.

She cradled her hand to her chest and sucked in several deep breaths. The memories wracked her body as if she’d been there again. All the deaths. The pain. The loss. She fought to keep it together when Loki’s long arms enveloped her.

“I’m so sorry, Signe. So very sorry.” He kissed her head and held her against his chest.

She turned away, unable to handle his sympathy. She’d never shown anyone her pain before or talked about it with anyone, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about having done it.

“I have to get to work.” She brushed her hair behind her ear and walked to the door.

“Do you want me to meet you at Valhalla’s Throne?”

She stopped with her hand on the knob and blew out a breath. “Absolutely.”

“Then I’ll see you later.”

She opened the door but still couldn’t gather the courage to look at him. “See you there.”

She walked out the door and did what she’d always told Elle to do. Held her head high, put back her shoulders, and refused to let anyone know about her anguish.

“But where are you going?”Elle asked.

“I have some business.”

“What kind of business? You don’t even know anyone here besides me.”

Val tried to keep her irritation in check. “What are you talking about? I know, Frigg, Loki, Thor, Odin, Heimdall—”

“Benjinn?”

“Right. I know Benjinn too.” She glimpsed the clock. “I gotta go.”

“Are you staying up here, or are you going down to the Underworld?”

Val turned to her. “Why? Are you worried about me now? Or are you checking to see where I’ll be so you can sneak off with Thor?”

Elle crossed her arms. “I don’t need to sneak. I can be with Thor if I want to.”

Val nodded. “True. And I can take care of my business if I want to. Just make sure you’re in when I get back.”

“When will that be?”

“I don’t know, grandma.” Val stared at Elle, and both of them broke into a smile. Val had missed Elle over the last few days. Elle rushed forward and hugged Val. Val hugged her back. Neither moved and then Elle laughed.

“Wow.”

“What?” asked Val.

“Whatever you are doing, or whomever you are doing it with, they must be special.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because in the last two minutes you smiled and you hugged me. Like really hugged me. Not one of those one-armed pats on the back you always give me. You put your arms around me and made full contact.” Elle’s eyes lit up.

“Shut up. I’ve hugged you before.”

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