Page 65 of Loki

She understood? Understood what? “I’d think you should know by now you are the only woman I want to see naked from here on out.”

Val smiled and kissed him.

“Come on,” he said. “I know you won’t stop worrying until you see Elle’s okay.” He raised his hand to snap his fingers, but she stopped him.

“I’d like to walk.”

“Your wish is my command, love.”

CHAPTER 16

After saying their goodbyes,Val and Loki strolled back to Frigg’s place in silence. She was too worried about Elle to want to talk, and whatever Loki had seen had him more troubled than she’d seen him before. He carried her sparkly shoes allowing her feet to relax for the first time in hours.

Val knew Thor would react badly, but she didn’t like the way he’d treated Elle. If he’d been there, she would have punched him in the throat for making Elle feel so small and desperate. Elle had come so far, and though Val had told her it would go badly, she wished she’d have been wrong. She would rather have been mistaken than to see Elle in so much pain.

“She’s going to be alright,” Loki finally said. “Thor’s hot temper will calm, and he’ll see that he loves her, and it doesn’t make a difference who her father is.”

“How do you know? He hasn’t forgiven in the past.”

“Because he has to. He’s tried for centuries to move on, and he hasn’t been able to, but this is his chance. He will figure that out. He’ll figure out that if he doesn’t move past this, he never will, and he will lose her. And honestly, I’ve never seen him look at a woman the way he looks at her. In the end, he will realize he has to forgive her because if he doesn’t, he will never find another.”

Loki’s words were heartfelt and sound, but from what Val had seen, Thor and a few others hadn’t given up on the past. And if they hadn’t given it up by now, could they ever?

Loki held the door for her, and they walked into the Raven Weaver together. A strange chill fell over her as they entered, and she shivered.

“Why is it so cold in here?” she asked.

“Because Frigg left. Her goodness gives this place its warm, peaceful feeling, but when she leaves, the darkness of the patrons’ seeps into the walls leaving a chill. It’s why she works seven days a week.”

Interesting.Frigg was powerful, but being able to infuse a place with her goodness was power beyond what she’d seen before.

As if hearing them speak, Frigg emerged from the portal and spotted them. She nodded and moved behind the bar.

Val blew out a breath. Frigg’s expression said Elle was not doing well.

“I need to talk to Heimdall,” Loki said.

Val nodded, and together they walked through the portal.

They stopped at the top of the stairs when the exit door opened, and Heimdall wandered in.

Curious.Val had never seen him use the door before. He’d only ever used the portal down to the underworld.

He walked to them. “He’s already done pouting.”

Val stepped toward the staircase, but Heimdall laid his hand on her arm.

“Not yet,” he said. “We all need to see how this plays out.”

Plays out? What did he mean by that?

Just then, Thor rushed down and glanced around wildly.

“Have you seen Elle?” he demanded.

“She’s upstairs,” said Val.

Thor shook his head. “Her apartment looks like there’s been a scuffle.”

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