Page 66 of Last Thrall of Asgard

“You mock me now?” He faced me finally.

“Yes. Because you deserve it. Those were Heimdall’s exact words? That I could never be made to want you the same way back?”

“Yes? So, you needn’t—”

I laughed. How could I not? “Of course, he was right! I could never bemadeto want you, Loki. Yet, against all my better judgment, I do anyway. And for far more than having you in my bed or only for a night. Don't make me leave your arms. Okay? Possibly ever. I haven’t fully decided yet.” I gathered Loki against me before he could resist or sputter any protests.

As what I’d said sunk in and Loki realized his folly, I felt a damp nuzzle into my breastbone. “Did… did I trickmyself?”

I laughed again and petted Loki’s hair. “Silly god. I think I tricked you a little too, enough that you wanted me even more than the pain. But you have no need to make me do anything. If you truly want me as desperately and world-shatteringly as Iwant you, then believe me, I do indeed want you the same way back, all on my own.”

A sob answered, muffled against my chest.

How could I have guessed this was how my story would end?

“Keep me, Loki. I don’t need to be free if I can have you.” I could hardly believe I meant it, but it had never been only freedom I’d wanted. I wanted to be loved, to be treated as an equal instead of feeling owned and used. If Thorsten had offered me that, I might have happily been his thrall forever.

“I wish I could.” Loki pushed from my hold, eyes glistening. “But I cannot neglect our pact.”

“What—”

“I must free you, Oli. ‘Or may the Midgard Serpent devour me whole’.” Loki grasped my forearm, leaving me too stunned to tug away. I was still naked, and yet, at his touch, all the symbols that adorned my tunic were branded on my skin.

It didn’t hurt to see them etched on me, and as soon as they appeared, they faded again, leaving only Loki’s snake that became alive. Truly alive this time, forming off my skin into a real, living snake that slithered from my wrist to coil around Loki’s.

As I stared, uncertain what this meant, I watched Jörmungandr, tiny though he may be compared to the stories, lift his head back toward me and lunge like he meant to strike.

I flinched. I closed my eyes and flinched.

But no bite came.

When I opened my eyes, I was clothed in my old tunic and trousers, the simpler, plainer garments of a thrall, and I sat upon the altar where Loki had first stolen me.

Alone.

“Loki!” I screamed.

“Oli? What in the realms are you howling about?”

I snapped my head forward. Thorsten stood at the mouth of the path leading to the altar beneath the tree, to me, dressed in the same clothes I last remembered seeing him in.

“I can’t believe you’re still out here. It’s been hours. Not making a good impression on your new owner.” He approached, like some vision or dream from the past. It felt like so long since I’d last seen him.

Hours? Had it only been hours?

“Father sent me to fetch you. Your buyer is here.”

“My… buyer?” I dropped down from the altar, though I wasn’t certain if I could stand. Had I imagined it all, so distraught by my fate, or had Loki tricked me in the end and doomed me? “Erik, Son of Gunvald?”

“Apparently not. Someone else offered more for you.”

I almost asked,You? But Thorsten’s expression was not one of a man who’d had revelations, but of a bitter and jealous one.

I leapt from the altar to sprint past him, nearly elbowing him to topple into one of the trenches on either side of the path.

“Forfuck’s sake, Oli, what—”

“Go to Hel, Thorsten!” I yelled back. “If you’re lucky.”

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