I’m not going to bother. It’s a lot of effort.”
The trickster god didn’t respond, but the one eye that wasn’t swollen shut rolled toward me, measuring me.
I pushed down the shiver of unease at his attention and reached for my magic once more. I was no expert on how to use it, but I remembered how Saga had guided me when I'd healed Magni. I did the same now, Loki’s injuries much more compliant than the infection that’d nearly taken my mate.
It didn’t take long before his skin only showed the faintest yellow marks, as if his injuries were weeks old.
Pleased with myself, I rocked back on my heels and smiled down at him. “There you are, almost as good as new.”
“Thank you,” he said, his voice free from snark for the first time so far. “Now if you might also consider redoing my ties to a more dignified position…?
I snorted. “Sure. But just a word of warning—if you make an escape attempt because you think I’m some bleeding heart omega, you’re going to be very disappointed. You’ll spend the trip back to Asgard dragged face-down in the snow, and I’m not going to raise a finger to help you.”
“I’m starting to understand that you’re not a helpless little omega, human,” he said, arching an eyebrow at me. “It seems I made a better bargain with your ancestors than I realized at the time.”
“Hmm.” I wasn’t sure if it was flattery or not and decided it didn’t matter either way. Careful to keep my full focus on him, I undid the hogtie Modi had strung him up with, only to redo his binds with his wrists tied snugly in front of him, the golden glow from the rope I’d infused the prior day making me feel pretty safe. I’d never been a Girl Scout, but my magic hummed when I tested the fibers, reassuring me of its strength.
“Is there enough breakfast to feed him too?” I asked over my shoulder.
“He doesn’t need to eat,” Bjarni growled.
I sighed. I understood why my mate was so angry with his father, but starving him wasn’t going to make what he’d done any easier to cope with.
“Bjarni. Please. Feed him.”
The blond giant shot me a glare, but a few moments later he stomped over and dropped a wooden plate of fried bacon and beans by my side.
“Your breakfast is by the fire, once you’re done with him,” he said, turning away without so much as another look.
I heaved another sigh and placed the plate in Loki’s bound hands. It wasn’t going to be the most dignified way of eating for him, but so long as he propped the plate up on his knees, he’d manage. It was a fair few steps up from being literally frozen solid face-down in the snow.
“Thank you,” Loki said, his voice gentle. “Daughter.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Don’t even try it. I’m not falling for your tricks again. I didn’t ask for you—I asked for him. He’s got a good heart, despite who sired him. I don’t want him regretting anything once you’re a head shorter and won’t be capable of eating ever again.”
His lips curled up in a wry smile. “I suppose that’s fair. He always was surprisingly gentle—considering the mother I sired him on. Hard as nails, that Jotunn bitch. At least he got her fighting prowess.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being gentle,” I said, eyes narrowing as a compulsive urge to defend my mate rose along my spine. “If more of you asshole gods considered it a boon, perhaps you wouldn’t be so busy trying to bring about the end of the damn world.
"Why? Why are you doing it? Even if you survive, what’s the point? To rule over a dark mass of nothing? Please, enlighten me.”
This time, Loki was the one to sigh. “I told you—I have nothing to do with this.”
“Several prophecies and a very pissed-off god-king suggest otherwise,” I said. “And I saw one of your other sons on our way here—big, serpent-like. Enjoys devouring ships and laying waste to the world. Ring a bell?”
“As I’m sure you’ve learned by now, prophecies can be manipulated. And I am not responsible for my offspring’s actions.” He motioned with his plate toward Bjarni. “Clearly. Did you know Odin has one of them in his stables? His own steed came from my loins.”
I blinked. “I’m sorry… are you saying Odin’s riding one of your sons? Like… like a horse?”
Loki snorted. “Well, it isn’t often people refer