Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Friday afternoon rolled around, Val received a text from Loki telling her he’d be there to pick her up around six thirty.
Her stomach roiled, and she took a deep breath to keep from throwing up.
He hadn’t asked her since the last time she’d told him no, but that had been two days ago.
A lot had changed between them in that time.
Val stared at the text, trying to figure out how to cancel having to go to Odin’s.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the black box Loki had given her.
She hadn’t touched it since she’d put it on the shelf, but curiosity suddenly pulled her to it like a magnet.
She stared at it for a long minute, trying to work up the nerve to take a peek.
Whatever it was would probably be ridiculously expensive, flashy, and way too small for her.
Even so, she couldn’t help but be intrigued.
She looked at the clock. “I’m taking my break,” she announced before grabbing the box and heading to her apartment.
Once inside, she set the box on the table and stepped back. Her mind raced with what might be inside. She’d never once worn a dress before, and the fanciest thing she’d ever worn was her ceremonial battle armor to official events.
Her fingers twitched the longer she stared at the box, and finally she flipped the lid off it and took a step back, as if it might bite her.
Her eyes widened, and she couldn’t help but step forward again. She ran her fingers over the champagne-colored silk, then lifted it from the box and held it up.
The dress fell to her knee, and she took in the whole of it.
A halter top dress, with a jeweled collar and jeweled chains that draped down over the shoulders like pauldrons- but completely useless in battle, obviously.
She turned it around to find the back cut out, but surprisingly, it was neither low-cut in the front nor so short her lady bits would show, unlike a lot of dresses women wore into the bar.
It was sexy without being overly revealing.
The jeweled collar and chains sparkled so bright she wondered if they were made of real diamonds.
She laid the dress on the table and stepped back again.
She wanted to try it on more than anything, but she didn’t want the stench of beer and sweat on it.
She looked in the mirror again. Her bruises had all but healed, so there was no using for them or pain as an excuse to say no.
She looked at the dress again. It really was gorgeous.
And she couldn't help the desire to have Loki see her in it.
She grabbed her phone and texted you three words.
See you then.
At five thirty, Val walked up to her apartment and showered.
She pulled on the only pair of sexy underwear she owned and skipped the bra.
She slipped into the dress. The fabric slid over her like a second skin, only softer and smoother.
She clasped the jeweled collar, and for a moment, a shiver of panic raced through her as it reminded her of the collar Surtr had put on her when she’d first gotten to Muspelheim.
She swallowed down the memory and reminded herself she was in Midgard and safe.
She blew out a deep breath before turning to look in the mirror, unable to move for several seconds.
She was… a woman. Of course, she was a woman, but in that dress, she actually felt like a woman.
A real woman. Not a soldier. Not a protector.
Just… a woman. She’d never been just a woman before.
Every second of her life had been spent in service to someone else, but for once, she was going out and doing something she wanted to do.
Wearing something she chose. With no restriction.
No rules. No one telling her what to do. The idea thrilled and scared her.
Free… she really was free.
She grabbed her brush and ran through her long hair, ready to put it up in a ponytail, but instead she let it fall down her back.
Between her golden curls and the champagne and diamond dress, she looked like an angel she’d seen in a book once.
For a moment, she wondered what Alamax had looked like as an angel.
Probably Cupid or some other cherub-looking thing.
She smiled at her reflection and quickly covered her mouth.
She’d never smiled at herself before. She removed her hand and smiled again.
The expression felt strange on her face, but she had to admit she liked how she looked- and how it felt.
As if it were natural, something she always did.
Was this her life now? Her new normal? Where she dressed in fancy dresses, let her hair hang down, and smiled when she saw herself?
She couldn’t imagine her life being like that from now on.
She dared not even hope… yet some place deep inside her longed for it.
Longed to be able to be free, and love, and be loved.
A knock sounded on the door, and she glanced at the time. It was only six fifteen. Loki was punctual, but he wouldn’t be early. Unless he was checking to make sure she was actually getting ready.
She walked to the door and pulled it open, ready to give Loki an earful when she stopped.
“Evening, Valkyrie.”
“Heimdall.” She scanned the hallway to see if anyone else was around. “Can I help you?”
He held out a box. Val looked at it and then at Heimdall.
“Frigg said you wouldn’t have any shoes, and if you didn’t have shoes, then you wouldn’t go to family dinner. So she bought you some.”
Val looked at the box and took it from Heimdall. “Uh… thank you.” She hadn’t thought about shoes. Of course, she didn’t have shoes that would go with a fancy dress. All she had were boots and sneakers.
Heimdall nodded and turned to go, but stopped and turned back. He looked her up and down for a minute before meeting her eyes again.
“You look lovely,” he said, before continuing down the hallway.
“Uh… thank you?” Really? The demi-god brought her a pair of shoes and told her she looked lovely. Was that all she could think to say? “Will I see you at the dinner?"
He paused. "Not tonight. But soon."
Okay... "Have a good night, Heimdall.”
He waved over his shoulder but didn’t turn as he headed down the stairs and out of sight.
Val read the brand on the box and noticed music coming from Elle’s room. Her door stood open a crack, and Val approached it.
Inside, Elle sang along to the popular music they played in the bar. She listened for a minute and smiled. She took a moment to enjoy Elle’s beautiful voice before the music shut off and Elle pulled open the door.
She let out a little scream.
“Sorry,” said Val. “I was just listening. I’ve always loved your voice.”
Elle smiled so bright Val thought she might crack her face. She looked over Elle in an expensive green dress. Seems she wasn't the only one receiving expensive gifts from Norse gods.
“Are you going out?” Val asked.
Elle nodded. “I was invited to a party at Odin’s house.”
Val’s stomach plummeted, of course. Loki had told her that Elle would be invited. “You know it’s not a party, right? It’s a family dinner. All of Thor’s family will be there. All of them.”
Elle’s eyebrows scrunched together. “So?”
“So…” Val looked down the hallway and then pushed into Elle’s apartment, closing the door most of the way. “You know what, so.”
“I don’t understand-”
“You do. You are just choosing not to listen to me. I understand you have feelings for Thor, and that’s something I am coming to terms with, but his whole family? There is going to be someone there who figures out who you are.”
“I don’t care anymore.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“Will Thor? I’m assuming you still haven’t told him.”
“I’m going to. Tonight. Right after dinner.”
Val shook her head. “You should tell him before dinner.”
“Why? Because you don’t want me to go?”
Val didn’t answer.
“Why are you trying to ruin this for me?” Fire lit Elle’s eyes.
Val needed to try a new tactic before Elle lost her temper, and something unfortunate happened.
“I’m not. It’s just… dangerous down there. People are looking for us. Hunting us.”
“How do you know? Have you seen them? Heard of them?” Fear tinged Elle’s words.
Val’s gut twisted. There were more beings hunting them than she wanted to admit, but she refused to worry Elle.
Telling her the truth would keep her from going to the family dinner, but…
then Val would feel guilty for going herself.
And for the first time, Val really did want to do something.
Something with Loki. And wearing the dress he’d bought her.
“No,” Val lied. “I just know Surtr, and he won’t let us go. He has to be looking for us.”
“Well, if he hasn’t found us, and you haven’t heard anything, then I’m going. And I promise I’ll tell Thor after family dinner.”
Val shook her head. "I'm telling you, this isn't a good idea."
"Why?" Elle asked. "Thor and his entire family will be there."
"Exactly."
"I can't be safer anywhere in the Underworld than with the entire family of Norse gods in Helheim."
Val glowered at her. "That's not what I mean."
"I can't be afraid forever, Val. You brought me here to have a life. That's what I'm doing. Would you rather I fell for a demon or something else?"
"Of course not, it's just-"
"What? You'll be there too, I assume." Elle looked Val up and down.
Val was losing the fight, and without telling Elle the truth, there was nothing that was going to stop her.
A knock sounded on the door, and it swung inward. Thor stood in the doorway. How much had he heard? Obviously, not everything from his relaxed demeanor.
Val eyed him for a moment and then strode from the room, stomped down the hall, and headed down the stairs to the bar. She scanned the room, and dozens of eyeballs landed on her, making her blush. She hurried to Heimdall’s booth and slid in.
His eyes widened. “Valkyrie.”
“I’m…” she sighed. “I don’t know what I am doing, actually.”
“I would say you are hiding with a side helping of running away.”
She chuckled. “That’s a nice way of putting it.”
She took the shoes out of the box without looking at them and slid them onto her feet.
“What do I do?” she asked, setting the box under the table.
Heimdall shrugged.
“Come on,” she said. “Don’t be like that.
“Valkyrie, you more than anyone should know that no matter what I tell you, it won’t change what is going to happen.”
“Then tell me what is going to happen so I can be prepared.”
He shook his head.
She swore several times and shook her head. “You know, Heimdall, you can be a real pain in the ass, but I respect the hel out of you for all you do and see and put up with.”
For the first time, she spotted real emotion in Heimdall’s golden eyes, and he gave her a soft smile.
“Thank you, Signe, daughter of Hogatha and Leif.”
Wait what? Her father’s name was Leif? A million questions swarmed through her mind, but Heimdall’s expression told her he wasn’t going to give her more.
Loki walked up the stairs, and Val’s full attention turned to him.
Dark blue suit cut to fit him amazingly.
Hair pulled back in a slick ponytail at the base of his neck.
Scruff enough to tickle her skin and give his beautiful face a more rugged appearance.
Suddenly, she didn’t want to go to the family dinner.
All she wanted was to strip his suit from him and make love to him all night long.
“You should go,” said Heimdall.
She nodded without looking at him and stood.
She wobbled for a moment as the heels she’d put on twisted underneath her, but as she was about to lose her balance, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and kept her upright.
She slammed into Loki’s chest and looked up to find his eyes lit like diamonds.
He smiled, and his eyes took in every inch of her face. “Hello, future wife.”
What? “Hello, possible husband.”
Loki set Val back on her feet, his gaze sweeping over the exquisite fit of her dress. It shimmered like starlight against her skin, hugging her figure in effortless elegance. Her hair cascaded past her shoulders and flowed like a silken river down her back, every strand inviting his touch.
“Hello, future wife.” The words slipped out before he could catch them.
Her eyes widened as the corners of her lips curved into a teasing grin. “Hello, possible husband.”
A smile tugged at Loki’s lips. "Possible, huh? I guess I'll have to work harder to get you."
Despite a desire to whisk her away with a thought and tumble them both into the privacy of his bedsheets, he refrained.
The bar’s usual murmur had quieted, fading under lusty glances drawn by Val’s presence like moths to candles. Male gazes lingered too long for Loki’s comfort- a mortal error if ever there was one.
With deliberate possessiveness, Loki tangled his fingers through her hair and drew her closer until their mouths met. Her lips parted, inviting him in, her breath hot against his mouth like a promise.
Loki didn’t ask. He took.
Her arms encircled him, fingertips trailing across the expanse of his back as she kissed him without hesitation or care for prying eyes around them.
His fingers tugged her hair hard enough to make her gasp.
He swallowed the sound greedily, his tongue sliding against hers.
She tasted like mint and something sweet, something hers, and he wanted to drown in it.
Her hands clawed at his back, nails digging through his suit jacket, and he groaned into her mouth, grinding his hips forward just to feel her shudder against him.
The bar around them blurred into nothing- just heat, and her.
The slide of their tongues, the scrape of her teeth against his bottom lip, the way she arched into him like she couldn’t stand even an inch of space between them.
His other hand dropped to her waist, fingers digging into soft flesh, dragging her closer until he felt every curve of her pressed against him.
In that moment, they crafted their own world. A realm where all else dimmed away but each other.
Someone cleared their throat to his left and then said, “They get the point. You can stop now.”
Damned Heimdall.
Loki didn’t stop. He kissed Val for another few seconds before kissing her nose and pulling her into a hug.
He glanced around the bar again, and the men turned their jealous eyes away from his glare.
He was sure they were all wondering who the hel he was and what he’d done to win Val’s heart where they couldn’t.
But he didn’t care. All he cared about was the fact that she was his, and when he did finally ask her to be his bride, she would say yes.