Prologue
Loki lay on his side in his darkened chambers with his back to the door, finally allowing the tears to come. He'd spent his childhood grappling with what had happened and, more importantly, what he'd done to deserve it. He'd been taken from Asgard by the Frost Giants as a young boy, was raised by them, taught to think like them.
When his parents had failed to come looking for him, he slowly began to realize the Jotuns were right: he was nothing. Thor was, had always been, and always would be, the golden boy in every sense of the phrase. It was easy for him to be persuaded to lead them into the weapons vault, to attempt to steal the Casket. In that moment, faced with the Destroyer and surrounded by painful reminders of his youth at every turn, he welcomed death.
Thor and Odin burst into the vault as the Destroyer was poised to finish Loki off, the last of the three Jotun intruders to threaten Asgard. "Stop!" the Allfather shouted.
"Who are you?" Thor demanded, grabbing Loki by the throat and pinning him to the wall. "Why have you come here?!"
"I am Loki. Of Jotunheim," he growled, glaring at Odin with contempt shining in his clear blue eyes.
"Loki?" Thor whispered in horror, immediately releasing his grip, causing Loki to crumple to the floor.
"Hello, brother," Loki crooned. "I hope I haven't ruined your big day," he sneered, eyes roving up and down the blonde's ceremonial robes.
"You haven't. I am king of Asgard," he replied, pulling Loki into a hug, not noticing the raven-haired god's jaw clench.
Loki buried his face in his pillow and sobbed. He had no one he could trust, no one he could turn to...
"Loki? Darling?" Frigga called softly, knocking gently on his door.
Loki sat up and wiped his eyes, carefully arranging his pained features into a mask of calm indifference. "Come in,"