Chapter 56
My train of thought was interrupted when the door to the room opened again and Loki walked in. I could feel my emotions putting him on alert. He crossed the room in an instant and sank to his knees before me.
“Aurora, I can feel there is something that is greatly upsetting you,” he said as he looked into my eyes searching for answers.
I just gave him a sad smile and stroked his cheek.
“There is, my love,” I admitted, unable to lie to him anymore. “But the only thing keeping me from telling you is our current situation. Please don’t think I don’t trust you, or that I’m deliberately keeping things from you without reason. Things are already bad, and I just don’t want to add to it. I swear it can wait, and I promise I’ll tell you as soon as we’re safe again,” I sighed.
He exhaled with understanding, though I could tell he still didn’t like it, and nodded.
“I understand. But I am still worried.”
I smiled softly.
“We’ll deal with it together when all this is done. Maybe when it’s over… we can just go somewhere. Not return to the castle. Just disappear for a bit? Somewhere far from the court and other people, and just have some time with the two of us?”
I could see his eyes widen.
“Not forever,” I quickly added, “just like… a mini holiday. Some time without obligations or distractions, where I just have you all to myself for a while.” I gave him a small kiss on his nose.
That made Loki chuckle.
“That sounds lovely. I believe I know the perfect place.” He took my hand and helped me to my feet. “Although my father might not enjoy his son disappearing after battle. But I am sure if we send a message to Mother saying we are safe and want some privacy, she can smooth him over.”
He added with a wink, “Also—I was never one to decline an opportunity for mischief. Or for extra time with you.”
That made me laugh, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit better.
Loki guided me through a few hallways, and I could already hear loud voices—men shouting and talking. As we entered a large hall, I saw a massive table where mercenaries were sitting and eating. As soon as I stepped into the room, a menacing silence fell over them. Dozens of eyes snapped to me.
That’s when I realized—this entire group was made up of men. Only Angrboda and I were women.
Some of them sneered. I caught a few snickers and one muttered comment under someone’s breath that made my skin crawl.
I felt Loki tense immediately and pull me slightly back, away from the table. I knew he was already thinking of getting me back to our room, regretting that I needed to antagonize them. But then, a voice came from behind us.
“I think it is best for you both to eat with me,” Angrboda said. “We would not want any of the men to get the wrong idea and do something to your lover that might harm her.”
I felt a flicker of hesitation in Loki. This complicated our plan—he needed to mingle. I needed to be a brat.
“I am not interested in spending time in your company, Angrboda. And I am not going to leave her alone with you,” Loki hissed.
She looked annoyed, and the men began to catcall—not only me, but also her.
“The feeling is mutual,” she nearly growled. “But I do not think you have a choice. As you can see, they are a rowdy bunch. Unless you want to sacrifice her and let the oath take hold, I suggest you rethink your stance. But I warn you—if they attack, it will mean her death. No matter how skilled either of you are, there are too many of them. And they are not looking for a fight. They want to break her—use what they see as theirs, until there is nothing left.”
I saw Loki look back at me, pretending to be torn. But I could feel it through the bond—he agreed. Just because the original plan fell apart didn’t mean all was lost. If Angrboda focused on me, Loki could still blend in, antagonize, create chaos.
I shook my hand free of his and looked at him, angry.
“Well, I’m not going to sit with those animals,” I said, snobbishly. “And I’m tired of being locked up in our room.”
I gave my best impression of a spoiled princess.
Loki stared at me with an annoyed expression and sighed.
“Fine. Then go with her. I shall stay here,” he said with a angry shrug.
I looked at Angrboda, who clearly enjoyed our little fight. If she only knew.
I just nodded at her and followed as she led me out of the hall and down a new set of corridors to her room. When we arrived, she gave a short command to one of her servants, and within moments, a well-laid dinner for two appeared.
I filled my plate and poured a little wine. We sat in silence for a moment. I knew I had to say something.
“How do you keep yourself sane with those vile animals around you?”
A sad smile tugged at her lips.
“To be honest… all men are vile,” she replied.
Something in her tone shifted. I tilted my head, trying to figure out who was speaking.
I could see her eyes narrow, clearly reading my face—she knew I was trying to pull more information out of her, something I might use later.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “It’s just that sometimes… your voice changes. So my mind starts to wander, trying to figure out who I’m actually talking to. Yrissa—or Angrboda.”
I still believed honesty was the better weapon in talks like these. People expected lies and manipulation—especially from someone like me, standing beside Loki. So when I gave the truth instead, it often caught them off guard. It made me seem open, kind… easier to underestimate.
But gods, I really needed Loki to teach me how to keep my face in check. I gave away way too much.
I could see her look at me for a moment, but then she seemed more relaxed.
“We are both present at the same time, but there are moments when one of us surfaces more than the other,” she admitted.
I nodded and stayed silent for a moment.
“But we both think all men are vile,” she added with a sly smile that actually made me laugh.
“With that group like back there, I can’t exactly disagree,” I said, taking a bite.
She shook her head.
“Those men, while vile and animalistic, are a relief,” she said, anger creeping into her voice. “The real vileness of men is often dressed behind a noble and loving character. They make you fall in love with them. Make you depend on them. And then, when you have nowhere to turn or any way to leave, they show their true nature.”
I could hear the bitterness in her tone, the weight behind every word.
I really didn’t want to have this talk with her, but on the other hand, any information I could get might help Loki. So I decided to pry a little further.
“Like with Muriel?” I asked.
Her eyes flashed with anger for a moment, but she nodded.
“Not only Muriel—but yes, him as an example. You saw what he did to me,” she said, locking eyes with mine. A shiver went down my spine.
“I didn’t only see it,” I said quietly. “I don’t know why, but I also felt your emotions like they were my own. The good… and the bad. Loki had to use Seiðr to remove the memory of the pain you experienced that last night. Otherwise, I think I would’ve gone mad.”
I saw her shift, nervous now. I focused on her emotions and caught a flicker of unease… even grief.
She swallowed hard.
“That I did not know,” she said softly. “We thought the spell would only let you see through my eyes. Not feel what I felt.” She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “If I had known… I would like to think we’d have done things differently. But on my part, I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
I could feel she was at least partly sincere.
I nodded. “Yeah. I understand. But… it had the result you wanted. I couldn’t stand to be near him after that.”
I looked down at my hands. I still felt torn about the whole thing. I was sad Muriel had died the way he had. But if he were still alive, I knew I couldn’t forgive him. Even if my rational mind could come up with arguments for why a man might be driven to such lengths… it didn’t excuse what he did to her.
A laugh came from the other side of the table, and I looked up.
“It’s funny, watching your emotions flicker across your face,” she said with a grin. “Back then, I thought it would take more to make you give up the chance at his crown. I was honestly surprised you rejected him so easily, right there on the spot. Too bad you stopped Loki from killing him.”
That made me angry, and she clearly saw it—because she started laughing harder.
“But that’s under the bridge now,” she said lightly. “Seeing as I finished what he started long ago. Not just for myself… but for any woman who might’ve fallen into his hands after me.”
We sat in silence after that, just eating. But the realization was beginning to sink in—she had killed Muriel. Not just that she’d done it, but the horror of how she had done it. And here I was, dining with her, feeling the soft flickers of joy she still carried over ending his life.
“Yrissa… what happened to you after that last night with Muriel—the one from the memories?” I asked.
Her eyes widened. A scowl crossed her face before softening again. She shook her head.
“The short version? His father made sure I would never be accepted by anyone of standing,” she said coldly. “Not even my own parents would help me. He kept me in the dungeons so I could deliver my baby. But the harsh conditions and disgusting food caused me to miscarry.”
I stared at her, trying not to instinctively place a hand over my own stomach. Luckily, she was looking off into the distance, her face tight with pain.
“After I miscarried, I had the fortune”—her voice was thick with sarcasm—“of becoming the king’s personal plaything. Let us just say the apple does not fall far from the tree. Muriel was very much his father’s son. But eventually, he grew tired of me. And I was sold to a brothel.”
My eyes went wide. I wanted to say something, but nothing came.
She looked at me now, and a venomous smile curved across her lips.
“There, in my hate and despair, I started hearing a voice. When I finally listened… it was the best decision of my life. With her help, I learned how to manipulate, how to wrap men around my finger. I learned who to use—and how to use them. She taught me not only to be powerful, but to tap into powers I never even knew I had.”
I could feel the warmth rising in her chest—an unmistakable emotion—and I knew it was for Angrboda.
“She taught me everything. And little by little, I crawled out of the filth and back on top of the world. Let’s just say that while learning dark magic, I had no shortage of test subjects. And when I was finally strong enough, I helped her free herself—just like she had freed me.”
I swallowed and nodded.
“I can see why you think all men are vile after that,” I said quietly.
She just laughed.
She just laughed.
“You are still so innocent,” she said with a grin. “Thinking there is good in men. You know, when I was at Merinor’s court, there was a royal visit from Asgard. The great Odin himself came to see me in the dungeon.”
My eyes shot up at this. I looked at her, stunned.
“He asked me about the father of the child. If there was any chance his son was the one responsible. He even had me examined by an Asgardian healer. I pleaded and begged him to get me out of that dungeon, to take me to Asgard. But he let me rot. I do not know how they could tell the difference between an Elven baby and an Æsir one at that stage. The Elven healers could not even detect the pregnancy so early. But the Æsir healer declared the child Elven. After that, Odin said I was Merinor’s problem, not Asgard’s. And he left me there to rot.”
She was nearly fuming now, voice rising into a shout. I could feel her hatred rolling off her in angry waves, even without trying to reach for it.
I tried to process everything she was saying, forcing my face to stay blank. It made a horrible sort of sense. Odin must’ve heard the rumors—why Loki had been sent away, the gossip about Yrissa’s pregnancy. If the child had turned out to be Loki’s, it would’ve revealed everything. His true heritage. And Odin would’ve done anything to stop that from coming out.
It must have been Lady Eir who made the assessment. She’s the only one who knows the truth about Loki’s bloodline—and she had even sensed my child’s heritage at an early stage. There must be a way to tell, if you knew where to look.
“I’m sorry,” I said, and the moment the words left my mouth, I felt her fury snap toward me.
“I could care less that you are sorry!” she screamed. “The whole of Asgard will be treated with the same respect Odin had for me. I will see every last member of the royal family chained to a dungeon wall—violated, broken—for leaving me in that hell. I will make them pay for what they did to me and to Angrboda!”
Her emotions were out of control now—burning through the air around us. I reached for the bond.
Loki… if possible, please come and rescue me. I’ve angered her. I know she can’t hurt me, but she’s scaring me. Please act nonchalant or she might suspect something between us.
She had not noticed anything. She was still screaming.
“Once I have Asgard’s throne, I will be in the perfect position to invade Alfheim. With Asgardian forces at my side, they will stand no chance. And when Asgard falls, the rest of the Nine Realms will bow before me as their queen. Then I will have all the time in the world to exact my revenge on Merinor. So do not think for one second that I need your pity or apologies. If not for these cursed oaths, you and Loki would already be in my dungeon, screaming yourselves hoarse.”
Suddenly, a sound echoed from the hallway outside. Her servant opened the door, and behind him stood Loki, swaying slightly, with a broad smile on his face. I could smell the sharp tang of alcohol on him from across the room.
“There you are, my lovely,” he said, looking at me with a lazy grin that nearly made me gag. “I believe it is time for you to come back to our room. I have missed you—and I truly need you right now.” He added a suggestive wink for good measure.
I could feel Yrissa trying to rein in her rage the moment she saw him.
Behind me, her voice turned cold.
“See? A true man. They only think of themselves and their passions.”
Loki just shrugged and took my arm. I glanced back at her and saw the disgust and fury still burning on her face. But I didn’t say anything. I just nodded and let Loki walk me out of the room.
We crossed several corridors, and within moments, we were back in our own quarters. As soon as we stepped inside and Loki secured the door with Seiðr, his whole demeanor shifted.
The mask fell.
I threw myself into his arms.
Once I felt myself start to calm, I pulled back and looked up at him.
“Thank you for that,” I whispered.
“What happened?” he asked, clearly disturbed by how shaky I was.
I gave him a short rundown of everything she’d said. When I got to the part about Odin and the dungeon, his eyes widened, and he sank down into the nearest chair.
“He knew… and he left her there?” he asked, visibly shaken.
I nodded and climbed into his lap, trying to offer him some comfort. He wrapped his arms around me and sat there in silence.
After a moment, he continued.
“I cannot believe he simply came to check the paternity of the child and then left her there when it was deemed Muriel’s and not mine.”
I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Yrissa, and I knew Loki could feel it. His anger began to bubble, and for a second I was afraid he was angry at me—but instead, he just pressed a kiss into my hair.
“Do not worry. I am not angry with you, but with my father. Once again, all of this is the result of his actions. His inability to do the right thing simply because it is the right thing. If he had shown her kindness that day, none of this would have happened.”
He sighed, and I could feel the disgust toward his father growing.
My stomach lurched. What would he do if he ever found out the full truth behind his father’s motives? I forced the thought out of my mind. I couldn’t think about that here—not when it would only make everything worse.
“Loki… we need to warn Thor,” I said softly. “He needs to know not to come here for us. She’ll kill him if she catches him. And he needs to warn Odin about her plan—and warn Alfheim too.”
I could see Loki nod.
“If you allow me to access your Seiðr, I can send a double,” Loki said. “Leaving is not an option, and I would never risk it. The camp is closer than the royal court, but even so, I would not normally have the strength to project a double that far. Angrboda does not know of our ability to share Seiðr. With your help, it becomes possible. Together, we can do this without drawing suspicion.”He looked at me for confirmation.
“It’s fine. Just do it,” I said, settling into his lap.
We connected our Seiðr, and I let him draw on my strength. I stayed as still as I could while he worked, letting the energy pass between us. We sat there like that for nearly ten minutes before Loki spoke again.
“Thor is warned. It took a great deal to convince him we are safe—for the moment. He knows about the oaths and Angrboda’s plan. I did not give him every detail, but I left a magically encrypted message for my father with everything we have learned. He must warn King Merinor.”
He paused, then added, “I gave Thor my word that I would contact him again in three days so we may discuss things further. If I fail to reach out by then, he said he will bring his army and storm the mountain. Now that he knows we cannot be harmed, he believes it a risk worth taking.”
My eyes widened slightly.
“But I managed to convince him to wait three more days,” Loki continued. “We need the Skull if we are to save those trapped souls. So he reluctantly agreed to give us that time, to see what progress we make.”
I nodded slowly, my thoughts spinning as I leaned back into his chest. Three days. That was all the time we had to change everything—before the storm came.
And I prayed to the stars above that it would be enough.