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Chapter Sixty-Nine: Safe Keeping

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"You know, that wasn't the first time I heard you sing that song, dear," he said, after several long moments, absently twirling a strand of my hair around his finger.

I looked up at him.

"Back in the dungeons, you would sing at night, practice the songs Bodil taught you."

"I—I didn't think anyone else was awake," I spluttered, "I only did it late at night when I couldn't sleep—Specifically so that you wouldn't hear. Why didn't you say anything? Seems like something you'd tease me about."

"Because I knew if I did, you would stop," he confessed, letting the strand of hair fall between his fingers, "And I liked having that to myself. I could've listened to you sing that song for hours, Alivia. Hearing it again, now—I'm not going to let you go again."

"Well, you aren't going to get along very well with the Grand Master, then, because I think I need to get going," I said, pushing myself out of his embrace, "Unless I want to end up like the last entertainer he laid off."

"He'll have to contest with me, then, because I'm afraid you aren't leaving," Loki said, as he pulled me closer to him—If that was even possible.

I gave him a stern look and he cocked his brow, smiling challengingly at me. I rolled my eyes, reaching for a kiss, and he met me halfway.

Being with him like this—Knowing he wanted me—It was purely... Magical. I didn't care how childish it was to feel that. I let the past slip away, focusing my mind on now, where the man I loved, loved me back.

But did I really still love him? Could I, after everything?

I dismissed the thoughts. They could be tomorrow's problem.

Right now, I had another problem, and that was the Grand Master.

"Really, though," I said, untangling my legs from his waist and slipping back into the warm water, "I've got to go."

"Well, I can't truly complain," he said from behind me as I lifted myself out of the water and made for the pile of discarded clothes, "I do love to watch you go."

I rolled my eyes even as I flushed to the roots of my hair. I was conscious of his eyes on me as I pulled on my clothes.

I noticed now that the sky has lightened significantly outside, and with a flick of my hand, my flames went out.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of disturbed water before I felt Loki behind me. His fingers worked the buttons at my back. A flash on my finger drew my attention as I swept the wet hair back from my face and over my shoulder.

My ring.

I wiggled it off of my finger, just as a voice called my name in the adjoining room. It was Sun. I startled, whirling to face Loki.

"I've really got to go now," I said, pulling him down by the neck into a quick kiss. "But I need you to take this for me." I pressed the ring into his hand. He examined it, and I barely noticed the faint frown that took over his face. "I don't know whether it will be taken from me, it's a miracle it hasn't been yet. I don't want to lose it. It was my mother's—"