For Better or For Worse (Loki x Reader)

Chapter Forty-Seven

Hello, everyone! I apologize for such a long wait, and I appreciate your patience.
Just as a note, I do start classes in two days, so I will do what I can when it comes to working on this book. I will definitely finish this book, I just ask for your continued patience and support.
Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you enjoy! I look forward to reading your comments!

Loki's POV

The clacking of Odin's boots on the marble flooring filled the healing wing, further adding to the already tense atmosphere. Thor was leaning against the wall across from me, a hand over the bottom half of his face. His blue eyes were focused and calculating, and I could see the icy fire burning within his gaze. I was perched on the edge of one of the many beds in the healing wing, alternating between biting my nails and drumming my fingers against my thigh. My foot was tapping against the floor anxiously. Mother was by my side, assessing the wound. Blood was still flowing sluggishly from the grisly wound.

"Report," Odin snapped, and I quickly fell into the mindset of a soldier back from a mission.

"It was dark. They came out of nowhere. Neither (Y/N) nor I saw them before it was too late," I said numbly. "We were just out walking, and (Y/N) said something didn't feel right. That was the only warning we got before they advanced." Odin grunted as he paced, signaling for me to continue. "There was an entire squadron of them, and they overpowered us quickly. We were quickly separated. I don't remember anything after, just waking up with the sun."

"Were there any witnesses? Anything left behind?" Odin pressed.

"No," I said, looking up at the man. Not once did he look up from his boots as he continued to pace. "We were out late, and everyone else in the town had already settled down for the night. And the only things I found when I came too were the note and dagger. There was nothing left behind, not even boot prints," I seethed, mentally cursing myself as I dropped my head back into my hands. I took a deep breath, my entire body shuddering with the effort, before I released it in a heavy sigh.

"Thor, get him a blanket. We don't need him catching a cold on top of everything else," my mother gently commanded as she secured the end of the bandages firmly. I heard Odin sigh as he stopped pacing. I looked up expectantly, hoping he wouldn't confirm the fears already swimming around in my mind, fears that had been there since the moment I had come to.

"Loki, this is a very delicate situation, one that is going to be very difficult to handle if I am being completely honest with you," he began, and I felt my heart seize up in my chest. From the moment I had come to, I knew this entire situation was going to have us stuck between a rock and a hard place, but I couldn't bear hearing my fears confirmed. "If we were just to storm in, blades drawn, any and all of Svartalfheim's allies will attack. We can not put our kingdom in that type of danger. Without any concrete evidence, there is no viable action we can take at this moment," the All-Father said, and if he said anything, I couldn't hear it over the rage that flooded my system.

"We have to do something! We can't just leave my wife to those monsters!" I shouted as I jumped to my feet. I felt the color drain from my face as pain spiked through my chest. The intensity of the sudden pain stole my breath from my lungs, causing me to inhale sharply. My vision swam as darkness threatened to consume me. I heard my mother shout my name as two sets of hands helped me sit me back down on the bed before I could lose my footing.

"I'm sorry," I muttered after a moment. "I shouldn't have shouted." I hung my head with a sigh, taking the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger, massaging gently. I looked up sharply when there was something being placed over my shoulders. Looking up, I found Thor to be draping the blanket mother had called for over my shoulders, a forced smile on his face. I didn't even make an attempt to return what I knew was supposed to be a comforting gesture.