My Best Friend's Brother

Chapter 21

As soon as I left the room, I bolted around the corner. I came to a screeching halt as I had to take in some much-needed deep breaths. I felt like the world was imploding around me, beginning with my feet and swallowing me whole. There was nothing I could do except breathe deeply and heavily. I could still feel the gentle touch of his fingers on my cheek. I could still sense him. Even as I closed my eyes, I could still see him. My fingertips could still feel him. He surrounded me, thickening the air and making it hard to think straight. I couldn't see clearly anymore; it was like he clouded my judgment. My desire for him was strong. I wanted to run back to him. I should have gone back to him.

All thoughts of Loki completely vanished from my mind seconds later. But it was too late now. My heart stopped when a hand came out of the blue and grabbed me. It was so fast that I didn't see the hand until it was already covering my mouth. The unknown fingers and palm touched my lips, and another hand held my wrist tightly. I was held firm in position, unable to move an inch. And that wasn't the worst of it. Even if I could summon my vines, I would only get caught in the crossfire. From the moment I sensed his hands on my jaw my vision turned entirely white. Seriously, I couldn't see anything but white, like staring at nothing but a blank sheet of paper for a few seconds. Being in this situation was terrifying enough, but not being able to see- even for like five seconds.

Whoever was clinging onto me had fat hands; fat, strong hands. He was able to disarm me with little effort, pressing his fingers into me until it was painful. His foot slid in between my legs as if this wasn't creepy enough already. He was so close to the back of my head that I could hear him breathe. His disgusting mouth drew very near to my ear so he could whisper into it.
"Did you miss me?" I blinked in sudden revelation, able to see again, though my vision was still hazy. I recognized that voice; I'd know it anywhere.
"Lord Farquad!" I stuttered. He had somehow slithered his way into the palace; probably by tricking some security guard with a fake invitation to the brunch. I went to scream but Lord Farqaud tightened his grip on my jaw.
"Scream and I'll break your fucking jaw."
"Get your hands off me!" I hissed. He merely laughed as he pushed me towards a wall.
"Now why would I do that? Do you have any idea how difficult it was for me to finally get in here and then you go and blocked me with those pesky vines of yours," Lord Farquad hissed, drawing his lips even closer to my face, now moving more in the direction of my cheek "I'm not going to let you screw this up. not again," were his last words before opening his mouth wider.
"Get your slimy hands off me!" I tried to yell.
"I just want a little taste of what is going to be mine and mine only," His tongue stuck out, just centimetres away from my skin. He was going to lick my cheek! Not knowing what else to do and still unable to budge, I winced my eyes shut bracing for the worst.

But the worst never came. Before either of us knew what was going on, I was suddenly ripped away from Lord Farquad with an equally strong force. Lord Farquad's eyes widened in shock while my head spun around to see what was happening. Prince Dewitt was standing there, tearing me out of Lord Farquad's grasp with one hand. He was glaring at Lord Farquad so angrily, I thought he might strike him right then. His eyes blazing red. He had steam coming off him.
"Declan... can I help you?" Lord Farqaud titled his head. His eyes looking at me with pure lust. Within a matter of a second, Dewitt proceeded to wrap one arm around me, pressing me close up against his side.
"Are you okay, My lady?" He asked. I was still in shock that he managed to do all this without breaking his glare at Lord Farquad once. I nodded. Despite feeling like a ragdoll, I'd much rather be tossed and manhandled by Prince Dewitt than Lord Farquad now. I blinked up at his face in astonishment "Willow, I need you to use your words,"
"I'm okay," Prince Dewitt just lowered his sharp eyes onto Lord Farquad and he was certainly not smiling.
"Ucler, Do mind telling me why you grabbed Lady Featherwine from behind?" This was more of a demand than a question. Lord Farquad squirmed awkwardly, realizing he was caught. It should have made me happy to see him in such a position, but truthfully it brought me no joy at all "Talk. Now."
"I was merely talking to Lady Featherwine," I just clung onto Dewitt's shirt instinctively, terrified at the thought of him leaving me there alone with Lord Farquad again. The villain tweedled his fingers a little, glancing downward in the most uncomfortable manner "It's not what it looks like."
"Oh? Cause from where I stand, it looked like you were about to assault Lady Featherwine," Prince Dewitt held nothing back. No decent man would speak so bluntly about such a situation, and at the moment, I'm so thankful he was calling it like it was. Of course, hearing him say it out loud did nothing for my nerves. I simply shut my eyes, praying for everything to go away. My vision still wasn't back to normal yet and I was afraid it might get blurry again.
"Certainly not! I would never do such a thing," Lord Farquad's eyes grew in horror at Prince Dewitt's accusation, though we all knew what was up. Still, he did his best to save face, pulling down the edge of his coat in a quasi-dignified fashion.
"Then explain the erection in your trousers?" Dewitt cast his gaze down.
"I just-" Before he could finish his sentence, Lord Farquad flew across the floor, landing on his side on the ground. He'd been punched in the face- hard "Oof," Prince Dewitt and I looked towards the attacker and we saw none other than Loki standing there. He was breathing very heavily, his hand still in a clenched fist and I may be mistaken, I think his hand was blue. He shot daggers from his blood-red eyes at the scrambling Lord Farquad with his glare. For a moment, no one said or did anything, and then Lord Farquad got back up at his feet. A drop of blood dribbled out of the corner of his mouth, which he wiped away with his hand. He glared back at Loki with just as much hate and ill intent.
"Mewling quim," Loki hissed.
"you again!" Lord Farqaud snarled. He wiped his face with his hand again. I thought for a moment that Lord Farquad was actually going to charge at Loki. Sensing trouble, Prince Dewitt positioned himself protectively in front of me, still keeping one arm around me. I think Loki would have noticed if he wasn't too busy breathing fire at Lord Farquad right now. I then heard humming. I knew the tune.
"Loki..." I nodded to the corner of the hall. Loki turned in time to see Thor.

"Loki, have you seen...?" His words trailed off when he saw the four of us there in the middle of the hall "What is going on?" His gaze went from Loki, over to the prince, then to me.
"Lord Fuckwad," Loki spoke as he pointed in front of him. Loki then looked at his brother over his shoulder. The pair having a silent conversation. Something about Thor changed, you could see his eyes change to his lightning power.
"Ulcer, you son of a bitch!" Luckily Loki was fast enough to literally catch and stop Thor "What the hell are you doing here?! How dare you come near Willow again?! How did you even get in here?!" Sensing the best way to deal with Thor was to ignore him, Lord Farquad merely wiped the blood off his mouth once more and shot Loki a vicious glare.
"You're going to prison," he pointed at Loki with his fat finger. Dewitt cocked a sinister smirk.
"I don't think so," Prince Dewitt spat Lord Farquad's way. This made him blink confused "I didn't see anything. Did any of you?" Thor also looked at the prince perplexed, but it took him only three seconds to catch on. Then he flashed Lord Farquad a cruel grin.
"Not a thing, your majesty. Did you see anything, your grace?" He asked Loki. The Prince shook his knuckles off.
"Nothing but what the mewling quim deserved." Loki glared at Lord Farquad, who finally caught onto what was happening. there were two powerful men and me who were going to back Loki up.
"But there are... cameras" He began to talk. I think he was realising that he messed up.
"What are cameras?" Prince Dewitt asked. I said I would explain at a later date "Then perhaps these cameras will prove that you tried to attack Lady Featherwine," Grasping that he was losing, Lord Farquad nervously gazed back at us. all three men still glaring harshly his way.
"You've got some nerve, coming onto royal property when there's a restraining order." Thor hissed through his teeth.
"Restraining order?" Dewitt's eyebrow arched up unimpressed.
"This isn't the first time that he's pulled a stunt like this," Loki grumbled "He's got form,"
"You're mistaken! I didn't come here to see Willow... Lady Featherwine! We simply ran into each other. I swear it!" Lord Farquad protested.
"Then explain the handprint around her neck," Prince Dewitt fired back. Not budging his eyes an inch, Thor spoke to Loki. Thor grabbed Lord Farquad by the collar.
"Brother, would you please go and fetch the guards? Tell them there's an intruder in the palace," I think he did that because right now, Loki was the unpredictable one of the group.
"What?! No! there's no need to do that!" Lord Farquad begged as he stepped forward. Thor pinned him to the wall.
"You will stay where you are?" I think that if Thor had his hammer, he would pin Lord Farquad to the floor. But it was already too late. With one last glare Lord Farquad's way, Loki took off. No one dared make a move until he came back with two security guards in tow.

Lord Farquad was quickly apprehended, leaving the four of us there by ourselves. The guards said they needed statements from everyone, which we agreed to do later. Once they were for sure gone, I took a long breather, though I still was feeling sick inside. Prince Dewitt also let out a sigh and turned to Thor.
"I believe this is one yours," he was referring to me. Prince Dewitt gently pushed me towards Thor.
"Willow," breathing so intently, Thor stepped toward me with open arms. I ran into them, clinging onto my best friend for what felt like dear life "I got you," He held me tightly, gently patting the back of my head and reassuring me over and over that I was safe now. Both Loki and Dewitt watched us for a moment until Prince Dewitt smiled lowly to himself.
"Well, this is not a bad first day in Asgard. I must say that you do know how to party,"
"What's a party without some drama?" Loki sighed "I suppose I better go and explain this to Father,"
"You know he won't be happy with you fighting,"
"He won't excatly be shocked," Loki shrugged "He should be grateful that I didn't stab anyone,"
"Prince Loki, may I join you? From my previous experience with a tyrant of a father, I've found it's best to take on an additional person who can validate your story." Dewitt planted a gloved hand on the Prince's shoulder. Loki seemed surprised by this, blinking at him with wide eyes.
"I appreciate it. My father will not be impressed with me causing a fight within his walls. Even if it meant protecting a lady's honour," To my surprise Loki didn't shrug the Prince's hand away. Dewitt nodded and then turned to Thor.
"Look after her, will you," I watched as they both took a few steps away from us, and that's when it felt like everything hit me like a title wave all at once. Lifting my head off Thor's chest, I called out to them, making them pause to glance back at me from over their shoulders curious. Prince Dewitt grinned at me "Yes, My lady?"
"Willow?" Loki tilted his head at me.
"I just want to thank you both for what you did. I dread to think what could have happened if you hadn't shown up when you did. Thank you" Thor nodded in agreement. The two men looked at us for a second, then grinned.
"Anytime, My lady," Dewitt replied; Loki said nothing but he smiled at me. My eyes softened as I glanced at Loki.
"Thank you, Prince Dewitt," then I drew in a deep, deep breath "Thank you... Loki"

A few days later, I'd been busy researching universities on the continent that day. I had started considering a backup if both Asgard Univerities didn't work out. I guess that also means that I was seriously considering applying to more PhD positions for the first time in my life. I mean, I'd always dreamed of this and knew it would happen one day, but actually doing it was a totally different experience. I was currently scouting the page of the University of Muspulhiem (Just in case I did marry the idiot Prince) when something caught my eye. Then I leaned back in my chair and gazed outside of the window.
"Decisions, decisions..." However, I could see myself thriving at any one of these institutions in reality. I was in the middle of thinking all this over when my train of thought was interrupted by a knocking at my bedroom door "Come in," I hollered, forgetting to shut my book beforehand. Thor opened the door, popping his head in.
"Hey, Will; you got a second?"
"For you, at least two seconds," I smiled. He mirrored my expression, entering the room. He sat on the end of my bed, with my gaze back at him with my arm over the back of my pink desk chair.

Thor clasped his hands behind his back, leaning forward slightly.
"You have a visitor," he announced quietly. My eyes grew, and my heart skipped a beat. My immediate thought was Loki. that he might be here to see me. But then just as quickly as that idea flooded my head, I remembered that those days were over, making me sad on the inside. Still, I grinned and faded interest. I was curious as to whom it might be.
"Who?" My face lit up in surprise. Thor's eyes lowered a sliver.
"Prince Dewitt."
"Really? Oh... Well, I suppose that's good too."
"Who did you think it was?" Thor sounded equally surprised by my reaction.
"I thought that maybe... Nobody. Why is the Prince here?"
"He's come to see you. He didn't say what for," It had been a week since the brunch. I guess it was only a matter of time before he showed up at my door. He just looked at me for a minute, also not uttering a sound. Then he took my hand, guiding me to stand up so as to face him straight on.
"What have you come to speak to me about, Thor because if you want to go out and get food then can it wait, I need to finish reading my book," I licked my finger and flicked the page.
"Listen to me, Willow. I know you're almost done with your Masters degree, but you do have time. You don't have to make a decision yet."
"What? About my PhD?"
"No, about marriage."
"Oh... That" my eyes drifted down a little. Thor put his hands on both my shoulders, keeping me close to him.
"Marriage isn't something you rush into. I know your father said that love is divorced from marriage, but it would break my heart to see you end up with someone you don't get along with. I simply won't allow it." Thor slapped his leg and then winced.
"Pleb," I mumbled.
"You should at least be friends with your future husband, like how you're friends with Loki. I wish that had worked out. It should be like that between you too. I'm not saying it can't or won't be Prince Dewitt, but make sure to give yourself the right amount of time and get to know your suitor properly. You have time, Willow; you have nothing but time. I will never rush you with this. I promise that your PhD trust fund isn't going anywhere. You have all the time in the world you need." Unfortunately, time is not an ally of mine, or perhaps it is subject to interpretation. As each day passes, my aspiration becomes more attainable. However, the issue is not a matter of time but of waiting, something I am unwilling to do. I refuse to compromise on this point, and time cannot wait for me to make a decision.