Prince's Mate

Prologue - 3

Loki fought back his fear. Fear wouldn't help him now, not when there was a group of young Alphas staring at him like a piece of meat. Loki lifted his practice sword while his mind whirled, going through the catalog of spells he knew, trying to figure out which ones would be his best bet for survival. He wished he could teleport, but that magic was dangerous and Mama wouldn't teach it to him yet. He couldn't fly, shapeshifting might help, but only if he was fast enough. He needed an instant plan. The moment the Alphas unfroze from their shock, they would all be on him.

He began to gather magic. He would need every ounce of it that he could muster. He was still young; anything besides little magics would cost him precious time to cast. He had to be strategic.

The moment broke, Loki was out of time. The Alphas started approaching. Loki couldn't tell what they were planning. He had no intention of finding out. He knew that it wouldn't be good, no matter what it was.

He glanced one more time at Thor, desperately wishing that things were different. His brother was an oaf. But he was still his brother... except apparently he wasn't, because Thor wasn't immune.

Loki didn't have time to contemplate that at the moment. He was in trouble.

Worse, he was alone.

Loki's eyes glowed green as his magic rose in front of him in a green defensive shield. It was a spell he had practiced enough times to be fast, but it wouldn't last long without a lot of power drained into it. Still, a shield would buy him time.

He glanced around for a plan. There was nowhere to run. He wouldn't be able to outrun all of those Alphas and he wouldn't have time to shapeshift into a form that could. He swore to himself that he would practice his shapeshifting after this until he could do it in an instant.

He also couldn't win a fair fight, not against so many. He would have to cheat. "It is not cheating in a fight for your life, darling. In such a fight, you must do whatever is necessary to ensure that you live another day," Frigga's voice echoed in his mind and he knew what he had to do.

He had to cheat.

He said a mental apology to Thor and released his stored magic in a couple very quick spells that he would very much regret later when the magic hangover headache hit. In that moment, though, his shield exploded outward, throwing the Alphas backwards onto their asses.

Beads of sweat appeared on Loki's forehead and frost formed at his feet. He overtaxed his abilities as dozens of illusion Lokis formed around him. The illusions were well crafted. They had to be in order to fool the senses of the Alphas. They had to smell and feel like Loki, like a new Omega.

The explosion of power nearly knocked Loki out. But he had to hold it together. He wasn't out of this yet. The Alphas were already getting back to their feet. They were confused, now, though, to find themselves surrounded by Lokis. Doubt filled their glazed expressions, trying to figure out through the haze of pheromones which Loki was the real one.

Loki started moving slowly, carefully, as the illusions circled the Alphas, drew their attention. He had to slip away before he was spotted as the real Loki, before the Alphas figured it out. The confusion started to fade as Alphas acted.

Illusions faded as they were touched. Loki couldn't spare the power to make them corporeal. He risked moving faster as the illusions were being discovered one by one.

"There!" A voice called, pointing directly at him. Loki cursed softly. The frost under his feet had given him away. Of course it had.

Loki lobbed a ball of magic toward the voice and moved to run. It was his last option to get out of this. Or so he thought. There was a loud caw above him and a rustle of wings. Loki sighed in relief and took a step back, putting more distance between himself and the alphas.

A raven dove from the sky. As she was about to land, her form shifted and she took the form of a young woman with braided black hair and black wings. She spread her wings wide, hiding Loki from view. Her back was to him, but he would recognize her anywhere. "Aunt Munin~" he greeted her, relieved. The Valkyrie had been looking after him his entire life and he knew she would and was perfectly capable of helping him now.

She gestured with her sword toward a small structure in the training yard. In its shadow was a portal open to the realm of Darkness, with Hodur standing half in, half out, reaching his hand out for his brother. Hodur was a young man who wore thick spectacles. His magic and godhood was steeped in darkness and it was taking his vision as a price. He would go blind soon. He and Baldur were twins, identical save that Hodur had dark hair, Baldur's light.

Hodur couldn't open a portal to the dark realm in the sunlight, his powers weren't quite that advanced yet. He'd opened it as close as he could.

"Go, princeling. Hodur and Hugin will get you to your mother. I will meet you there. It is time you have some answers," Munin told Loki firmly, but lovingly. Loki thought of her as a beloved aunt and loved her nearly as much as his own mama.

"Thank you, Aunt Munin," Loki replied with as much gratitude in his voice as he could.

Munin watched his back as he dropped his practice blade and his magic. He ran for the shade, for Dur and the portal, as fast as his exhausted body could carry him. He didn't doubt for an instant that Munin wouldn't keep him safe, or be able to keep the Alphas away. She was a Valkyrie after all. Nothing could defeat a Valkyrie.

He faltered slightly as he approached Dur. Dur was an Alpha too. Wouldn't he be affected too? Loki saw when Dur took in the change in his scent, but nothing about his brother seemed to change. He also saw the raven perched on Dur's shoulder. Hugin. Hugin was extra insurance, a chaperone of sorts, just to make sure nothing happened. "You're safe with me, little shadow. You're my brother. That hasn't changed," Dur reassured him when he saw Loki's hesitation.

"But Thor..." Loki said softly, even as he reached for Dur's hand.

"Is an idiot. Come on, I'll take you to mama," Dur told him and led him into the realm of Darkness and to safety.

Dur kept ahold of Loki's hand as they stepped through the portal. It closed behind them and they were swallowed by the dark. There was no light to be seen in this realm between realms. Only Dur could access it safely and only he could navigate it. Loki couldn't see a single thing in the darkness. Yet he felt perfectly safe. He always felt safe with his older brother, the darkness sang to them both.

Dur gestured and a little ball of witchlight appeared above them, casting just enough light for Loki to see a little bubble around them. Loki squeezed Dur's hand and breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Dur," he said softly, his voice betraying his emotions.

"Always, little shadow. You don't have to thank me," Dur replied warmly. He loved Loki, ever since Loki was brought home from Jotunheim. Dur remembered that day, even if Loki didn't. Loki had followed him around like a shadow, trailing after everything his older brother did. The nickname had stuck his entire life. "Come, mama is waiting," Dur told him and began to lead the way through the darkness. Hugin remained perched on his shoulder and he kept a firm grip on Loki's hand so neither got lost. The little witchlight floated above them as they walked.

Loki hoped that mama would give him the answer he needed. Munin was right.

It was time.