The Family Lokison (Part 4)

Get Out (SIGYN)

"Are you and Theo planning to have more?" I asked.

Thyra laughed. "Goodness, no. Astrid is enough of a handful by herself. And I'm sure I don't need to tell you how much I had to twist Ricky's arm to have her in the first place. But she's such a treasure. Our home wouldn't be complete without her." She settled against the wall beside me and made me feel young again, like we were gossiping in the kitchens. "Do you think your boys are ready for a sister?"

"They don't have much choice, do they?" I laughed. "Truthfully, since they're twins, they've already been forced to learn how to share, and they don't compete with each other too much. Narvi is so very different from Vali, so I can't wait to see what it will be like to have a daughter, too. They've talked about Hela like she'll be a burden, but to be honest, I suspect they'll spoil her rotten. I can tell by how fat Tiwaz has become over the years—I know they sneak him treats."

She sighed. "Can't control everything with them, can you?"

"No. And it's not worth trying."

"I'm impressed that you trust them in a place like this..." She opened her arm to display the crowded room where we'd met each other again earlier. "Astrid's plenty responsible, but she also knows these folks."

"It's far too crowded in here for Narvi, and Vali prefers to stay near him if he can. They're with their uncle and my good friend Grid in one of the deep rooms. The other Vanir will protect them. Grid encouraged me to escape and find you to keep my mind off everything happening outside."

She took my hand and nodded.

Boom.

It was quiet at first. Like a faraway knocking.

Boom. Boom.

"What was that?" Thyra asked. As she did, the children running about stopped, piquing their ears toward the doors.

Instead of another sound, the walls shook. Quick shudders. Like footsteps.

I stood with her. We were pulled to our feet by our mutual worry. "Another beast?" I whispered.

She shook her head and said nothing, listening instead. We all were. It went quiet, save for the anxious mumbles of those who couldn't be still. The ceiling felt shorter than it was a few minutes before. The basement's lack of windows made me feel squeezed; the place was closing in, even though the thick pillars bearing the weight of the golden palace didn't move in the slightest.

When it didn't happen again after a few minutes, we collectively exhaled with relief. "Maybe it was some of Thor's thunder?" I asked with a shrug.

The doors crashed open with a flood of panicked soldiers, all wide-eyed and frantically searching for faces they knew. "Out! Get out!" they yelled together, pulling people to their feet and directing them outside. "To the Bifrost, wherever it will land."

My heart thumped painfully at the top of my throat. Guilt shrank me. My legs felt petrified, numb, unable to move. Where were my children? Where was my husband? Why wasn't I with them, one or the other? A foolish choice to leave them with Grid and Freyr and the others—if I couldn't get to them, where would they go?

Thyra gasped and waved for her daughter. "Astrid. Astrid, here!"

"Mum!" the girl cried, falling into Thyra's arms.

"Sigyn." Thyra shook my shoulder, snapping me out of my trance. "Sigyn, hurry!"

I nodded, taking a moment to glance over the soldiers coming from outside one more time as I crossed the threshold into the second room of many. Of all the young men and women, no one with black hair and stylish brass armor. My beautiful husband. No Loki at all.

I clutched my plait in one hand and ran. Gods, guide us all.