Loki Laufeyson One Shots

An Unexpected Proposal (2)

"Well... don't you look tantalizing tonight..."

I mentally groaned at the skin-crawling purr of Freyja's heir as he slunk up beside me in the single corner of the ballroom that wasn't packed with simpering courtiers.

Eero was the very last person I wanted to speak to tonight, especially after the appalling proposition he'd made the previous time we'd been face to face.

"Hello, my lord." I spoke through gritted teeth, plastering the well-practiced smile upon my lips that had been engrained in me by my mother since an early age.

Eero grinned, a slow, predatory thing, as he leaned in far too close for propriety, his fingers brushing my elbow under the pretense of adjusting his cuff.

"Come now, my lady." He drawled, breath hot with spiced wine. "Must we be so formal? Unless, of course... you've found better prospects?"

My grip tightened on my glass, my civility turning brittle. "None that concern you, my lord."

Eero laughed, clearly pleased with himself as he gave me a once over. His gaze lingered on my barely there cleavage, before sweeping down to my hips.

"Such a beautiful girl — it's a crime that you remain unmarried." He leaned in closer. "I, for one, would be more than happy to fix that problem for you."

Every fiber of my being revolted at the notion. But I couldn't risk making a scene — not here — so instead, I pasted on an even sweeter visage.

"I appreciate the... kind offer, my lord." The words nearly choked me as they came out. "But I assure you, I'm in no need of 'fixing'."

Eero actually snorted, the sound as disgusting, as it was offensive, his hand suddenly resting on my waist.

"There's that mouth I've been dreaming about since our last little chat." He smirked, fingers sliding higher up along my ribs. "I can promise you, sweetheart... a few nights with me, and you'd be begging for an engagement ring."

A cold shudder ran down my spine at his touch, and I attempted to discreetly shrug him off. Eero only tightened his grip, now uncomfortably close to the underside of my breast.

I suddenly felt trapped.

"I can only imagine how pretty you'd look on your knees—"

I opened my mouth to reply — to do something to get him to let go — when a dagger thudded into the wall beside his head, missing his ear by mere millimeters.

Eero froze.

From behind him, Loki strolled forward with all the lazy grace of a panther, plucking the blade free with a flick of his wrist. His smile was pure venom.

"Apologies," he drawled, green eyes glinting with murderous amusement. "My hand slipped."

Eero recoiled violently, his face draining of color as he scrambled back from me — from Loki. The dagger had left a thin slice along his cheekbone, a single drop of blood welling up like a scarlet jewel.

The prince didn't spare him another glance. Instead, he stepped smoothly into the space Eero had occupied, his fingers brushing my hip where that worm had touched me; as if wiping away the stain of him.

"Care for a dance, my lady?" The God of Mischief murmured, already steering me toward the floor without waiting for an answer.

His grip was firm, possessive, and when I glanced back, Eero was already fleeing into the crowd.

Loki leaned down, his lips grazing my ear as the music swelled around us. "Now that is how you handle pests."

The orchestra surged into a waltz; one of those elegant, old-fashioned ones that required precise footwork and just the right amount of distance between partners. Not that Loki seemed to care about propriety. His hand slid lower on my back, pressing me flush against him as he guided us into the first turn.