All Over Again (Sequel to Wanted Man)

Chapter Thirty-Two

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

McKenna rolled over and opened her eyes to find she was alone. Loki's side of the bed was rumpled, and still warm, so wherever he was, he hadn't been gone long.

She slid from the bed, tugging on her robe as she did, and went to the door, which was ajar. Peering around the corner, she could just make out Loki at the end of the corridor leading toward the center of the palace.

The marble floor was chilly beneath her feet. Winter in Asgard was just as cold as winter in New Jersey, and even now, she could see snow swirling outside. But while the marble was cold, inside the palace was comfortably warm.

Instead of catching up to Loki, she remained far enough back that he didn't know she was there. She didn't know why she chose to be so clandestine about it. Loki certainly wouldn't get upset with her, would he? There was no way he could feel anger now. Not after the romantic night they spent tangled up in their sheets and in each other.

But for some reason, she held back. At first she thought he was going to the Throne Room, or possibly the dining hall, but then, he turned down a corridor she'd never traveled down. Her stomach did an odd little flip as she followed him down a massive flight of steps and the sound of rushing water reached her ears.

They were deep within the bowels of the palace, on a wide stone walkway high above what she thought was the Asgard Sea. Here was dank and chilly, and a dull ache bit into her feet and ankles, making her wish she'd put on socks before following him.

Small torches flickered in iron sconces high on the shimmering walls and the flips in her stomach turned into weights of dread. Loki strode purposefully toward the end of the walkway, then abruptly turned to his right. Whatever his reason for being here, it was somewhere to his right.

She paused, her hand coming to rest on a wide stone pillar that was just as cold as the stone beneath her feet. "Loki?"

He jumped, swinging about. "McKenna? What're you doing here?"

Ignoring the ache creeping up her legs, she let go of the pillar and closed the gap between them. "What are you doing here?"

"Just checking to make certain everything is secure."

"Isn't that what the guards are for?"

"I relieved them."

"Loki," she touched his arm, which felt colder than normal, "come back to bed. It's the middle of the night."

He smiled down at her. "I will be up shortly. You go on ahead."

As he turned, she could see how much brighter his eyes seemed, how much bluer they looked. They were bright and dark at the same time. "Loki, what's in there?" She gestured to the iron door they stood before.

"Nothing you need worry about."

She glanced at the innocuous looking door and suddenly, she knew. And the thought pierced through her just as the spear pierced Loki. "Loki, we need to go back above now."

"I am fine, love." He slid his arm about her waist and gave her a squeeze. "You go up. I'll be up shortly."

"The Tesseract is in there, isn't it?"

"Do not make me say it again, McKenna." His voice grew low with warning. He let his arm drop away from her. "Go up and wait for me."

"No, Loki. You need to come with me. Now." She caught him by the hand and gave a gentle tug. "Please?"

He tried to shake her off, but she refused to release him. "McKenna, enough. Let go of me."

"Loki-"