Loki's Daughter Book 3

Freedom with a catch

A month passes and things are fine. Alec and Val are together whenever they can. Archer my brother slowly migrates into Val's family and turns out to be a great uncle to her kids. Him and Loki gain a lost bond which made every Saturday night family night with lots of laughter and I notice everyone was able to relax. All the threats were gone or so we thought. Val sits and watches as Alex carves the roast. I notice that every time Val looks at me, I try to put on a big smile for her but I can't help shake the feeling that I'm trapped. Like I'm still being punished for helping her stay alive. Like Odin and Thor have come to some silent agreement to never give me my freedom. With every passing day no matter how big Asgard with the spell still up to stop me from leaving Asgard it feels smaller almost like the barriers are slowly creeping in and closing on me. I still don't have my freedom and I'm starting to think I never will get it. Val doesn't know it but she and Thor both can give me my freedom any day they want but neither of them do. If anything, they avoid the topic.

'What's wrong Raven?' Valarie asks me once she, Alec and Thor have put her kids to bed.

I look up from my phone. I have become more and more dependent on it helps me feel less trapped. In fact, I use my phone more then I use my magic now.

'This ass hole deliberately keeps using the wrong word,' I tell her as I wave my phone around.

She laughs a little. 'That's not what I meant Raven.'

'Well then what do you mean?' I reply not concentrating as I furiously text a reply to the dumbass.

'I mean why do you pretend so much.'

I close my phone and look up at her, noticing as everyone else stands awkwardly at the doors or along the walls.

'Why do I pretend what so much?'

'To be happy? I know you're not happy. Every time I look over you may put on a big smiles but I mean come on. You're the freaking goddess of lies. I know you lie a lot. Especially about your emotions. I know something is bothering you. So, tell me Raven what's wrong?'

'Don't you ever want to talk about your emotions, Raven?' my brother pipes in.

'No,' I reply simply.

'I do,' Val pipes up.

'I know Val,' my brother replies his gaze fully on me.

'I'm sad,' she says her lip wavering.

'I know Val,' my brother rises his hands out slightly to the side as a 'see that wasn't so hard,' gesture.

'I don't talk about my emotions because of my past.'

'Exactly. Past. Meaning its behind you. Meaning that they are all behind you. You got rid of them all. You can move on. It's just us here Raven you're fine. You can talk to us.'

I ignore her as I play on my phone again. A hand wraps around my phone and yanks it out of my grip.

'Hey! Give it back!' I growl.

'Hush, the children are sleeping.'

'So what? Gimme my phone,' my words start to slur together.

'Raven,' my brother sighs as he sits down next to me and drapes his arm over my shoulders. I flinch and quickly move out from under his arm.

'Don't touch me.'

'When was the last time you slept?' he asks softly.

I laugh. 'Just how stupid do you think I am? I'm not talking.'

'Please Raven. Please talk to me about it. About whatever is bothering you.'

''m fine. 'm 'kay. Jesus Christ. No need to worry about me,' I snap as I stand up and snatch my phone back. I make my way to the door when a hand grabs my shoulder as normal.