He supposed he deserved her frustration, all things considered. He had been the one who relayed the prophecy that he and his kin would be connecting with women across time. So he had known there was a woman out there meant for him when he’d fallen in love with Revna. There had been no stopping it, though. No staying true to a perfect stranger when those feelings first ignited.
“Regrettably, as we all know, youwillneed something from Tor eventually,” came Loki’s voice moments before he appeared in a burst of flames behind Raven. “Otherwise, there’s no hope for my Forge.”
Tor had no idea he was moving until he was at the bottom of the deck stairs. Had no idea he closed the distance between him and Raven until he watched her turn and eye Loki up and down, much like Revna had been doing lately. With unmistakable womanly interest. He clenched his fists when the god looked her over with equal fervor. When he somehow, despite her ethereal state, yanked her close and kissed her hard.
Everyone seemed dumbstruck. Unsure how to respond. Especially when Raven seemed to cozy right into the exchange. When she melted against the god and kissed him right back. Though clueless about what to make of Raven's bold action, her sisters knew enough to keep a wary eye to the sky. With good reason too. One never knew what kind of weather her various moods might incite.
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that,” Raven murmured, reluctantly ending a kiss she shouldn’t have been able to return. She trailed a finger down Loki’s chest and offered a sultry smile that made things come to attention in Tor that shouldn’t be coming to attention.
“This one can handle my low vibrational leveljustfine,” Raven purred, winking at Loki. “No worries over the weather.”
Tor heard she was forced to give up men years ago. That she hadn't ever lain with one because their emotions were too volatile. They could drag her too low. Yet, here Loki was handling her with ease. Handling her when mere mortals couldn’t physically touch her.
“And here you were worried about your Forge, Loki,” Tor growled before he could stop himself. “If anyone’s a threat to it, it’s you.”
“Oh, this won’t hurt my Forge any,” Loki said dismissively. He didn’t release Raven or bother glancing Tor’s way. “If anything, it will help it along.” Of all things, he looked at her with a sense of accomplishment. As though he had been after that kiss for some time. “Won’t it, you little demon?”
Rather than respond to Loki, Raven slid a sultry look Tor’s way, arousing him even further, toying with him, before she rolled her eyes. “You have a lot of nerve being jealous, dragon.” She walked her fingers back up Loki’s chest and licked her lips. “Considering you’ve been sampling far more than I.” Her tone shifted. “Sampling when I couldn’t.” Her eyes flared with fire. “Sampling despite knowing you were meant for someone else.”
He wasn’t sure what to make of her other than she didn’t seem herself. Not that he knew her that well. Or at least didn’t remember knowing her. Yet, at the moment, he did in ways that made little sense. Ways that made him want to close the distance, rip her out of Loki’s arms and remind her she was his. That they were meant for each other.
Madefor one another.
Having clearly accomplished what she’d set out to do, Raven stepped away from Loki. “So why am I like this? What do you know?” She arched a brow at the god. “Because I don’t doubt, for a second, you know more than you’re saying.”
“I know that it’s time for you to go.” Loki glanced from Tor back to her. “Both of you.”
“I gathered as much,” she replied dryly. “And I will.” She shook her head. “But not until you tell me why I can see my sisters but can’t sense them anymore. Why I’m a ghost when I thought astral projecting was my thing?”
“All will be answered eventually, I imagine,” Loki replied vaguely, still eyeing her as though she wore no clothing. “Until then, it grows dangerous for you to remain here now that it’s begun.”
Tor frowned. “What’s begun?”
“This,” Raven murmured, apparently understanding something. “Me turning into a wraith.”
Almost as if her words invoked it, called to it, a raven landed on the railing and looked around as if seeking something out.
Orsomeone.
“I know that bird,” Maya murmured. “It flew into the house the first time I showed up here.”
“Because it was looking for someone,” Raven said softly. “Me.”
“Just like it is now,” Tor and Dagr said at the same time, pulling their blades free.
“Yet it can’t see you, can it?” Tor realized, noticing the bird didn’t look directly at her. “Because you’re a ghost, and it’s....” What, exactly? Or, more specifically,who? “Mórrígan? Carman?”
Goddess Mórrígan was known for shifting into a raven when it suited her, so it made perfect sense. She had been regaining her strength since battling Destiny and Leviathan. Now it seemed she might have returned.
“Go,” Loki said darkly, confirming Tor’s suspicion. “All of you go. Take your aunt with you because nobody is safe here anymore.”
Tor felt Jade and Thorulf’s frustration that they couldn’t ask how to transport Raven for fear of the goddess overhearing. As it were, how did one transport a ghost? It seemed Loki knew, though, because everything changed in the blink of an eye, and Tor ended up in the last place he expected.
