Read Online Fate Undone (The Mythean Arcana Series Book 5) by Linsey Hall - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Linsey Hall
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she liked the occasional meaningful glances they shared. His interest left her at a loss. If he wanted her for a tumble as the other gods occasionally did, he would say so. She’d refuse him, of course.
Wouldn’t she?
A sudden commotion at the high table drew her eye. Loki was on his feet, his midnight hair gleaming in the light of the torches. The forest green cloak that fell from his back was so rich in color that it sucked up the light. But it was his face that drew her eye and his rich, raspy voice that drew her ear.
“Your father doesn’t fuck your mother because you got there first,” he shouted at Baldr, who heaved to his feet to join Loki.
Baldr’s golden beauty gleamed in the torchlight and made Sigyn vaguely ill. Whatever he said under his breath made fury blaze on Loki’s face. Sigyn gasped when he threw himself at Baldr. The sound of Loki’s fist on Baldr’s face was a dull thud that sent a wash of nausea and joy through her.
A stupid, wishful part of her imagined that Loki was defending her from Baldr’s insults. He had taken up for her when Baldr had lashed out. But that couldn’t possibly be the case. The flyting had simply gotten out of hand as it always did when Loki played. He’d gone too far again. That was it.
Her heart jumped when Odin and Thor heaved to their feet and rushed around the high table toward Loki. They were upon him in seconds, meaty fists wrapped around Loki’s arms. He laughed as they dragged him from the hall and tossed him out the great doors. They turned to face the hall, their faces creased in annoyance.
Sigyn scowled.
They were like children. Able to hand out the insults but not to receive them. She glanced back up at the high table. The gods had all settled back into their seats and were tipping their mead toward their faces. Anger still creased some of their brows, but it would smooth out as the mead flowed.
Sigyn’s eyes raced over the table, checking the platters. All full. Or full enough. Before she could stop herself, she skirted around the edge of the mead hall, making sure to stick to the darkened edges, and raced out the small side door into the cold night.
Crisp air cleared her head immediately. What was she doing, chasing after the trickster god? According to the others, he was dangerous and she had much to lose. One day she would be a god, assured of her place in the Hall of Aesir, but for now, she was but a fatherless demigod. Her mother, her teacher, set strict rules.
If Sigyn broke them…
She shuddered at the thought of losing all she’d been working for and turned to go back into the hall.
“Did you follow me out into this cold night, little one?” The raspy voice sent a too-pleasant shiver through her.
She turned, unable to help herself. Loki stood in the shadows of the night, the moon lighting upon his pale skin. It caressed sharp cheekbones and a finely cut jaw, but was swallowed by the black eyes that raced across her face and body.
Her heart thundered in her chest. With fear, but with something more. His beauty made something deep inside of her twist hard, though his gaze reminded her that she should be afraid. As did his size. He towered over her, his shoulders broad beneath the cloak that protected him from the wind.
“Maybe I did,” she said, unable to stoke the fear that would keep her safe. He’d been nothing but kind to her in the week he’d been in Aesir. He’d defended her against Baldr. And though they’d never spoken, the glances they’d shared across the hall had held a dark meaning that intrigued her far more than was wise.
“Why would that be?” His voice dragged across her nerve endings in the most pleasant way.
“I’m not sure I want to tell you.” The corners of her lips curled up. Wait a second . She was flirting! It was dangerous. It was stupid.
But she couldn’t stop herself.
“Who are you? I’ve seen you about the hall.”
Her cheeks heated despite the bite of the cold night
Wouldn’t she?
A sudden commotion at the high table drew her eye. Loki was on his feet, his midnight hair gleaming in the light of the torches. The forest green cloak that fell from his back was so rich in color that it sucked up the light. But it was his face that drew her eye and his rich, raspy voice that drew her ear.
“Your father doesn’t fuck your mother because you got there first,” he shouted at Baldr, who heaved to his feet to join Loki.
Baldr’s golden beauty gleamed in the torchlight and made Sigyn vaguely ill. Whatever he said under his breath made fury blaze on Loki’s face. Sigyn gasped when he threw himself at Baldr. The sound of Loki’s fist on Baldr’s face was a dull thud that sent a wash of nausea and joy through her.
A stupid, wishful part of her imagined that Loki was defending her from Baldr’s insults. He had taken up for her when Baldr had lashed out. But that couldn’t possibly be the case. The flyting had simply gotten out of hand as it always did when Loki played. He’d gone too far again. That was it.
Her heart jumped when Odin and Thor heaved to their feet and rushed around the high table toward Loki. They were upon him in seconds, meaty fists wrapped around Loki’s arms. He laughed as they dragged him from the hall and tossed him out the great doors. They turned to face the hall, their faces creased in annoyance.
Sigyn scowled.
They were like children. Able to hand out the insults but not to receive them. She glanced back up at the high table. The gods had all settled back into their seats and were tipping their mead toward their faces. Anger still creased some of their brows, but it would smooth out as the mead flowed.
Sigyn’s eyes raced over the table, checking the platters. All full. Or full enough. Before she could stop herself, she skirted around the edge of the mead hall, making sure to stick to the darkened edges, and raced out the small side door into the cold night.
Crisp air cleared her head immediately. What was she doing, chasing after the trickster god? According to the others, he was dangerous and she had much to lose. One day she would be a god, assured of her place in the Hall of Aesir, but for now, she was but a fatherless demigod. Her mother, her teacher, set strict rules.
If Sigyn broke them…
She shuddered at the thought of losing all she’d been working for and turned to go back into the hall.
“Did you follow me out into this cold night, little one?” The raspy voice sent a too-pleasant shiver through her.
She turned, unable to help herself. Loki stood in the shadows of the night, the moon lighting upon his pale skin. It caressed sharp cheekbones and a finely cut jaw, but was swallowed by the black eyes that raced across her face and body.
Her heart thundered in her chest. With fear, but with something more. His beauty made something deep inside of her twist hard, though his gaze reminded her that she should be afraid. As did his size. He towered over her, his shoulders broad beneath the cloak that protected him from the wind.
“Maybe I did,” she said, unable to stoke the fear that would keep her safe. He’d been nothing but kind to her in the week he’d been in Aesir. He’d defended her against Baldr. And though they’d never spoken, the glances they’d shared across the hall had held a dark meaning that intrigued her far more than was wise.
“Why would that be?” His voice dragged across her nerve endings in the most pleasant way.
“I’m not sure I want to tell you.” The corners of her lips curled up. Wait a second . She was flirting! It was dangerous. It was stupid.
But she couldn’t stop herself.
“Who are you? I’ve seen you about the hall.”
Her cheeks heated despite the bite of the cold night
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