Page 58 of Thor
“You’ll fuck me up?” I offered.
He nodded. “I loved his father.” Wincing, he said, “And his mother.”
The second part seemed to be an afterthought. I frowned but ignored it. I never understood Odin at the best of times. He was a smart man with a lot of secrets. “Would his mother have approved of me?”
“No,” he said without hesitation, his lips curving wickedly. “But she wouldn’t have made your life difficult because you make him smile.”
That was something, I supposed. When we’d talked about his family, Loki didn’t have much to say. He never really knew his father, who’d died when he was three, and his mother was also a distant memory. She had a bigger part in his life than his father, though. Odin was the constant, and having his approval meant everything to him, even if he didn’t say it.
“Thank you.”
He shrugged and straightened, turning to me. “Let’s go check on him. What did Godfrey say?”
“That he has broken bones, but no internal injuries. He’s unconscious from shock. Godfrey cleaned out his wounds and stitched them at a vet clinic. Should we have taken him to the hospital?”
“They’d ask too many questions. A call came in about your accident about ten minutes after you left. I’ve got a cop there, and he’ll keep us informed on what’s happening with the investigation.” He shifted closer and grabbed my shoulder, squeezing it comfortingly. “You’re just lucky it was an unusually quiet night on the roads.”
“I know.” I dipped my head forward. “I want to know how the Souls knew we were coming home and why they were waiting for us, and then I want to kill every single one of them.”
Odin’s face tightened and his mouth pressed into a thin line. “You and me both, boy. We’ll find out, trust me.”
I nodded, and Odin tilted his head, signaling me to follow him. Together, we walked back into the guest room, and I paused in surprise to see his eyes half open as he stared drowsily at Hoor, who had commandeered my chair. Hoor had his head bent forward, and he was whispering something, shoulders shaking. He wore his leather Norse Lords MC jacket, a white shirt underneath, jeans, and his black sunglasses. He kept talking as though he didn’t realize Loki was awake, and I managed to catch some of his words.
“Best brother I could have. I told you… and then….”
I cleared my throat, and Hoor’s head shot up. Loki turned to blink at us slowly and a smile spread across his beautiful mouth.
“Hi,” Loki whispered.
Hoor’s mouth parted, and he fell back into the chair in surprise. “You’re awake?”
Loki chuckled, but it came out wheezy, and a pained groan followed. “I didn’t want you to stop talking. I liked hearing what you had to say.”
I strode into the room to the other side of the bed, sitting on the edge near Loki’s thigh. Swiping my fingers over his forehead, I pushed his blond curls out of his face. “How are you feeling? Better? Like you want to murder someone?”
His smile brightened the entire room. “I’m sure you already killed them.”
Warmth spread through me, centering in my chest and spreading. I cupped his cheek and caressed his skin with my thumb. “I did.”
He fluttered his eyelashes at me and placed a hand on his chest. “My hero.”
I rolled my eyes at his teasing, and he laughed gently. “Loki, you’re going to be in pain. You have broken ribs. Do you feel them? We can get you meds.”
“I can handle some pain,” he whispered, darting a look at Odin. “Does he….”
“Yes, he knows.” I chuckled. “He’s known for a while. Caught us at the side of the house.”
His eyes widened. “Oops?”
Odin stepped farther inside the room, his expression loving as he stared at Loki. “You’re a troublemaker, Loki Ward. What am I going to do with you?”
“Keep me around?” he offered with a mischievous grin.
“That’s guaranteed.” Odin shifted to the bed, right in front of me, and leaned down to press a kiss to Loki’s forehead. He rubbed his head like a father who was proud of his child, and I was glad in that moment Hoor couldn’t see what was happening. Hearing Odin’s words alone had his face twisted in agony as he leaned back in the chair, hands tucked in his lap like a child who had been told he’d done something bad.
Godfrey entered the room, a serene smile on his face and his fingers linked together in front of him. He reminded me more of a priest than a doctor—if I ignored the purple hair and pierced nose. “I’m glad to see you’re awake. Painkillers?”
Loki tried to sit up and winced, holding his right arm against his chest. He huffed out a pained breath, grimacing. “You know what? Yeah. Get me the good shit.” Switching his gaze to me, he tilted his head. “Will you take care of me while I’m high as a kite?”
I grinned. “I might take advantage of you in that state.”
“Please do.” Loki winked.
Odin cleared his throat and left the room, clearly not interested in hearing anymore.
We both laughed.
