Loki stepped next to Val, his eyes darkening, and a faint glow of blue magic appeared in his hand.
"Did all of you know?" Thor yelled. "Am I the only one not in on the joke?"
Elle took a step forward, but Meili pulled her back and whispered something in her ear.
Thunder rolled louder above the building.
"Thor." Frigg moved gracefully toward him. "It's not like that. Elle's mother was a dear friend who Surtr kidnapped at Ragnarök. We thought she had died. When Val sent me word about Elle, I had to help. I loved her mother like a sister. And Val is a Valkyrie. One of our own."
Thor looked to her. "You. You're the one who told me to come to your masquerade. You knew she would be there. You knew we would meet."
"Your fate and the fate of the fire giants have been tied together since the beginning of time. Did I know it would be Surtr's daughter who would heal your heart? No. I only knew someone would. And that someone would be from the house of Surtr."
"And you," he said to Odin. "You knew who she was when you saw us together, didn't you?"
Odin crossed his sinewy arms over his chest. “Yes."
Thor's heart pounded so loud it rivaled the thunder booming overhead. They knew. They all knew. And no one told him.
His gaze met Elle's, and tears welled in her eyes. He wanted to go to her. To tell her it didn't matter. He didn't care who her father was. That he loved her and that was all that mattered. But he couldn't.
Thor grabbed his hammer from inside his jacket and pointed it skyward before anyone spoke. His feet lifted from the floor and disappeared into the sky.
Elle stood paralyzed. Unable to do anything more than watch Thor disappear. She wasn't sure how he'd found out the truth; she was only upset that he hadn't found out about it from her. She should have told him the truth. Should have forced him to listen and let her tell him who she was. Maybe he would have reacted the same, maybe he wouldn't have. It didn't matter; all that mattered was that he thought his entire family had lied to him. That she had lied to him. And now… he was gone.
Elle set down the dish towel she'd been using and walked toward the exit.
Val grasped her arm. Elle stared at her for a moment.
"I should have told him."
Val's mouth opened and closed several times. Her eyes held compassion Elle had never seen before.
Elle peered around the group and offered a weak smile. "Thank you all for a lovely meal. I think I should go." She curtsied low, though every fiber of her body told her she wasn’t worthy of anything more than groveling for their forgiveness.
"Elle, stay," said Frigg. "Thor will move beyond this. Trust me."
Elle nodded. "Thank you, Lady Frigg, but I think I'd like to go back to my apartment."
"I'll take you," said Val.
Elle held up her hand, stopping her friend. "I don't want you to miss out."
"Let me take you," Meili offered.
Elle shook her head. "I'll be fine."
She turned for the door, her limbs heavy and her gut hollow. She’d lost him. She’d been so afraid she’d lose him if she told him, but not telling him had been a thousand times worse. Now she had ruined not only her relationship with Thor but also his family’s relationships as well.
Frigg walked to her side and linked her arm with Elle’s. "I’ll go. I have to go pick up a few things at the Raven Weaver anyway."
Elle wanted to protest, but Frigg was right; she shouldn't go alone, plus she wasn't sure she'd find her way back.
"Thank you, Lady Frigg."
"Frigg. Or Auntie Frigg, if you prefer. I meant what I said. Your mother was like a sister to me."
Elle nodded.
