Val said something to her, and Elle continued across the lawn toward the outer gate and into the mists beyond.
Every day? Well then, maybe-
It was too late. They’d disappeared into the mist.
Thor stared at where they’d just stood. Who was Elle, and why did she need a caretaker? Why was she in Helheim? He rubbed his fingers together, remembering the strange warmth that had stirred within him at the touch of her soft, delicate hand.
Loki chuckled and slapped him on the shoulder. "Has the mighty Thor finally found a match?"
“Who is she?”
“The blonde?”
Thor growled, making Loki chuckle harder. “Easy. Her name is Elle.”
“I got that. Elle who?”
Loki shrugged and looked away. “Just Elle.”
Thor’s gut told him Loki was lying. “Why was her friend talking to you?”
“You know I can’t tell you that, privilege and all.”
“That’s stupid human B.S. You don’t even believe in it.”
Loki sighed. “They needed some papers to live on Midgard. Human stuff. I helped them out.”
“Where are they from?”
Loki held up his hands. “If you want any more information, go ask her yourself. I’m not a messenger or information god. Herm is the one you want for that.”
Thor eyed him. "You seemed in unusually banterous form with her blonde friend, Val. I thought you said you were happy with your rotating bed partners."
Loki gritted his teeth and focused on the direction the women had gone. "Val is business, nothing more."
Thor snorted. "I saw how you followed her out. How you looked at her.”
“I was simply making sure she found her friend.”
Thor snorted. “You keep telling yourself that, cousin.”
Loki’s eyes flashed icy, and for a minute, Thor thought he might say something more. Instead, he gave his ever-annoying smug smile, removed his suit jacket, and loosened his tie.
“Are you fighting tonight?" Thor asked.
"Yes." Loki removed his cufflinks and put them in his pants pocket. "I promised Baldur a rematch. Again."
Thor nodded. "Then I'll see you at the Throne."
Once, just once, he wished someone other than himself would hand Loki his pompous ass in the fight ring. But if he couldn’t get that, maybe getting out some of his own pent-up energy in the ring would be as good.
He lifted Mjölnir and jumped.
CHAPTER FOUR
Val set three steins of beer on the tray in front of Elle, sitting on the polished honey-colored bar, and pointed to a table. "Take these to table one."
Elle stared at the portal down to Helheim.
