“I wouldn’t say no, if I were you.”
“Out with it,” Scott snapped.
He had no idea why he was standing there, listening to the man when he should be trying to find his mate. He could chalk it up to Loki playing a trick on him, but deep down he knew he wasn’t.
“I want a life for a life,” Loki said.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Have you figured out why I hate your father so much?” Loki asked, walking around him.
“No, I figured you don’t discriminate with your hatred,” Scott said, watching the man’s every move.
“What I should be doing is thanking you, Scottland.”
“For what?”
“For showing me the proper ways of doing this,” Loki said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “You made me realize I was a shitty father. I mean what man would ask his son to kill for him when I should have been asking someone else to do it.” Loki stopped in front of him and sighed as if he was content with life.
“Where is my mate?” Scott asked.
“Safe for now, or what I would constitute as safe. His captor on the other hand, is dying to devour his soul. You know how those soulless beasts can get.”
“What the fuck did you do to him, Loki?” Scott growled and went to grab him, but the man backed away from his reach.
“So many questions. Yet, you’re asking all the wrong ones,” Loki grumbled.
“Fine, then tell me where my mate is before I kill you,” Scott demanded.
Loki threw his head back and laughed. “Kill me…you…you think you can kill me?” He continued to laugh, holding on to the counter. Before Scott could figure out what was happening, Loki had him by the neck and was slamming him to the ground. “I can never die, dear boy.” Scott struggled for breath as Loki’s fingers tightened around his neck. “And it’s a pity I am the one that can never kill you. The man destined by the fates and Odin is untouchable by a god like me who wants to see the life drain from your body. Be glad you have their blessing and that they are the only ones who can kill you.”
He released Scott who took in large gulps of air as he stood to his feet. “You’re a sick fuck,” Scott said, gasping for breaths.
“And you, dear nephew, will need to make a decision.”
“Just tell me what the fuck you want so I can find my mate,” Scott gasped.
“You have until midnight to kill Baldur, the blessed god of blah…blah…blah,” he said, waving his hand. “Or your mate, his sister, and their cute, little cubs die.”
“What?” Scott asked in shock. “You want me to kill Bearer?”
“Yes,” Loki responded as if he asked if the shirt, he was wearing was blue. “Or, you can have your mate and his sister be killed.”
“Why are you doing this, Loki? If you want to be Odin’s heir, I will give up my right to the thr…”
“I want more than that, Scottland,” Loki growled. “I want your entire bloodline to die. Odin promised to make me his blood son and his heir. Yet here I stand, the god of mischief, and the butt of everyone’s fucking jokes. He plays with my feelings as if I am some toy that can be discarded when he grows tired of me. I am tired of waiting for a man who promised me that if I helped him kill my father, he would give me the world. He would make me his son and heir, and yet he gives me nothing!”
“Odin would never ask you to kill your father. And if you have issues with him, you take it up with Odin and leave my fucking family out of it,” Scott said, defending his grand-Odin. “He might have done things in the past that you might not agree with, but it was for the greater good of the world and of the gods.”
Loki scoffed. “The pedestal you place him on is far greater than the one he deserves. And don’t you see, Scottland. You are his most treasured family. Yes, he adores Baldur, but you are the one he chose to take his place. So, I will stab him where it hurts the most. In his heart—with the one he considers his heart.”
“What happens if I find them before midnight?” Scott asked.
“What?”
“You said I had until midnight,” Scott said to him. “What happens if I find my mate and his sister before midnight?”
“I guess we’ll have to see what comes next, Scottland.” He went to disappear but stopped. “Oh, and make sure not involve the other gods. I only want the one dead.”
