Conjuring the cell phone I used for my Midgardian Tod identity, I sent a message to Lu Dongbin, the Xian Leader of Eight Immortals. Hoping he wouldn't find it presumptuous, I asked for a meeting tomorrow anywhere on the Bohai Sea. I knew it was the location of the Eight Immortals' island residence. Despite knowing of its presence, I'd never been there on any of my previous trips to the region for diplomatic visits or my Midgardian career. 

It was shielded from mortal sight.

I'd seen Lu in his mortal Simu Lang identity at various Marvel events over the past year since Aidan was born, and we continued our carefully polite exchanges. He'd been on the red carpet during Shannon's unexpected appearance due to our son's portalling abilities. His assistance with subtly changing the mortals' recollection of the event and corrupting the video footage had allowed us to shift the focus to Shannon going into labour, instead of her appearance out of thin air. I hoped he would be equally willing to work with me now.

Shannon, Elatha, and I finished our meal of fish stew and were relaxing, chatting as we sat around the curved glass-topped table, when my phone buzzed with Lu's reply. Mount Penglai at noon. He'd supplied coordinates, but Elatha already knew the location.

"We have the island on our maps," Elatha said, an amused half-smile stretching those full lips. With a touch, a pale blue holographic screen rose above the centre of the table, and using voice commands, he pulled up the information to display.

"Their cloaking doesn't work against your technology?" Shannon asked as she traced a finger along the contours of the three-dimensional map.

"No. Ours doesn't rely on just physical dimensions, but takes planetary energetics, gravity, and other mass-less dimensions into account. Their cloaking works well enough for mortals, cleverly diverting their submarines, now that humans have the ability to travel underwater. It's similar to our methods of keeping mortals from finding our outposts, although many are still too deep for their craft to penetrate," Elatha said, shrugging. "We so rarely interact with the Shen that I think they've forgotten our presence on this planet. I'd have to confirm with my brother, but I don't believe we've encountered them in the last couple thousand Litaui years."

"Is it a problem if you come with us, then?" I asked, meeting his gaze. "I wouldn't want to accidentally start a conflict between Atlantia and Kunlun if this goes sideways."

Elatha's lips pressed together as he tilted his head and scratched his jaw. He looked away, ran his hand through his hair, then locked eyes with me again. He shook his head in a single sharp motion. "No, it's fine. They are going to find out you've got a second consort one way or another. I'd rather be upfront about it."

A curl of pleasure warmed inside me and I agreed. I suspected Elatha's presence would be important for us to get to Helheim and retrieve Baldur, or the Norns wouldn't have specified the three of us in the prophecy. Besides, I was already planning on doing something I didn't think the Shen would easily agree to. If I could avoid pissing them off by getting permission for the three of us to travel through their lands, all the better.

But that was an issue for tomorrow. I still had much to accomplish today. Pulling out the throwing knives Goibhniu crafted for Shannon, I laid them individually on the table as Elatha ended the map display.

"What do you need from me to finish the weapons?" Shannon asked, eyes gleaming as she added her sais to the row.

Amusement had me smiling. "Since my two consorts ensured my energy is all topped up, I'm just going to need to concentrate to add the runes. Once I've added them and while the metal is still actively resonating along the dimensional energies, I'll help you bond your essence to each blade. With our soulmate bond, you can let me in and I'll show you how to do it with your mind, unless you'd rather use blood?" My eyebrow rose as met her gaze and waited for her answer.

Shannon slid her hand over my arm in a slow caress, with a little smile flirting at her lips. "I'm sure in my mind will be fine, and I'm aware of your opinion of those who resort to using blood."

Warmth stirred at her touch and I shrugged a shoulder. She wasn't wrong. There was no reason to use such a rudimentary fluid-based technique when seidhr would get it done with more precision and less mess. Laying my fingers on the first blade, I allowed my mind to see the dimensional energy within the metal. Once I found the weave of Helheim's dimensional matrix, I twisted the strands into runes, character by character, until ᛊᛟᚢᛚ ᛞᛖᚦ glowed through the layers.

"Now Shannon, open your mind and let me guide you," I told her as the new runes on the knife continued to glow with my black seidhr.

Taking her hand, I placed it on the blade. With her barriers down, I guided her down the pathway. Like another form of seeing, I coaxed open her mental eye to the dimensional matrix.

"Oh wow. Loki, this is incredible! So many connections. So many interwoven strands. This is what you meant about Asgardian science seeing the fuller picture." Her tone was quietly reverent, and pleasure at being able to show her this, my goddess scientist, had the warm glow expanding within my chest.

"Yes. Now, we wrap your seidhr through those strands. Imagine your energy in visual form, weaving through," I instructed and smiled as cerulean waves materialized, linking to the matrix. "Open your eyes, darling. Look at the knife."

Under her fingertips, the runes on the blade glowed with the same blue-green shade as her seidhr. Shannon's eyes widened as she allowed her fingers to trace over them.

"What do the runes say?" she murmured.

I tilted my head as I considered. "Loosely translated, death of the soul."

"So no reincarnation? No chance at restoration if killed with one of those blades?" Elatha asked from the other side of the table where he'd quietly observed the process. He lifted a throwing knife and turned it in his fingers.

"Exactly. If something is killed with these blades, their essence is released into the dimensional matrices," I confirmed, meeting his gaze when he looked up from the blade.

Eyes narrowed, Elatha's lips curled at the edges of his mouth, like he was pleased with how deadly the weapons were. Perhaps he also wanted Shannon to be as lethal as possible. After all, the more dangerous she was, the less at risk she'd be from enemies. He certainly didn't seem threatened by the idea of powerful women, if his culture was anything to go by.

Good.

With a gleam in his silver starburst eyes, Elatha returned the knife to the table.

"Ready to do another, Shannon?" I asked.

"Absolutely!" she said, hazel eyes bright and eager.

Both of my consorts, so willing to walk a deadly path with me. I couldn't help but be optimistic as I added the runes to the next blade and helped Shannon entwine it with her essence. Working through each one, Shannon barely needed my help after the first half dozen.

At some point, Elatha made us pause for another meal, but I kept our break brief. I wanted Shannon's weapons ready before we left tomorrow. Although her enthusiasm kept her from noticing the energetic drain of manifesting her seidhr for the first time, exhaustion dragged at us like the weight of an auroch by the time we finished.

When we headed to bed, I put Shannon between Elatha and I. The last thing I needed was to wake up and discover I'd given into my lust for him while half asleep. Given the energy Shannon and I had used, I knew we'd be recharging it before we left the bed in the morning.

And it was a good thing I'd taken the precaution.

Whether it was Elatha projecting his thoughts to Shannon or simply her thoughts alone, I woke up entwined around her, cock buried within her warm, wet depths. Mouths met and fingers plundered, and when we'd caught our breath after, it was to the sight of Elatha admiring us while stroking himself.

With her riding his face, I gave in to my need, pinned his hips down and thoroughly devoured that gorgeous length. He tasted like the sea, and I enjoyed bringing him to the edge over and over, until he broke down and pleaded. 

Such a sweet sound to hear him beg for release. 

I rewarded him, leaving him twitching and panting.

"Okay, my lazy consorts. It's time to get out of this huge bed." Energy restored, I smacked Elatha and Shannon both on their asses, grinning when they yelped and a nice red mark rose on Shannon's skin.

"Shells, Loki. You've scrambled my brains and now you're abusing my ass?" Elatha said, rubbing one hand on his butt.

I raised an eyebrow.

Shannon covered her mouth to hide her smile.

"Are you trying to tell me you think with your cock?" I asked him, letting my voice drop into a purr. "And if you think that was abusing your ass, I'm going to have far too much fun educating you on what abusing your ass really feels like."

Yeah, I had plenty of ideas for my consorts and all kinds of enjoyable things to teach them.

Elatha bit his lip, then laughed. "Based on that look on your face, why do I think your version might be a little painful and a lot enjoyable? And no, my brains are not in my cock, but it certainly feels connected to it of late!"

I smirked, allowing a chuckle to escape as I strode to the bathroom. After that wake-up, it didn't take us long to be on our way. Even if I enjoyed Shannon's hot little mouth while Elatha took her from behind under the warm rainfall of the shower.

The three hour swim went quickly and when the shore of the island came within sight, I shifted back to my usual form so the three of us walked up the black sand beach together. Waiting between white marble pillars above the beach, Lu Dongbin stood, a long silver sword strapped to his back with the hilt rising above his right shoulder. His yellow and brown robes stirred in the light breeze. As we reached him, his lips stretched into a smile of welcome.

"Welcome Prince Loki, Princess Shannon, and Prince Elatha," Lu said, bowing to each of us in turn.

We nodded and returned his greeting, only to see his smile broaden and brown eyes twinkle. "While I'm sure there is something important you wish to discuss, I'd be remiss in not pointing out the humour of an Elf, an Atlantean, and an Asgardian visiting the home of the Eight Drunken Masters."

My lips twitched. I enjoyed Lu's sense of humour. "Are you saying we are the start of a joke?"

"Indeed, Loki. And a fine one."

Lu gestured to the path ahead, and we followed him through the pillars. It was a portal, depositing us high on the mountainside in an open marble courtyard with a shining white temple built into the rock on three sides. Cooler at this elevation, the scent of the ocean was only the faintest of traces as the breeze coiled itself around us and ruffled our hair.

An odd group of individuals sparred in the space. An elderly man, white hair tied back, dove onto his hands in a surprising demonstration of spryness, only to kick back with both feet at both his opponents. Yet his opponents were equally unusual. One dark haired middle-aged man stood on a single leg, holding an iron cane that he used to deflect the kick. The other man was large and muscular, taller than his opponents by a foot at least and younger as well. He caught the kick, twisted and shoved the elderly man away.

Two women fought. The dark-haired one twisted and spun, her long hair flying out as her hands darted in to attack. The other, white hair in a topknot, swayed and swerved a with sinuous skill, keeping just out of reach.

The final pairing were two slender males, appearing perhaps in their early twenties. Yet they were entirely opposite in appearance. Bright flashing colours adorned the close-cropped, dark haired man who moved in lunges. The other, with long ebony hair braided back from his narrow face, held a silver flute and used it to deflect the attempts of the other to capture his wrist, smacking the fingers away.

All three groups halted after a few minutes, bowing to each other, then turning to us. Lu introduced us and then led us inside to a bright room with long white curtains billowing in the cool breeze from the open pillar windows, and a long white marble table set with refreshments. After we'd settled and the others joined us, Lu looked at me expectantly.

Splaying my hands wide, I nodded to each of them. "We appreciate the value of your time and attention, and welcome into your home. Our son, Prince Aidan, has been cursed. The only way to save his life is to travel to Helheim, what you call Diyu, to restore the life of my brother, Baldur, God of light," I explained.

Lu inclined his head. "What do you need from us?"

"The current gate to Helheim is in the Wei River Valley in the Shaanxi Province of China. We request permission to travel through your lands to the gate and back once we return."

Lu frowned slightly, looking around at his fellow Immortals. "I don't see an issue with that."

"We have one additional request that I recognize is unusual. However, a large portable energy source must be exchanged with Hades, who you call Yama, to get his agreement to allow Baldur to cross the bridge back into Midgard."

Lu's brows lowered as he held my gaze. "What energy source?"

"We need a nuclear warhead from China's arsenal." Not looking away from Lu, I sensed Shannon's shock at my answer. With everything else that had happened and the distractions of my consorts, I'd forgotten to talk to her about my idea.

A bark of a laugh burst out from the woman with the white hair and she slapped the table. "Surely you jest, Prince Loki! We cannot give you a weapon you might turn against the mortals we protect."

"I assure you, Lan, I do not jest. Nor do I have any intention of harming any mortals. My sole purpose is to rescue my brother and thereby save my son."

"A worthy goal, to be sure, Prince Loki," said the elderly Zhang, oldest appearing of the Immortals. "However, you can understand our hesitation."

Cao snorted, waving his brightly coloured sleeve dismissively and rolling his eyes.

Ignoring Cao, but meeting Zhang's dark eyes, I inclined my head respectfully. "I do, yes, which is why I'd like to propose that you send whomever you wish with us to ensure it is safely transported through the gate to Helheim and away from any potential risk to the mortals."

"That is reasonable," said Han in a soft voice, passing his flute from hand to hand. "If we are present, we can ensure the risk is minimized."

"Are we agreed then on accompanying Prince Loki, Princess Shannon, and Prince Elatha to take a nuclear warhead and ensure they pass into Diyu with it?" Lu asked, getting nods as he met the eyes of each of the Eight Immortals. 

All except Cao, who scowled for another minute, then flicked a hand and gave a curt nod.