Baldur was surprising. Given the little I knew about him from human mythology—even recognizing as inaccurate as that was—he was more charismatic than I expected. If someone had told me that Loki and Baldur were blood brothers, not just adoptive brothers, I would have believed it. Yet he was also strong like Thor, although not nearly as boisterous. Instead, his amusement was easier on the ears.

A gracious host, he showed us around the island, pointing out a little reading cave tucked away by a burbling waterfall and pool, with a lantern and comfortable couch. It was clear he remembered his brother's love of stories, as Loki couldn't stop himself from browsing Baldur's pile of books. With a flashing grin, he picked one and settled down to enjoy it, waving us onward to continue to explore.

Numerous waterfalls and pools, both freshwater and salt, provided small glimpses into the local sea life. Baldur introduced Elatha and me to the numerous colourful fish and glowing squid in the pools of corals, sea grass, and bioluminescent sea cucumbers. Although it didn't seem to affect Elatha, I noticed a distinct energy drain when I held or approached too close to the creatures and vegetation. Keeping back to observe at a distance, I listened to Baldur and Elatha discuss the intricacies of bioluminescent organisms with great enthusiasm. Elatha remained, conversing with several squid as Baldur and I continued to walk.

Stopping at another pool, Baldur gave a glowing blue squid a few instructions, after which it darted off through the energy barrier and into the blue depths of the ocean beyond.

A messenger service? "Who's Ennugi?" I asked, repeating the name Baldur had told the squid to find and bring here.

"The ferryman," Baldur explained. "I can't swim through the depths or fly across the skies like the three of you. Nor do I have my own boat. But as a former god, I'm permitted to travel throughout Helheim as long as I don't attempt to pass through one of the gates without Hades' permission."

I nodded. "A boat would be great. Even though Elatha and I benefit from the water, it still uses more energy for us to swim any distance at speed than the amount of energy we gain." I gripped Baldur's forearm and squeezed lightly as I held his gaze. "And I'm concerned about Loki. I know I'm a baby immortal and have a small ability to retain energy, but Loki's not. He's the Black Prince of Asgard, the strongest mage. He shouldn't be having this much trouble with his energy balance when he was fine during the time he spent with Hades creating his sword."

Baldur's eyes widened, then a grin stretched his lips as he patted my hand. "I can tell you are worried about him, Shannon, but it gladdens my heart to hear the way you speak of my little brother. It's wonderful to discover the potential I always saw in him has come to fruition. He was so confused and hurting when I died—a child only on the cusp of maturity by our standards."

"Yet from my point of view, he's ancient." I laughed, winked, and dropped my hand from his arm. "Shhh... don't tell him I said that."

Baldur chuckled and winked back. "Your secret is safe with me."

"Still, your forgiveness means a lot to him, Baldur. Knowing so little about you, and after my unpleasant experience with Isis, I was worried you'd feel the same."

His golden brows lowered into a frown. "The same? Isis blamed Loki?"

"Many did and hated him for it. Not Thor, Odin, or Frigga, fortunately, but many others did and still do."

Baldur looked away, rubbed his forehead, and sighed. "I love my wife, but we will be having words. How she can have such compassion for mortal women and children, yet none for immortals is beyond me." Turning back, he stretched an arm out in front of him. "Come, let me show you the rest of my island and you can tell me what you know of my wife."

As we strolled along a smooth white path beside the pillars of the palace, I told him of meeting Isis and related some of the time spent with her. How would she respond to having her soulmate back? Loki and I had already discussed stopping in Egypt before going to Alfheim to confront Badb. I wanted to reunite Isis and Baldur as soon as possible. After all she'd done for me in helping me explore my powers and settle into the idea of immortality, I owed her that.

Even if she'd turned on me at the end.

By the time we passed the end of the palace, the mild exhaustion I'd noticed by the pools had deepened to leaden feet. Walking seemed such effort.

"Shannon? Are you okay, Shannon?" Baldur asked, and I forced my eyes open.

My head swirled, a sudden dizziness plaguing me. "I just need to recharge my energy. It would probably be a good idea if Loki, Elatha, and I rested before the ferryman gets here."

"Yes, I agree. Let me carry you in to a rest chamber inside and your consorts can join you. It will take Ennugi a day to get here, so the earliest we'd be leaving is tomorrow afternoon."

The ground tilted and Baldur scooped me up, carrying me while I spoke to both Loki and Elatha telepathically, letting them know where they could find me. The palace was bright and shining with light when we entered. It didn't surprise me that the rest chamber had a sky light, with white walls that made the most of the available light.

Baldur deposited me on a large, soft bed.

"I don't have any of the massive beds the Atlanteans favour in their polyamorous culture, so the three of you will have to get cozy. Not that I expect that's an issue for you," Baldur winked. He pointed to a jug of water and glasses. "That is fresh and safe for you. I don't want you emerging until the three of you are bursting with energy."

As he went to close the door, he paused at the sound of the approaching voices. "I'll just leave this open for them. Have fun, little sister." He grinned and gave me a little wave, then turned the corner out of my sight.

Baldur's voice joined Elatha's and Loki's, but the words blended and blurred. Whatever they discussed, laughter ensued multiple times. Unable to keep my eyes open any longer, I drifted off to the reassuring sounds.

Waking later, Loki and Elatha were wrapped around me. As I stretched, Elatha opened his eyes, letting them drift down my naked body.

Wait. Hold up. When did I get naked? Wracking my brain, I had brief flashes of the three of us entwined, ecstasy surging through my body. "Wow, I must have been really zonked. I don't remember the two of you getting here and only brief memories of the fun that ensued."

Elatha frowned. "Really?" His expression cleared, and he wiggled his eyebrows. "You were quite vocal and definitely expressed your demands, my sexy goddess."

"Clearly, we need to remind you again," Loki's voice purred from behind me, and he set out to do just that.

After falling asleep again afterwards, then a meal, and a third round of lovemaking, slow and gentle this time, I pushed my way out of the pile of limbs.

"Okay, you two layabouts. I don't know about you, but I am going to go clean up with a swim." I smacked Loki on the ass as I got to my feet.

His dark eyebrow rose. "Trying to tempt me, darling?"

I walked to the door, not bothering with clothes, and looked over my shoulder to wink at him before I disappeared around the corner. His laugh followed me as I made my way outside. It was dark, but the bioluminescent sea life provided a soft glow around the island and the light on the horizon suggested dawn wasn't far off.

As much as I would have liked to explore that sea life, I couldn't afford the energy. Instead, I walked to the pool under the tall waterfall and dove in. Cool salt water surrounded me. Churning with the force from the waterfall's height, it kept sea life away, and I allowed myself to float.

Two more splashes announced Loki and Elatha's arrival and within minutes, hands found flesh as we came together in a musical ballet of bodies and sound.

"Are you clean now, or should we wash you some more?" Loki purred against my ear as he held the three of us together.

I smirked and shook my head. Insatiable consorts. "Actually, I was thinking that since we have to wait for the ferryman anyway, perhaps I should grow some seeds and replenish our food supply," I suggested.

Loki paused in kissing my neck. "That is an excellent idea. I'll go get the seeds, while you and Elatha find a clear spot of ground. It needs to have no native Helheim vegetation." Releasing me, he swam to the water's edge and climbed out.

"The seeds are in a little wooden box," I told him as Elatha and I swam to the edge.

Loki waved a hand to acknowledge me, and Elatha and I got out. Mosses and ferns grew by the water, transitioning to grasses as the ground grew drier. The white stone pavers of the path drew my eye.

"What's under that stone, Elatha?"

He dug his fingers under the edge of the paver and flipped it onto the grass. "Dirt," he confirmed. Moving along, he lifted a row of stones until a clear area about two metres by half a metre appeared.

Loki returned with the box and I opened it to look at the little black seeds.

"Okay, we need holes in the ground about five centimetres apart and half a centimetre deep. You can use your fingers," I told them.

As they moved along, creating holes for me, I dropped a seed in and brushed the soil back over it. Elatha drew fresh water to us and sprinkled each hole to wet the seeds. It took an hour, but we planted a quarter of the seeds from the box.

The sun rose over the water and I sat cross-legged beside our little garden. Closing my eyes, I focused on each seed, seeing it swell with water, sprout and expand to maturity with the sunlight adding its energy. Over and over, I repeated the process.

I was only halfway done when Loki scooped me from the ground. Elatha was harvesting the tubers I'd finished growing.

"Wait! I'm not done! We still have more seeds," I said as he walked towards the palace.

"Indeed, but you have been growing seeds for four hours and you need energy."

"I'm fine. I want to finish."

Loki rumbled in his chest with the low deadly growl of the panther, green eyes narrowed into slits. "Your face is pale, and you were slumped, almost falling over, even sitting on the ground. You can either let Elatha and I recharge you, or you can fight us while we redden your sexy ass until you can't sit comfortably, then we'll still insist on recharging you before you grow more."

"Uh... I choose the first option," I squeaked, knowing Loki meant every single word of his threat.

"Wise," he snarled as he tossed me onto the bed.

By the time Elatha joined us, I was panting and limp from the first orgasm as Loki devoured me. Neither male stopped until sweat covered my skin, my body quivered with satisfaction, and my breath sawed raggedly from my heaving lungs. Closing my eyes, I fell asleep and woke an hour later.

I'd finished growing the last seed to maturity when Loki growled at me again.

"Damn it, Shannon. Stop driving yourself to the point of exhaustion!" After lifting me from the ground, he tossed me over his shoulder, slapped my ass, then stomped and grumbled all the way to the rest chamber.

My lips quirked in a smile. I'd gotten better at growing the seeds, not using quite as much energy with each one, and wasn't as wiped out this time. Enough that I had the energy to be amused by Loki's complaints.

"Love, are you really complaining because we need to make love?"

Loki's eyes narrowed and he once again tossed me onto the bed, letting me bounce.

He leaned down, his voice a low lethal purr. "I'm not going to make love to you this time, darling, and that delicious pussy has been pampered enough today. You've been spoiled. Instead, I'm going to fuck you unconscious and have Elatha fuck that sassy mouth of yours until the cum spills out of those pretty, pink lips."

Elatha walked in and his eyebrow raised. "I'm down with that idea. She is sassy. I think you should paddle her ass, then fuck it, while I fill that sassy mouth. If her needy little cunt wants attention, maybe she'll remember to not risk herself."

A shiver pebbled my nipples and rose gooseflesh. Gods, I loved their filthy language, but still. "What? No... I'm not sassy," I protested, rising to my knees with my hands on my hips.

Both Loki and Elatha snorted, eyed me, then looked at each other and smiled.

Damn it. I saw it in their eyes. They'd decided, and while I didn't truly object, I wasn't sure about the wisdom of letting them run roughshod over me. Although... that one time Loki had spanked me had been pretty damn hot.

"Corner of the bed, Shannon. Hands and knees," Loki demanded.

A coil of heat stirred at the raw carnality in his eyes and I shifted into position. Loki stood behind me at the foot of the bed and Elatha in front of me at the side of the bed. With Loki's touch on the torc at my collarbone, my clothes disappeared. His hand slowly caressed down my back and over my ass.

Crack.

I jolted in surprise, even knowing it was coming. A sharp stinging sensation and heat followed, spreading from the impact.

His hand landed again, the sound loud in the room as it echoed off the walls with my gasped intake of breath. More heat spread as the stinging pain receded.

Again and again, his palm smacked my ass. Heat built, even as I whined at the stinging in my flesh.

The whimpers from my mouth were silenced when Elatha fisted my hair and shoved his cock deep, forcing me to swallow him past my gag reflex or choke on his thick midnight length. Gods, but I loved when they fucked my mouth. Relaxing my jaw, I curled my tongue over him with every stroke.

Behind me, Loki alternated between rubbing my clit, dragging moisture from my wet core to tease my ass with thrusts of his fingers, and stinging slaps that jolted me each time.

Higher and hotter, the heat coiled within me. When wider flesh eased inside, replacing the stretching fingers, I couldn't hold back the orgasm, shaking with the power of it. Loki surged inside, stroking long and deep as I howled around Elatha's cock.

He groaned, shooting the first few spurts down my throat and the last on my tongue. Eagerly, I wrapped my hand around his base, keeping him from withdrawing completely as I shoved back on Loki's cock. Back and forth, like a pinball between two unyielding paddles, I bounced, screaming, shaking, and orgasming over and over, until my trembling limbs no longer held me.

As I relaxed into sleep with Elatha pressed to my front and Loki tight against my back, Loki kissed my neck and murmured, "We love you, Shannon. Don't endanger yourself. It would destroy us if something happened to you."