What an asshole. I was absolutely furious as I slammed the door to our chambers with a flick of wind. How dare he tell me this was all my fault? Growling, I blocked the bond between us. I had no desire to feel his anger and hurt. He had no fucking right to put this on me. It's not like I could choose who I was related to, or what choices they'd made for me when I was a baby.

Seriously. Who marries a baby? It's insane. I shook my head, frustration with the whole situation making the pain in my temples pound. Shit. I knew what that meant. I needed energy.

Well, I'm sure as hell not going back and having sex with Loki right now!

The forest. I'll go grab Mist, and we can leave right from there.

Diverting from my route towards Frigga's gardens that I'd unconsciously taken, I headed out of the royal family's wing of the palace and towards the apartments for Valkyrie and Einherjar. Reaching Mist's door, I pounded on it instead of using the more polite doorpad.

She yanked open the door, quirking an eyebrow at me. "Taking a page from Thor's book, or did your goodbyes with Loki not go well?"

I sighed, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly. Yeah, she knew Loki's temperament. "He's an asshole," I grumbled.

Mist tossed her blue curls. "Yeah, I could have told you that before you fell head over heels for our dark prince, but..." She lifted a hand with a shrug. "Are you ready to head out to Alfheim?"

The reality of going back there sent a chill down my back and I shivered, trying to not think too much about it. Damn nightmares had returned, and I hadn't slept well last night.

"I've already said my goodbyes to Odin and Frigga. Aidan is taken care of. I guess it was too much to hope that Loki would come with me. I didn't even get a chance to ask him before he blew up at me." My stomach twisted at the thought of going back there without him, and I wrapped my arms around my middle.

"He's always been possessive. It's a lot to ask of him." Grabbing her bag from just inside the doorway, Mist closed the door, and we headed down the hall.

"I know, but still, he's got to know that after everything Elatha did to ensure Aidan and I survived, of course Elatha will help me solve this. There has to be a way to work it out." Gods, I hope my faith in Elatha isn't wrong. As we walked, I rubbed my hands on my arms and swirled warm air over me, trying to get rid of the chill and cold sweat on my back.

Mist grinned. "I'm sure that Elatha had only the purest of intentions when he was 'forced' to shove his dick in you so you'd survive. Yeah, he didn't get any benefit out of that at all. It's not like he enjoyed fucking you. I'm sure it was a chore. He just laid there and thought of Atlantia, right?"

An unexpected laugh burst out of me at her sarcastic tone, and I rolled my eyes. "That's not the point."

"I'm sure it's Loki's point. You don't think he is absolutely green with jealousy over it?"

"Okay, maybe." I couldn't really argue with Mist when she was right, but it didn't change what needed to happen. There just was no choice now, whether I wanted to do this or not. Even if part of me maybe wanted it. Was there another way, and I was blind to it?

"Wait, why are you leading us towards the hoverships? Did you want to take one through the bifrost?"

"No, I need to go recharge in the forest before we cross to Alfheim."

Mist started to laugh, and it pulled me from my internal debate. "Oh... so not only did you leave him green with jealousy, but you didn't even fuck him before you leave to go fuck Elatha? No wonder he lost his shit."

"That's not... we're not... I'm not going to go fuck Elatha!" Damn it. Was I?

"Umm... did no one tell you that's the step that's required to formalize the marriage? What did you think it meant by 'consummation'?"

"I hadn't... I didn't. Really?" Those fantasies I'd been doing my best to block from my mind over the past months exploded into my consciousness and the sensation of him against me, inside me, had me biting my lip. Heat rippled over my skin and chased away the persistent cold clammy chill. Despite my best efforts, Elatha had remained in my mind, taunting me with possibilities.

"Yes, really."

I lifted a shaking hand to smooth over my hair and winced. "Shit. No wonder Loki lost his mind." I couldn't entirely blame him. Part of me still craved Elatha, and I wondered if Loki had glimpsed some of those thoughts. It made his response more understandable, even if I was still angry with him.

Suck it up, Shannon. You can do this, and you don't need Loki to hold your hand.

After pushing through the large wooden hangar door, we climbed into one of the longboat-shaped ships. Mist took the controls and flew us out of the palace and over the water of the lake. Turning, she followed the shoreline to the massive redwood forest beyond the walls and farms that surrounded the capital city.

She landed us on the rocky shore with barely a bump, and we walked up the hillside to be amongst the giant ancient trees. Although I didn't need to actually hug the trees to feel the energy surging into me from them, I enjoyed the contact. Listening to the ebb and flow within their strong life-forces, I relaxed into the rhythm.

It was impossible to maintain my anger with Loki or anxiety about returning to Alfheim when I was being lulled by the wisdom of the trees. I let it all wash away, filling myself with the strength of ancient energies.

At peace and with my headache gone, I stepped away from the tree's embrace. Mist was browsing at one of the nearby huckleberry bushes, popping the pinkish-red fruit into her mouth.

"Did you save any for me?" I teased. Huckleberries were my favourite berry and a familiar taste from my coastal temperate rainforest home on Earth. I'd been ecstatic when I discovered them here on Asgard.

"Grab your fill," she gestured.

Several handfuls later, we left the bushes to head back down to the shore. It was a short ride to drop the ship back into the palace hangar before we walked over the rainbow bridge to the bifrost chamber on the top of the nearby mountain.

"Good morning Princess, Valkyrie. Heading to Alfheim?" Heimdall asked in his deep, resonate voice.

I blew out a shaky breath, my stomach twisting. "Yes, the treaty plains, unless there is a site that we can go directly to the Atlanteans?" If I didn't have to go to the Summer Realm, or deal with unknown elves before talking to Elatha, I'd definitely prefer that.

"I'm sorry, Princess, but no. We have no access to any Formorian territory either on Midgard or Alfheim. All of their cities and outposts are underwater, which interferes with the bifrost connection. Even on Midgard, without the Sidhe cloaking mists of Alfheim, I can only seem to get occasional glimpses into their outposts."

My heart pounded at the implication. "So you won't be able to see if I get myself in trouble. Okay, I appreciate the warning, Heimdall."

"Do be careful, Princess," he cautioned, concern in the hand he laid on my shoulder. "We don't want to lose you again."

A lump formed in my throat and I had to swallow past it before I could reply. "Thank you. I will."

Heimdall activated the bifrost with its swirling rainbow portal of lights.

That cold sweat broke out on my back again, and I had to force myself to step forward on trembling legs. Instinct had me wanting to run away. Gritting my teeth and closing my eyes, I followed Mist into the colourful tornado and allowed myself to be transported to the stark plains of Alfheim.

"Shannon?" Mist asked, putting a hand on my shoulder.

Reluctantly, I opened my eyes.

In neither the bright sunlight of the Seelie Summer Realm, nor the gloomy twilight of the Unseelie Winter Realm, the treaty plains were wide open grasslands ringed with fog creeping along the ground like amoebous fingers. It swallowed everything but the central area and made it impossible to see very far into the distance.

Even though I knew it wasn't touching me, it felt like that fog was creeping up my spine and my heartbeat sped in a frantic rhythm. I rubbed my hands against my arms, clutched over my middle.

No one was visible when we arrived, but it didn't take long for Ambassador Ogma's tall form to appear out of the mists from the Summer Realm. In addition to six light elves that were clearly guards in their armour, he was accompanied by two other elves, also tall and slender. They walked beside, not behind him, apparently equal in rank. I suspected I was about to meet two members of the Seelie Court.

Would one of them be my father?

As they approached, I fought the shaking in my legs that had one heel tapping the ground and managed to still it by the time they reached us. Nausea churned sickeningly.

Aside from their overall build, the two unknown elves were mirror opposites of each other. One was garbed in silvery blue, like moonlight, with long white blond hair, and as they drew closer, eyes the colour of stormy seas. Despite the cool colours of his appearance, mischief and mirth danced in his storm-tossed gaze, as if everything and everyone around him amused him. The other was dark, with rich brown hair cascading down a warm chocolate cloak and matching pants. His eyes were the colour of rich, dark earth, with laugh lines around his mouth and crinkling by his eyes, echoed by the smile of welcome on his face.

"Princess Shannon, Valkyrie Mist, welcome to Tír na nÓg." Ambassador Ogma bowed deeply and then held his hand out to indicate the darkly coloured elf. "This is Math Mathowny, Master Mage."

Math bowed gracefully and smiled. "I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Princess Shannon. Prince Loki and I have shared many a pint of Asgardian ale discussing magic and theory."

His welcome seemed genuine, and I couldn't help but smile back.

"And this is Taliesin, God of Bards and Songs," Ogma continued.

Taliesin gave us a wink and a playful half-smile as he bowed with a flourish. "Such beautiful ladies to come visit our court, and you, Princess Shannon. Well, it's clear you are a rich source of stories and songs. I couldn't wait to meet you when I heard you were coming."

His over-the-top flirting startled a laugh out of me, and I found myself shaking my head.

"Right. So you're trouble then," I told him. "Mist, that's right up your alley. My dance card is full."

Taliesin's grin widened even as Mist and Math laughed.

"Lovely. You must keep Loki on his toes," Math said.

"Oh, he's definitely met his match in her," Mist added.

"Prince Loki isn't going to accompany you while you deal with this issue of marriage to Prince Elatha?" asked Ogma.

Another lurch in my stomach had me swallowing before I could answer. "Yeah, no. Having the two of them in the same place is not the best of ideas for a peaceful resolution," I replied, managing to keep my voice steady.

Taliesin gave me a curious look while Math frowned. Ogma merely sighed and nodded.

"Very well. Shall we?" Ogma asked, gesturing towards the Summer Realm.

"Lead on, Ambassador," I replied.