This Time Around (Sequel to All Over Again)

Chapter Thirty-Five

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Over the next few days, Loki spent so much time in conferences behind locked doors, that McKenna really only saw him in passing. By the time he came to bed, she was long since asleep and most mornings, he was up and gone before she woke. She didn't know what all they discussed, and honestly, she didn't really care. What bothered her was that he spent more time with Annelie than he did with her, and then it bothered her that it bothered her at all in the first place.

"And it shouldn't bother me," she sighed, leaning against the lone stone wall ringing the Northern Courtyard, where Sif and the other warriors trained. Since she wasn't planning on returning to Midgard any time soon, McKenna concentrated more on her own lessons and less on her training, aside from the exercise portion of it. Every morning, she and Sif went for a long run through Asgard and as Loki spent more and more time with Annelie, McKenna found the running did wonders for keeping her head clear and her hands off Annelie.

"What shouldn't bother you, my lady?"

She looked up as Royce leaned against the wall alongside her. Gone was the mocking jeer, the arrogant demeanor, and nasty comments as he offered up an almost shy grin. "Nothing. I'm just talking to myself. It's a bad habit."

"You look as if you've something weighty on your mind, my lady," he replied, setting his sword on the top of the wall. "You might feel better if you talk about it."

"I thought you didn't care for Midgardians?" she asked, smiling up at him.

"I didn't. And I still don't. At least, I don't care for most of them." He shifted to face her. "But you are different, Lady McKenna. I've come to respect you. You've proven yourself worthy of many things."

"Thank you. I think." She glanced over her shoulder at Sif as the warriors finished warming up and set up the targets for archery. "But really, I'm fine."

"I understand the Allfather has Loki working very closely with the contingent from Vanaheim. That cannot make you happy."

"Really, I'm fine with it." She scooped up a handful of her hair and shoved it away from her face. "It's just what he has to do."

"Just the same, if you ever need a sympathetic ear, mine is always available."

"Thank you." She smiled as he pushed up from the wall, gathered up his sword and shield, and moved around the wall to join the others, leaving her to stare after him. It was the most he'd said to her, without sneering or mocking her, but she had the scary feeling he meant exactly what he'd said.

"Thinking about joining them?" McKenna jumped as Loki's hand came down on her shoulder and he sank onto the wall beside her.

She smiled at him over her shoulder and shook her head. "No. I don't think I need it any longer. I'm pretty safe here, aren't I?"

His fingers gently massaged her shoulder. "What's the matter, love? You look troubled."

"I'm just surprised to see you here. Did you sneak off while Annelie's back was turned?"

"McKenna."

"What?" She shifted to face him. "The last two weeks, I've only seen the imprint you leave in our bed. She seems to have you every waking moment."

"We're trying to avoid war. Negotiations are slow at best." His voice was terse, his smile fading as his hand went still. Her heart skipped a beat as he pulled away from her and that same hand now splayed against his thigh.

"So I see."

"What do you mean by that?"

She shrugged, easing down off the wall to stand before him, arms crossed over her chest. "It just seems to me that World War Two was ended in less time and you really aren't in all that great a hurry to be finished."