Mischief's Mate (The Immortal Mates Book 1) (10 page)

“A pleasure, Emma. I am Loki.”

A soft giggle escaped her lips, “Like, ‘Telle’s Norse god?” Emma jerked her thumb in Chantelle’s direction.

A wicked smile spread across his lips at Emma’s words. And Chantelle knew she needed to work damage control.

Pulling her sister away from Loki she turned on her, hoping she saw she was pushing it. “He is not my god. I didn’t pen his stories…”

Chantelle waved her hands in a flustered manner and Loki drank in the sight. She hadn’t noticed that he was still eyeing her.

“Oh, I just assumed that since you always jump to his defense he was your favorite.” Her shrug was too innocent for Chantelle’s liking and she wanted to gag her. “Besides didn’t you just finish telling me about that dream you had the other night? You know the one with the Norse dude?”

“I did not say they were dreams about any Norse god. So if I were you I would drop it.” The warning note in Chantelle’s voice didn’t go unnoticed by either of them.

He watched Emma ignore the looks Chantelle was giving her. Instead she just shrugged her shoulders and gave him her full attention once more, “So how did you get such a cool name?”

“We already covered the origin of his name.” Chantelle’s miffed response pulled Emma’s eyes away from him and back to her.

“Sorry I missed that, it must have been interesting.”

Loki’s green eyes shot up to meet her hazel ones. He saw the glint of mischief there and knew he had found a partner in crime. They would have a lot of fun pulling pranks on Thor when they returned to Oak Island and Valhöll.

He put his hand to his heart, “And I am sorry you missed it, Lady Emma.”

“Perhaps we could go over it again for the latecomer?”

“Emma…”

Loki smiled when Emma threw her hands up in surrender. Perhaps she liked to tease Chantelle, but she knew when to stop.

“Or maybe not. Anyway, Savannah said she’ll pick you up at seven.”

“Was that all?” There was weariness in his mate’s voice. And Loki couldn’t help but wonder what Emma had on Chantelle that she didn’t want him hearing.

She tapped her chin as if she was in deep thought, “She said something about going to the Serpent’s Den.”

Emma’s message didn’t go unheard by Loki. He wondered where exactly his woman was going. Chantelle had no right to be out after dark without him or a guard as a chaperone. It wasn’t safe for a princess to go unescorted.

Why if she was home with him where she belonged it would not have been an issue. There Loki would have supplied his mate with a bodyguard in his absence. This was irresponsible on her part. He would ask his mother where this place was and make sure she was protected.

Loki would make sure she had all she needed. He would keep her by his side until her Emergence. Then he could bring her amongst his people, but not before then. He would have to figure out what would keep his little pet happy. After all, his inner beast wanted to lock her away and hide the key. Though Loki was smart enough to know that would not fly with a woman like Chantelle.

He shook himself from his musings, he needed to slow down. She was a mortal and they did things differently. Besides, he didn’t know how much longer she would stay mortal. Loki could not rush into anything with her while she still belonged to such a loathsome race. Yet no matter how he tried to reason with his soul he couldn’t trump the need to spirit her away. To make her his. To lay her beneath him and take her until she called his name out to the heavens.

Ever since Loki had walked into the store looking for his mother, he was taken by Chantelle. Watching her as she spoke in hushed whispers with her sister, had him wanting her even more. There was something about this mortal woman that had him craving a home and a family.

Mischief was afoot and Loki vowed to get to the bottom of it. He had a sneaking suspicion that his mother had more to do with this then just finding her. He knew if he asked, she would have all the answers he needed.

“What have I told you about speaking to strangers?” Chantelle’s whisper was harsh.

“But he isn’t. Is he?” Emma quirked an eyebrow as if daring her sister to say otherwise. Oh yes, this little mortal would be a great ally.

“You finked on me because he looks like the guy from my dreams. Not cool Emma.”

Chantelle threw her a hurt look, and Loki decided to take pity on her for now. Tonight would be another story.

“Excuse me, ladies.” They stilled their conversation as he brushed past them.

“I’m sorry, was there anything else I could help you with?”

Loki wanted to tell her that there were several things she could help him with, but thought better of it. He didn’t think Chantelle would be flattered if he voiced his need to claim her. Especially in front of her younger sister.

“I would like you to reconsider my offer.”

Loki took her hand and brought it to his lips. She stiffened and color painted her cheeks again. When Chantelle pulled her hand away she rested it over the owl on her neck. A gesture that told him all he needed to know about what he did to her.

With a smile toward Emma he headed for the door, all too eager to find out what his mother was willing to tell him about the brown eyed beauty. But just as his hand reached to turn the nob, Emma called out to him.

“Her name’s Chantelle.”

The smile she shot Loki told him that if she hadn’t told him her sister’s name, Chantelle wouldn’t have. Too bad he already knew, because he had no doubt Emma was going to be in trouble for letting the information slip.

Loki inclined his head, “Until we met again, Chantelle.”

The Bifrost deposited Bragi and Hoder in Frigga’s guest bedroom instead of a random street in Olympia, Washington. Heimdal had taken pity on them; they would not need to contend with mortals if they didn’t want to. Very few of Odin’s sons integrated into the mortal world; most, including the three that now found themselves in the mix never left the grounds of Vahöll.

The heavy fall of their boots across the hardwood floors alerted Loki to the fact that he had company. He hoped whoever it was would be able to persuade his mother to go home. As she had not bothered to open the letter his father had sent.

A sly smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. It seemed his father knew his mother better than he thought; sending in backup was a good idea. Because for some reason his mother felt like wallowing around this God forsaken place, instead of going home to her mate.

There was no need for her to stay now. She had confessed everything to him this afternoon. Even admitting to setting up his “chance” encounter with Chantelle. If he hadn’t known he was adopted, Loki would swear he got his mischievous nature from his mother. Alas, Frigga was only his mother through love, not blood.

He knew his mother had to go home to his father, but he was not ready to leave Washington. Loki was more than happy to let his brothers handle their mother. He had his own mate that needed to be claimed and he would be damned if she behaved like his mother.

No woman of his was going to run around the Nine Realms on a whim. Loki vowed that he would see to her every need so long as she behaved as a proper mate should. What more could Chantelle ask for? He would make sure she was well cared for as long as she obeyed him. His musings were cut short at the sound of Bragi and Hoder coming down the stairs. As they reached the last step the warriors noticed Loki.

“Father has sent us…”

A wave of Loki’s hand silenced him, “I know why our father has sent you. And you can return and inform him that his queen refused to read his missive. Nor will she return.”

Bragi raised one fine ginger eyebrow; causing Loki’s hackles to rise. Obviously, his father hadn’t sent them to collect their mother. So his father doubted his ability to claim his mate.

No doubt they were sent to make sure that he returned home with Chantelle. It was only once every hundred years that a mortal was born who could even come close to his Fatum Anima. Loki was the only immortal male with such a stipulation on his mate. It seems he had pissed off the Council in his need to wage war with the mortals.

If he failed now, it would be another century before this chance came again and no one was sure whether or not Loki could last. He had gone too long without his chosen one. It was now or never in the battle for his soul.

He could not take a mate from the immortals among their numbers; they had even gone as far as to try other immortal races. King Odin had beseeched not only the immortal Romans, but the Greeks and even the Native Americans. When all else failed his father sought out other races altogether. Vampires, Fay, Elves. But nothing had worked; the darkness had still spread in their men.

It took over their souls. The only thing driving them onward was battle with the Acolytes and the hope that they would be saved. That was when Cloths’ prophecy for them had been told and hope was renewed. Those immortals who had once thought of giving up and residing in Vahöll now embraced the hunt for their Fatum Anima.

But there was a second prophecy that Loki had never heard. In his haste to get out of the Council meeting he had missed the prophecy meant for him. Clotho had said that the soul of his mate would be rare. Only born once every one hundered years and so most feared this was his last chance. Loki had to claim her now or be doomed to darkness for the rest of eternity.

Bragi moved forward, “We will be staying for the duration.”

Loki shrugged his broad shoulders and made his way to the door. If they wanted to stay, who was he to say otherwise? All Loki cared about right now was heading to The Serpent’s Den and finding Chantelle. It had taken him a lot more coaxing then he would have liked for his mother to tell him where the club was. Perhaps it was because he had blown his top when she told him exactly what it was.

Loki had never heard of a place to view eligible women and take them home. He didn’t like the sound of it and he knew he didn’t like the fact that Chantelle was there. May the Council help any man who tried to view her or take her home. Just thinking about his mother’s explanation of clubs had him seething. Loki could just picture the men that frequented those clubs looking and acting like Thor. He would tear apart anyone who touched Chantelle tonight.

Maybe he had lived a sheltered life for too long. The mansion they lived in on Oak Island was cut off from the outside world and that was why Loki had liked it. The woods surrounding it reminded him of his true home; Asgard. A world far different from earth. But once the Sister’s had given the prophecy, most immortals had come topside.

So like a spoiled child, Loki had locked himself away from the world. Refusing to embrace this new world. To learn the culture of his sworn enemy. Now he realized that this was to his disadvantage. A mistake he would rectify as soon as he could. But tonight he needed to go collect his mate from what his mother had called a meat market.

Hoder moved forward and grabbed his arm, pulling him out of his thoughts. “Where is it we are headed?”

Loki turned to them his eyes jumping from Hoder’s hand on his arm to his silver unseeing eyes. “We are not going anywhere. I am going to collect my mate. I suggest you and Bragi carry out father’s wishes and return mother to him as soon as possible.”

There was a moment’s silence and Loki grew uneasy. There had to be something he was missing. His father would not have sent him only a day ago if he had planned on sending Bragi and Hoder now. It was dangerous even in times of peace to be down three warriors for no reason other than to retrieve the queen. No, Loki was sure his father would not have sent them if he didn’t have something up his sleeve and no one trusted him because he was known for his mischief; Loki wanted to laugh at the injustice of it all.

“We are here to help you on your quest.”

Loki nodded, “If that is the case you cannot go out looking like that.”

A worried look passed between Bragi and Hoder at his words. Loki smirked, if he had thought that he was sheltered, he cringed to think about these two. They were not the type to go off the mansion property. Not even knowing that their attire wasn’t even last century. They knew far less about the mortal world than he did. After all, Loki had waged war with the mortal race far longer than he cared to remember.

Here were two of the finest warriors in his father’s army and they feared a change of clothes. Or perhaps they didn’t trust their own brother. God knew they had ample reason, with all the tricks Loki had pulled on them in the past.

If he was being completely honest when his mother had supplied his clothing, Loki was put out. It wasn’t that they were uncomfortable it was just that they were so informal. He was an immortal and here he was dressed in what the mortals called jeans and a tee shirt.

No wonder his mate had no suitor. If all the men on earth dressed like this then they didn’t stand a chance against him. How the hell could they woo a woman of his Chantelle’s beauty dressed like a bunch of beggars?

“Will we be wearing that?” Bragi pointed to Loki’s clothing.

“A little different, I assure you.”

With a wave of the prince’s hand both men felt their clothes twist and change against their bodies. In a matter of minutes the leather and armor they wore was replaced by denim and cotton. Both men now wore faded relaxed fit jeans and band tees; a far cry from their normal attire.

“Now let’s go, I have a mate to claim.”

The crowd at the Serpent’s Den was pressed tight on the dance floor. Body to body and back to back; everyone was moving in sync. The rhythm of the music pounding through their bodies.

Chantelle and Savannah had arrived ten minutes ago. The moment her eyes took in the crowd, Chantelle wanted to bolt. A crowd always overwhelmed her and tonight was no different. As a matter of fact it seemed worse, a side effect of not being out in a while. Crowds wreaked havoc on her empathic ability. She didn’t have the control yet to be able to block this many people. When most of them were drunk there was no telling what emotions they would be giving off.

There was no way she was going to be able to do this. It was too much already, Chantelle couldn’t imagine what she would be like when the night ended. Though one thing was for certain, she was going to have a headache that lasted two days.

Savannah must have noticed her balk because she pulled her toward the bar, “Let’s have a drink and loosen up first.”

“Good idea.”

Although Chantelle really didn’t want to know what her friend’s idea of loosening up was. It obviously had something to do with being dragged out on the dance floor and dancing with some random guy. Or in Savannah’s case multiply random guys.

They squeezed their way through the crowd and up to the bar. Chantelle watched as Savannah flirted with the red-headed bar tender. She didn’t know what it was with her best friend and ginger ninjas, but that’s all that seemed to get her going and the guy behind the bar flipping bottles was no exception.

She marveled at the way Savannah could just turn on the charm; not an ounce of shyness to be seen. She had a beguiling way about her, seeming to be able to infect anyone with her zeal for life. Chantelle often found herself following where Savannah led, hoping her confidence would rub off.

“What can I get for you two beauties?”

Oh, yeah. Savannah was going to work this guy and hard. Chantelle just knew it. Yet, at the end of the night she knew Savannah would go home alone. She always did. Chantelle didn’t blame her after what the men in her life had done to her.

“Well handsome, my friend will have a rum and coke and I’ll have a Bay Breeze and your number.”

Chantelle couldn’t believe her ears, did she just ask for this guy’s number? She didn’t think her best friend would really call a total stranger, but odder shit has happened in the last few days. So why not? It wasn’t like he would be able to mingle with her in the club tonight. He was working for Pete’s sake.

She couldn’t help but laugh when the bartender came back with their drinks. What really got her going was when he slipped Savannah a napkin with his number on it. Oh yeah, she had this guy wrapped around her finger already.

They were nursing their drinks, Chantelle with her back to the crowd when Savannah nudged her. She looked up into the laughter filled eyes of her friend. This couldn’t be good.

“Don’t look now but there’s a blond dude headed your way.”

“Great.” She wanted to run.

Chantelle considered her options and knew the best course of action would be to just wait and see what happened. Besides, whoever this guy was he could have been interested in Savannah for all she knew. At least that’s what she hoped. There was no way she would survive on the dance floor. There were too many people, too much noise. Too much lust. It had Chantelle longing for her couch and a pair of comfy pajamas.

She was already thinking of her Magic Man. After meeting the man who called himself Loki, today, she didn’t think anyone could compare. He was everything she had been dreaming about in a man and there was no man here tonight that would be able to change her mind.

Chantelle moved away from the bar and was almost out of the line of fire; a hand on her arm stopped her. She turned to look up into two of the bluest eyes she had ever seen, for a moment she wondered where she had been running to.

Before Chantelle could wrap her head around what was happening he was offering her his hand, “Care to dance?”

She cast a nervous look toward Savannah, but her friend just waved her on. Chantelle smiled at him and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor. She was here to have a good time and she knew if she didn’t Emma would be pissed. So what harm could one little dance do? Chantelle should have remembered that Pandora thought the same thing about opening a box. Maybe then she would have gracefully declined, but the little bit of her drink she had already sipped, had her not thinking clearly. No doubt, Savannah would later tell her she was a light weight.