I take a couple deep breaths to calm myself as several maidens stood all around me fluffing up my dress and fixing my hair.

"Is this really necessary?" I turn to Frigga, the Queen of Asgard, and the woman I see as a second mother.

"It's what your mother would've wanted," She answers with a sad smile.

I suck in a sharp breath. Right, this is what she would've loved, to see me like this... But she would've loved even more to actually be present for my Coronation Day.

Unfortunately she died a few years ago from a curse that was placed on her, and it starting taking affect when my dad died. She drew her power and life from her home, but after it was destroyed her only way of life was binded to whom she would marry. Thus leading to after my dad died, she started to grow weaker and weaker, until the curse finally took her life. The price Calystonian royal blood has to pay for being so powerful, magic has it's limits. God's and Goddesses although strong, are unfortunately not indestructible. Thankfully I don't have to worry about what my mother went through since I am part Asgardian and was born here in Asgard.

I sigh looking at myself in the mirror. "She would adore this dress," I finally say. It was the finest Asgardian dress to have ever be made: a blueish-gray flowy sheer fabric with a cape piece on the back and jewels on the cuffs, torso, and all the way up the high collar. It's not too bad even though I prefer my battle gear, I guess I can manage it for the Coronation Ceremony.

As one of the girls comes over to tie the coreset of my dress the door opens.

"No men allowed!" One of them snaps at the newcomer and another covers my exposed back. I roll my eyes at their antics, it's not like skin has never been exposed before.

"Don't worry, it's just my son," Frigga calms them down and I turn to see which she was talking about. Loki shuts the door and steps further in holding his hands up in an 'I mean no harm' gesture.

"Pardon me, I was hoping I could have a moment alone with the princess?" Loki reveals why he's here, meeting my gaze.

"She's in the middle of-" The one who snapped at him goes to answer.

"She can speak for herself. And she approves," I cut her off. The maidens are about to make my head explode.

"Come along ladies," Frigga urges, pushing them towards the door. Thank the Gods for her.

"You just love to come at the worse times, don't you?" I muse as he walks up directly behind me.

His cool fingertips graze down my bare back sending jolts through my spine.

"I had to see my princess before the big ceremony," Loki whispers lowly into my ear as he starts to tighten my coreset. "You look absolutely stunning."

"Thank you," I exhale as soon as he makes the last pull. "You look very handsome," I say causing him to smile.

His lips start trail up my neck causing my eyes to flutter shut. I turn to finally face him, our lips colliding instantly not wasting any time. It's been days since we've had time to sneak off and be alone together because of all the prepping for today, which only made the longing worse. My hands travel up and down his body as he pushes me up against the wall. We finally have break away to catch our breath and not get carried away, resting our foreheads against each others.

"I missed that," I hum.

"Don't do it," Loki whispers, letting his hand slowly trail down my hair.

I sigh, knowing exactly what he means, and place my hand on his cheek, "Lo-"

"You know what's going to happen," His voice raises as he takes a step back, and my arm drops.

"Loki, please, don't make this harder than it has to be," I look anywhere but at him, "These past couple years of us being... whatever this has been the most amazing thing, but we both knew this day would come."

"I should've done it sooner," He says bitterly, "I should've told you how I felt sooner, then we could've had more time," He trails off.

I close the space between us, resting my hands on his chest, but he shoves them away.

"How could you want to be with that arrogant oaf! He doesn't deserve you, doesn't deserve to rule by your side!" Loki shouts.

"Well I don't know what to tell you," I angrily push past him heading for the door. He knew today was going to be hard enough as it is, and he's just making it worse.

My upper arm is grabbed. I don't fall back or even budge, but I stop. For a moment it's silent, nothing in the air except the tension and our uneven breathes. And then-

"Do you love him?"

"No."

"Then don't do it. We can run away together, it'll finally just be the two of us," His voice pleads.

"You know I can't do that."

"Please."

My eyes sting as my chest feels as though it's been stabbed with a dagger.

"I'll see you out there," I slip out of his grasp and I reach the door. "I choose you, Loki. But I cannot run away from who I'm supposed to be."

"Can't? Or won't."

I shake my head leaving him, starting down the long hallway, taking each agonizing step closer to the rest of my life, to the day I've been awaiting since I was old enough to wield a sword. I thought it would feel different than this, yet it feels more like I'm walking to a death sentence than a celebration.

What I would have gave to have had the strength to turn around. To run back to the man I truly love... but I'm a coward. And I gave in to everything I've hated my entire life. And for what? Validation? Written Destiny? The easy way out? Yep, all that.