Despite our urgency, I'd learned my lesson after crossing the Styx. On our way to Mag Mell, I insisted we stop at several intervening islands to rest and recharge. Effective, Shannon and Elatha continued to be energetic and enthusiastic about our journey.

But not me.

The closer we got to my brother, the more acid crept up my throat. I couldn't give in to it—we didn't have food to spare. Trying to ignore my nausea, I continued to swallow the fiery sensation down. Yet I couldn't blame it entirely on nerves at seeing him again.

After each shift between raven and my usual form, my skull pounded more fiercely. It was a spike burrowing into my brain and I was thankful for the absence of sunlight when the sun set some hours ago. Even the light of the moon on the water had me squinting. Especially when I knew there was a single moon, yet I saw two blurred versions.

Unsure of which was the correct one, I split the difference and hoped I still headed in the right direction.

I'd verified our path with souls whenever we stopped at an island and they all told me the same thing—we couldn't miss Mag Mell. Largest of the islands, they said it was unusual in that it was below the water level, like a clear bowl sunk just before the top of its rim into a lake. The energy of the island held the water back and created waterfalls to mix with freshwater springs on the island.

And they were right. The dip in the water drew my eye, even with my inability to focus clearly.

We were off course, and I turned slightly to correct our path. "I see Mag Mell ahead. We'll reach it within the next hour," I told Shannon.

"Good. It sounds like you could use another meal and recharge. You must be exhausted for your words to slur, my love. Elatha and I are doing well with the water helping us. Let us take care of you when we get there," Shannon replied, her tone wrapping around my aching mind in the tenderest of hugs.

Yggdrasil's roots. I didn't want them worrying about me. Not wanting to say anything else when I couldn't control this stupid concussion that should have healed by now, I simply sent my love down our bond.

Beak held tight, lacking the teeth I wanted to grit in this current form, I beat my wings until I caught another thermal allowing me to glide. Time seemed to slow down, each moment taking longer as the island inched closer. By the time I was within landing distance, a glow on the horizon foretold the sun's rising.

Shannon and Elatha beat me to land, slipping over a waterfall at the energy barrier's edge and into a pool on the island. From the air, I took in the central grey and white stone building. With pillars, arches and terraces, it was a smaller version of the palace on Asgard. Paths and gardens surrounded the structure on multiple levels.

As I swooped down to land next to Shannon and Elatha standing at the bank of the pool and tall waterfall, my heart clenched at the golden-haired Asgardian strolling out from the palace.

By the Norns, he looked exactly as I remembered.

Muscular form on full display with his tanned skin bare to the waist, Baldur wore a white chiton that flowed from waist to knees. It was held in place by a large golden belt with a central blue stone, the same bright blue as his eyes.

Eyes that lit up in welcome as I shifted and stumbled.

"Loki! Brother, it is so good to see you!" he called out as I tried to firm my stance.

I attempted to reply and found my throat had tightened, eyes tearing. He reached me and pulled me in for a strong hug. Not as powerfully built as Thor, Baldur was still more muscular than I, and I relished the embrace. I squeezed him back with all the emotion I couldn't seem to get into words.

"Baldur... I..." The words choked in a strangled rasp of sound.

Baldur pulled back, meeting my gaze. He didn't say anything for a few seconds, eyes searching mine. "Little brother, if you tell me you've been blaming yourself for a harmless prank all these years, I may have to kick your ass... even if you aren't so little anymore."

"You died! I killed you!" Twin rivers poured down my cheeks, his face a blur.

Baldur shook me by the shoulders. "No, Loki. No," he barked. Pulling me against him in a second hug and with a quieter tone, he said, "No. All you did was toss mistletoe berries on the ground in a prank meant to make me slip. It was to be a little prick at my pride and nothing else. I saw the berries and stepped on them on purpose. There was no harm in it, or you. Neither of us had any idea I'd have an allergic reaction to them. That minor cuts on my feet from my earlier sparring match would prove so deadly."

Letting go, he swept his thumbs over my cheeks just as he had when comforting me as a child. It had been so long. I'd forgotten the way he used to do that. I tried to give him a smile, but Norns, I couldn't believe he didn't blame me. He ruffled my hair and grinned at me.

"Now, introduce me to this Atlantean and Goddess you have accompanying you."

He waved a hand toward Elatha and Shannon, who'd stood quietly during my emotional breakdown and tearful family reunion.

"These are my consorts. Princess Shannon, Goddess of Forest and Seas, formerly of Midgard and the Summer Realm, and Prince Elatha of Fomora. Shannon, Elatha, as you've guessed, this is my oldest brother, Prince Baldur, God of Light and Summer Sun," I said, taking care to enunciate with my tongue strangely thick in my mouth.

Baldur frowned and opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Shannon was there, kissing me. Everything greyed and somehow, we were on the ground. I heard voices, but my vision tunnelled to Shannon, her auburn hair a curtain surrounding my face as I looked up into her hazel eyes. The world faded again and in another blink, she rode me until starbursts exploded behind my eyes.

Panting, my brain kicked in again.

"Did I collapse?" I asked, managing to get the question out between groans as I looked up into her half-lidded eyes. Her cheeks were flushed and a light sweat dewed her brow.

Shannon continued to glide up and down, pleasure rippling through both of us, shared along the bond. "Yes. You scared us, Loki. Elatha is explaining our energy situation to your brother."

That was when I finally noticed that I still wore all my armour and clothes, with just my pants open, and Shannon was fully dressed, minus some clever adjustments between her thighs. My lips twitched with amusement.

"So what you are saying is that you met my older brother and then pinned me to the ground to fuck me in front of him before saying hello to him?"

Shannon snorted and rolled her eyes. "Technically, yes, and since he is still only a few metres away, I'm still fucking you in front of him."

My grin widened, and I thrust up to meet her. "Darling, I'm so proud of you."

Shannon's eyes narrowed, and she growled at me. Actually growled. I couldn't help but laugh as delight burst within me. Her fingers reached for my hair and tugged.

Laughing harder, I rolled her under me, lifting her left thigh as I thrust deeper and faster. Leaning forward, I wrapped a fist in her hair and plundered her mouth when she tried to bite me. With savage strokes, I brought us to climax in aggressive speed, roaring against her lips as I filled her and she bucked beneath me.

"You are mine, Shannon, and I love you with every breath in my body," I purred into her ear as I feasted on her neck and drove us to another hard, fast orgasm.

She shrieked, writhing as her walls clenched, drawing the seed from me in hot, wet waves.

When our hearts calmed and lungs eased their frantic panting, I kissed her all over her face and neck until she giggled.

"Tell me you love me, darling," I insisted, needing to hear the words even as I didn't doubt her love for me.

"Of course I love you, you insane god." Grabbing my face, she kissed me hard on the lips. "Now get off me so I can go meet your brother properly. Bad enough, Thor walks in on us." She rolled her eyes. "Now they can share smut stories."

She shoved at me and I allowed her to push me, rising to my knees, as a deep, melodious chuckle came from a bench I hadn't noticed until now. Elatha and Baldur sat, watching us while I tucked myself back into my pants and Shannon readjusted her clothes. Elatha's silver eyes danced, but it was Baldur whose laughter had drawn my attention.

Baldur grinned, white teeth flashing against the contrast of his tanned face. "Elatha has explained the situation with your son. Of course, I'll come with you to save him. But first, I really must hear the story of how you acquired two consorts. Did Father lose his mind?"

I snorted. "You'd think so, right? But no. It's because of a prophesy at Shannon's birth seven years ago."

Baldur's eyebrows flew up. "Seven years?" He looked at Shannon, eyes flicking over her, then back at me, eyes hardening as they narrowed. "Explain," he demanded.

"Whoa! It's not what you think." I put my hands up. "Shannon was born on Alfheim, but raised on Midgard. She's a fully grown adult."

Shannon choked on a laugh and raised her hand. "Not a child. Definitely an adult. No weird underage things going on, but thank you for your concern, Baldur."

Elatha had his hand over his mouth, trying to hide his amusement at this turn in the conversation and I sent a glare his way.

Baldur held Shannon's gaze. "Are you sure? Brother or no, I won't tolerate abuse of children."

Her smile widened. "Yes. I've been considered an adult for over seventeen years now on Midgard, Baldur. Until my transition and discovery that I wasn't human, but Tuatha de Danann, human cultural standards considered me to be almost past my prime when it comes to having children of my own."

Baldur blinked and shook his head, then snorted. "Then they are absolute idiots. I love my Isis and have no sexual interest in you, Shannon, but I'm not blind. There's not a damn thing about you that is past its prime." He snorted again. "From what I just saw, you are clearly a fertility goddess, like my little brother, and can easily keep up with him."

"Her mother is Maeve," I told him.

Baldur's eyes widened and then bright laughter echoed off the stone. "Of course. And now it makes perfect sense why Shannon would need both you and Elatha."

I thought about defending my ability to keep Shannon well pleasured on my own, but Elatha spoke up before I said anything.

"Loki is more than capable of keeping up with her on his own. We're just better together," he said, not expanding further.

Chiming in, I explained the prophecy, our three way soulmate bond, Elatha and Shannon's marriage, Shannon's acceptance into the Asgardian royal family, and the change Odin and Frigga had made to the Asgardian marriage laws.

"That's incredible, Loki. Although I've enjoyed this little slice of paradise, I miss Isis. If I can have her back and save your son at the same time, it's worth whatever risk to escape here. I don't have any powers here, though, so I can't channel light as a weapon if you were counting on that."

"As long as you can still fight and have your strength, it should be enough," I told him. 

A/N: My daughter created the landscape of Mag Mell and the gif to bring it to life, since finding images of my story universe locations can be extremely difficult. What do you think?