Page 136 of Fallen Gods

“You and everybody else.” She laughs darkly. “Why didn’t you just steal it from yourotherbrother, huh?”

Other brother? What is she talking about?

“This isn’t gossip hour,” Reeve tells her. “The last thing I want is to revisit Thor’s death and my part in it.”

Rey gasps. “Your part in it?”

“Who else do you think killed him, the Easter Bunny? It was war, Rey. All’s fair.”

“You’re a fucking monster, Loki!”

I freeze.

My entire body goes cold.

Loki?

As in…theLoki. Adopted by Odin and raised as a brother to Thor.

I stumble back, completely numb. Then I jerk the door open so hard the electronic lock breaks.

Reeve throws up his hands and curses.

Rey freezes on the spot.

Betrayal washes through me so hard and fast, I can’t catch my breath. My brother. My brother who was supposed to be protecting me, warning me away from her, the whole time was lying to me about who he is and what he really wants.

And she knew?

Reyknew.

Was it all bullshit? Needing me? Protecting me? Was it all for show?

Of course it was. It always was.

Both of them.

Fuck.

What else hasn’t she told me?

Andhim…his betrayal churns from the depths of my heart, shredding what little bit of home I had left. My hands ball into fists, ice rising and crackling off my skin. Thunder rumbles so hard overhead, the room rattles with it.

The monster within me roars for release, icy claws tearing beneath my skin so viciously, it’s a wonder I don’t rip apart. I force it down. Swallow hard.

“Loki,” I whisper. “Right.”

Reeve shakes his head. “Aric, no, it’s not what you think. I have no skin in the game. She’s the one—”

“Are you kidding me right now!” Rey shouts.

But she’s not innocent, either. That much is obvious. “You knew. And you didn’t tell me.”

“I was going to, Aric! You have to believe me.”

I shake my head. “I don’t know what to believe right now other than you’re both fucking liars willing to gamble with my life. And for what? For a weapon. Nobody cares if I burn the world, turn into a monster, lose my fucking soul—you all just want power.”

I level Rey with a glare. “I think it’s safe to say that this littleceasefire is over. And we”—I shake my head at Reeve—“aren’t brothers.”