Seona stared at Loki in shock. She had never seen him like this. And as much as she wanted to go to him and comfort him, she just couldn’t bring herself to. Loxley wrapped an arm around her waist.

“We should go,” he whispered. “You need to get some rest.”

“Do you know what my parents will do if they find out?” she asked Loki ignoring Loxley.

“They will disown you,” Loki choked on a sob.

“Yes, they will, unless I’m married.”

Loki understood now. He couldn’t marry her even if he were free to. He was still a god but as a human he had nothing to offer Seona. He had no job or security. He’d have to have those things to even approach her father to ask for her hand. He wasn’t even from the Empire. Fuck, he wasn’t even human! How could he have thought that they could be anything? He had deluded himself and had led her on. He buried his face in his hands and sobbed. He sobbed for what they had and had to give up; for the child that would never know him; for the love they had to hide from the world. He sobbed. He didn’t notice the patrons or the dancer or the musicians leaving. He didn’t notice anything but Seona’s sudden presence in front of him. He looked up. Tears had caused her mascara to run, leaving trails of black in their wake. He reached up and cupped her cheek in his palm.

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“I’m sorry, my love,” he whispered.

Seona watched him break in front of her. She knew he had come to the same realization she had when she had discovered her predicament. She knew he was different and there was nothing he could offer her that her father would approve of. They were tied to fates they could not escape, much as they may want to. She knelt in front of him, causing him to look up. She knew she was crying but she couldn’t bring herself to care at this particular moment.

“I’m sorry, my love,” he whispered before pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Seona closed her eyes as she soaked in everything about him but she felt suddenly heavy. It wasn’t long before sleep beckoned her into its peaceful depths. Before she went limp against him she heard him whisper something else but she couldn’t understand the words. She didn’t even have time to ponder their meaning before she slipped into sleep’s welcoming embrace.

Loki stumbled into one of the many tables scattered through the archive room he was currently in. Seona had been pregnant when he left her that day. Perhaps only two months or so but she was pregnant nonetheless. That meant…no…it couldn’t be, could it? Did that make Akira his and Seona’s daughter?