Loki wanted nothing more than to bury his dagger deep within Thor's breast now and watch as his life's blood pumped over the floor. He wished to grip him by the face and watch as his natural skin froze and damaged Thor's eyes until he was as physically blind as he was emotionally.

He did neither.

Instead, he allowed his skin to shift to his Aesir form, voice and expression a mask of entirely false calm. As if Thor still had hope in this, as if he were getting through in the way he wanted.

"And if I were not lost to you? If I embraced you as my brother, tell me how you believe that would end for us both. Tell me I should be welcomed back through the gates of Asgard as a prince and son. Can you tell so great a lie, Thor?"