Rules
Just as soon as the flames conspired, they were gone. In the flame’s stead stood Loki, riddled of his armor seen in the courtroom. He wore a much simpler ensemble now: a loose tunic, his hair set freely about his shoulders in endearing ringlets. My heart sang with anticipation, embracing his impending presence. He stepped forward from the hearth confidently, his shrewd eyes emboldened by my crumpled form.
I quickly rose to meet him, propelling me knees to slide upwards along the expanse of wood. My own eyes sought him hesitantly.
He pursed his lips, silent. When he finally spoke his words were dull, muted by a contained anxiety that could not go unnoticed to the keenest of ears. “You return—sooner than I had expected.”
I bit back a condescending laugh. “I gather that my arrival was sooner than I might prefer. You may steal the King from his tricks but, the tricks never abandon their King.”
Loki’s resolve shattered instantaneously, his arms agape. He embraced such an accusation, his cheekbones jostling with the jovial laugh that rang through the chambers. “You know me far too well for my liking,” He crept closer, stitching together the space that lay between us. “Hella was all too eager to reveal your whereabouts.” He stretched out his hand, the palm towards the ceiling. “It has been too long. I grow impatient for my company once more.”
I growled irritably at his words. Was this still but an elaborate rouse for him to manipulate? “The prophecy is not yet fulfilled, Loki! This could jeopardize everything you have forged for!”
Loki clicked his tongue appraisingly and lift his outstretch hand to caress my cheek. I gasp at the cool sensation that budded across my flesh. My eyes drifted closed of their own accord earning an approving chuckle from his Majesty. I opened my eyes to pin him with the severity of my glare. Were it not for the overwhelming pleasure that racketed my body, I would have surely flinched away. “What we have worked for. We, my love! Do not sell yourself short of all you have sacrificed to linger at my side once more.”
I scoffed. “You think I changed my fate for the sake of your love? Fool—never.” I attempted to advert my gaze at the emission of such a lie, only to by manipulated back to his gaze.
Loki smiled knowingly. “You did it as much for love as I, dear one. I rotted in darkness for your embrace, sacrificed my sanity—my liberation—for the sinuous lull of our coupling. Ragnaorok is not merely my destiny, it is yours.”
“How you have not grown weary of my loyalty is discerning,” I acquiesce. “I never did contact you.”
Loki’s chest rumbled. “Oh yes, I have not quite been able to skirt over such a fact. Such is why I summoned you early, devised your premature capture. I could not bear another century—we are so close! I can sample our victory!”
I smile in spite of myself, always one to be lured into his schemes. A detrimental weakness that sought to soil my purity throughout my youth. “Thor is still blind? Sif? Heimdall?”
He nods vigorously, seething to wrangle an arm around my waist. He tugs me closer, inhaling the lavender aroma that encompasses me—a trademark of his possession. “I’ve seen to it that our fate is sealed. Fenir and Angroboda await my command.” He inhales once more, releasing an enduring sigh. “You have not attempted to ward my blessing.” He uses his free hand to grasp my chin, uplifting it to bear the beauty of his heady gaze and dashing smile. “You do love me.”
“I had no say in the matter,” I state stubbornly, mystified by his affections. “You cling to one’s mind as a tick to a mule, Silver tongue.” Even as I tease, crimson lightened my cheeks.
“How I adore you, my Rayna. Kiss your King, your equal, your God for I intend to bestow upon you the seed of a ruler, the title as my Queen. For, in all my affairs, there has only been you, my intended. Kiss me as if I am your dying breath, your sustenance, your universe. For you, I shall kneel—my sun and sky, my Goddess. Kiss me.”
I am still bewildered at how alluring his words were, summoning my attentions to his. Within me stirred the arousal of my youth, licking at my flesh, boiling in my loins. I lurched forward to lavish his lips with my sentiments, engaging in an open-mouthed battle of lust and need. His hand crept down my neck, prying past the velvet folds of my robes, and delved between my breasts. He cupped one supple entity firmly in his grasp, squeezing it affectionately.
I giggled shrilly and pulled back, relinquishing our embrace. “My King, I have saved myself eons for your caresses, I shall wait thrice days more. It is not yet a Hunter’s Moon. Our coupling will be for naught.”
“How quickly you dismiss our love….” He teases, nipping at my neck. “Pleasure is never one to disappoint.”
“Restraint yourself—Loki!” I cry as he pinches a nipple between his cool fingers, evoking tendrils of bliss to lap at my body. “Enough! I must rest. Thor intends to flaunt me before Asgard tomorrow and Fandral…” The name quivers on my lips, summoning that gloom of my past.
“He will never touch you, Rayna. You. Are. Mine.” He growls, sealing my lips with his. “Rest if you must, but I shall not leave you. I refuse to abandon you to the clutches of your doubts. Lay in bed, drift asleep in the arms of comfort. No threat shall ever impede upon you again.”
“Oh, Loki.” I chide, ruffling his ebony locks. “You are imprudent. You have duties to attend to, obligations. You are a King. Imagine Sif’s reaction if she were to find me in your embrace….” I sighed, shaking my head. “Go now, I shall see you in the morning.”
Loki refused to move, waving his hand over my body to strip me of my robes. I stood nude before him. “Loki! Get out!” He chuckled, daring to scoop me into his arms and carry me to the bed, dumping me upon the satin duvet.
“Obey your intended and allow him to protect you as you slumber.” I groaned, attempting to escape his supervision, only to be shifted under the covers, his body dwarfing mine as he situated himself beside me, cradling my body.
“I could zap you, as I’m sure you are aware.” I argued, sighing into his embrace. “I am no longer weak and frail as you left me. I am bold.”
“You were never weak.” Loki cooed into my hair, angling himself to kiss my forehead. “Sleep, my Queen.”
Swathed in his arms, perhaps I could.
As my eyes drifted closed, I drew away the thoughts of tomorrow and reveled within the embrace of my love. Bloodshed and tears had brought me here—to this accursed realm—but also to the serenity of his embrace. Loki and I were finally one.
…. So I had convinced myself to believe.