Several hours had passed, and Loki hovered anxiously at his royal chamber doorway.

"Are you sure this will charm her?" He faced Ovahh with a look of uncertainty before conducting a third inspection of his attire— Ovahh's exclusive selection of very sparse clothing.

"I'm certain of it!" Ovahh grinned.

Loki glanced up and noticed Ovahh still grinning.

"Why does your smile not inspire confidence in me, Ovahh? I feel foolish for wearing so few clothes."

"Trust me, my king. She will be incapable of diverting her attention away from you. Eden expressed to me, in strict confidence, that she finds your Jotun appearance alluring." 

Loki grinned. "And those were her words?"

"No, not exactly."

"What did she say, ovahh?!" Loki grew impatient.

"That you have a magnificent Jotun body."

"Magnificent..." Loki murmured... "She finds me magnificent." He repeated again with a smile.

Ovahh observed Loki's expression of love-sick lethargy, but promptly broke him from his daze when he ushered his king out. "Make haste, lest she fall deeper into slumber. Go rouse her."

Loki, excited, threw open the door and advanced towards your chambers. His half-naked body ravaged by jitters.

***

You slept for perhaps an hour before being awakened by the howling winds that rattled your balcony door. The Jotun weather, upon closer inspection via the window, looked to have increased and become quite fierce. You hoped that Javier and Leon had made it safely back to Asgard. 

Knowing that attempting to resume more sleep was an impossible task, not just because of the noise of the wind but because of the impending dinner with Loki, you decide to get ready for the late, late, supper.

After rummaging through your trunk and finally selecting a summer dress for a wintry climate, you donned the cloak that Thor had given you and set down in front of the desk. You promptly penned a brief letter to Asgard detailing your safe arrival, making sure to thank Javier and Leon for delivering you to Jotunheim without incident.

Having completed your required tasks, you positioned the desk chair facing the door, and anxiously awaited Loki's summons for the planned late, late supper.

You fidgeted with the two halves of your brooch while staring at the door; keeping an ear out for any sounds of motion.  You gazed down and reexamined the fragments with a grin, for something you had recently found, it brought you such pleasure to hold.

You think you hear faint footfalls in the distance and hastily attach each piece of the brooch to your cape. Making sure to assemble them as closely together as possible so that they did not appear broken.

You hear louder, more distinct footsteps and presume they are Loki's as he approaches your door. Despite anticipating the knocks, you jumped when you heard the three soft taps.

While you had expected Loki to arrive, knowing that he was just on the other side of the door heightened your nerves and made you tremble with anxious exhilaration.

You didn't want him to know that you had been hanging about all this time, so you waited for another set of three knocks before rising to your feet and nearing the door.

You reached for the handle and just before you grasp it, you heard Loki's eager call of your name. You smiled; he truly was determined to wake you.

You debated whether to keep him waiting, curious to know how long it took before his delicate knocks turned rough and impatient, but as you contemplated, you heard a second mention of your name.

"Eden, wake up please... Eden..." more knocks rattled your door.

The thought that he was willing to spend the entire night within the hallway, softly tapping, brought a smile to your face. However, you were not that cruel, and admittedly, you were starving.

You hear his voice again, and this time his tone tugged at your heart, as it appeared the longer he waited, the less enthusiastic he became.

Loki feared he was too late and that you had already fallen into a deep sleep, or even worse, the sinister notion that you were ignoring him had crept into his mind.

You lean into the door and quietly whisper, "Loki.."

Loki's heart leapt inside his chest hearing you on the other side, and he slanted closer. "Hello, darling"

Your stomach knotted up immediately upon hearing his chosen term of endearment, and you knew that if he continued to call you charming names, your self-control would be tested further.

You were uncertain of what to say, but you knew you wanted to continue speaking with him. It seemed, without getting lost in his distractingly captivating eyes, you felt more at ease to talk.

"How goes the late, late, supper?" You ask.

"The table is set, an array of foods is elegantly presented, and I now await the arrival of my beautiful guest."

More deep sensations swirled in the pit of your stomach, causing you to smile.

"Loki?" You whisper.

"Yes, sweetheart."

You wanted to tell him that he makes you feel so alive and complete, and that the adorable names he was calling you made your heart want to burst, but you once more reigned in your overwhelming adoration and tried to regulate your rapidly beating heart.

Even through the door, Loki could feel your building anticipation to say something, and he wondered whether you were going to come out and say what he knew deep down you both felt. This undisclosed desires of the heart.

You sighed and rested your forehead against the door as Magritte once more entered your mind.

"Eden?" Loki detected your reluctance to speak from the heart. "Speak up, Eden. Please express your feelings."

You could make out the soft thud of Loki's forehead as he, too, slumped against the door.

"Loki, I... I..."

"Yes?" Loki's pulse began to race as his anticipation grew.

"I um...I'm excited to try Jotun cuisine."

You couldn't do it, you were unable to disclose that you felt real love for him.

Loki sighed loudly against the door, disappointed. He truly believed you were going to reveal your feelings.

"Eden?" Loki said lowly.

"Yes"

"The few hours apart from you have darkened my heart, and it yearns for the light that you alone can provide. Will you open the door so it can once again beat within the glow?"

Now you understood what Queen Frigga meant when she said she missed her son's once frequent and exquisitely expressive verses. His words were poetic and beautiful.

You took hold of the door knob and hesitantly turned it; allowing the door to slowly swing open.

You were greeted immediately with adoring red eyes and a warm smile. Your heart expanded as they drew you in.

"There is my light," he whispers. "I've missed you, Eden.

"I've missed you too."

You surprised yourself; the words came out of your mouth effortlessly and without hesitation.

Loki widened his smile, not expecting the response you gave, and now you both gaze bashfully at one another. However, his smile did not hold your attention for long. Your immediate focus was pulled to his body and the lack of clothing he was wearing.

A true Jotun god stood in front of you garbed only in a loincloth and a sleeveless, sheer robe. You moved your eyes slowly down the length of his body, fully aware of how evident it was, but you couldn't help yourself; you were openly admiring and appreciating his magnificent form. His well-defined abs and thick thighs, which were typically concealed by leathers, were genuinely striking features.

You felt his intense gaze upon you, which roused you from the trance his beautiful body had put you in. You knew that when you looked up, he would be smirking, and you prepared yourself for the humiliation. However, as you peered at him, he met your sight with neither arrogance nor smugness, only pure joy at seeing you. And now, just as you had observed his physique, he admired yours. His eyes were immediately drawn to the contours of your body, which the fitted dress you had chosen accentuated so well.

"You look wonderful Loki." You were not ashamed to give praise when it was due. He truly did look amazing.

He broke his fixation on your body and turned his focus to your face. "Thank you, Eden. You look absolutely radiant. The shades of emerald green in your dress complement your complexion. I believe green is your colour."

"We appear to be a match this evening. Both of us wear green, but because I wear significantly more clothes, I do so marginally more." You suppress your desire to snicker.

Loki's face was flushed with embarrassment, and he cursed Ovahh for convincing him to don a loincloth like a barbarian. You recognised his abrupt unease and sought to soothe him.

"However, if I had a godlike stature like yours, and skin the same colour as the finest ocean, I would be inclined to attempt that attire as well." You swiftly divert from the conversation, "Shall we?" You gesture in the direction of the dining hall.

Your complimenting words eased his nerves, and he stepped back, allowing you to leave your chambers.

"I will have one fashioned for you, I have a wonderful seamstress. She'd be honoured to make you a traditional Jotun outfit such as this."

You look at Loki in surprise. "I um... I'd need the body of a beautiful female Jotun to pull off such a traditional ensemble, and I am rather plain."

Loki looked you up and down, then arched a brow.

"Your body is the epitome of perfection Eden. I find it extremely cute how you consider yourself plain. It is completely untrue of course, as nothing about you is plain."

Your cheeks begin to flush, and feeling nervous, you brush your hair off your shoulder, exposing the brooch that had been hiding underneath. It immediately captured Loki's attention, and he froze in place, his eyes glued to your brooch. You presume he liked the fine details based on the way he stared.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" You look down and admire its placement on your cloak.

You noticed his peculiar expression, but you assumed he was simply as captivated by its beauty as you were when you first discovered it.

"I've never felt so privileged to own such an exquisite piece; I'm in love with the design and the attention to detail." You felt compelled to touch it.

Loki observed as you marvelled at the brooch he created. He was still in disbelief that he was seeing it again after believing it to be irretrievably lost, and even more astounded by the fact that you are now wearing it.

"I've gazed at it repeatedly, but I'm still compelled to its uniqueness." You remark without paying attention to Loki, who still observed you.

As Loki drew closer, you became aware and gazed up at him. His warm breath was felt on your skin as he spoke.

"The design appears to be one-of-a-kind, possibly conceived by one designer and then handcrafted by highly skilled artisans." His fingertips gently touched the surface, and upon doing so, Loki realised it was broken.

"It needs repairing?" Loki claimed.

You sigh and remove the two fragments from your cloak, holding out your hand to show him.

Unfortunately, it is. I had hoped to have it repaired in Asgard, but I did not have the opportunity." You pushed the two fragments together to reveal the shape of a serpent in a coiled infinity design.

"A great deal of devotion went into the creation of this piece, as it is a representation of everlasting life and love." Loki stated with certainty.

You regarded the coiled design. "Is that what the infinity symbol represents?" You query, having not been aware of this knowledge.

"Yes, a continuous eternal loop. No matter which end two fated souls are at, as the infinity serpent coils, it will always bring them together."

"I assume my ignorance demonstrates that I did not create such a magnificent piece. In fact, I only obtained this nearly two weeks ago, when I discovered the first half at the ball, followed by the second half just a few nights later. I am impressed by your knowledge of its design.

"May I?" He requested permission to hold the pieces.

You showed a hesitant expression, and drew your hand back.

Loki chukcled, "I promise I will not take what clearly belongs to you."

You gave him a remorseful smile, "It's not that I don't trust you to return it. Everyone who has held it has had a negative reaction; you may think I'm mad, but I'm starting to believe it is enchanted."

Loki grinned as he recalled the elder Jotun who blessed the brooch with magic and claimed only those who hold his heart can possess it.

He inquired curiously, "Oh, and who has had the misfortune of receiving a shock from touching it?" He suppressed his amusement.

You found it odd that Loki instantly identified that the negative reaction was a shocking jolt. You had not revealed that part.

"Well, initially it was Lady Sif, but when I showed it to the warriors three, it gave Fandral a sharp shock. I tried to give it to Hogarth, but when he saw the pain it caused his friend, he flatly refused and fled like a terrified child." You laughed as you recalled his panicked expression.

Loki chuckled, thoroughly enjoying hearing you recount your stories with his brooch in Asgard. Observing Loki's interest in your recall, you continued with your tale.

"And then I happened to bump into.." you hesitated to say her name. "Princess Magritte...your wife."

Loki's amused expression quickly faded upon hearing her name, and he had to clench his fists tightly to conceal his evident distaste. You were too focused on the jewellery in your palm to observe that Loki's mood had changed.

"Did she also endure suffering?" Loki said with teeth clenched.

You raised your head and met his gaze. "I'm sorry to say, but the way she screamed when it touched her skin indicated she experienced excruciating agony. In fact, the worst of all."

You return your gaze to the jewellery in your hand, allowing Loki the opportunity to smirk discreetly. However, you believe you hear a low, unintelligible murmur under his breath.

"Pity not the devil who suffers the burn of its own flame."

"Hmm?" You look up. "Did you say something?"

Loki grinned at you; hearing that Magritte had screamed in agony was the best news he had received in a while. And now his mood was lifted by the pleasure he received from merely envisioning it.

"And you darling? What does it feel when you touch it?"

"It had no negative influence on me, nor on queen Frigga and neither Thor. It is a peculiar enchantment if it is truly held by sorcery." You study it further.

Loki considered your words for a moment before realising their significance. Only those who are connected to his heart are able to touch it. It makes sense that his mother and brother, who love him, would not be affected. And now he beamed broadly, for if you did not react to holding the brooch, it would indicate that your feelings for him went beyond the surface and reached deep into your heart.

"Peculiar indeed Eden." Loki repeated.

"So, I thought I'd warn you before you held it, a caution if you will." You extend your arm and open your palm.

You were surprised when Loki showed no hesitation in carefully plucking it from your hand, and you observed with rapt attention as he now gazed at it within his own.

He glanced up and noticed your concerned expression as you waited for something to happen.

"Well, I guess the elder blessing that's bestowed on it does not affect me either." He smiled.

Elder Blessing? You pondered Loki's choice of words; you had never considered the possibility that the magic on the brooch could be an elder devotion blessing. One typically done when gifting an item to a lover, it was a way to know if one truly loved them. How did he know? 

Your thoughts were interrupted when your eyes were drawn to the embedded emeralds that abruptly began to shine vividly.

"You spoke to soon king Loki, your touch has a positive effect it seems, as the gems are becoming brighter."

Loki covered it with his hand, and after a shimmer of green light emanated from his palm, he raised his hand to reveal a restored brooch. It had been flawlessly repaired. You stare at it in disbelief, amazed that he was able to fix it with his magic.

"You are amazing Loki, thank you so much."

Loki smiled, and proceeded to gently fasten it back onto your cloak.

"I'm glad it was you who found it, Eden."

You smiled, "I somehow think, it found me."

"Perhaps by a quirk of fate, it was destined for you all along and has been looking for you to take possession of it." Loki restrained a chuckle, knowing it was indeed what had transpired.

You abruptly halt your slow stroll as you recall the task you had to complete.

"Before I forget Loki." You pulled out a sealed letter from your cloak and handed it to him. "If it is possible, would you mind sending this to Asgard. It is to alert my guards that I have arrived safely within the palace."

Loki grasped the envelope, but you maintained your hold on it. "It is imperative that it reaches Asgard as soon as possible. My loyal guard, Javier, has warned that he will initiate an uprising should he not receive word of my safe arrival."

"You have my word, Princess." You let the envelope slide through your fingers, and Loki vanished it with a wave of his hand. "It has landed on my councilman's desk; he will see it at sunrise and ensure that it is promptly delivered. 

"Thank you." You felt a heavy burden lifted from your shoulders.

"So, this... Javier... he seems caring of you?"

As you continue strolling, you attempt to hide a smile. "More so than any other guard in Asgard. I do believe he is smitten with me." You confess.

"Oh... and are these sentiments reciprocated?" Loki nervously swallowed.

You cast a sidelong glance his way and notice that he is staring directly at you.

"He is pleasant, sweet, and kind, but above all else, he is loyal... and yet..." You pause to face Loki, your wary heart beating hard against your chest.

He examines you with eyes brimming with inquiry as he feels yet another intense anticipation of words coming. He hopes that you don't shy away from expressing your true feelings this time.

"And yet what, Eden?" Loki eagerly asks, his pulse quickening.

"Yet... he is not you."

Loki took a stuttering breath at hearing your proclamation and in a flash he had morphed from his Jotun form and assumed his more safer Asgardian persona.

The distance between you two disappeared as he grabbed hold of your face and pressed his chest against yours. Both of your heartbeats matched in intensity as he spoke with conviction.

"You can have me, I am yours, and yours alone, Eden." As he hovered so close, you could feel his heated breath on your lips.

Your eyes grew glassy at hearing the words you so desperately wished to hear, yet not from an already bound king, but from the raven haired man at the ball, the man you thought was unmarried.

You fought hard to conceal your voice's tremor as you replied to his declaration. "And yet, you are not mine alone, for you already belong to another. And I refuse to receive only shared devotion as a mistress." You retreat, causing his hands to fall from your face.

The door to your side suddenly opens wide, revealing Ovahh standing in the threshold. You were surprised to find yourself outside of Loki's royal suit so quickly.

Ovahh frowned when he saw Loki in his Asgardian form, and recognised the dejected expression on his face. You look away in response to Ovahh's accusing gaze on you, and hide the evidence of your tears.

"Perhaps we should reschedule our dinner to a later date." You affirm as you turn around and head back to your quarters. However, a firm grip on your hand maintained your position, and before you know it, you feel yourself being yanked roughly and repositioned back against Loki's chest.

"You are not going anywhere, Eden." He breathed rapidly, his tone dark and commanding.

The rapid change in his demeanour startled you and you peered up expecting to see hardened eyes of a demanding king that matched the authoritative voice, but you only saw the hurt behind pleading eyes that begged for your mercy.

"Please, Eden, stay."

You stared into his features for a moment and observed as he morphed his imploring eyes into ones that were gentle but now reserved; masking his vulnerability in the event that you rejected his appeal to stay.

"Okay," you agreed.

He smiled away his pain, still determined to win your love, and caressed your cheek with his thumb.

"Good girl," he said before placing a chaste kiss to the tip of your nose; taking you by surprise. He took hold of your hand and walked with you inside his royal suite.

Ovahh observed how his king exhibited numerous erratic emotions that could shift unexpectedly. He was concerned, as he knew Jotun's do not cope well with such an intense blend of feelings. Over time it could cause mental turbulence that has been known to bring out violence. It was the primary reason the inhabitants of Jotunheim were branded savages during the frost wars.

Loki allowed you some time to absorb your surroundings while he lit the candles on the elegantly arranged table.

You were surprised to find a well-appointed dwelling, complete with a dining area, soft seating strategically placed around an inviting fireplace, and an entire wall dedicated to showcasing Loki's private literature. Off to the side was a large interior passageway that led to his royal bedroom. Essentially, it was an apartment within his own palace. Clever, you thought.

He pulled out a chair and beckoned you to sit, and as you position yourself at your seat his hands reached for your cloak, but you abruptly stopped him.

"Please, I kindly request for it to remain on." Loki looked at you quizzically. "I'm still feeling the chill." You add, not wishing to reveal the bruises on your arms that you have so far, successfully concealed under a cloak.

"Of course," he replied, and promptly strolled towards the fire to add another log to its flames, believing you were still cold.

Ovahh smiled at you as he waited for his king to take his seat before taking his own. You now recognise that you should have done the same and quickly stood up.

Arriving at the table, Loki looked at you in wonder as you arose to your feet.

"I should not have sat before the king, my apologies."

He frowned, "Eden, I told you, I am neither below you, or above you, but equals. We remain side by side. So sit, please."

You sat down, and smiled when you heard Loki instructing Ovahh to take a seat before him too. Ovahh, feeling at ease in the presence of his king, took a seat without hesitation. In reverse fashion, and totally opposite to what you have learned in your etiquette lessons, the king sat down last.

"There, I hope you are hungry, Eden. We have prepared a small feast." Loki beamed as he assisted Ovahh in removing the silver doomed covers from the trays, revealing a selection of foods.

"It looks and smells delicious, Loki. I am eager to try." The different aroma's steaming off the foods were enticing. Some dishes looked familiar from your time spent in the Asgardian kitchens, but most were completely new to you.

An hour passed in a daze of casual conversation that included talks of your time spent in Asgard. You over indulged in the delicious food, but that was primarily your gracious hosts fault as Loki kept re-filling your plate as soon as you had cleared it. He seemed to enjoy watching you eat.

However, while you were eager to sample each dish, you could not help but observe that Loki was barely eating. He gave the impression that he was by cleverly moving food around the plate, and directing the focus on you and Ovahh, but he never consumed more than a morsel.

"Ahh!" Loki abruptly stood up. "I completely forgot about the delightful drink I keep in my private quarters and away from Ovahh."

You grinned when you saw Ovahh's eyes light up.

"What a treat, Birdy. You get to taste—"

"Sssh!" Loki quickly silenced Ovahh from revealing any more information, and dashed towards his private bedroom.

While Loki was absent, you questioned Ovahh regarding Loki's lack of appetite.

"Surely you have noticed it too, Ovahh. Loki has hardly ate a thing." You kept your volume to a low whisper.

"He's eating, perhaps your just not aware of it." He reassured, disregarding your concern.

"No, I have been careful with my observations. He feeds me, you, but not himself. Is this usual or is my presence in Jotunheim to blame?"

"It is not your fault, Birdy" Ovahh unwittingly blurted. He sighed, realising his error.

"So, it's true then. I am right, he is not eating, why?"

He sighed while looking down at his plate. "He never used to deny himself food. He had an insatiable hunger once. But since ... well, since of late, he does not eat. I do not know if it is because he has a lack of appetite or because... "

"Because of what, Ovahh?"

"Because he punishes himself with starvation."

You gasped. "I don't understand.."

"Put it this way, if lonely has a taste, then it's all that he is tasting."

You heart physically hurt when you realise Loki was not nourishing himself because he no longer derives pleasure from eating. You fully comprehended that sentiment, and knew only a trauma could extinguish the flavour of food. You once suffered this during your time of mourning over your mother's passing.

You pondered what recent event could have caused him such distress.

Loki abruptly rounded the corner, back was his Jotun physique, fully on show and looking incredible, especially with the smile he was sporting. However, he promptly detected a change in the atmosphere since his departure, as both you and Ovahh now appeared less enthusiastic.

Recalling Ovahh's remarks, you concluded that Loki's lack of appetite was caused by depression. You speculated that it was possibly due to the current problems in his realm, or, an alternative assumption that you did not wish to acknowledge, is that it was because his wife was not in Jotunheim with him.

Was he unhappy because Magritte was absent?

Now, more intrusive and damning thoughts entered your mind, perhaps he only reached out to you for companionship because he missed her and felt lonely. You felt such a fool.

Loki stood next to his chair, his hands tightly grasping the wood. "Is there something wrong?" He inquired, first looking to Ovahh and then to you.

"Not at all," you hide your sadness with a convincing smile, and eye the little jug he put on the table. "So, is that the drink? I'm eager to try"

Loki perked up at seeing your cheerful demeanour.

"It is, and when you try it, please describe its flavour to me." He poured you a very small glass no larger than your thumb, and as he poured, a thick liquid with a shockingly vibrant pink hue emerged.

Loki watched with delight as you brought the glass to your lips and consumed the entire contents. Due to its thick consistency, the liquid coated your tongue first before slowly sliding down your throat. Initially, it was sweet and pleasant, but when it reached the back of your throat on its descent, you began to sputter due to the strong alcohol it contained.

While Loki presented you with a clean serviette, Ovahh chuckled out loud.

"Perhaps I should have cautioned against drinking the entire glass at once." Loki said with remorse.

"And perhaps a warning that it contains a potent and possibly lethal dose of alcohol." You reply.

Loki chuckled, "Isn't the delectable aroma deceptive? It completely conceals the fact that it contains alcohol. What did everything else taste like, aside from the powerful liquor?"

"I understand that it is fruit." Loki nods in response to your claim, already impressed. You smack your lips together and run your tongue over the remaining sticky residue around your mouth. Loki's joy transforms into lust as he observes you attentively.

"It's as sweet as a peach and yet, it has a bitterness to it..."

"Not bitter" Loki smiles.

You scrunch your brows in thought, "No, not bitter, it's... it is sour .... A sour green apple!" You say aloud.

Loki grins wide.

"And what tastes as sweet as a peach, but also has the sharpness of a green apple and is bright pink?" Ovahh urged, staring at you knowingly.

"A Pinia fruit!" You exclaim.

Loki praised your skilled palette with a round of applause, before filling him and Ovahh a larger cup and chugging it down.

"Ovahh said you'd know, as apparently you took interest in the pink fruits of Jotunheim on your travels here. I'm sorry none are ripe yet, but this is essentially its flavour, minus the strong alcohol, we call this drink, Potent Pinia." Loki said amusedly.

"It's delicious, but I understand why it's served in a small glass. You require so little before you become lightheaded."

Ovahh laughed heartily. "Oh birdy, the small thimble you consumed is because my king was concerned about your safety. Jotuns typically guzzle this in tankards." You peered at Loki in search of the truth, certain that Ovahh was lying. But Loki's grin confirmed it all to be true.

"Well, I suppose you could tell I am not used to such beverages. So I appreciate your concern, Loki."  You grabbed a clementine from the table and proceeded to peel it. "May I have just a little bit more?" You inquire timidly.

Loki and Ovahh looked at you in surprise.

"Are you sure? This drink is crafted with Jotun's in mind; it contains enough tipple to bring one to their knees." Loki said.

"Just another small glass, please." You pout.

Unable to say no to you, Loki hesitantly pours you another, but warns, "Sip this time, not gulp, okay?"

"I promise."

As Loki hands you the glass, you pass him a piece of the clementine, and he examines it within his palm with confusion.

You grin at his puzzled expression. "I'm sharing my fruit with you, will you eat with me?"

"But I've already ate, Eden" he said lowly.

"But you've not ate this fruit this evening, and it's directly from my hand, etiquette rules say you cannot refuse it."

Loki smiled at your thoughtfulness and placed the segment in his mouth. Now, every time you give yourself a piece, you give one to Loki as well. Ovahh quickly realised your intentions and delighted in the fact that you were attempting to feed Loki without his king's knowledge.

As the conversation continued to flow, so did the endless consumption of clementines, berries, and now, having moved on from fruit, you reach for the honeyed pastries.

Loki finally caught on to what you were doing when you tried to hand him half of your pastry.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were purposely feeding me, darling?"

A small smile tugged at the corner of your mouth, and your heart quivered when you heard him call you darling again. You had missed it.

"I am merely sharing with my gracious host"

"Then who am I to deny such generosity," he quipped.

The potent Pinia was clearly effecting your senses now, as you found yourself being a lot more brazen with your words and actions. "You are my king, and as such deserve to be hand fed."

Loki's eyes were ablaze with desire as he drew closer to you, his Jotun form dissipating to reveal his blue-eyed Asgardian self.

"Only by your hands would I accept such offerings."He opened his mouth, and waited for you to feed him the honeyed pastry that you still held.

If you were not so inebriated at the moment, you would be appalled that you would resort to feeding a married king with your hands. However, you were not sober in the least; your consciousness was completely lost in the euphoric sensations that your first alcoholic beverage induced.

You brought the pastry to his mouth, allowing the glaze to moisten his lips before teasingly pulling it away. Loki licked the syrup, and for the first time since giving him food, you heard him moan in contentment at finally experiencing the sweet flavours he had sorely missed.

"Do you want more?" You playfully enquire.

"Yes... more." He pleads, his tastebuds relishing flavour once more.

You smile and give him more pastry, allowing it to linger on his tongue as the buttery honey slowly melted, causing him to groan with pleasure.

He swallowed and looked displeased when it had all gone.

"More?" You ask again.

You were startled when you saw the entire tray of pastries slide across the table in a green shimmer and come to a stop between you and Loki. Using his magic proved he was very eager to continue being fed by you.

Ovahh chuckled before rising to his feet and taking the bottle of potent pinia to the sofa with him. "I'm just going to lay down." He staggered across the room and collapsed onto the sofa adjacent to the fireplace.

You didn't protest his disappearance from the table, neither did Loki. You were too busy indulging Loki with pastry after pastry and taking pleasure in the sighs of contentment he sent forth with every bite. 

"They are all gone, my king." You licked the syrup off your fingers as Loki attentively observed you. As his desire grew, he was no longer able to merely watch; he grabbed your fingers and plunged them into his mouth, twirling his tongue around your fingertips.

It was entirely plausible that as a result of the potent pinia making you more daring, you did not withdraw your hand as you normally would have. You held your breath the entire time, savouring both the act of him sucking on your fingers and the sensations it evoked in you.

You were filled with drunken confidence, yet, you still needed more for what you were about to do.

You sprang to your feet and stumbled drunkenly towards Ovahh, who was sound asleep next to the fire while still holding a nearly empty bottle of pinia. You snatched it up and downed the last drop.

"Eden, that wasn't wise." Loki rose from his seat, looking concerned.

You paused momentarily as you gathered your senses following a brief period of disorientation. As soon as it passed, however, liquid courage coursed through you, and you now had Loki in your sights.

Loki's brow furrowed in surprise at the look you gave him. It was almost feral and filled with carnal lust. Feeling all of his blood rush to his lower region, he felt his trousers immediately tighten.

He observed you take a sharp breath before darting towards him with your eyes brimming with determination. 

As you raced forward, you had every intention of stopping directly in front of him, but your body was slow to respond and there was a delay of a few seconds. Loki, not anticipating the force of the impact, grabbed you tightly as he tumbled backward, ensuring that you landed softly on him while he struck the ground with force.

He groaned before peering down at you. "Are you hurt, Eden?"

You rest your chin on his chest while displaying remorse. "I'm sorry, I had no deliberate aim of crashing into you, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, if you are fine, darling."

Your chuckle was a mix of laughter and hiccups, "I am fine, Loki."

Loki assisted you in standing while you both laugh at your intoxicated state, but as the humour subsided, you noticed Loki staring into your eyes, and the air surrounding you thick with anticipation.

"You are so beautiful." He grazed his thumb over your lower lip.

Desiring to touch him, you caress his cheek with your hand, and as if starved of affection, he leans into it, his eyes closing as he absorbs himself completely in the sensation of your touch.

When he hears you hiccup, he opens his eyes and smiles; the sweet, mouse-like sound though adorable, was a clear indication that you were more than tipsy.

"You are so very intoxicated, darling?" He saw your eyes struggling to remain open.

"I'm not," you argue, but your knees suddenly wobbling only proved his claim. "Perhaps I am just a little sleepy."

"Then allow me to escort you to your chambers." He offers innocently.

The sudden image of you entwined in Loki's embrace within the sheets of your grand four-poster bed, flashes before your eyes and now courage surges through you like a raging torrent. You instinctively step closer towards him. "Not until you kiss me first, and maybe then I will permit you to occupy my bed."

Loki's pulse quickened as he observed your mouth slowly approach his, your soft, alluring lips puckering in anticipation of a kiss.

You close your eyes and lean in, but just as you feel the heat of his rapid respiration against your skin, indicating that you were in close proximity to his lips, he pulls away.

"I can't, Eden."

You quickly open your eyes and notice that Loki was not even attempting to kiss you. You recoil in embarrassment, feeling foolish.

"I'm sorry, I should not have done that—" You retreat further, your embarrassment sobering you up a little. You continue increasing the distance between you and him.

Loki saw your humiliated state and immediately tried to explain himself.

"Eden I—"

"—No need for an explanation, really." You cut him off while awkwardly trying to concentrate on finding the exit, but your fuzzy mind and wobbly knees made it an arduous task.

"I'm just going to leave now and go to bed...alone." You swiftly add. "The potent pinia has clearly gone to my head, and effected my better judgment. Please disregard all my witless actions."

You turned around a bit too fast and tripped over the hem of your cloak. Loki quickly caught you before you fell to the floor.

As he steadied you, a powerful tidal wave of conflicting emotions swept over you. A dreadful cocktail of self-humiliation and resentment at his rejection.

You fight off his grip as angry and sad tears roll down your face. Loki does not stop your furious fists from pounding on his chest as he understands your anger and pain all too well. He allowed you to take your rage out on him, and gave you a moment to vent your frustrations before he seized your wrists and cradled you.

"It's okay Eden. It's okay." You lean your forehead against his chest, no longer having the strength to struggle.

"You rejected me," you sob.

His gentle hand moved along the spine of your back before settling firmly on the nape of your neck. You felt a strong pull, which resulted in him forcing your head back and compelling you to look at him.

You furrow your brows and gaze at him with tear-stained eyes as you listened to his stern voice. "Let me make this perfectly clear, I will never reject you Eden. I crave that kiss more than anything in the world, and I desire the immense pleasures that come with sharing a bed with you. But, my darling, I want you to remember my every touch as I explore your body and claim you as mine."

He cupped your flushed face, desperately fighting against the powerful urge to kiss you, and though he could simply take a chaste kiss to satisfy his yearning, even that he wanted you to remember.

"Strong pinia dulls our perceptions, I don't want you to have any regrets after its effects wear off." He states.

Your head was now throbbing as another stream of tears flowed down your cheeks, and regardless of whether you chose to believe his claims or not, you couldn't contest them. You only know that the pain of rejection was excruciating.

"Should you wake up with a clear head tomorrow and still wish a kiss, I promise you with all of my heart that I will never say no."

"I envy Magritte." You blink through tears. "She does not deserve your love." You sob.

Loki's sudden smile confused you. And believing you'd not remember a word he says after you sleep, he came clean, confessing his shameful sham of a marriage to Magritte.

"No part of me has ever, or will ever love Magritte. It was a pre-arranged marriage, Eden. Her status was alluring for my father who hoped by binding a new Jotun king to a lady of popularity would heighten my standing with the realms leaders. There are no words to characterise the hatred I have for her, nor the hatred she has for me. Please, Eden, do not hold it against me that I agreed to such a fraudulent contract. I did it to appease my parents."

Loki awaited your response after revealing his disgraceful secret that he had been harbouring for months. However, he became uneasy when you took too long to respond.

"Say something, please Eden." He lightly shook your shoulders.

You release a relieved chuckle, and beamed broadly. "You do not love her?... Are you sure?" You question with uncertainty.

"I am as sure as my skin is blue." Loki grinned.

You arch a puzzled brow. "But in your Asgardian form, you are not blue."

Loki laughed out loud causing Ovahh to stir in his sleep, "I don't know if it is the potent pinia causing your curious and amusing questioning, but I adore it." He said with humour before turning more serious. "Only two things in my existence have been certain: the first being the regret I have for marrying Magritte. The second is that even if I were to combine every grain of sand and every star in the sky, it wouldn't be enough to equal how much I love you."

"Oh, Loki, my mind is so hazy right now, and I'm unsure if what I'm witnessing is real or the result of the alcohol's intense effects. But if it's true and I'm not hallucinating, know that I love you with every fibre of my being."

Loki drew your face to his and pressed your foreheads together. "I sincerely regret giving you that pinia drink, Eden. Because I really wish to kiss you right now." Your light-hearted giggles collide and Loki shed joyful tears.

"I will kiss you when I wake," you whisper.

Loki sighs, "But you will not remember any of this soon enough."

"I promise you, Loki. I promise to remember."

You shriek in fright as Loki abruptly scoops you into his large arms and cradles you bridal style.

"What are you doing!" You screech.

"I'm putting my love to bed, the sooner you sleep, the quicker I get my kiss." He grinned cheekily. "Should you remember that is." He added, walking towards the exit of his royal suite.

"I promised didn't I?"

He looked at you with adoring eyes. "You did, but should you not, I look forward to stealing a kiss, and fully accept the hard repercussion of your slap across my face when you don't remember." He quipped.

"I would never mar the beauty of my fated one's face," you murmur, resting your sleepy head on his chest as he carried you towards your room. Loki squeezed you closer to his chest after hearing your words, wishing he could keep you there for the remainder of your joyful life together. 

"Let me hear it again, Eden."

You sleepily smile against his chest. "I promise I will kiss you when I wake."

You felt his chest relax and although you couldn't see his smile, you felt that too. 

By the time he placed you upon your bed, he found you already fast asleep. He unfastened your cloak and removed it for your comfort, but as he began tucking you under the covers, he noticed the very evident bruises on your arms.

Realisation dawned on him as he connected the dots; the reason you refused to remove your cloak at dinner, was because you were concealing your injuries.

He scowled and closely examined your arms, inspecting each purple mark he could find. When he recognised the unmistakable sign of a firm grasp, rage erupted within him. He knew that someone had done this to you, that someone had held you so tightly that their foul handprint was left on your delicate skin.

He made a mental note to seek answers; he would not allow the perpetrator to get away with such a heinous crime. Not to you, his love.