Cleave | Loki x Reader

• XI •

My breath hitched in my chest, and I found myself aching to take Loki's hand in mine, to vanish with him into the bliss of the night's sky which he undeniably looked so dashing under. To be with and feel him there.

My mother laughed softly, a sound like the tinkling of bells. 'Indeed. But beware, Prince. Such brilliance can be blinding.'

Loki's eyes flickered to mine, something dark and alluring lurking in their depths. 'Only to those who do not wish to see,' he replied.

The moment hung between us, thick with meaning, until the king – sensing the charged atmosphere – cleared his throat.
'Now,' Odin's voice boomed, commanding the attention of the room, 'let us proceed with the evening's festivities.'

A hush fell over the ballroom as the musicians shifted to a slower, more deliberate melody.
The crowd parted to form a wide circle around the center of the room. In the middle of the space, a servant stepped forward, carrying a tray adorned with a dozen slender candles, each one flickering alight.

'This,' Odin continued, his gaze sweeping over the assembled guests, 'shall be the reenactment of an ancient ceremonial dance. Hallowed by our ancestors from ages long gone. A sacred test of power and trust between fellow warriors. In the times of the great Valkyries, each of these noble warrior maidens would choose an Æsir warrior to be their stalwart, ground-bound counterpart whilst they themselves soared the mighty heavens upon their great winged steeds. This dance was the crucible in which their bond was forged – the flame between them meant to represent their bond; their ability to move as one in the heart of battle. No pair has succeeded at this ceremony for way over a millennium now.'

To my right, I sensed Loki stiffening, his regal onyx attire catching in the light. Now that all eyes were on the King, I was free to behold the Norns' masterpiece of a man beside me.

Entranced by his handsome angular, enigmatic features, which were framed by the coal-black locks falling unto his shoulders – some were dangling almost lasciviously before his eyes – I struggled to fully grasp the All-Father's words.

Tiny snowflakes still clung to his dark figure as if they were in just as much awe as I was. As though having sensed my gaze burning into him, Loki's little finger brushed mine, intertwining them as his voice echoed in my mind.

This is madness. How could this charade turn into even more of a travesty? Silly from beginning to end, isn't it?

You're quite the fine dancer, though, Mischief.

How in the seven heavens would you know?

Oh, I may have peeked in on your lessons once or twice back in the sixteen hundreds.

I never received any lessons, I—

Oh, Krúttið, but you did.

'Shall we, Sanngjarnasta?' Thor, ever the eager participant, strode to the centre of the circle, his confidence radiating in waves as he outstretched his hand to me.

Surtr's flames incinerate me this instant. What did he just say?!

Loki's curse filled every corner of my mind as he took a possessive step forward, towering behind me. His cheeks, afore flushed with embarrassment, now burned red with anger as he seized my hand. Just as I was about to offer it to Thor.

'I was about to voice the same proposal to my date, dear brother,' he hissed.
I extracted my hand from his grasp.

'Well, but you didn't. Rather silly, isn't it?' I countered.