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Chapter 46

Chapter 46
"Bjorn's taking me to a festival tomorrow," Cephera said grinning.
"Mhm." Loki replied, choosing not to look at her. If he had to hear about Bjorn one more time he might puke. 9 months that man had stood his ground against anything Loki had to throw at him. No matter how much he tried, Bjorn kept close to Cephera and wouldn't let her go. Officially courting now, after their first month of hanging out. Loki hated it.
And to make mattered worse, he'd failed in his own love life. Sigyn was due to marry in less than a weeks and she'd successfully avoided Loki or any attempt Loki made to lure her heart to him. He was depressed. "Loki?" Cephera's soft and uneasy tone got him to look at her. "I have a question and I need your opinion as a man."
"Go on," Loki said, knowing full well it would be something to do with Bjorn, but his curiosity stopped him from dismissing her.
"Lately, well as you know we haven't..." She sighed.
"Haven't been intimate." Loki finished for her.
"Well yes, but he wants to. I know he does and he tries sometimes and when I stop him he seems fine and understanding, but I feel bad. It's been 9 months but I just don't feel ready." She turned her eyes away, her cheeks darkening red.
"There was no question in there." Loki pointed out. He knew what she was most likely trying to ask, but he wanted to hear her say it.
"Should I? I mean how long would any man stick around if the woman keeps putting things like that on hold. I mean, I'm not about to marry him, I'm far too young to even think about that. His been so understanding over it all and I just feel he deserves to share that part of me."
"It's not fair to say anyone should just do something to please another person, but on the other hand if you do continue to push him away in that manner, he may start to feel as though you don't care which in turn could cause a rift between you. Cephera, it's really up to you. You view sex differently then the rest of us, it's important that you feel it's the right thing. If your hesitating so often then perhaps you should listen to how you feel. Maybe you and Bjorn are not meant to be." Loki's mouth spoke but his mind began thinking and plotting.
Cephera shared everything with Loki. It was one of the many things Bjorn hated. He hated how close his woman was to the prince. Cephera had directly told Bjorn that she hid nothing from Loki. Bjorn had come across Loki leaving Cephera's room and Loki could see the jealously. Now granted, they'd only been playing a card game, but Loki let the idiot believe what he wanted to.
Now Loki felt an opportunity open. A way to cross Bjorn out completely. It would mean facing Cephera's wraith for a while, but Loki didn't fear that as much as he probably should. The only thing he could thank Bjorn for was for taking Cephera's angry emotions away and allowing Loki to rekindle their friendship. It wasn't as sturdy as it had been, but with her attention elsewhere, it had pushed away her constant need to remind him of his errors.
"You're just saying that because you don't like him." Cephera pouted.
"It doesn't make it any less true." Loki pointed out. Cephera leaned on her arm and contemplated his words.
***
The opportunity was thick and ready. Bjorn was alone. It was now or never. Loki had been worried he'd never find a perfect time to set in motion his emotional plot of ripping Bjorn away from Cephera. He wanted to it before she decided to just give in to the man. It was clear to Loki that Cephera wasn't as into the relationship as she wanted to be for someone looking for love. She didn't love Bjorn, she was settling for him. She was smitten, that was all. Loki saw this as doing her a favor, stopping her from making a mistake.
Putting on his best angry face, Loki stalked out into the alcove, where Bjorn had stopped to watch the people below in the training grounds. "How dare you!" Loki spat. Bjorn turned and gave Loki a mildly irritated look.
"Prince Loki," he greeted with respect, though he obviously hated to.
"I once told you that should you hurt her, you would pay." Loki growled.
"I have not ...,"
"Perhaps not physically, but she cried to me just the other day. You push yourself on her, attempting to force her into your bed when she clearly doesn't want it." Bjorn stepped back, clearly appalled at the accusation.
"I've never, I've always ...,"
"Do not lie to me." Loki hissed. "She doesn't hide from me. I have always known her in ways you never will." A dark look fell over Bjorn's face. It was amazing how a few well-placed words could plant a seed of negativity deep within someone's mind.
"What ways?" He demanded taking the bait just as Loki new he would.
"I've known her far longer than you. When she needs comfort and understanding she comes to me." Loki left his statement open to be interpreted in any manner Bjorn wished. Loki know which way the mans mind would wander. It was almost too good a setup. A setup Loki hadn't even tried until now, but it worked so perfectly. Those few nights being caught leaving Cephera's room would only add to Loki's manipulation.
"I wondered. For a long time I wondered what I might be doing wrong to keep her at such arms length. I should have known it was you." Bjorn replied narrowing his eyes. "You can keep your wraith to yourself, the woman plays us both. I'll not be used any longer." Bjorn glared at Loki and Loki allowed him to push past him and walk away.
When he was gone Loki smirked to himself. That couldn't have gone better, in fact, it probably couldn't have gone any other way.
(Cephera)
She waited and waited. Bjorn should have met up with her by now. Worry crossed her mind and her face. The sound of crunching grass made her turn and she smiled for a second upon seeing Bjorn, but then her smile faded at the seething look across his features. "Bjorn?" She questioned.
"I had hoped I was wrong. I thought you were different, but you turned out to be the woman I had feared. You belong together, you and that trickster. The lies you both tell, the manipulation you weave."
"Bjorn, what are you talking about?" Cephera made to step forward, but Bjorn put up a hand in the warning for her to stop.
"You and Loki, your hidden intimacies. It makes sense now why you would not show me the same affection. I was a fool, you tricked me into seeing a sweet, soft woman."
Cephera couldn't understand why Bjorn suddenly turned to think all of this. She'd assured him on more than one occasion that herself and Loki were never lovers in any manner, and that she had never known a mans touch. Bjorn had touched her in ways no man had. Nothing major but still more. "Tell me no lies, are you Loki?" Cephera demanded. A part of her hoped this was a sick sad trick.
"Even now you think of him." Bjorn growled. "Look at me woman, I am not your trickster." Cephera felt no magic from her ankle and her heart sank. This was Bjorn, but something told her that this sudden outbursts was Loki's doing.
"I'm sorry, I thought maybe..., look whatever Loki has said to you, do not listen. Neither of you have liked eachother from the beginning and he's using that mistrust to trick you." Cephera pleaded.
"Did you not tell him about my trying to bed you?" Cephera held her breath, but she nodded. "You dared tell him I tried to force you."
"What no! I just wanted advice ...,"
"From him? The man you knew to hate me?" She bit her lip. What could she say? "If he was lying answer me this, do you love me?" Cephera froze.
"It's so early in our relationship, that's not a fair question." Cephera replied trying to keep her voice steady.
"Do you love him?" He demanded.
"He's my friend, of course I care about him." Cephera was unable to deny feeling for Loki what she should feel for Bjorn. As much as she tried to not feel it, she always did. It was clear Bjorn could read between her vague answer.
"This will be the last we ever see of eachother." He told her. "I'm sorry it couldn't have gone differently." Cephera should have said something more, but even as Bjorn left, she stayed quiet and watched him go.
***
It had crossed her mind several times to barge into Loki's room and knock him right in the face, or the family jewels, but that would accomplish nothing. It was clear Loki did what he liked without regard for others feelings. He'd always been that way and she knew it. Scolding Loki would do nothing so long as he knew he'd won.
So instead, Cephera took a few hours to calm herself, took a few deep breaths and schooled her face. If Loki could spin lies, then so could she. She entered their training room with only a frown. "Right on time." Loki grinned with a hidden mask behind his expression that only she'd learned to pinpoint.
"I thought about what you said and you were right. Bjorn was not the man I desired to stay with. I spoke with him earlier today and though he seemed angry with my decision to break off our courtship, he agreed." It took everything she had to not scowl, or yell at Loki that it was his fault and that he had created a bad image of Cephera in Bjorn's mind. She watched Loki's hidden face shift. He seemed glad and disappointed at the same time.
"Really?" He questioned.
"Yes, it was sad but he was not the one and I'm sure the right man will come along someday. I just need to be patient." She smiled with a reassuring nod for herself.
"I'm glad you finally made up your mind. It's for the best," Loki said.
"I guess all that's left now is to train." Cephera suggested.
"Finally, something fun." Loki replied grinning. Cephera was unable to make any other statement. It was taking everything she had to not let-on that she knew what Loki had done. Throughout their day of training Cephera had to keep her emotions under control. One day, somehow, Cephera what find a way to teach Loki that he couldn't simply play with peoples hearts and lives the way he does. That he was not the be all in all of everything around him.
She wanted him to know that there were consequences for sticking his nose in where it didn't belong. Perhaps, it was all her fault for sharing everything with him to begin with. Bjorn was right, Loki hated him and she had not taken that into account when she had asked for his advice.

Notes

Comments

@fraychan
Then I have done my job well. :p

Yasumi Yasumi
6/15/15

Your cliff hangers wound me D:

fraychan fraychan
6/12/15

@fraychan
Keep that adrenaline pumping, still a lot to come.

Yasumi Yasumi
5/14/15

Oh god I can't even describe how happy this chapter made me. I'm feeling a slight adrenaline rush haha

fraychan fraychan
5/12/15

@fraychan
I agree, things have could been so much different if things had just come to light sooner.

Yasumi Yasumi
5/7/15