Thanks so much to everyone who left reviews: Shadow Realm Triforce, Guest & Potkanka. Welcome to the new story followers/favorites: racheljf12, princessyuki08, lederra, ForeverIce, MutiaRAWR, Alexandra the Dreamer,sleepyboredandhungry, angelsnowflakes, FlyingPurpleUnicorn & 1Moshyy! Okay so this long chapter is to make up for the wait and the previous short chapters. This is where the M rating comes into play but it's marked by a specific page break (MMMM) so it can be skipped over if you want. Apologizes for any spelling mistakes. The program I wrote this on had no spell check. I do not own any of the characters (associated with Marvel comics) except my original characters Sarina, Kayan and Shah.
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"Love is a sweet tyranny, because the lover endureth his torments willingly." ~Proverb
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The others made their way to the arena floor hastily to see to the welfare of the combatants. From what Sarina could observe it appeared that the Golden Prince had received the brunt of the physical damage.
A pained groan escaped Thor's lips as he rolled onto his back in the arena. Reaching a hand back to feel the point on his head where Loki's ice scepter had made contact the Thunder God found his golden hair to be matted by blood.
"You require a healing room," Loki panted from where he still lay. Sarina noticed that she was the only member of the party who knelt by his side. The Warriors Three and Lady Sif all saw to Thor while choosing to ignore the younger god. The azure hue of his Jotun form had given way to alabaster skin. Against this more blanched background several deep gashes became visible on the Dark Prince's face.
"Tis but a scratch brother" Thor replied pushing himself into a sitting position. "As a warrior I have suffered much worse and…" His words stopped short as he experienced a wave of vertigo. "Then again, one can never be too careful when it comes to things such as this. Fandral, Volstagg" he motioned to the two warriors "please come help your prince." Both men rushed forward and assisted their comrade as he stood. Sif went to stand behind him ready to hold him up should either of the men stumble. "Loki, are you going to laze there and bask in your victory for the rest of the day or do you wish to join me?" Thor asked gazing down curiously at his still decumbent sibling.
The God of Mischief ventured to push himself up much as his brother but discovered that he was unable to do so. Any movement of his left arm caused a sharp pain to course through his body. "It seems that I am rather incapable of doing that at the moment" he said gritting his teeth as he let out a hiss of discomfort. "Perhaps Sarina can see to my wounds" he said mustering a thin lipped smile for the princess beside him whose visage was awash with concern.
"Foolish man" Sarina murmured as she waved a hand over Loki removing the heavy golden breastplate of his armor and revealing the emerald shirt that he wore underneath. "I believe I know the cause of your debility, if the station of your arm is any indication." With deft fingers she unbuttoned the top portion of the garment to expose a substantial reddish-purple discoloration that had formed on the left side of his chest. Sarina gently trailed a finger along the line of Loki's shoulder noting that he winced whenever she reached the center of the early bruise. "My prince it would appear that you have broken your collar bone" she sighed. "I will need you to hold your shoulder steady as we get you to your feet." Turning to Hogun with a warm smile the grim-faced warrior had little choice but to aid the princess. After a few seconds of awkward manipulations the Dark Prince was finally standing albeit unsteadily and leaning heavily on Sarina for support.
"Now that is done. We must get both of the princes to the healing rooms" Lady Sif commanded making for the arena exit.
"No!" Loki shouted. "Take Thor. I need only to be brought to my chambers. Magic can be used to mend whatever is broken there." "Not to mention the fact that few, if any, of the Royal Healers will touch me without wearing a look of disdain" he thought darkly.
The God of Thunder made to protest but was silenced by a cutting glance from his brother. "So be it. Princess Sarina will you see to our victor?" His pale blue eyes wordlessly beseeched her to make certain that Loki did no further damage to himself.
"Of course, Thor" she responded, "He shall have my full attention for as long as he may require it." The hulking prince gave her a grateful smile and allowed the rest of the warriors to lead him away.
"It looks as if our roles have been reversed princess" Loki joked as the couple made their out of the arena behind the others. "Tonight you shall be my guardian instead of I yours."
Laughing Sarina wrapped her arm more tightly around his waist. "How pleased he is with himself" she judged. "Somehow dear Loki I foresee that as being the cause of trouble."
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Upon entering Loki's chambers Sarina deposited him gingerly into the gilded, high-backed chair that sat adjacent to his desk. "Please, take off your shirt," she requested as she lit a handful of candles with a flick of her wrist. "If that bone is to be knit back together I need to see the full extent of the harm done."
The Dark Prince wore a devilish grin as he observed her movements. "Well," he said catching her eye "I had hoped that the first time I disrobed before you would be under very different circumstances. Nonetheless, I will obey." Mimicking her previous motion he dismissed the emerald shirt.
"Good to know that your silver tongue is untarnished" Sarina quipped crouching in front of him. For a brief while she was soundless as she perused his frame. "He and Thor are so physically dissimilar like a lion and a cheetah. One is brawny and assertive whilst the other is sleek and artful." Loki shifted marginally and Sarina felt a heated flush travel through the whole of her body as the muscles in his abdomen quivered. "I, umm…this should not be difficult to repair." Taking a deep breath to steady her racing thoughts she placed her hand lightly over the blemish on his chest. "This may sting a bit," she warned as she closed her eyes and began the necessary incantation.
Loki barely took notice of the bone knitting back together beneath his skin as he contemplated the woman doing the mending. "If fate is to be believed she will make me a husband, a father and a King. What has become of me in so short a time? Once I desired the whole of Midgard and now I desire only her." Formerly spoken words drifted eerily through his mind, "This is the basest sentimentality!…Pathetic!" A minute smile graced his lips. "How our words do come back to haunt us in the end." The sound of Sarina's voice called him back to reality.
"It may remain tender for a day or so nevertheless it is healed" she affirmed withdrawing her fingers. "I will take my leave and permit you to rest."
Loki grabbed her hand just as she was about to turn. "As conquering hero am I to reap no prize" he questioned slyly bringing her towards him.
Sarina raised a dark brow. "You defeated Thor in a manner that no one believed you able. What greater prize is there than that?"
"You" he whispered taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger thus forcing her to meet his gaze.
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"Why in all the Nine Realms would you wish me as a prize?" she challenged removing her chin from his grasp. "Especially now after all the strife I brought."
With a sigh the Dark Prince snaked his hands around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. Surprise rose in her deep brown eyes yet she made no move to get up. "I welcome anything that accompanies you my pet," he breathed quietly. "Surely you must know of the power you wield over me. Must I utter it aloud?"
Sarina was given no chance to answer before he was kissing her slowly, intensely. Long fingers from one hand wove through her ebony hair as the others trailed along the curve of her body coming to rest low on her hip. She closed her eyes as her breathing quickened.
"I shall take that as a no" he said gathering her to him as he stood. Pressing his lips to hers once more he moved them both backwards until she felt the edge of his bed nudging the rear of her thigh. All at once Sarina tore her lips from his. Dismayed Loki cupped her face "What is it? I thought that you wanted…"
"I do" she whispered, "still, I feel that you must know something before we continue." Circling her arms around his waist she murmured quietly against his chest "My prince you are not the first lover I have ever taken. There were others."
Loki merely chuckled. "Is that all?" he asked stroking her jaw. "There are others for us both." He placed a kiss on the hollow of her throat. "But after tonight there will be no others and you will forget all men prior to me." Continuing to trail kisses along her throat he removed the golden tunic she wore.
"Give me something to remember then," she said under her breath pulling him down onto the bed with her. He nipped playfully at her neck and smiled when she gave a tiny whimper of pleasure.
Moving lower he planted kisses on her collarbone and breasts. Delighting in the instinctive arch of her back at his attentions and in the fact that her eyes now shone a bright yellow. He had made lose control and he reveled in it. "If only for tonight," he whispered huskily in her ear, "you feel love for me." Bringing her lips to his once more he forced her mouth open gradually allowing his tongue to explore her as he slipped off what remained of her clothing.
Sarina felt the whole of her body shiver as she separated her lips from his. "I will love you, Loki" she gasped breathlessly, "tonight and every night hence." It was in that moment that the God of Lies vowed no harm would ever come to the woman he held. She would save him. If anything decent or good were left in him at all she would be the one to find it.
Kissing his still swollen lips she tugged fiercely at his trousers before using magic and waving them away altogether. Placing a kiss along her jaw he looked to her for permission. "A single word will stop this," he said even as she traced a hand further down his abdomen. She nodded and her gloried at the sound of her voice gasping his name when he obliged.
He had never felt more alive than he did right now with her body writhing and straining beneath him. In her eyes, his sinking soul was renewed and made whole. She whispered, "I love you" into his ear as they both moved towards completion.
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When all was done Sarina fell asleep against Loki's chest listening to the pounding beat of his heart. He gazed at her still form bathed in the moonlight steaming from his chamber window. "Nothing can ever change what I feel for her," he thought tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. As he contemplated what their journey to Jotunheim tomorrow would bring visions of his own destruction came. The Jotuns would want him dead, of that he was certain. "As long as she returns to Asgard alive I will have kept my promise." For a brief moment, the panic in the Dark Prince's soul was calmed and he drifted peacefully to sleep.