***WARNING*** The following chapter contains mature content. It features graphic depictions of sexual acts that may be inappropiate for young readers.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Please forgive the delay. Thanksgiving celebrations kept me from being able to sit down and write. I hope this chapter makes it up to you! I am also glad that you guys liked the way the story is evolving. We are moving towards the major and cataclysmic events that will subsequently bring the story to its climactic conclusion, so thank you for staying with me this far and appreciating the turns of events that are starting to unfold. Your support and kind reviews are what keep me going with the story! Also thank you for the new favorites/follows!

Landon: Sugar and milk, please! Oh, and don't forget the buscuits! Lol Now, I must ask you the same question: How do you take your tea? ;-) As for the song I would give the last chapter, I would say "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls. It defines in a grand way the new feelings Loki is discovering that he harbors towards Barbara. It is not to say that his his ardent and raging desire for her is dwindling, but there is something else that he didn't even know there was. What he does with the knowledge of such emotions will definitely be a joy to explore as a writer. As emotionally exhausting as it is for me to write Loki, it will be fantastic to explore a new dimension to him. Till next time, muffin!

Game of Shadows

Chapter 34

"Loki…"

Half a whisper, half a sigh. She closed her eyes and arched her back, as she brought her hand to her mouth, teeth biting into the digits. He smiled into the delicate skin of her thigh as he nipped the soft flesh, eyes sparkling in the dim light as he watched her unravel before him. Then he administered another soft bite, this time, on a lower part of her silky thigh.

"Do you know the titles bestowed upon me?" he purred into her skin, then moved to provide the same attention to her other thigh.

"Yes" Barbara whispered, moving her hips higher, instinctively drawing him closer to her sex.

"Name them" he ordered as he created a trail of open-mouthed kisses from her knee to her calf.

"Mmm… Oh my god" she sighed.

He laughed. "Yes, what else?"

"God of Mischief, God of Lies… oh!"

"Continue" he leered as he began to ascend again, past her calf, past her knee…

"Agent of Chaos, King of Asgard, God of ...fuck!" she screamed now in desperation.

His lips had now reached her upper thigh and continued higher. "Mmm, yes, that one too, but you forgot one"

She could now only pant as she looked at him. The smile on his face was lecherous as he returned her gaze.

"Silver Tongue"

She cried out and threw her head back as the mentioned limb came in full contact with the center of her pleasure. Her toes curled as she grabbed handfuls of the bedding, whimpers and moans that were loud as screams pouring from her throat. He took hold of her hips as he lapped at her, tasting the sweet and tart taste of her arousal.

"Ah, Loki!" she wailed, her legs wrapping around his shoulders as she grabbed a handful of his hair, urging him further into her sex. He groaned into her delicate flesh as his lips encircled her swollen nub, and suckled.

Her eyes went wide as her breath caught in her throat, her scream resonating through the room as she felt herself become undone. His ministrations became more demanding as her nether lips began to contract, the nectar of her womanly essence oozing onto his lips. Her hips bucked and her legs shook, until finally, she stilled and slumped against the bed, her chest heaving as she fought to regain her breath.

He licked his moist lips as he crawled over her, then kissed her long and deep. She tasted herself on him, combined with the unique delicious flavor of his mouth. Keeping their lips locked, he rose on his knees, bringing her with him. He broke the kiss to gaze into her eyes as he took hold of her hips and lowered her onto him. Her lips parted in a sigh of pleasure, her legs wrapped around his waist as they began moving together in unison.

His hand tangled in her hair and pulled back, exposing her throat. He attacked it with his mouth, feeling the vibrations of her moans as he nipped at the place where her pulse pumped under her skin. She arched her back, burying his face in the valley of her breasts as she bucked her hips, meeting his thrusts as she brought herself down again and again. Then he stilled and laid back, resting on his elbows, watching himself disappear into her.

"Fuck woman, you're amazing" he let the obscenity and endearment pass his lips as he watched her move atop him. Her hair, a mass of black spirals, cascaded down her shoulders and framed her face. She dug her nails into his chest as she rode him, her voluptuous, perky breasts bouncing with her movements. They became faster and wild with abandon as she felt her orgasm approach. Suddenly, he wrapped an arm around her waist and flipped her onto her back, their bodies still joined. She whimpered in need and frustration at her release being withheld.

"I… was… so close" she whined as he began to move.

"Beg me to let you meet your end" he purred into the junction where her throat met her jaw.

She closed her eyes and gasped as his thrusts took on a maddening rhythm, bringing forth the onslaught of implorations he demanded from her.

"Oh god… please… Loki… I need… I want… goddamn… yes… just like that… must… come… please… I'm begging… let me… come… please…"

"Good girl" he whispered and brought a hand to the place where they were linked, skillfully bringing her over the edge as he massaged her swollen nub "now, come. Come for me"

Her body surrendered to his words as she felt her body clench with a force she had not yet known she possessed. She clawed at his back as she shook with the tidal waves of sheer, mind blowing pleasure that rushed through her entire being. She screamed his name, her walls clamping around him like a vice as he continued to pound his hips into hers.

He groaned against her mouth, becoming undone. The hand in her hair tightened to a fist as he brought his other arm around her and pressed her to him. He threw his head back, her name on his lips before he collapsed on her, burying his face in her neck as he reveled in their shared completion.

"Is that really why they call you 'Silver Tongue'?" she panted. He rolled over on his back, placing her on top of him.

"No, but it definitely adds a new dimension to the title" he replied, running a hand up and down her back as she drew intricate patterns on his chest with her finger.

She laid her head on his shoulder, and for the first time in her life, she felt safe. She smiled as she thought that of all places, and out of all people, she had come to find that in the arms of the God of Mischief.

Loki awoke to the feel of warmth against him. His body covered hers as she lay sprawled onto her stomach; the fur covers drawn up to their waist, his arm wrapped possessively around her. He kissed her shoulder and looked at her sleeping form, the corners of his mouth turning up as he saw the soft smile upon her lips. With a grunt of displeasure, he forced himself to pull away from the warmth of her body and rose from the bed.

Dawn was begging to break over the horizon. The star-clustered sky would soon give way to the golden rays of sunlight, and there was a pressing matter that needed to be addressed before the major events of the day occupied his time. Moments later, he was fully dressed and moved towards the doors. He stopped himself halfway and turned to the bed he had just exited, gazing at the woman that remained in it.

No, there was no turning back. His decision had been made, and the possible ramifications were ones he was willing to face. In the end, she would understand the reasons for his course of action, just as she always did. Her greatest gift to him had been her total submission, the gentle warmth of her touch, the complete surrender of her being to his possession. He was not going to let the pathetic state of her nature rob him of what he had become unwilling to relinquish.

Loki reached the doors and stepped out. He walked up to one of the guards in the corridor and gave the order.

"Assemble Idunn's sorcerers in the throne room as soon as dawn turns to day"

Barbara sat with the queen, both reclined on divans, wine chalices in hand as their laughter echoed through Frigga's private parlor.

"So elves are nothing more than folk stories about small people that make toys for children?!" Frigga laughed loudly "oh, that one I did not expect. I thought it couldn't become any more ludicrous after I heard that mortals believed Loki had mothered Odin's personal horse!"

Barbara almost choked on her wine. "I wouldn't put it past him"

"Ha! Loki has done the worst of shenanigans, but I don't think he would let himself go that far. Sleipnir was born in the royal stables when Loki was an adolescent, and he grew an attachment to him, taking him in as a pet. No one had yet seen a horse with eight legs, so I guess he became drawn to his oddities."

"What happened to him?"

"He's still at the stables, enjoying runs of the mountains behind the city and fathering foals. With the Allfather gone, he is spending the rest of his life in idleness and luxury"

"So what exactly are elves?" Barbara inquired.

"Fierce warriors. There are two forms of them. The Light Elves are our allies, they are the best archers in all the Nine Realms. The Dark Elves were never in good terms with Odin. Their ruler and my husband never saw eye to eye. Many battles were fought, both sides losing many of their best soldiers and causing great desolation. I pray the same thing doesn't happen under Loki's rule"

"Have all the worlds ever been truly at peace?"

"Oh, no. The Allfather sought to maintain peace after the great battle at Jotunheimn, but there are always threats looming in the shadows. Loki bears a great weight of responsibility as Odin's successor. Maintaining harmony within nine realms while keeping them independent and self-governing is a nearly impossible task"

Barbara didn't respond. She knew Loki's hunger for absolute power, and she knew Frigga did as well. The words she expressed were ones of hope for her son to take the just course of action, but deep inside, she feared her son might set out to conquer the other worlds. Barbara shivered at the thought of a new title being bestowed upon him: Loki, Ruler of the Nine Realms.

Servants came with silver trays containing the afternoon meal. Arrays of breads, cheeses and fruits were set before them. Then Aida came and set a silver bowl in front of Barbara. Frigga turned and her eyes went wide as she saw what Barbara had been given. She then looked at Aida in amazement, who in turn met the queen's eyes and nodded.

"Oh yes, more apples!" Barbara exclaimed in delight as she grabbed one and took a bite "you know, they've been bringing them to me since this morning. I never knew that golden apples were even real. I've never tasted any fruit as delicious in all my life!"

Frigga sat speechless as she watched Barbara partake of the golden apples of Idunn. Moments later, she jumped from her seat as Barbara had nearly finished, when suddenly she blanched, falling over as she clutched her middle. She wailed out in pain, falling off the divan as the last, half-eaten apple dropped from her hand and rolled on the floor. When Frigga and the servants reached her, she was shaking and spasming in agony, choking and heaving as she fought to bring air to her lungs.

"Guards!" Frigga screamed in terror as she cradled Barbara's head in her arm. Two immediately barged in, one scooping up the dying human as the other moved to help the queen.

"No! Fetch the healers! Go!" she yelled. Aida and the guard ran from the room, as the other rushed Barbara to the healing room, a terrified Frigga in tow. As they reached the doors, they burst open and Boden ran out, taking the now limp body of Barbara in his arms.

Frigga watched in helplessness and desperation as the chief healer rushed back inside the healing room.

"Alert the king" she said in a daze. The guard who had carried Barbara crossed his hand over his heart, then disappeared down the hall. The queen watched him go, then turned and walked into the healing room. She stopped at the doors as Boden let go of Barbara's hand, the glow of healing magic dissipating from his palm as he turned towards her. The other healers stood around the bed where she lay, faces lowered as they sadly regarded her inert form.

"My queen, the breath of human life is gone from her"

End of Chapter 34