Chapter 18: Breathtaking

No matter how many conversations she had with Loki he always seemed to find a way to either insult her or piss her off completely. Cephera woke early as usual and made sure to depart the room before he woke. She wasn't in the mood to put up with his mood swings today. At first when he had started to speak to her his words touched her in a way that she thought would be pleasing but as he continued to talk he only managed to insult her.

Today, however, she could forget about Loki completely for there was a dance to happen later that night within the walls of the palace. She was excited to see a party in Asgard. The only one she had ever really attended had been her wedding night. Tonight Cephera had decided that she would enjoy herself and not let thoughts of Loki ruin her time at the party. Shay had told Cephera that Loki once attended these functions on and off throughout his life so there was no telling whether or not he would actually show up. If he did show up she was hoping that he would not make a scene with this newfound possessive jealousy he seem to have.

Cephera had not yet had a chance to tell Shay about Loki's newest reaction to her. She really couldn't wait to get the woman's input seeing as she knew Loki on a much different scale than others did. When she finally met up with Shay she brought the woman out to a private place they liked to privately talk in located in the gardens. Cephera sat Shay down and told her everything that happened the night before. Shay smirked when she finally got to the part where Loki had pulled her away from Fandrel.

"That sounds more like the Loki I know." Shay commented leaning back in the grass and looking up at the sky. "Loki has always been the kind of man that has been possessive over things he believes are rightfully his."

"And yet he still sees me as an obligation. How can he feel possessive of me and yet not want me at the same time?" Cephera was thoroughly confused.

"That's just it I don't think he doesn't want you I think he does and that's his problem. He wants you and he knows he wants you but having you goes against everything he's been trying to work toward all this time. All his efforts would have been for nothing if he just gave in." Shay sounded happy. "In fact he's having such a hard time with how he's feeling right now that instead of his usual calm, sly and manipulative demeanor he's becoming sloppy in the way he handles things. His anger, jealousy, and confusion are all causing a Loki none of us have seen before."

"What should I do?"

"Nothing. Continue as you already were. Clearly whatever you're doing now is causing a shift in the way he feels and that only works in your favor." Shay shrugged. Cephera continue to talk to Shay about their thoughts on what happened between her and Loki and what it could mean for her future. Noon came and it was time to get ready for the party. Shay and Cephera parted ways for the day. Shay was in no mood to party.

(Loki)

As much as Loki didn't want to attend the festivities in the ballroom he couldn't help but think what his wife was up to now. The thoughts of her being touched and danced about by other men just cause that same stirring of jealousy he had had the day before. He knew he was being irrational not every man in that room would be pining after his wife but for Loki that wasn't what mattered. It was more of the fact that he had left her free to do as she pleased and now he wished he hadn't. If even a single man in that ballroom caught her attention Loki wasn't sure how he would react to it.

Against what he thought to be his better judgment Loki dressed in his finer clothing and made his way downstairs. When he entered the ballroom he was given quite a few stares but nobody made a comment they continued on their way dancing past him. Loki's eyes searched for only one figure and he finally set his eyes upon her in the middle of the floor as she was already in the midst of dancing.

Loki watched her move and sway along the floor for a long time. He was aware of the looks upon the faces of the men who asked her to dance. Eager, hopeful, sly and some clearly looked to want to remove her from the floor all together and perhaps remove her to a bedroom. She might not see their true reasons for dancing her about but he did.

Perhaps it was his new found jealously regarding her. Perhaps those cads were all he could focus on when some men were only enjoying a dance with the princess. Loki could only view those dancing her about in a negative light. He watched as dance after dance she was passed from person to person. She wasn't the only woman being danced about but she was the only one Loki's eyes were focused on. He couldn't blame the men for wanting her. In her cascading gown of silver she looked like an angel. Her hair hanging half down her back while the other half was pinned up in braided criss-crossing across the top. No doubt his mother helped her with that. Her smile brightening her facial features. Her steps ever graceful. She was breathtaking.

Loki could take no more watching. He moved out from his half hidden spot and moved across the floor causing some to look at him in surprise. He ignored everyone as his sights were set on one woman only. When he reached his wife the man currently ogling her stopped quickly and let her go. He gave a hesitant bow to the dark prince and stepped back uttering an apology for monopolizing her time. Loki passed him off in a bored manner looking away from the man and down to look at his wife.

She was standing looking back at him her eyebrow raised in a quizzical manner. Loki offered her his hand and still looking up at him she took it. Loki began where the other man had left off. Parties like this often repeated the same dances and as a prince he had been taught them all. Loki had always been the more graceful between him and Thor. He glided his wife along the dance floor enjoying how easily her small size moved with him. Twirling her caused her skirt to come up and circle her legs before retracing back in a beautiful swirl. Pulling her back to the proper hold around the waist Loki also noticed how nicely his arm fit around her. She didn't have the same curvature in her waist he was used to. Her hips did flare out but not as noticeable as others. She didn't have the perfect hourglass figure but all her proportions fit her nicely.

Looking down the dress she wore cause her breasts to push up giving the effect they were larger then they were. If Loki had to guess her size in human measurement a B would properly fit the bill. Loki knew that her smaller shape caused the almost childlike look to her facial features. She looked young. He hadn't bothered to wonder before how old she was. Maybe 21 human years. Surely they wouldn't have married him to a teenager? Loki found himself pondering all this but he didn't talk to her. He continued to dance her about while studying her closely. The longer she danced with him the more she smiled. The melody currently being played by the minstrels ended and Loki just stopped and looked down at his wife. It was one of those moments when two married people would perhaps share a kiss but instead Loki released his dancing form from hers.

"You dance beautifully." He told her.

"Thank you." She replied. She seemed somewhat flustered. Loki himself even felt somewhat odd and as to avoid an awkward moment he walked away.

XxX

Loki was glad she hadn't pursued him. Once upon a time she might have but with her new outlook on life she knew better. He stood leaned against the wall ignoring the flirty women passing by who tried to give him tempting looks that could lead to tempting offers. His eyes were forever pinned on the girl he had been forced to marry. Her every move or actions with others both intrigued him and stirred feelings of jealousy in him. Even though her interactions were innocent and even those of most who spoke with her, he saw everyone who approached her as a threat.

He didn't speak to her the rest of the party nor did he dance with her again. He just watched. At the end of the night Loki saw her coming his way. He steeled himself for what she might have to say. "Thank you, for the dance." She said when she was in front of him. "I'm retiring to bed now so you can stop your somewhat creepy watching." She gave a half laugh which told Loki she was attempting to tease him for his behaviour.

"Goodnight." He replied to her keeping it simple. She gave a soft smile and left. He watched her glide across the floor in her extravagant dress and disappear from the ballroom all together. Loki was startled when a voice spoke to him.

"Don't be a fool." It was Fandrel who spoke. Loki hadn't seen him approach.

"What idiocy do you talk of." Loki said looking at the man he once called a friend.

"It's becoming obvious you like her to some degree. That she's made an impact on you on some emotional level." Fandrel pointed out. "Your constant watch over her as if making sure she stayed safe in a room full of men more than willing to take her home." Loki scowled at that statement. "If I'm right, which I'm sure I am, by the time you decide you are ready to accept her is the day you'll realize you've lost her." Loki turned completely to face Fandrel now.

"What do you mean?" Loki felt a furious feeling drive through him.

"She may think that she will not fall in love with any man while married but all it takes is for the right man to come along and give her the respect you have failed to show her, make her feel beautiful and sexy, tell her words of love and encourage the things she enjoys. That one man is out there and he will steal her heart and despite how she thinks she feels now she'll give in eventually and then it will be too late for you to gain her love and affection." Loki didn't like the words Fandrel spoke but something fluttered in his stomach. "Don't be a fool Loki. Go for what you want. Make the bond that you've pushed away and create a life for yourself worth more than the one you're living."

"Why do you care so much about my life?" Loki growled.

"Because no matter who you've become I still see the man that was once my friend. We had a lot in common you and I. Our need for perfection, our well guided tongues and graceful actions. No matter how you're acting now you'll always be Loki and I want to see my friend happy. If you try to create something with her you may very well realize it wasn't meant to be but at least you can say you tried and you won't feel confused over her any longer. You created your own inner turmoil, end it." Loki swallowed hard. Fandrel's speech of friendship gave Loki a sense of relief that he hadn't expected. Loki yearned to fit in all his life and feeling as though he still had a chance brought out feelings in him he scorned and yet longed for.

"I'll consider your words." Loki said feigning indifference in a dismissive manner. Fandrel smirked.

"Don't wait to long." Fandrel said. "Time is ticking."

Loki walked away from Fandrel shaking his head as if he didn't care but his gut was telling him something. Fandrel's words running through his mind and eating at him in a way he didn't like. He'd been paying far to much attention to her lately when she had stopped paying attention to him and her sudden cold shoulder was almost agonizing. He hated to admit it but Fandrel was right. If he didn't do something soon Cephera would be gone and taken from him and he hated that thought more than he had when all this began. He wouldn't lose his wife to some other man. Not now, not after all the emotion he'd been put through that he had tried to ignore.

All the reviews are great! Your guys comments meant the world to me.

*begs for you to keep them coming*

-Gfor098: yup. Finally moving onward.

- Female Wraith: haha. He had to do something with his pent up frustrations.

- Benfan 1: thanks so much!

- Poodle Warriors: lots of confusion. That'll end soon and give way to other stuff.

- Loki's Dreamer: it really would solve a lot of problems.

- Stephanie D: haha. Shiaji has been a staple in most of my Cephera fics. I'm so glad everyone loves him so much.

- Katarina Lillis: yeah. Still lots of tension but a small amount of progress.

- Doctor Loki Love: yeah jealousy seems to be his thing. I'm glad I didn't out him to OOC.

- Hello (guest): she's gets assertive when she's angry or annoyed. It usually take a lot to get her to that point and Loki had done enough. Lol.

- Akera Writer if the Night: I have to warn you...I do bite and I'll make a trade. King Yorin for Loki.

- Reneemm: he is the perfect character for inspiring jealousy. She had her moments.

- Lightning and Ice: hmmmm. Not sure friends is the right term just yet.

- Xerra Solemn: wow. I'm touched that my fic has inspired you on some level. I always believe you have to be true to yourself because you live life for you not others. *hugs and kisses darling.*

- Carlos Diaz III: not sure if you've made it to this chapter yet but I am super happy you have found this fic and are enjoying it!

- 88 Dragon 06: yeah Shiaji in the bed part was amusing. And a jealousy Loki was bound to happen at some point.