Enchanted Shadows

Chapter 49 - The Echoes of War

**POV:** Loki

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The great hall of Asgard was quiet, its vast emptiness echoing with the footsteps of the few who dared cross its threshold. I stood before the throne, an image of poise and authority, with Maya at my side. She stood close, her face a mask of composure, though I could feel the tension radiating off her. It was perfect—the ideal balance between strength and fragility.

The Asgardian council eyed us warily. They were skeptical, of course. They had every right to be. But this, too, I had anticipated.

"Why should we trust you, Loki?" one of the council members asked, his voice heavy with disdain. "You've brought chaos and war to our gates. How do we know you will not do so again?"

I smiled, a slow, calculated gesture that conveyed both charm and menace. "Because, dear councilor, the war you speak of is over," I said smoothly, placing a hand on Maya's shoulder. "And we stand before you not as conquerors, but as protectors of what could be a new, prosperous age."

Maya stiffened slightly under my touch, but she kept her gaze forward, her jaw clenched. Good. She needed to feel the weight of this moment, to understand that her role was not merely as my consort, but as the very symbol of the power and unity we presented.

"And what of her?" another councilor demanded, pointing at Maya. "She is not of Asgard. How can we trust her motives when she stands beside you?"

Maya opened her mouth to speak, but I squeezed her shoulder, silencing her before she could utter a word. "Maya's loyalty is to me," I replied coldly, my eyes narrowing at the councilor. "And by extension, to Asgard. She has proven herself time and again, sacrificing more than any of you could comprehend. Her place here is not up for debate."

The councilors exchanged glances, some shifting uncomfortably. They were afraid, and they were right to be. Fear was a useful tool, one I wielded with precision.

"We demand proof," the eldest of the council finally said. "If you wish for us to accept this... alliance, we require a demonstration of your loyalty. Both of you."

I felt Maya tense beside me, her eyes flickering toward mine. For a moment, I let the silence stretch, savoring the anticipation, the uncertainty that gripped her.

"Of course," I said finally, my voice calm and controlled. "We will provide the proof you seek. In time."

The council seemed momentarily satisfied, though I knew this was only the beginning. The real test would come later, when I would orchestrate the perfect scenario to display Maya's loyalty—and her dependence on me.

As the council dispersed, I turned to Maya, my expression softening as I gazed into her eyes. "You did well," I murmured, brushing a lock of hair from her face. "But you must remember, in this world, every word, every action is a test."

She swallowed hard, her eyes searching mine. "I know," she whispered. "But sometimes, I... I don't know what they expect of me. I don't know if I'm... enough."

I cupped her face in my hands, forcing her to look at me. "You are more than enough, Maya," I said, my voice gentle yet firm. "But you must be vigilant. You must be prepared to do whatever it takes to prove your place here, to prove that you belong."

"I would do anything for us," she said, her voice trembling with conviction. "Anything."

I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Good," I murmured against her skin. "Because there will come a time when you will need to show them just how far you're willing to go for our future."

She nodded, her eyes closing as she leaned into my touch. "I'll be ready," she promised.

I pulled back, letting my hands drop to my sides. "You should rest," I said, my tone shifting to one of dismissal. "You'll need your strength for what's to come."

Maya hesitated, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. "Loki... what exactly is coming?"

I smiled, a cold, predatory expression that I knew would unnerve