Enchanted Shadows

Chapter 65 - Shadows of Influence

**POV:** Maya

The grand chambers of the palace are quiet, save for the occasional cooing of Fenrir, playing with his toys on the carpet. Loki stands by the window, his gaze distant as he surveys the kingdom below. Today is different. There is a meeting with the Asgardian council, and though it is supposed to be a discussion of peace, the air is tense. Loki has been preoccupied, his mind churning with plans and strategies that he hasn't fully shared with me.

I watch him for a moment, trying to read his expression. "Loki," I say softly, breaking the silence.

He turns his head slightly, acknowledging me but not speaking.

"Are you worried about today?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

He gives a faint smile, one that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Worried? No," he replies. "But I am...prepared."

I tilt my head, studying him. "Prepared for what?"

Loki moves from the window and approaches me, his movements graceful and deliberate. He kneels beside Fenrir, picking up a small wooden horse and handing it to our son, who giggles in delight. "The council is predictable," he says, his voice calm. "They will question, they will doubt. It's what they do best."

"But they have been more accepting recently, haven't they?" I insist, searching his face for reassurance. "They've seen how much you've changed, how much we've changed."

He glances up at me, his eyes piercing. "Change is an illusion, Maya," he says quietly. "One that we control."

I frown, feeling a flicker of uncertainty. "What do you mean?"

Loki stands, placing a hand on my shoulder. His touch is firm, grounding. "I mean that they will see what we show them," he explains. "And today, we will show them a family that is strong, united, and unbreakable."

I nod slowly, letting his words sink in. "And what if they don't accept it?" I whisper. "What if they still doubt us?"

He smiles, a calculated warmth spreading across his features. "Then we make them accept it," he replies smoothly. "By showing them that doubting us is not in their best interest."

I swallow, glancing at Fenrir, who is now chewing on the horse's ear. "And what about him?" I ask softly. "How does this affect him?"

Loki's gaze follows mine, softening as he looks at our son. "He will be protected," he says, his voice gentle yet edged with something darker. "But he must also learn. Today is just as much for him as it is for us."

I feel a wave of protectiveness wash over me. "He's only a year old, Loki," I protest. "He's still a baby."

Loki raises an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "And what better time to start shaping him?" he counters. "He may be young, but he is already watching, learning. We must guide what he learns."

"Guide," I repeat, feeling a knot of anxiety form in my chest. "Guide him how?"

He leans closer, his voice lowering to a murmur. "By showing him that power is not something to fear, but something to embrace."

I look into his eyes, searching for some sign of softness, some indication that he sees Fenrir as more than just a pawn in his grand designs. "And love?" I ask. "Where does love fit into that?"

Loki's eyes narrow slightly, and for a moment, I think I see a flicker of something—regret, hesitation—but it passes so quickly I'm not sure if it was ever there. "Love is the foundation," he says finally, his voice smoother than ever. "It is the reason we do all of this."

I want to believe him. I need to believe him. "I just want him to be safe," I murmur, feeling the weight of the future pressing down on me.

Loki tilts my chin up with his finger, forcing me to meet his gaze. "He will be safe," he promises, his voice like silk. "As long as we stand together, as long as we are united, nothing can touch him."