Darkness Revealed (A Loki Love Story) Book 2 in Darkness Series

Famished and Flustered

(His point of view)

It is another beautiful summer morning. I am sitting with my Love, Link, Kendha, and little Christiana out on the veranda. We have just finished enjoying a pleasant breakfast as the blue swallows sing to us from their nearby nests in the trees above. As it is Saturday, I am looking forward to enjoying the entirety of my time with my Beloved. As I sip my tea, I look over to her. She is radiant, basked in the morning glow. Her pale blue dress shimmers against her lovely, olive skin, making the green of her eyes protrude forth all the more. I cannot help but stare in awe at the sight of her so adoringly holding her precious niece in her lap. She gushes over her so. It is truly a wonderful thing to behold, seeing Christine so happy and in love with this little one. She bounces her on her knees, singing delightful songs of nursery rhymes to her. The tiny one is ecstatic as she giggles in reaction, causing us all to chime along in her laughter. Were an outsider to witness a moment such as this, you would never know that there was a threatening, future darkness looming just overhead.

Link yawns, stretching his arms high above his head. His sign of fatigue is contagious, thus summoning a yawn forth from my own self. I stand, making my way over towards the nearby railing of the veranda and peer out over the luscious and thriving plant life of the gardens. The colors are riveting, purely rioting in their splendor. The strong incense flowing in the warm breeze is that of some sort of heaven; hibiscus, ocean water, and honeysuckle. I turn to look back over my shoulder, finding that my Love is watching me with a cherishing look in her eyes. She stands with Christiana desperately clinging to her neck, resting upon her hip. The pair of them saunter over to my side. As they do, the child reaches her arms out for me. Despite the fact that it never ceases to amaze me when she does this, I feel my smile touch my eyes as I hold out my arms, beckoning for Christine to let me hold her. I pull her in close to my chest, feeling warmed by the purity of her smile. She coos loudly as the sunlight reflects from the precious locket hanging delicately around my neck. Her eyes light up as her tiny hand immediately reaches for it. The innocence in her facial expression causes my heart to twist in a different sort of way. A way that I have never quite felt before.....Gods.....will I ever stop being so surprised by how much I have altered?

She grasps the item in her determined palm, pulling it up to her face. Christine giggles. We both watch in amusement as the little one begins gumming on it with her toothless mouth.

"Brother," Link's voice sounds off from a short distance away. I turn to find that he is now standing just behind his bride, smiling over at us.

"I need to do some inventory in the weapon vault down below. I was hoping that you might assist me." Damn it, Link. Why could we not have done this during the week? You know how I so prefer to spend these weekend days with my love!

I sigh, not even bothering to hide the slight frustration that plays behind my eyes.

"I know that you wished to spend the day with Christine, but I think that this shall be for the good of her. We need to make sure that our weapons are all accounted for and sharpened. Just in case.....er....something were to happen." I know instantly what he means. This causes another twist in my heart, but this time, it is quite painful. Too painful. Helblindi.....

Well when he puts it that way......I guess I have no other choice. I will stop at nothing to make sure that we are all as prepared as possible for what is likely to come.

I sigh once again, letting the agitation fade from my stare as I nod in agreement. He smiles in an almost apologetic way before leaning down and pressing a kiss atop Kendha's piled up blonde curls. She smiles up at him before standing and making her way over to retrieve her daughter from my arms. I give Christiana a swift peck on her chubby cheek before surrendering her over.