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

"The Asgardian is Still Here"

(His point of view)

There are gasps and mumblings all around the room as his words seem to hover in the air above our heads.

"I forbid it!" The King shouts. "His conduct has been insolent and atrocious. He cannot be released!" Link leans forward, splaying out his open palms upon the hard surface of the table.

"We have no choice, Father! He is our only chance!" I see his shoulders spasm as the tone in voice almost becomes acidic.

"Either you agree to this, or you shall never see your daughter again!" I wince at his harsh statement. The King takes a step back at his son's incinerating words. For a moment, I think that he may retaliate, but even through his angered grimace, he finally crumbles.

"Very well, then. Let it be known that I am with Loki on the note that I do not trust him, Link. However, if you truly believe that he is our only and final hope, then I will allow it. But he is solely your responsibility." Link bows curtly before grabbing my arm, yanking me towards the door and out into the hallway. He releases me as soon as we begin making our way down the hall. I hear vastly approaching footsteps running from behind us, causing me to turn and look over my shoulder. Thor is barreling his way toward us, his red cape flying out from behind him. As soon as he catches up to us, I give him a raised eyebrow and a stolid stare.

"What?" he asks, shrugging his shoulders. I shake my head at him before rolling my eyes.

"I could not let you two have all of the fun," he remarks whilst slapping me on the back. I immediately want to reach around and punch him square in the face, but I resist the urge. He is, after all, my older and overly protective brother.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We enter the dungeon's main hallway. It is dark, damp, and gloomy. I honestly do not blame Daegan for being so ill with the guards. Were I forced to stay in such a place as this, I would be cranky and indecorous, too.

"So what is the plan?" I ask the Medinian Prince as we begin passing random, empty cells. They instantly remind me of the ones back on Asgard in a strange sort of way. Thick sheets of glass serve as the front wall of each compartment so as to allow us to clearly see inside. The other three inside walls are lined in a blinding white. I can make out that most contain two small beds, a closed off bathing area, and a sink.

"I told you. We are going to offer him an ultimatum," he answers. I grab his arm, yanking him back.

"Don't you think that I have a right to know what it is we are bargaining? Do I not have any say in this matter?" I am hissing in whispers.

"Calm down, Brother. Alright. I shall tell you," he mumbles out. Thor moves closer in, hovering at my shoulder.

"I am going to tell him that if he agrees to fight with us and remain on good terms with all of the men, ESPECIALLY you," Link emphasizes, pointing a finger at me. "He may be released from his imprisonment and return to his old duties."

I go to speak, but he holds up a hand, silencing me.

"But! I will make it perfectly clear that if he betrays us in any form, I will personally step aside and let you kill him yourself."

My shoulders sag.

"I really don't think that I am in favor of this, Link. How can you be so willing to trust him after what he has done? What if he agrees to our terms only long enough to somehow find an escape and go into hiding?" He chuckles at my questions.

"I have already considered that. And you shan't worry. I am sure you are well aware that no one of Medinian descent can enter or exit the land without Father or Adrielle's consent. And seeing as Daegan is all too familiar with this fact, he will realize that he truly has nowhere to go. Even if he were to go into hiding, it would not take long at all for us to find him." It seems that I do not have a leg to stand on. This really might just work.