Denouement Beauty {Pure Illusion Series: Book 6}

Chapter 2

A/N: It's weird to think this story will be over shortly. I've been writing this for almost five years (with breaks obviously) and it's weird to think how attached I am to these characters and how much they have spurned me on to continue to read and my love of writing. 

Just because their time is ending does not mean I will be done writing - I have several books I have been working on the side and I plan on setting more time off to the side for myself to write, even when I don't want to. 

But we'll save that for later. Here is the next chapter as we count down the pages until we say goodbye...

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Something about this visit to Var's realm seemed different than his first encounter. It was under enormous amounts of protest that Sigyn allowed him to go. At first she had demanded that she go to see Var, that they were friends and that she wished to see her friend for the first time in many years. 

However, Loki reminded her that should something happen, the boys needed her more than him. Bitterly, she agreed. It hurt her to think that he thought so little of himself in the boys lives. Did he not see the way they clamored over one another at night when he came through the double doors of their bedroom. Loki was not the monster he imagined himself to be, at least not in their eyes. 

"Lady Var?" Loki called out tentatively upon reaching her tree. It had taken ages to find the tree, as if it were moving away or attempting to shield itself from him. The tree seemed to even shy away from him as he called out its' keeper's name. 

"My King, I am surprised to see you here." Var's voice floated from behind him, causing him to turn suddenly.

"Might I inquire as to why you would be surprised? The realms are falling apart, the Avengers are... It is a wonder that I did not come to you sooner." The Liesmith stumbled over his words, as if trying to convince himself that it was all of these reasons that he were here, and not the reason that he was petrified of the Titian. 

"And it is for those reasons that you must leave." Her voice snapped him back into his reality. 

Loki, briefly taken aback before he continued. "Perhaps you did not hear me, the-"

"I heard you quite clearly my King, but as I said before, you must go."

Anger flowed off of him, his eyes tightening in rage as his knuckles turned white. Did she dare let the people of Asgard, the universe fall at the hand of the Titan? His words echoed the thoughts that streamed through his mind. 

"You would leave Asgard and the other realms to... to Thanos?" He practically choked the name out.

"Not I Loki, but you. It was you that made the first deal for your sons. I am the Goddess of Oaths and lest you forget – that deal has not been fulfilled."

"If Lady Si-"

"No Loki. She is not the one who is in dire need to save the realm. She would rather save you and her sons than anything else in this world. The oath would never stand; you and I both know that."

The King's lips pursed together, hundreds of idea pouring into his mind, hearing her arguments against his as if he were saying them out loud. Eyes flickered back to the goddess, frustration rolling off of him in waves.

"Then fulfill the deal for my sons. I am able to take whatever it is that you might take from me." 

Var's face changed, as if it were made of stone. "In due time my King, but do not rush these things. You will never be ready."