173 Chapter 173: Abandoned child

Stella couldn't hold her laughter as she burst into a fit of giggles. She had to hold her abdomen to stop her laughter. She coughed as she looked at Loki who was staring at her with one of his eyebrows raised.

Stella covered her mouth with her hand and blinked innocently as she asked, "Isn't it normal for kids to sleep together?"

Loki widened his eyes as he stared at her while Stella blinked at him. 

After a second, he turned his head away, covering his mouth with his hand as his face reddened slightly. 

Stella chuckled lightly, "Don't tell me that you were jealous this whole time." 

Loki furrowed his brows, "Jealous?" he looked at her confusedly making Stella ask unbelievably, "You don't know what that is?"

He tilted his head and asked carefully, "Is it what you call when you feel a combination of anxiety, anger, and confusion and you want to eat the other person alive?"

Stella laughed amusedly at him and nodded.

Loki nodded his head seriously and said, "Then it must be jealousy"

Stella looked at Loki, who was looking at her seriously but the tips of his ears reddened slightly.

'How cute!' 

Loki turned his head away and cleared his throat. Why did he feel weird when he admitted it? 

Anyway, he peeked at her and asked softly, "Your Mother?"

He had wanted to ask her about this earlier. But he couldn't quite come to terms with the fact that they were siblings. Stella looked at him and said softly, "I'm not her daughter by blood"

Loki abruptly turned to her making her smile. She looked down at her hands and mumbled quietly, "I don't remember anything before 10. I don't know who my parents were."

Loki who was sitting quite near her could hear her clearly. She chuckled, "I always thought I was an abandoned child" 

She smiled at him and said, "But I wasn't."

Loki furrowed his brows, "What do you mean?"

Stella grabbed his hands excitedly and said, "I had snippets in my head during the battle with that demon... I think it was my father"

Loki's hand stiffened slightly when he heard about the demon. The image of her lying on the red soil burned in his mind. He clenched her hand tightly as she continued, " I remember hearing shouts and cries from my people while my parents were trying to help me escape." 

Tears escaped from her eyes when she remembered the gentle expression on her father's face. 

"I think it must be the day the demons attacked my home. I don't remember my mother but I could hear their voices telling me to take care. He gave me the blade and said only I could wield it." 

She looked up at Loki and said softly, "I had his eyes... I wonder how much similar I am to them." 

Loki's heart ached to see her saddened face. He squeezed her hand earning him a smile from her. 

Her face brightened up a little as she said, "They gave me a new life and showered me with love and care. Naturally, Zel and Zeke became my brothers who always stood up for me whenever I got bullied by other children."

Loki's eyebrows shot up as he asked angrily, "Bullied?"

She tilted her head and said, "It's not normal to see golden eyes and silver hair. I was already used to it but Zeke and Zel stood up for me."

Her smile widened when he saw the anger burning in his eyes. She tugged at his hand making him look at her.

"I am fine... They protected me well." she consoled him.

Seeing him relax slightly, Stella smiled. An amused expression crossed her face as she said, "Aunt Lily and mother used to fight over me. It was fun to watch how they compete with each other, trying to prove they were better."

Loki cracked a smile as he caressed her hand with his thumb and asked, "So why did you choose Princess Julie?"

Stella looked at him before gazing at the ceiling and said, "Because she was alone and Aunt Lily had a family."

"Because I knew what it felt like to be alone and didn't want her to be."

Loki's smile stiffened before he ruffled her hair making her groan. Stella was fed up with lying down that she started to get up but she groaned when she couldn't put enough strength in her stiff muscles. Seeing her struggle to get up, Loki moved to help her. He held her shoulders as he helped her up and immediately placed a pillow behind her so that she could comfortably lean back.

"Are you okay -" his voice stopped when he turned to look at her, at the same time his lips brushing her cheek. Both of them froze. 

Stella bit her lips softly before she turned to him and looked at his shocked face. Her eyes widened a little when she noticed their lips were just an inch away.

One push and she could kiss him for real!

Stella pressed her lips as she felt his breath on her face. It was making her move forward but before she could do it, she saw Loki move his face closer. His hands moving from her shoulders to her neck, his touches sending an electric shock through her body. Stella blinked when she saw his eyes were zeroed on her lips.

'Was he going to kiss me?'

Stella gulped as she closed her eyes awaiting her first kiss from the person she loved. 

Loki moved closer until he paused when his lips were just a breath away from her.

His body stiffened when he realized what he was doing. He looked at Stella and almost laughed when he saw her eyes closed and lips almost puckered up. But then his gaze softened, as he caressed her cheeks. 

He moved away and saw a frown appear on her face. Smiling slightly, he moved up and kissed her forehead gently.

Stella frowned when she didn't feel the kiss she was waiting for instead felt him caressing her cheeks. Just when she was about to open her eyes, she felt his kiss making her cheeks blush. 

She daren't move, She daren't even breathe, She was frozen to the spot. She can feel her heart pounding in her chest. 

Stella refused to look at him, as her eyes focused on her hands. Loki moved back and called out softly, "Stella?"

He furrowed his brows when he saw her not looking at him. 

'Was she offended?'

"Stella? Look at me" 

Stella bit her lips as she could feel her heart increasing its beat. She felt his hands on her chin making her eyes widen.

'No..Noo'

but Loki pulled her chin up and instantly she saw surprise passing through his eyes. 

She knew it... Instantly Stella covered her face with her trembling hands. 

Loki almost lost it when he saw her face... Adorable was the only word he could think of. Her cheeks were flushed while her eyes glistened. He regretted not kissing her now.

"Stella?"

He heard her mutter, "I know you hate it" 

Loki frowned, "What?"

Stella peeked through the gaps of her finger and said, "No one likes it when I blush. They say I look ugly"

Loki narrowed his eyes as he proceeded to pry her hands away from her face. Her struggles were futile as he easily moved her hands away.

"Who said that nonsense? All I can see is an adorable woman in front of me"

Stella bit her lips nervously and saw the effect she had on him. 

He looked at her intensely and muttered, "I regret now"

Stella widened her eyes until she heard him whisper, "I should have just done it" 

Stella felt hot all over when she met with his intense gaze. She knew she must look like a tomato with her cheeks hot. 

Loki took a deep breath as he caressed her cheeks and then rubbed her head fondly.

"I forgot to say something a while ago."

Stella looked at him questioningly and heard him say with a smile.

"I'm glad that you woke up... glad that I wasn't too late"

Stella's eyes welled up in tears as she looked at him. She could feel his pain, relief in his words. A sweet smile graced her face as she smiled widely at Loki.

When she was about to say something, she paused as she felt an irritated gaze on her. A frown made way to her face as she turned to her left and saw an annoyed Zelal glaring at her.

Instantly her eyes widened as she looked at Loki whose face was still inches away from hers, his hand still caressing her cheeks. Her face burned as she pushed him away and stammered, "Z-Zel-l"