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It hit him that he hadn’t heard or felt anything from Jax or Ontari since the engagement started. He turned, scanning with his eyes andaleimi, looking for them. Holo had already gone to reinforce Anale and Rex behind the stone wall at the top of the outside steps.

Loki found Jax behind where he and Kalgi crouched, near the main staircase in the foyer. Jax was trying to drag Ontari, who was probably twice his weight.

Loki touched Kalgi with his light.

“I’m going back,” he told her.

Glancing over her shoulder, Kalgi frowned, as if to protest. Seeing Jax, she seemed to change her mind and nodded, seeing where Loki’s light pointed out Ontari’s weight.

Being wounded, Loki figured it should be him.

He would not be much good to them on the line like this, anyway.

Kalgi let out a snort.I’d take you on a bad day over most on a good one, brother.

Loki smiled, surprised at the warm words.

Seconds later, he turned and ran, staying low as he approached Jax. When he reached the seer’s side to help him with Ontari, however, he froze, staring down at Ontari’s face. It was completely blown off. Loki knelt at once, checking the male seer’s pulse. He was dead. His light had shifted out of his body.

When Loki looked at Jax, he saw that the light in the male seer’s dark eyes had receded to some other place, as well.

Hopefully more temporarily than Ontari’s.

Shell-shocked, as the old timers used to call it.

Loki had to wrestle with the younger male to get him to let go of Ontari’s vest. He blew warmth at the East Indian seer’s light, tugging at his fingers, prying them off the organic fabric.

We can’t bring him, brother,Loki used his light softly, gently, pulling him away from the corpse.We will do rituals for him, back at the ship. But his body, it must stay here.When Jax tried to go back to the big Adhipan male, Loki gripped him harder.It is okay, brother. His Ancestors will find him. He does not need this shell anymore.

He’s on the List,Jax sent.

He fought to return to Ontari.

Loki gripped him harder. He blew warmth over his light, opening his heart.The gods love your devotion, dear one, but it is too late.

“Our ride’s here.” Kalgi tapped him sharply through the link. “Out on the road. Move it, Loks. We need you, brother.”

“Understood,” Loki sent.If there’s an opening, don’t wait for me.

Go fuck yourself,Kalgi sent angrily.

Loki barely heard her.

He knew Anale had most of the materials they had brought up with them from the safe. They had given Mika some, too, just to spread it out, and Jax had more in his vest pockets.

Loki looked into the younger seer’s face.

From the look in his deep purple eyes, Loki had not succeeded in reaching him even a little. Without thinking, he drew back his fist, and punched the East Indian seer in the face with his good hand. When Jax continued to fight to return to Ontari’s body, catching hold of one of the fallen seer’s legs, Loki ripped his fingers off the other man.

He didn’t do it gently that time.

When Jax fought him, Loki hit him again.

He contemplated drugging the other male, using the painkillers from his emergency kit, when Jax seemed to snap out of it.

He didn’t come back entirely?that vacant look never really left his eyes?but he came back enough that he followed when Loki yanked him down into a crouch.

Without waiting, Loki ran with him for the door.