Page 12 of Loki's Heart

“If she casts me into an unnatural slumber, she can use my dreams to feed on,” she managed. “To grow stronger.”

“Not so much your dreams but your desire for Loki.” Truthsayer’s voice sounded like Revna herself. “Your undying need to feel him touch—”

“I get the picture.” She shook her head. “What brought this on all of a sudden, though? Why, out of the blue....”

Loki appeared properly guilty when she trailed off.

“It was what you just did, wasn’t it?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “You were in my head when I was sleeping, weren’t you? Triggering a memory?”

“Yes,” he confessed. “But it was one of the far more chaste ones.”

“More chaste ones?” She rounded her eyes at him. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, there are memories you’ve forgotten.” He had the nerve to grin. “Pleasurable moments that—”

“Did you...” She tried to scramble off his lap, but he held fast. “Did we?” she stuttered. “And you kept it from me?”

“Oh, if we’d lain together, you would know it,” he assured, so damn cocky it was oddly arousing. His grin grew sly. “I might have stolen a kiss or two once you were old enough, though.”

A kiss ortwo? Was he serious? Oh, yes, dead serious and enjoying himself as only Loki could, the swine. How could he have kept something like that from her? More dauntingly, howcould she have ever forgotten it? She couldn't imagine a magic that strong, even from a deity.

“Let me off your lap,” she ground out. Just when she was starting to warm to him, he said something to set her off again. “Now.”

“I never did anything you didn’t approve of.” He held tight for another moment before letting her go. “And it was little, to begin with. You were too—”

“What?” She leapt to her feet and frowned at him. “Toowhat,Loki?”

“Vulnerable.” He stood as well. “Innocent.”

“Vulnerable?” she mouthed. “Innocent?” She rolled her eyes, hating to imagine herself ever so weak. “Hard to see things like that stopping you.”

“Isn’t it?” Cian murmured, less snide than usual when it came to Loki.

When she frowned at her friend, he offered a reluctant shrug.

“Holding back because of your vulnerability or innocence is more than I would have thought him capable of, is all.” He gestured at her. “Especially when it comes to a woman he wants. Any woman, if we’re to be honest.”

“It is.” Svend considered Loki. “Perhaps there’s more to you than meets the eye, after all.”

“Doubtful.” She frowned when the ground seemed to teeter a little under her feet, and Loki took hold of her. “I’m fine.”

She was growing weaker by the moment due to Yrsa but refused to admit it.

“You are not fine.” Loki tilted her chin until their eyes were aligned. “You grow weaker and weaker the longer you hold my heart.” He shook his head. “And now there is another bridge between us that makes you more vulnerable than ever.” He pressed his hand to her heart. “Give me some of this, Revna, so that we can be stronger together.”

For an alarming, hopeful moment, she lost herself in his gaze before she remembered who she spoke to. Not just a trickster god who seduced women with alarming finesse, but someone who had deceived her for years. Lied to her. This explained so much, though. Why she was foolish enough to fall in love with him.

They had memories together.

A past she had completely forgotten.

“No.” She pulled away from him. “Not until you tell me everything.”

Maybe not even then.

“There will be plenty of time to talk on the way.” Svend wrapped his fur cloak around his shoulders. “The sun will be up in minutes. We leave at first light.”

She could hardly believe the night had passed already. Had she even slept that long?