Page 17 of Loki's Heart
“You were a defiant child,” he said at one point, chuckling. “While you certainly had your moments before taking down that stalagmite made of your mother’s magic, you were unstoppable after that.”
“Thanks to you,” she replied, giving him unexpected credit.
“No,” he corrected, still smiling. “Thanks to you and your spirit. All I did was show you what you were capable of. You took it from there.”
“Then why did you stick around?” She glanced back at him, curious yet amused. Just like she had become as a child when she realized how powerful she was. How suited to having a god watch over her. “Why not leave me be after I figured things out?”
“Because by that time, it was too late.” Though tempted to pull her into his arms and show her what he had felt, he refrained. He needed her to come to him next time. Or, more specifically, come to him after they defeated Yrsa. “I was...taken by you...then more.”
“What do you mean more?” Soft flames flickered in her alluring eyes, highlighting her perfect cheekbones. “What else were you taken by, Loki?”
While tempted to respond that he’d been enthralled by the great beauty she had turned into and the unquenchable lust he’d acquired for her, it had been always been more. Shehad always been more. And he was only just seeing that now. Seeing how it matched the tightening in his chest. One that hadn’t been there before but very much was now.
“This,” he said softly, touching his chest where his whole heart should reside. “A change I’d never experienced. A desire that went well beyond the flesh but had,has, no name.” He was unwilling to label it yet. Especially if it was what he suspected. “There came a great difference inside me...when I looked at you.”
Her eyes stayed with his a moment before it seemed she needed to gather her thoughts, and she continued down the tunnel. Not before he swore he saw a flash of moisture in her eyes, though. A look that told him her chest might be every bit as tight as his.
He started to go on, but the dwarf behind him shook his head, warning him now was the time for silence. Not because of impending danger, but because these blasted mountain-dwelling half-pints seemed to understand her better than he did. Something he wasn’t about to argue with because he realized they were right.
Revna needed to come to terms with everything he had shared.
Hell, he needed to come to terms with it, too.
So they traveled for a few more hours in relative silence before arriving at a cave far different than the one they had slept in the night before. Better, in his opinion, as it had a darker, more intense feel about it. The black reflective ceilings were low with random ponds that looked like ice but were, in actuality, fresh swimmable mountain water.
“We can bathe and rest here.” Svend manifested a sizeable fire for everyone to sit around with a spit of meat roasting over it. “It appeared we killed all of Yrsa’s minions, but it’s best we set out early tomorrow and get to the volcano as soon as possible, just in case.” He looked at Loki. “While we can assist you with much once we arrive, I get the sense you’ll be going closer than we’re able to. Harnessing magic not kindred to ours.”
“Ja,” Loki confirmed. Sensing Revna’s ever-growing weakness, he sat on one side of her and Cian took the other. “It will be dangerous for you.” He considered Cian and his apparent aversion to heat last night. “And you as well?”
“To a degree.” Having evidently caught their plan, Cian frowned and glanced between them. “And equally dangerous foryou two by the sounds of it.” His brows furrowed, and his gaze lingered on Revna. “So dangerous for you in particular that I must beg you to reconsider.”
Chapter Eleven
Revna knew Cian and Loki would not like her plan to destroy Yrsa, and they wasted no time countering her.
“That was not our original plan.” Loki shook his head and manifested horns of ale into their hands. “You will not be the bait.”
“I agree.” Cian shook his head as well. “That’s a very bad idea if for no other reason than how weak you’ve become, Revna. How depleted of power.”
“We never had an actual plan but a mutual thought,” she reminded Loki before looking at Cian. “And there’s a very good chance being close to the power of the volcano will aid me.” She was standing strong on this either way. “No matter which way we look at this, Yrsa is going to go after me first. That means I have the best chance of using the volcano to my advantage. Of destroying her before she destroys us.”
“Or,” Loki said, “her capturing you because the volcano doesn’t strengthen you, and you’re more vulnerable than ever.” He frowned at her in confusion. “Why would you want to do this alone when I can easily harness the volcano’s power?”
“Is it not obvious, god?” Truthsayer said, much to her dismay. “She loves you and doesn’t want to see you harmed.” He gestured at the key around her neck. “Something that’s been clear from the beginning if you but look.”
“I don’t,” she began, but Svend gently cut her off.
“You do, and it should be discussed.” He gestured at another small fire he ignited a ways down to give them privacy. “Soon, too, if we’ve any chance against the succubus.”
Loki nodded and pulled her after him before she had a chance to respond. She was still trying to get used to this changed version of him. One she didn’t trust any more than she did his previous version. It seemed too convenient.
“If I were in your shoes, I would feel the same.” He pulled her down beside him at the smaller fire. “But this change in me is real. And,” genuine emotion churned in his eyes when he looked at her, “it’s been with me for far longer than I realized. Been with me since the moment you were born.” His brows shot up. “In all honesty, I’m beginning to think it was somehow with me before you were born.”
“How is that possible?” She sipped from her horn, trying to wrap her mind around that. Only one conceivable conclusion made sense. “You think Hel had something to do with it? That she saw something in me that suited you?”
“Ja, and she was right.” He pulled his dagger out and eyed the blade before his gaze returned to her, and he shared something that caught her off guard. “This warmed earlier. Heated in a way it never has when in my possession. Since then, I’ve been experiencing,” he seemed to struggle for the right words, “more clarity than ever.”
She had a feeling she already knew the answer but had to ask. “What sort of clarity?”