Page 2 of Loki's Heart

“Of course, I can.” Loki stood behind Revna in the blink of an eye. “What have you done, my little demon?” he whispered in her ear, sending sparks of awareness through her. “Because I get the feeling you have been playing a very dangerous game, indeed.”

More dangerous than he could possibly imagine...and it was only getting worse.

She was already weakened from what she had done for Raven during the Great War and getting weaker by the hour. Stronger than most, she still had a few days, but every minute counted. She needed to end the monster coming after her, which meant she needed to get to Vanaheim soon.

“I played the only game I could,” she replied to Loki, trying to summon the strength to step away from his arousing heat at her back before a telling fire rolled over her skin. Before itdeliciously burned her from the inside out as it tended to do around him.

“Too late,” he groaned, flicking his tongue over a flame that rolled down the side of her neck.

“No,” she ground out, pulling on every ounce of strength in her to step away when all she wanted to do was fall into his arms, be damned her parents or Cian’s presence. “Enough, Loki.”

She was the head seer and outside of Raven and her son, the most powerful sorceress on Midgard. That had to mean something. Had to give her enough strength to keep him at arm’s length until she saved herself.

Moreover, saved him.

“What are you keeping from me, Revna?” Loki narrowed his eyes. “I tasted deception in your fire. Weakening in your magic. Is it because you allowed Raven to possess you on and off for years?” When she offered no response, he arched a brow at both Revna and Cian, assuming correctly that her friend knew what was going on. “You realize I am your god,ja? That it’s only a matter of time before I pull the truth from you?”

“You are Revna’s god,” Cian corrected. “Not mine.”

“As long as you are on Norse territory, I am.” Loki’s eyes fired in warning. “Don’t forget that, Celt.”

“I forgetnothing.” Admirably fearless, Cian, a medieval arch-wizard and Irish king, stood up to Loki as though the god couldn’t extinguish him with a flick of his wrist. “Especially my part in ensuring your Norse gods won the war against my Celtic gods.”

“Only because—”

“Enough,” she said, cutting off Loki. “It’s time to go.” She could tell them not to follow but knew they wouldn’t listen. Her parents, however, were another story. So she clasped their hands and made sure they saw nothing but confidence and strength in her eyes. “I’ll be all right.” She looked back and forth betweenthem. “I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to let Raven possess me so she could be close to Tor. Close to things that were a thousand years in her past.” She squeezed their hands. “Things she needed to be near. We all knew there would be a toll for calling on that kind of power.”

“We did.” Her mother cupped her cheek, rare fear in her eyes. “Butthis, what you have done since.” Her gaze flickered from the key hanging around Revna’s neck back to her face. “Is above and beyond.”

“And perhaps unsurvivable,” her father growled, his pain masked in anger. “You cannot do this. You cannot—”

“Yet I will because I must.” She squeezed her parent’s hands one last time before pulling away. “There was always going to be a toll to pay...and unforeseen risks.”

“What unforeseen risks?” Loki didn’t care if she was having a moment with her parents. He was at her back again, inhaling her scent and eyeing Vigdis and Magnus with enough godly presence that it was only a matter of time before he pulled it from them. “I sense your offspring has been very mischievous, but there is more...” He narrowed his eyes in thought. “So much more.”

“Ja, there is.” She nodded to her parents that all would be well and strode for the exit that would lead her into the underbelly of the mountain. “And you are at the very heart of it, Loki.”

Chapter Two

Loki knew Revna had been playing with fire when she allowed Raven to possess her on and off for years but had no idea to what extent. While tempted to pull it from her parents, he refused to let Revna out of his sight again, so he strode after her as she led them deeper into the mountain. Besides, he’d rather hear whatever she had done from her. It would give him a better idea of how she felt about it.

How he might be able to use it to his advantage to get closer to her.

The moment Raven had saved Revna before she was even born, his interest was piqued. How could it not be with such a powerful seer? One whose primary magic lay in fire? Who grew into such a stunning woman? He had seen millenniums upon millenniums of beautiful human females and goddesses, but none quite like her.

She had large, dark, mysterious eyes and delicate, exquisite features. Her black dress clung to a slender yet curvaceous physique, and her legs went on forever. It was her skin and aura he was most drawn to, though. They gave away her moods in a way that translated to him. From her pulsing dark aura to the random flickers of fire that rolled over her flawless, luminescent skin.

And,oh, the sweet, fiery taste of her.

He had never wanted to lick a woman from head to toe like he did Revna. Especially between her thighs. Because if her flamestasted so good, he could only imagine the flavor of her blazing juices.

“Tell me what's going on.” Before Revna could take another step, he pulled her back against him and fingered the key around her neck. “And what is this? What does it unlock?” He hadn't seen her carry it before. Not in all the years he had known her. Years she had forgotten about but would remember soon enough. He caught one of her tiny, tender flames on his tongue and groaned. “And what exactly am I at the heart of?” He trailed his finger between her breasts, pleased when her nipples strained against her top. “Other than you, I hope.”

“You won’t like it.” She melted back against him, then stiffened, catching herself. “Yet I suppose it’s time you know the truth.”

She tried to pull away, but he held fast, relishing the feel of her against him. Needing her to feel how aroused she made him. What she could expect when he finally took her. “What truth?”

“That I hold the key to your heart.” Not flirtatious but rather grim, she fingered the key and perked a brow at him over her shoulder. “Literally.”