Page 20 of Loki's Heart
Loki clenched his jaw and paced, hating the long minutes when Cian closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Revna's again. Hated every second of not knowing if she was all right. Was she in the initial throes of death? Had his godliness rendered her helpless for all eternity? Was the evil queen succubus consuming her at this very moment?
“No,” Cian finally said hoarsely. He opened his eyes, looked at Loki, and told him something that was, in its own way, even worse.
Chapter Thirteen
“Revna?” she heard Cian call from far, far away even though she sensed him right beside her. “Are you there?”
“Yes,”she managed telepathically, trying to gather herself. She felt strange. Lighter somehow but not necessarily in a good way.“I’m okay.”
He seemed a little closer.“Are you?”
“Yes.”She wasn’t quite ready to open her eyes yet.“I’m all right. I just need a moment.”
“Okay.”He sounded closer still. And far too nervous.“But where exactly are you?”
“Here.”She frowned and opened her eyes, only to stagger back when she looked down at herself in Cian’s arms.“Thor’s thunder!”
Cian looked up, his expression grave before he focused on Loki and told him she was okay, but...there was a but.
“How am I...?”She shook her head at her ethereal form.“Why am I like this after giving Loki a piece of my heart?”
“Revna’s caught in a dream state, but I can speak telepathically to her,” Cian explained to Loki and gestured her way. “You can’t see her, but she’s still here. Trapped in something none of us could have foreseen.”
“She’s here.” Loki frowned at her but wasn’t really looking at her before his attention returned to Cian. “Why can’t I see her?Hear her?” He crouched and cupped her mortal cheek. “How do we wake her? And is she vulnerable to Yrsa in the meantime?”
“All good questions,”she agreed, trying not to panic. Not only was she without her body but her powers. While it had been disorienting feeling them wane, this was far worse.
“You can’t see her because she’s fully immersed on another plane,” Cian replied to Loki. “A plane unlike anything I’ve ever felt.” He took in the glow around Revna. It wasn’t quite the same shade of her aura. “It almost feels....” He closed his eyes again, thinking about it before he looked at her again, “perhaps divine in nature?”
“Because Loki’s heart protects hers more than it ever did,” Truthsayer said in awe, his voice uncharacteristically reverent.
“Yes,” Cian said softly, evidently seeing it now. He looked from her to Loki. “When Revna gave you a piece of her heart, when it merged with your godly heart, it protected her in ways we could never have foreseen, casting her mortal body into a deep sleep.”
“That’s good, right?” Svend asked. “That means she’s safe from Yrsa?”
“I think so.” Cian's brows furrowed. “Almost too safe as even we can’t get to her.” He looked at Loki. “Youcan’t get to her.”
“Which means I’m no help to anyone now.”Worry spiked through her.“That leaves you and Loki up against Yrsa alone.”She shook her head.“Not good.”
“I hear her faintly now,” Loki murmured, relief in his voice. He peered around, confused. “Yet I still can’t see her.” He frowned at Cian. “If she’s on a divine plane,myplane, why can’t I see her?”
“I’m not sure,” Cian replied. “All I know is ‘tis a plane created by your heart to protect hers.”
Truthsayer understood before Loki himself. “A plane he can only access fully once the better half of his heart is convinced its darker half loves her just as much.”
“Or,” Cian countered, surprising her, “it could be both halves of his heart are working together to keep you safe, Revna. There’s every possibility Yrsa could tap into the darker side of Loki.” He arched a brow at her. “Would it not be prudent then to keep you separate from him until she is defeated and no longer a threat?”
“It would,” Loki agreed with conviction. “Itdoes.” He looked in her general direction. “Because the entirety of my heart is in agreement. I love you, seer. And I intend for you to know that without a doubt before this is over.”
“Which, in my estimation, should be sooner rather than later.” Svend’s concerned gaze went from Revna’s general direction to Cian. “How long can she be like this?”
“I think what you meant to ask is how long can she be like this before she never awakens?” Cian replied. “For that is the far greater risk.” He looked at Loki. “And all dependent on you, I suspect.”
Loki’s eyes narrowed. “Why do I get the sense you mean more than just defeating Yrsa?”
“Because it might take more than that in the end.” Cian shook his head. “’Tis impossible to know. I’ve never encountered this kind of magic before.” He nodded once at Svend. “Nevertheless, you’re right in assuming we should move sooner rather than later for the volcano. Now, if you and your seers can handle going without sleep.”
“Of course, we can.” He gestured at his fellow seers to prepare for travel. “We only rested for Revna’s sake.”