Page 23 of Loki's Heart
“Yet Raven was,”Cian reminded.“And I carry a piece of her in me.”
While he understood why Revna didn’t like it, he knew there would be no stopping the stubborn wizard. He would help her until the bitter, fiery end, and Loki couldn’t help but respect him for it.
“Then we welcome your help,”Loki replied before Revna could say no.“And thank you.”
Revna might be upset over Cian putting his life on the line, but he sensed she knew there was no point in arguing. She would do the same if Cian were in danger. Simple as that.
So they bid farewell to the dwarfs and kept moving.
“Seers,”Truthsayer grunted into his mind.“We’re seers, not dwarfs.”Then a reluctant.“Wishing you all the best. Take care of her, Loki.”
He would if it were the last thing he did.
By his approximation, they were already halfway up the mountain, so they should arrive at the summit in a few hours. In fact, it wouldn’t be that much longer before his magic was fueled enough to get them there much faster.
“When you can, you should,” Cian said without hesitation as Loki hoisted Revna up to him on a steep incline. “Not only because the way grows harder to transport her like this but because the less time she’s separated from her body, the better.”
“And what about you, Cian?”There was no mistaking Revna’s fear.“Thrust into conditions like that could mean your end. Loki will feel how dangerous it grows along the way. He'll be able to give you a genuine sense of whether you can survive or not if your connection with the dragons doesn't kick in.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Cian handed her back to Loki after he leapt up. “I would continue on no matter what.”
Loki nodded, understanding. He would, too, if he were in his shoes.
“Stubborn,”Revna muttered, but Loki knew she appreciated Cian. Loved him. And strangely enough, that didn’t make him jealous, which told him more than joining hearts with her ever could.
“I can get us to the crater of the mountain now if you’re ready.” Never more serious, he kept his gaze with Cian’s. Gave him the cold hard truth. “When I do, my presence will speed up what’s already happening. Bursts of lava and volcanic glass will soon become what Midgardians call explosive pyroclastic flow made of lava, ash, and gas. Both the first and second scenarios will kill you on contact if you’re wrong about your fellow dragons. If you’re wrong about how protected you might be.”
“Please reconsider, Cian,”Revna pleaded.“Chances are you’ll be more helpful from afar.”
“Yet I will remain by your side.” Not wasting any more time on sentiment or what-ifs, Cian nodded at Loki. “Do it. I’m ready.”
So Loki did it.
And it was every bit as daunting for the wizard as he knew it would be.
Chapter Fifteen
Interestingly, Revna didn’t need to be in her physical body to feel the pain that slammed into Cian when Loki brought them to the volcano’s summit. It brought her friend to his knees and made breathing impossible.
“No,”she roared into his mind. “Fight it, Cian. Feel the seer and dragon in you and fight it!”
Where Cian grew weaker, Loki, fueled by the harsh elements,theirelements, grew stronger. She thought he would let Cian battle it out, then fall to his death, but he surprised her when he set her body down, crouched in front of Cian, clasped his shoulders, and met his eyes.
“She’s right.” Loki’s eyes ignited in flames then fire curled over his skin. “Remember what you are, wizard. Why you’re here.” He glanced from Revna to Cian. “Embrace your inner seer and dragon and help me save her. Embrace what was gifted to you before you were born and help me defeat Yrsa.”
Cian’s face turned blue. His eyes bulged. Then his skin turned red. He wasn’t going to make it. How could he? This was no place for him. He should never have come.
Almost as if her thoughts inspired him or Loki’s words and magic finally got through, Cian coughed and gasped before he dragged air into his lungs. His eyes flickered with a dragon he would never become, and his skin sheened, protecting him from the elements.
“It worked,”she exclaimed, never so relieved.“You did it!”
She had no ideawhoexactly had done it but didn’t care. Cian was alive. Whether from Loki’s help or Raven and Tor, or even Revna herself pre-birth, he wasalive. And stronger by the moment as he stumbled to his feet and nodded thanks to Loki.
“Hold Revna and keep her safe.” Loki grinned at the lava shooting over their heads and breathed in the noxious gases as if they were fresh spring air. What she wouldn’t give to feel what he felt. The searing heat. The blinding, cloying ash. She heard the sizzles and pops, though. Saw the lethal beauty firsthand when Loki walked to the edge of the crater full of spewing molten fire, raised his arms to the heavens, and roared his presence.
Roared Revna’s presence.
The ground shook. Glorious fireballs shot upward. Ash fell like snowfall caught in a violent ruthless storm. It was a sight to behold made all that more glorious by the God of Fire roaring his summons across the whole of Vanaheim.