Page 8 of Loki's Heart
“So?”She scowled at him when the tunnel opened up to what she thought was a cave but turned out to be the inside of a massive tree.“I’m but a fleeting interest for an immortal and—”
She bit her internal tongue before giving away too much and buried her emotions down as deep as she could, hoping he didn’t catch them. In all truth, going off what he just shared, it made complete sense that she might have grown to love him.
Didlove him.
If her inner demon alone had connected with him, it explained why her feelings were far stronger than she would admit. She couldn’t imagine a reality in which her demon wouldn't fall hard for Loki if for no other reason than he was also known as a God of Fire.
“This is impressive,” Cian praised, drawing her attention back to where they ended up.
“It is our tree of protection.” Svend gestured that they join him at a fire at the center. “Back at the beginning of time, seers broke off into tribes, depending on their various gifts, and set up homes in areas that suited their magic best. Ours is a tree within a mountain.” He nodded once at Revna. “It’s why we were able to connect. We’re both mountain dwellers.”
“So you’re dwarf seers,” Loki commented wryly. “That explains your statures.”
“No more than my seers and I are dwarfs,” Revna cut back, waving Loki off. “Ignore him, Svend. He’s down the best part ofhis heart.” She eyed the mystical place. “It’s beautiful here, my friend.”
It really was, too. Ancient gnarly black roots wrapped up the sides, allowing for little nooks and crannies where Svend and his tribe resided with their families. As high as the eye could see, tiny orbs of light had broken off the mystical tree and floated around like disembodied stars.
“They’re not broken off anything,” Svend said, catching her thought. He smiled fondly at them. “They’re our ancestors, forever here to aid us with their residual magic.”
“Ah.” She met his smile, surprised by how he could bring a sense of happiness out in her. She had never been a particularly happy person by nature. Not that she was sad. Just blissfully dark. Intense. Hungry for magic. Sensual in all things despite having taken few lovers over the years.
“Why do you suppose that is?”Loki eyed her in that all-knowing way of his.“Could it be because of our connection? Because you knew another would never measure up?”
Was it her, or was he insinuating they had more of a connection than she realized? One that might explain why she could so easily hold half his heart?
Either way, best not to overly engage him. Not right now.
So rather than dignify him with an answer, Revna remained focused on Svend. “It’s kind of you and your fellow seers to harbor us here.” She couldn’t help but notice little eyes peering down from one of the alcoves. “With your families. Your children.” She looked at the seer again. “Is that not dangerous? Will we not bring trouble to your doorstep?”
“Trouble we’re all prepared for if it comes to that.” Svend saw them served cups of what tasted like strong mead. “We’re well protected from Yrsa here, so you are safe until we set out tomorrow.” He looked at her quite seriously. “Then we will movequickly, going from one safe space to the other until, I hope, we take her unaware.”
“You meanItake her unaware.” She shook her head and glanced at his fellow seers. “Outside of a guide to get me there, there’s no reason you and yours should put yourselves in harm’s way.”
“She’s right,” Truthsayer quipped, blunt when his words almost seemed like they should be sarcastic. “We can sit back and do nothing rather than fight the insane demi-god who’s dubbed herself Queen.”
“Queen of what?” Cian’s brows shot up. “Evil?”
“So it seems,” Svend replied ruefully. “An evil queen to the root of her magic. One who supposedly babbles to a mystical mirror about becoming the most powerful seer on Midgard.” He snorted. “Rumor has it the mirror even talks back.”
Revna frowned. “And what does it say?”
Truthsayer pointed at her. “Thatyouare the most powerful seer on Midgard.” He shook his head. “And as you can imagine, she doesn't much like that.”
“I couldn't care less if she does or doesn’t,” Revna returned. “Besides, I’m not the most powerful seer anymore. Raven’s son is.”
“Not to those on this world,” Svend revealed. “Any more than Raven would be.”
She thought about that before she realized. “Because they’re half dragon.”
“That’s right.”
She frowned. “Yet half fire demon is all right?”
“So it seems.”
“Who cares, really, when we’re dealing with a demi-god who’s clearly lost her way.” Loki chuckled. “A queen who talks to mirrors?” He downed his mead in one long gulp and waved overanother. “Though I do rather like the evil tagged onto her mock title.” He grinned. “It has an air of naughtiness about it,ja?”
“Everything has an air of naughtiness about it to you.” Truthsayer’s tone took on the distinct octave of Revna’s voice. “You see very little else in life.”