Loki's grip on my arm tightens, ice spreading, but his voice stays playful. "Heimdall! How lovely to see you. Love what you've done with the place."
"Trickster." Heimdall rumbles. "How did you breach my realm? They've been sealed."
They circle each other, Loki dragging me with him like a shield—relief floods me at the sight of Heimdall—finally, someone who can help.
"Oh, that's the best part." Loki's laugh rings off the stone walls. "When you opened the Bifrost for our dear Commander's triumphant return—I hitched a ride. Hidden in plain sight, wearing dear Baldr's face." His grin stretches wide. "You really should pay more attention to who you let in."
"Why?" Heimdall's eyes narrow. "Why are you doing this?"
"Why not?" Loki spreads his free arm wide. "Chaos is so much more fun than order. And watching Odin's precious plans crumble?" He shivers with theatrical pleasure. "Delicious."
"You will die for this transgression." Heimdall threatens. "Painfully."
Loki throws his head back and laughs. "You think you can kill me? Please." His grip tightens on my arm. "I've already won. I have the stone, the savior, and the poor Godborn taking a long nap." His eyes dance with malice. "What are you going to do, watch me leave? That is your specialty, isn't it? Always watching, never acting."
Heimdall's hand moves to his sword. "Not this time, Trickster."
Heimdall's eyes meet mine for a fraction of a second—a slight nod.
Light explodes from my palm, searing through Loki's frost. He howls, releasing my arm as I dive away. The sound of steel leaving its scabbard rings through the air—Heimdall's sword blazes golden as he lunges.
Loki barely gets his ice blade up in time. The clash of weapons echoes like thunder, frost meeting godly steel in a shower of sparks—the very air trembles with their power.
"Run, Danica!" Heimdall's voice booms as he drives Loki back. "Find him! I need him!"
The gods move faster than my eyes can track. Loki's laughter turns savage as he parries Heimdall's strikes, ice spreading across the floor with each step. "Always so dramatic, old friend!"
Heimdall answers with a blow that shatters Loki's ice blade. The trickster god forms two more instantly, frost crawling up his arms like armor. They clash again, the impact cracking the stone beneath their feet.
"You've grown slow in your watching," Loki taunts, spinning away from a lethal strike. His blades leave frost trails in the air as he attacks, forcing Heimdall to give ground.
"And you talk too much." Heimdall's sword blazes brighter. The following impact sends Loki staggering, ice armor cracking.
"GO!" Heimdall roars at me, his green eyes fierce. "Now!"
I turn and run, their battle shaking the very foundations of the Nexus behind me. The last thing I hear is Loki's wild laughter and the deafening crash of godly powers colliding.
Hold on, Rhyland. I'm coming.
I burst through the doors into biting wind. Erik, Bryn, and Gullfax wait at the bottom of the steps, weapons ready.
"Dani!" Bryn rushes forward, gripping my shoulders. "Are you alright? Heimdall—"
"Loki," I gasp, lungs burning. "It was Loki the whole time. He has the stone, and Rhyland—" My voice cracks. "He's got Rhyland somewhere. Drowning. I can't feel him, can't sense him anywhere—"
"Wait." Erik's silver eyes flash. "You can't sense him at all? No bond?"
I shake my head, throat tight. "Nothing. Just... emptiness."
"Valor's Watch." Bryn's voice turns hard. "It's the only place in Zephyria that could block a mate bond. The wards must be up."
God damn it. I want to scream at myself for not realizing sooner. Of course that's where Loki would hide him—the one place I couldn't sense him.
"Did Loki say anything else?" Bryn's voice cuts through my panic. "Any details, any hints?"
I force my mind back to our chambers, sifting through his taunts. "He said"—my voice catches. "He said Rhyland was taking a swim. That chains make swimming difficult." The memory makes me want to throw up. "He was laughing about it."
"The Twilight Eyrie," Brynsays quickly. "There's a lake there, deeper than any in the realm. If he wanted to make sure Rhyland couldn't—"
