Page 61 of Loki's Enemy Mate

I left the five behind, trusting they would follow as Loki and I sprinted toward the exit. By the time we reached the door and threw it open, I was happy to see my instincts were right. All five ran out the door and up the hill, clambering over boulders as they headed for the top of the mountain. However, both Loki and I hesitated. Behind us we could hear shouts and cries. Tyr was wreaking havoc, and it sounded like blood might have already been spilled.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” Loki growled. “What the fuck is he doing?”

“Risking everything and everyone, just like he always does.” I grabbed Loki’s hand, intending to pull him out the door. “Come on. Let him fight his own battle. As much as I don’t want him to die… it… it’s an easy way out of this war.”

The words made my heart drop, the image of the father I once knew flashing through my mind. But I couldn’t let that hold me back. Not when the man I loved more than anything in the world was at risk. He had to be clear of that place before the explosives went off. I wouldn’t let anything happen to him. Not now and not ever.

However, Loki didn’t budge as I tried to leave. He stood fast in the doorway.

“Come on, Dinky,” I said, hoping the pet name would wake him up. “We have to go.”

“I… I can’t,” he replied, his voice shaking. “I need to make sure my family is okay.” He stared at me, his eyes begging me to understand. “I can’t let Tyr kill them… they’re all I have left.”

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. My heart was racing, and adrenaline was pumping through my system. Every fiber of my being was telling me to run, to get as far away from this place as I could. I had to protect my mate.

But I knew Loki wasn’t going to budge on this and I couldn’t blame him. If I had a family worth saving, I’d go after them too.

“Okay,” I said, gripping his hand tight. “Three minutes. That’s it. Then we run.”

Loki nodded. “There’s a back way out on the other end where the real dormitories are. We can get out there. And we have to stop anyone from going this way too.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Heimdall?”

“Yeah?”

The fear in Loki’s eyes faded as he stared at me, his hand cupping my cheek. “I love you more than anything.”

I leaned into his touch, knowing that if the next few minutes didn’t go well, this could be our last time speaking to one another.

“I love you too.”

???

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