Page 66 of Loki

Dread drenched Val like a bucket of ice water, making her want to throw up. She raced up to Elle’s apartment. Loki followed closely behind.

“Elle!” Val yelled. “Elle, answer me now!” She burst through the door to Elle’s apartment.

The table lay overturned, and one of Elle’s shoes had been discarded on the floor. Val stormed into the bathroom and caught a scent which made her stomach churn.

No.

She turned to Loki. “You said we were safe.”

His eyebrows drew together. “You are. I made sure of it. The hunters all gave their word.”

“Then how the hell did Thadren find Elle?”

Loki shook his head. “No idea, but it wasn’t any of Almax’s siblings.”

“How do you know?”

“Because they came for Elle, not you. Almax only knew who you were. If he’d known who Elle was, he would’ve gone after her first, with her being the easier target and the better paycheck.”

Shit. Shit, shit, shit!

“I have to go.” Val brushed past him.

“Where?” Loki asked.

“Where do you think? Muspelheim to get Elle.”

“Well, you aren’t going by yourself.” Loki snapped his fingers, and his royal Asgardian armor morphed on his body like a blue snakeskin suit. A royal robe draped around his shoulders and a silver helmet with horns which mimicked his real ones.

Val unzipped her dress and let it drop to the floor as she walked to her closet and pulled a trunk from inside.

She lay her hands on it for a moment and then threw it open, revealing her golden armor.

Footsteps raced down the hallway, and she turned to the door. Frigg reappeared, out of breath.

“Thor is gone. He took Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr and is already on his way to Muspelheim,” she breathed.

Loki nodded. “Where are the others?”

“With Odin. They are on their way.”

“Very good,” said Loki. “We will join you presently. I need to run an errand first.”

Frigg nodded and disappeared out of the doorway.

Loki laid his hand on Val’s shoulder. “You get dressed. I’ll be back before you finish.”

“Where are you going?”

“To get reinforcements.” With a snap of his fingers, Loki vanished.

“He couldn’t snap my armor on too?” She shook her head. They were going to have a conversation about how he used his powers from now on.

Loki returned as Val finished getting her shoulder pauldrons on, and he wasn’t alone. With no time for introductions, Loki walked to her and threw his arm around her waist.

“Time to go, love.”

Val drew her sword. “I’m ready.”

---