Page 43 of Elf Shot

"Fake feelings," Arne said flatly. Layla suddenly felt like crying which was just stupid. She swallowed down the impulse. They didn't have time to waste. He whispered some words in a dialect of elvish she didn't recognize, and tingles of magic swept over her body.

"There. It's removed, so now you don't have to feel anything for me at all," Arne snapped.

He was too close to her, but he didn't move and neither did she. The mark was gone, and she still felt like her skin was hurting from wanting him so badly. Neither looked away. The angry tension left Arne's face, and all that remained was yearning.

"Layla, stop looking at me like that," he whispered.

"I thought you were getting tortured. That we would find you locked in a cage with pieces of you missing," she said, her voice breaking.

Layla had pushed down all the anxiety and worry for him so that they could get the job done. Now he was standing there whole, and she couldn't push it down anymore.

"I'm sorry I put you through that. I'm okay now," he tried to reassure her. He lowered his forehead to hers. "You saved me."

"Don't get all soft on me when I want to be angry at you—" Layla began, but then she was kissing him, unable to stop herself. Her hand went around his neck, pulling him down so she could have more of him.

Arne's hands cupped her face, and his tongue slipped between her lips, tasting her in languid strokes. She knew the enchantment on him was still broken just by the feel of his lips and tongue and teeth.

They had to keep moving; they had to get out of Svartalfheim. Layla couldn't stop; she was breathless with the need for him burning her up.

It wasn't the mark at all, she realized suddenly.

Oh gods, that made everything so much worse. She broke off the kiss and stumbled back from him. He looked shaken and ruffled, but a slow smile appeared on his lips.

Layla pulled her shirt straight. "I'm still angry with you, but we need to move. You first. Ten feet from me at all times. I don't need you smirking at me like that either."

"Whatever you say, vennen," he said, trailing his fingers over hers as he walked past her.

"Fucking elves," she muttered.

Tor and Ciara caught up with them not long after. Ciara raised a brow at her, but Layla shook her head. They could talk about love hating on Arne later. She wanted to go home. As soon as she thought it, the portal crystal in her hand grew warm.

"Wait! I think something is happening," Layla called. Arne hurried back to her. "I can feel the magic. It’s…" Something snapped in the trees, and Layla turned as Varg and three other shifters appeared around them.

She didn't hesitate. She threw the portal crystal hard at the ground. White silvery power burst around them, and a portal opened.

"You don't want to do this, Arne. Your father can give you more than what—Ah! You bitch!" Varg screamed as Layla's flying dagger sliced off part of his ear.

"Tor, now!" she snapped. He grabbed Arne and tackled him through the portal, Ciara jumping through after him.

"You've made the biggest fucking mistake of your life," Varg snarled at her.

Layla only smiled the famous fuck you Ironwood smile at him. "Tell Vili if he wants Arne, he's going to have to stop being a coward and come to Midgard himself. He can stop sending pups like you to do the work."

"Bold words, little girl. Vili will come to Midgard, and when he does, he'll unleash Ragnarök."

Layla threw another dagger at him, but Varg ducked. "Looking forward to it, asshole."

Varg's men pounced for her, but she was falling through the portal. It snapped shut behind her with searing heat. A second later, she was on the floor of Tor's apartment, Ciara's face hovering over her.

"Did you just start a pissing contest with a primordial god?!" she demanded.

"He shouldn't have touched my things," Layla said. Ciara helped her upright. Tor was still holding onto Arne like he had been stopping him from going back through. They all looked pale and pissed off.

Layla straightened her shoulders. "I'm sure you two have a lot of calls to make. Alruna will want to know you’re safe. Come on, Ciara. We are out of here."

"Layla, please…"Arne began.

"No. I'm going back to Freya's to have a hot shower and sleep," she said, refusing to look him in the eye. "You are home safe, and that's what Alruna asked of me. The summit will be over, so whatever contract you had with Kenna is completed. Job. Over."

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