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Chapter Thirty-Six: Blade of Fire

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"What I could do with the power that flows through those veins," Loki remarked wistfully, as Thor threw a blanket over Jane, who was still semi-conscious.

"Probably some pretty evil shit," I responded, flexing my injured hand, "Glad we won't get to find out."

"You can't possibly think so little of me," Loki feigned offence.

"It would consume you," said Thor.

"She's holding up alright," Loki answered, "For now."

I cocked a brow. "Does that look alright to you?"

"She is strong in ways you'd never even know," Thor said.

"Say goodbye," Loki leaned in with a smile. I shoved him.

"Not this day," Thor looked away, surveying our surroundings.

"This day, the next, a hundred years, it's nothing. It's a heartbeat," Loki stood as he spoke, eyeing me in his peripheral. I looked down. "You'll never be ready. The only woman whose love you've prized will be snatched from you."

"That's enough," I spat, eyes still on the ground. "Enough."

"Will that satisfy you?" Thor asked lowly.

"Satisfaction is not in my nature."

I laughed.

"Surrender's not in mine."

"The son of Odin..."

"No, not just of Odin," Thor spat, standing and striding before Loki, "You think you alone were loved of mother? You had her tricks, but I had her trust."

"Trust?" Loki repeated, "Was that her last expression? Trust? When you let her die?"

I shoved to my feet, placing myself in between them. I shoved them both back a few paces, and held up my injured hand to Loki.

"I was there. I was there when it happened. I let her die. This, this stupid injury held me down, stopped me from saving her," I snapped, my eyes glistening with unshed tears, "If you'd like someone to blame for her death, here I am."

"And it's not as though you were of any help in your cell," Thor remarked absently from behind me.

"Who put me there?" Loki asked lowly, then again, louder, "Who put me there?"

Thor shoved passed me, picking Loki up by the collar and slamming him against the side of the ship. "You know damn well who." Thor cocked his arm back, ready to fight. I held him back by the bicep. Not that I was any match for his strength. But when he looked back at me, met my eyes, he lowered his fist, letting go of Loki and pacing to the other side of the ship.

"Your mother would not have wanted you to fight," I said, my throat raw from trying to keep the tears at bay.

"Well," Loki said, a small smile pulling at his lips, "She wouldn't exactly be shocked."

I swiped at my eyes, as Thor and I both released a quiet chuckle.

"I wish I could trust you," Thor said.