2 | 𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃 ▹ LOKI LAUFEYSON

xvi. the hunt

A M O R A

A sharp gasp escaped Amora's lips as the murky green light that filled her vision faded. The dark magic had felt suffocating—flooding all of her senses—as it engulfed both sorcerers, and now that it was gone, their surroundings were nearly overwhelming.

The constant clanging of tools and whir of machinery filled the air as a flurry of beings and machines bustled about.

"Well, this should be interesting," Loki's voice muttered alarmingly close to her.

She looked down at her white-knuckled fingers still gripping his and quickly pulled away. Loki turned his gaze from their surroundings to her.

"Did your vision happen to show you where she is?"

Amora shook her head, frowning. "No, my vision was not of this place. The city was brighter...and cleaner."

Loki's eyes roamed about the countless lights of cheap advertisements and distant mining ships. He wrinkled his nose. "And the assassin is here?"

"Heimdall said that this was her most recent location," Amora turned and stood on her tiptoes to search the passing faces, "here exactly."

"There," Loki's word made her whirl around.

A few buildings down, the green assassin was speaking to a pink, Krylorian woman. Gamora kept looking and motioning down to a dark object in the pink woman's hands.

Amora drew nearer despite Loki's slight protest. She reached a column supporting the adjacent building and watched. After a moment, the Krylorian nodded and spoke a few final words to Gamora. When the slave returned the object of interest, Gamora turned.

Immediately, Loki gripped Amora's arm and dragged her back into a small doorway. Shutting the security gate behind them, he turned to open the door, but it was locked.

"Well, that's just wonderful," Amora muttered, "If she sees us, then we're trapped in here."

She looked up at him and her breath hitched. Loki was practically standing over her with the small space available. Fortunately, the shadows kept him from seeing her reddened cheeks. Feeling his breath on her face, Amora quickly settled with staring at his shoulder.

"An invisibility spell would have been easier," she said quietly.

"But where's the fun in that," he teased.

With a huff, Amora moved to kick him, but the confined space made the movement cause her to lose her footing. She could feel her face burning as she fell into his chest. His hands wrapped around her upper arms to steady her, but they did not move once she was balanced.

Instead, Loki tightened his grip on her arms. Amora looked out through the narrow spaces of light coming through the bars and immediately tensed, as well.

Gamora strolled past, her eyes carefully scanning her surroundings. Amora subconsciously leaned into Loki as the assassin's eyes neared their hiding place.

Loki's fingers twitched, and Amora felt his magic surround them, hiding them from sight. Gamora's eyes passed over them, unseeing, and she continued through the crowds.