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Gunnar's eyes narrowed as he examined the deadly setup. "I can pick the locks open, but it'll take time. The gas may overtake the boy before I can get inside."
We had no other choice. "Do it!" I yelled. "Hurry!"
Nodding, Gunnar pulled out his tools and began working, his brow beaded with sweat, fingers flying over the intricate mechanism.
The minutes crawled by at an agonizing pace. Loki's weakening cries drove spikes of fear into my soul. I paced helplessly, straining to hear any sign that he yet lived.
"Almost there..." Gunnar muttered through gritted teeth. But then Loki's cries went silent.
"No!" I roared, slamming my fists against the unyielding door. The lock clicked open, but we were too late.
I charged inside, the stench of gas burning my throat. Loki lay still upon the floor, his skin tinged blue. Scooping up his limp body, I hurried back out into the hallway. Gunnar moved swiftly to disable the gas as I laid Loki down.
"Loki, wake up!" I pleaded, beginning chest compressions, willing him to take a breath. Skadi stood by, her face etched with worry. Still my son did not stir. Sobs wracked my body as I pumped his chest. I would not lose him!
After agonizing moments that felt like an eternity, Loki jerked and coughed weakly. Relief hit me like a tidal wave. Gatheringhim close, I wept, thanking the gods for this miracle. Loki was alive. My child was safe. For now, nothing else mattered.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
KAL
I paced the royal chambers, my emotions all over the place and the darkest parts of my mind feeding me nothing but all of the horrible things that may have gone wrong. The last thing I saw through Huginn and Muninn's eyes was Thorsten giving CPR to Loki, desperately trying to save him. I tried to hold onto the connection, but my overwhelming fear and grief had snapped it.
"Your Highness, please try to calm down," Signe pleaded, her voice soft and tinged with worry.
"Fuck calm! My son is out there, and I can't do anything!" I shouted, my voice cracking. Signe fell silent, thinking it better to not argue with me.
Huginn and Muninn returned to the Keep, but even their presence couldn't reconnect me to them. Had I lost their gift? Or maybe they decided to stop helping me. Whatever the reason, the not knowing was tearing me apart.
Hours passed and I eventually collapsed onto the bed, my tears soaking the pillow. Thor lay beside me, his white hair soft beneath my fingers. He was safe, but I couldn't shake the fear for Loki.
Signe burst into the room, her face alight with urgency. "King Thorsten and Prince Loki have arrived safely!"
"Wha...are you serious?" I leaped out of bed, and raced down the hallway and nearly tripped down the stone stairs. Reaching the front hall of the castle keep, I watched as Thorsten rushed in, cradling Loki in his arms.
My body seized when I saw Loki's limp form. "No please, it can't be...he can't be," I muttered, the words barely audible.
"Kal," Thorsten said quickly, his voice firm but gentle. "Loki is alive, but he needs medical attention."
I ran after Thorsten, my legs struggling to keep up with his long strides. The cold stone floor of Hrungnir Keep echoed our hurried footsteps. I didn't care about anything else as long as we got Loki to the infirmary in time.
We burst into the infirmary, and the doctors immediately went to work on Loki, taking him from Thorsten's arms and laying him on a bed. They assessed his condition, their faces grim. My heart raced, my breaths coming out in short gasps.
"Please, save him," I whispered, silently praying to any god who would listen.
Thorsten stood back, allowing the doctors room to work. I hooked my arm around his waist, needing his support more than ever. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, holding me close.
"Kal, have faith in our healers," he murmured in my ear, trying to reassure me.
Time seemed to crawl by at a snail's pace. Finally, after what felt like an eternity and a day, the doctor approached us.
"King Thorsten, your son will be fine. Loki is responding well to our medicine and treatments. We can begin to detox the poison from his system, but he will need plenty of rest and it may take some time before his lungs return to full strength."
"Oh my gods, thank you," tears streamed down my face. I hugged Thorsten tightly, burying my face in his broad chest.
"Thank you," I choked out. "Thank you for bringing him back to us."
"Everything will be fine, Kal," Thorsten reassured me. "The war is over, Falka is dead, and our sons are safe. I'm sorry I couldn'tkeep them safe." Thorsten continued. "I broke my vow, and I will always feel ashamed for it."
