Page 76 of Heart of Fire
Thedrekimet her gaze. “He did not tellyou?”
“He did not tell me quite a few things, from the sounds of it,” she said angrily.Aprince.
“Rurik was his father’s heir,” Andri said. “Which makes him a prince of our people. When his father was killed, Rurik was offered the means to fight for the throne or to go into exile. He choseexile.
“So not only is he their prince, but he is more powerful than most of the entire court. If my father’sdrekicome again, they’ll come inforce.”
“Iwon’tlet them hurt him,” she whisperedfiercely.
“What areyou?”
She’d been asked that question so many times. Circles, circles, what did the damned circles have to do with her and her mother? Freyja rested her elbows on her knees, next to where Rurik rested his head on the edge. A golden gleam seemed to emanate from his body, highlighting the dark waters, but he seemed quite oblivious to the world around him. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “My mother called me a Daughter of the Storm, and I think she knew some lore that gave rise to me, but... I don’t entirely understand how it allworks.”
For so many years she’d been trying to hide from her nature, to suppress the unnaturalness within her. Every time the locals crossed themselves, she’d looked away and locked her true nature deep within her, but the past few weeks had pushed her to accept truths she’d long turned awayfrom.
There was power withinher.
Immensepower.
And it seemed both tied to the elements as Rurik’s magic was, but also somehowseparate.
Andri squatted down beside her. He was naked, but until that moment she hadn’t truly noticed it. He eyed Rurik with a faint frown. “Whatever you are, you’re a threat to him, because you’re the one person who could stop his people from accepting him. Without allies, Rurik has no hope against Stellan, regardless of your powers. And his people will never accept you, or any children you mightbear.”
A stark chill ran through her. “His people exiledhim.”
“He is beloved among those who were hisdreki. I hear their mutters, their whispers that things would be better if Rurik were king. There is no love for my father, Stellan, but none are strong enough to challengehim.”
“Except for Rurik,” she said, finallyunderstanding.
“Except for Rurik. But you’re human and he isdreki. It’s the one thing that could turn those who are loyal to him, against him. You’re notdreki. Mating with you goes against the creed, and his people will consider this an act of defilement of his pure blood. We can take humans as lovers, but they are never accepted as our consorts, and their children are bastards. They will never accept you as his mate, and he can never come homeagain.”
Home.The blood ran from her face. Home. Rurik’s greatest dream, the one that had put shadows of loss in his eyes. His sister, his brother, his people... all things he could never have if he tried to stay withher.
A cold knot seemed to settle in her chest. “Rurik and I never had a future,” she said quietly. “I have always knownthat.”
“And yet you fought forhim?”
“I love him,” shewhispered.
“Love.” Andri seemed to consider the word. Hefrowned.
“Rest,” she whispered, brushing a strand of wet hair from Rurik’s temples, knowing she could not explain. “Rest andheal.”
Twenty-One
AWEEK LATER,Rurikawoke.
He was still submerged in the pool, and the waters were finally cool against his skin, as though he’d adsorbed all of the heat within the volcanic waters. Vague memories returned: of a hand cupping his forehead as though checking for a fever, and a pair of lips pressing gently against his cheek. Of words whispered in his ear that stole straight to the heart of him, even through his protectivecoma.
“I love you, Rurik. And so I must set youfree.”
“Freyja?” Rurik staggered to his feet, his knees still shaky, though his body finally felt whole.“Freyja?”
“She’s gone,” Andri said, stepping out of the shadows and staring athim.
No!He bared his teeth, primitive urges arising within him and shaking the volcano around them. Hisdrekiheart ached, hollow once more, as though it had lost something far more precious than just love. “Where isshe?”
“She’s gone,” Andri repeated, stepping between him and the exit to the cave. “I explained what would happen to you if she accepted your matingbond.”
