Page 96 of Storm of Desire
It didn't mean those seven years apart ached any less for her, but he finally understood what had driven her to such lengths. This had never been about not loving him. This had never been adrekiprincess spurning her mortallover.
She'd loved him enough to sacrifice her happiness forhim.
And while it had hurt him just as much, she'd considered that pain a worthwhile sacrifice in exchange for hislife.
Haakon drew back from the heated kiss and pressed his lips to her forehead gently. He lifted his head, studying her heart-shaped face, with her burningdrekieyes. And he suddenly understoodher.
She'd lost two brothers and a father she adored. She'd been born into a brutal court, and when she'd finally fled, trying to spread her wings and discover who she was, her mother had threatened to break her world down around her. Árdís's every moment of existence had been that of a youngdrekiprincess, trying to survive a hostile world without a single ally at herside.
The only choice she'd ever made of her own desires, had beenhim.
Árdís made a small choking sound in her throat. "Ilovedyou," she whispered, as if she did not dare bring such an emotion into thepresent.
Haakon's fingertips flexed on her jaw, as the words went through him like aspear.
Their mouths clashed together, hot and furious.I loved you.The words rang in his ears. Righting something inside him. All he'd ever wanted to know was if it had beenreal.
He had her in his arms, and a part of him shook badly, never wanting to let her go. But there were a pair of palms against his chest. An insistent pushing, even as her tongue flicked overhis.
They broke apart, both of them breathing hard. And he saw the doubt in her eyes, as she tried to open her mouth, to say the words that were clearly trapped there. Haakon pressed a finger to his lips. He didn't need her to say them. He could see it, shining wetly there. Árdís wanted him. She had loved him. Perhaps still did, even if she refused to admit it toherself.
But.
I can face forever, knowing you lived a long and happy life. I could bear it, ifonly....
He closed his eyes, needing the moment to control himself, before he could look at heragain.
Nothing had changed. Not in hermind.
Only inhis.
"One last night," he whispered, and felt the tension dissolve as she shuddered. This was the only way he could haveher.
Haakon slowly lowered his face to hers, kissing her ever so slowly, as if to savor themoment.
Ifonly....
But all they had wasthis.
Fornow.
* * *
Amadea pacedon the dais as her brother entered the room, nerves knotting her tight though she refused to showthem.
"Well?" shedemanded.
It had been days with no sign of Árdís. The girl couldn't have simplyvanished.
Stellan stepped aside as Lor hauled a human forward. At Stellan's signal, he sent the man sprawling at herfeet.
Amadea's glance dropped. This was no city urchin, but an older man wearing a handsome waistcoat, with one of those gleaming pocket watches humans used to tell the time. She knew little about the human world, but she recognized the expensive cut of his clothes, and the fine leather gloves hewore.
Or they had been fine, before Stellan got his hands on thestranger.
"This man is a jeweler from Reykjavik," Stellan said. "And he has an interesting tale totell."
The man shook as he looked up, and Stellan gave him a nudge with hisboot.
