Page 108 of Storm of Desire
Haakon slammed against the rail, leaning over it to search for her in the violent churn of the seas. "Árja?Árja!"
A head bobbed, hair shielding her face as she lashed out, fighting to stayafloat.
Thank all the gods. He tried to climb the rail, preparing to dive in afterher.
"Haakon?"a voice called in the distance."Haakon! What the fuck are youdoing?"
"Please save me," Árdís cried, her arm reaching for him through the pounding surf. "Haakon! You're my onlyhope."
A hand snatched at his arm, and a body slammed against his. She was going under, her blonde head vanishing for a moment. Haakon strained against the unseen grip, fighting to climb the rail. "I can't lose her. Let me go, damnyou!"
"Haakon?"Árdís's voice. Behindhim.
Hepaused.
Árdís?
"Don't let go of him,"shecried.
"Trying not to."Tormund. A grunt."He's as strong as anox."
The storm lashed against the side of theboat.
The blonde woman surfaced again, her eyes glowing green, and a shiver ran down his spine as she smiled at him. It wasn't Árdís. Now he could see her face properly, he could make out minute differences. She could have been Árdís's twin, if his wife had ever looked at anyone with that sort ofmalevolence.
Mocking laughter filled his ears. Haakon froze. What the hell was going on? He could still feel the spray of water against his face, and taste the salt on hislips.
Raising her hand, the woman clenched herfist.
His lungs arrested as if a fist wrapped around his heart and squeezed. Agony seared through him, and he felt his knees hit thedeck.
He couldn'tbreathe.
"Haakon!" Someone screamed, and a soft hand pressed against his chest, letting his airways open up. He could feel heat pouring through him from that touch, and a golden tingle of lightning in his veins. "Stay withme."
Always.
"A pity,"the strange woman whispered, directly in his mind."It would have been a kinddeath."
Then the squeezing sensation vanished, and Haakon surged awake with a gasp. He felt like he'd run thirty miles. In heavy chainmail. He was on his back on the deck, with a handful of faces looming over him. The only one that mattered was Árdís. Green light glowed around her, but she lookedfrightened.
"What the hell was that?" Tormunddemanded.
There was something wet in his throat. Haakon convulsed, turning onto the side as he coughed. Árdís's hands held him there, her hand rubbing his back as he vomited a small amount ofblood.
"Haakon." Her voice came out anguished. "Damnher!"
The ship rocked beneath them. His throat felt raw as he sucked in air. Sweet, precious air. Other sensations began to intrude. Every inch of him was wet. He felt cold from the tip of his toes to the top of his head. The only warmth came from where Árdís rocked him in her arms. She pressed her cheek to his, and somehow he managed to grab herhand.
"You'd better explain yourself,dreki," Gunnargrowled.
"That was my mother." Her fingers tightened unconsciously on his arms. "She was in his dreams. Trying to lure him to his death." A sob caught on her breath. "That bitch. Thatbitch."
"I thought it was you," he rasped. "I thought you wentoverboard."
Árdís's face was far too pale. "He's freezing. I need something to warm him up. Tea. Or soup. And we need to get him back to thecabin."
"I'mfine."
