Page 126 of Storm of Desire
Frustration surged within her. She knew she'd surprised him, and he wasn't saying no, but some part of her still yearned to bring the battle to hermother.
They were almost back to Freyja's farm when a bugle of challenge suddenly echoed from theair.
Rurik turned with a screech, soaring toward the west. Árdís banked, hovering in midair as she turned to watch himgo.
"Rurik!No!"
"They're here,"he snappedback.
In the distance, a lonedrekisoared mockingly along the line that marked the edge of his territory. The size of it was enormous, its black wings vanishing the sun as it soared between it andthem.
Árdís's heart pounded."It'sSirius."
The Blackfrost washere.
Árdís pushed herself into the skies, darting after her brother. It was probably a trap, but no maledrekicould deny a challenge. She might as soon try and stop the tide, as drag her brotherback.
* * *
"Is he coming?"Malinasked.
Sirius stared at the volcano ahead of him. He'd changed back into mortal form, knowing the prince would take it as a challenge if he were in the skies. And while he might win that challenge, and thedrekiwithin him stirred to take the chance to thwart his old enemy, he had Malin to thinkabout.
And his protective urges overrode his territorialones.
Barely.
He didn't dare walk any further. This was Rurik's territory, and to cross the line meant a declaration ofwar.
Not the best sort of way to beg for afavor.
"He will. He won't be able toresist."
He could still taste the angry lash as Rurik's mind connected withhis.
Two flapping specks appeared in the skies over the volcano. Sirius's eyes narrowed. He'd expected to see only one, which meant Rurik had anally.
He'd beoutnumbered.
But the prince played by the rules. It was one of the reasons he'd been exiled from court. If a challenge came, it would be one against one, the way it shouldbe.
"Here," he said, reaching for Malin's arm. "They're coming. Stay behind me at alltimes."
"I doubt they'll hurtme," she said, and refused to go where hedirected.
He couldn't focus on the battle ahead with her potentially atrisk.
"Malin—"
She tipped her chinup.
Everything within him burned to answer her defiance with a kiss, but he knew that would get him nowhere. It went against all of his proud nature to do this but.... The words crawled up his throat. "Please. Please do as Isay."
Her eyeswidened.
"I.... Verywell."
That was it? "That's all it takes to make you stop arguing withme?"
