Page 137 of Storm of Desire
The strength was draining out of him. Somehow he ended up in Árdís'slap.
"You rotten cur," the queen snarled, taking a step toward them with theknife.
"Only he can remove it from your wrist. If he dies, then you'll wear that manacle for the rest of your immortal life." Árdís snapped. "Or perhaps it will only be a mortal lifespan, as the manacle warps both your ability to utilize magicandto shift forms. Perhaps it will drain the years from your future, aswell."
The queen's face paled, and she tore at the manacle. "Get it off me!Stellan!"
A roar sounded. An enormousdrekilashed into the skies, abandoning his duel withRurik.
"You should never underestimate me, mother," Árdís snapped. "I knew you'd cheat somehow. So we evened the odds. Enjoy your mortal life. I'd suggest you retreat, before I unleash mydrekiuponyou."
Stellan swooped down and plucked the queen into the air with his claws. A ragged slash of red ran down his flank as he lifted into the air, carrying heraway.
Haakon blinked. He felt light-headed, but he knew the battle had broken. The surge of energy that had allowed him to manacle the queen vanished. All he could feel now was pain. Árdís knees cushioned his head. A tear splashed into his face. He reached up to her, his fingers numb as he brushed her cheek. "Worth it," hewhispered.
Or thought hedid.
His lips felt like they weren'tmoving.
"No!" Árdís screamed, and it was the last thing he heard as darkness rushed up to takehim.
* * *
"Haakon?"
She shook him, but his head lolled to the side, a rasp coming from hischest.
Árdís scrambled out from beneath him, pressing her fingers to the pulse in his neck. His heart still beat, but it was very weak, and blood covered the mud. Tearing his chainmail open, she tried to find the cause of it. There. Under hisarm.
"Somebody help me!" she cried, her fingers coming away wet and slick. She didn't know what to do. Somedrekicould heal others, but it was not one of her gifts."Rurik!"
His mind touched hers, and then he was by herside.
"He's been stabbed," she whispered, cradling Haakon's face. "He's barelybreathing."
A hesitation. "I'm not a very goodhealer."
"Please. Just try." She reached for Haakon with her psychic gifts, her mind brushing against his, even as her hand curled around hischeek.
"Árdís."Haakontwitched.
"I love you,"she sent back, her mind tangling with his."Please don't leave me. You promised you'd protect me forever. I will follow you through the gates of death itself,"she whispered, feeling the clouds swirl overthem.
Her vision blurred. She stood on a grassed slope with the skies racing above her, a meld of furious clouds one second, and the next sunlight. Haakon walked ahead of her, his enormous cloak swirling around his boots. Sunlight turned the world into a glorious green haven. One she recognized. A goat bleated. The thatched roof of a house peaked over thehorizon.
Home.
He was goinghome.
"Haakon!"She sprinted along the path behind him, snatching for hisarm.
Her hand locked around his, and he turned, his skin pale and bloodless."Árdís?"
"You're mine, Haakon Dragonsbane, and I will not let you go. Not now. Notever."
Thunder crashed, and her head jerkedup.
Then a pair of hands captured her face, tilting her mouth up."Mine,"Haakon agreed, just before his lips tookhers.
