Page 27 of Storm of Desire
"Then it is worth it, for the few minutes of freedom." She captured Malin's hands. "You don'tunderstand."
"I know the Blackfrost is not of your choice." Malin shuddered. "He wouldn't be mine either. But he's not as blatantly cruel as his father or his brothers. And he's the only one who can protect you. It would be a reasonable alliance foryou."
"I'm alreadymarried," sheblurted.
Malin sucked in a sharp breath. "What?"
Malin's mother had been human. She'd lived among her mother's family for fifteen years, before power began to whisper through her veins. Unable to shift, she could still light a fire with a snap of her fingers, and so she'd come to court, to find her father and learn to control her elementalmagic.
She knew what marriagemeant.
Árdís withdrew the chain from her dress. The ring dangled on the end of it, spinning in swift circles. Slowly, she poured the ring into her palm. "When I fled court the first time, there was a man." She closed her eyes. "I loved him. With all my heart. I thought I'd found a place for myself, until my mother sent her nephews to hunt me down. I had to leave him. I didn't dare let my motherknow."
Her fingers curled over thering.
"I thought I could forget him. I thought I could survive the loss of him, as long as I knew he lived. But he's found me. And I cannot go through with this mating bond." Her eyes turned warm. "I cannot do this, Malin. Mydrekiwon't allowit."
Malin let out a slow sigh. "Oh,Princess."
"Come with me," she whispered, holding her handmaid's hands. Malin had been her only friend at court. Her mother watched so carefully she did not dare walk among the otherdrekling, or venture into the lower halls, where thosedrekiwho'd been her father's faithful warriors tended toreside.
Malin shook her head. "I cannot. My father is here. My younger sister. I have nowhere else togo."
"You could join me. I'm suremy—"
Malin slammed a hand over her mouth. "Don't you dare. If I know nothing of your plans, then I cannot sharethem."
They stared at each other, and Malin slowly lowered her hand. "I already know toomuch."
"They'll question you," Árdís said, her mindracing.
"Which is why you need to make it clear I wasn't part of thisplan."
A ruthless proposition, but a wise one. She nodded. "Help mepack."
It was easier with Malin by her side. Nobody would think anything of seeing her walking the halls. Thedreklinghandmaid slipped back into the court, and returned with a flask of water and food toeat.
"How are you going to sneak out?" Malin whispered. "They'll see you in theskies."
"Unfortunately not." She showed Malin the manacle and explained her sudden deficiencies. "I'm going to try and free Andri from the dungeons. If he's in any condition to fly, then he can help me. If not, I'll use the Reykjavik portal." She slung the pack over hershoulders.
"Good luck." Malin hugged her. "I hope you find your husband, and live a happy life withhim."
Árdís's smilewaned.
"If I run to him, then they will follow. And they will find him. I dare not stay withhim."
Malin took a deep breath and stepped back, presenting Árdís with the ropes. "Please don't put me in the trunk. I don't like thedark."
"You are my only friend," she said, kissing thedreklingwoman's cheek. "I will never forget you. I willnever—"
She slammed a psychic assault through Malin's mind, knocking her unconscious in an instant. Malin slumped into her arms, but she'd wake within the hour. Árdís set to work, making sure she tied Malin's hands and feet tightly before gagging her, and leaving her in the middle of thebed.
Time toleave.
There was onedrekiwho could help her, and demand not a thing from her. Onedrekiwhose territory the others would not dare enter. She'd be safe there. She'd have her freedom, even if she dared not have herheart.
Rurik had spoken ofdebts.
