Page 38 of Storm of Desire
The two of them had shared a womb, but the alliance between his father and aunt always made Sirius a little uncomfortable. It wasn't a sexual relationship as some of the court whispered, but Stellan would kill—or die—for his sister. And if forced to make a choice between the queen and one of his sons, Sirius knew which way his father's choice wouldfall.
One good reason to stay in the queen's graces. Stellan was dangerous, but Amadea was asnake.
"You'relate."
"I was busy," he replied. "I only just received your message. What'swrong?"
"Busy doing what?" Stellandemanded.
Sirius began to remove his gloves, his lips thinning. "I was seeing my brother, if you must know. Andri's starting to wake from his healing sleep, though it's barely begun to mend his torn flesh. I wanted to be there when he did, to find out exactly what happened when he and Magnus confrontedRurik."
Because a part of him didn't quite believe his father and aunt's version ofevents.
"Perhaps it's a good thing to have the vision of Andri's torment so fresh in your mind," Stellan seethed. "It should warn you not to fail me in thisquest."
"I never fail." No matter what the cost. "And whatquest?"
His heart beat an unruly pulse in his chest, but that was too dangerous and his father's threat lingered. He'd seen the bruises on his brother's ribs, and face. Seen the broken jaw, and the blackened eye. Someone had beaten his little brother half to death, and he knew it hadn't been his cousin, PrinceRurik.
Had Stellan enjoyed it? Or had he given the task to Roar? A side glance showed his bastard brother watching proceedings with a faint tilt of amusement on hislips.
"It seems you already have," Amadea said, her rings glittering as she stared him down. "Árdís ismissing."
He'd spent all night practicing his look of shock. One hand went to the hilt of his sword. "What do you mean, she'smissing?"
"There's no sign of her within Hekla," Amadea replied, leaning forward. "Her cloak and boots are gone, along with her riding leathers. Her brother's sword isn't in the chest where she thinks she hides it. And nobody has seen any sign ofher."
Sirius bowed his head. "You shouldn't be surprised. She made it quite clear she would refuse the matingbond."
A fist thumped against the throne. "It doesn't matter what she intended," Stellan snarled. "If you were truly my heir, then you'd not have given her a choice. This is a disaster! The entire court hangs on a hinge, and I can almost hear them whispering rebellion in the halls. Árdís was our key to controlling thisrebellion."
"I am many things, Father," Sirius said coldly, glaring up at the man who'd sired him. "But I amnotthe type of man to force a woman where she does not wish togo."
"No," Stellan sneered. "You never did have the balls for it. It's a pity I didn't sendyouto challenge Rurik. Your brother, Magnus, was the betterdrekiall along. He wouldn't have hesitated to do what was necessary withÁrdís."
"If one considers a lack of conscience a boon," he snapped, "then yes, Magnus was better." It was one thing to wonder if his father wished he had died in Magnus's place, quite another to hear it spoken. "We aredreki. Is there no honor amongus?"
"You're starting to sound like the king," Amadeasaid.
"And we all know what happened to your mate," Sirius replied, his voice falling into a quiet sort of maliciousness. "Is that athreat?"
"It's a warning," Amadea whispered. "Don't push me, Sirius. Not rightnow."
They glared at eachother.
Then Stellan gestured for a pair of his warriors to shut the doors. "You have a loose tongue. That can bedangerous."
"Everything is dangerous right now. We are outsiders in a court that plots against us," Amadea hissed, and for a moment she looked very much like her daughter—if Árdís had ever been the type for pure malice. "Regardless of your feelings in the matter, we need my daughter back andmated."
"No matter what I must do?" Sirius asked coldly, thenoon the tip of histongue.
"If my brother is so hesitant to do what needs to be done, then why not give another a chance?" Roar called, making his presenceknown.
"You're not my brother," Sirius said in a whisper-softvoice.
Just a by-blow by some forgotten woman who'd left the boy on his father's doorstep. Roar was one of the few half-breeds who could actually shift, which made himdreki. His illegitimacy had never bothered Sirius—but the hunger in his eyes did. If there was anyone who shared Magnus's innate sense of cruelty, it was Roar. But even Magnus had despisedhim.
The otherdrekismirked. "You're right. I'm starting to wonder if there's any of Father's blood in you atall?"
