Page 120 of Clash of Storms
Sirius looked up, and she saw the true horror within him. "The queen was in my head, Malin. She twisted something within me, until I could barely tell what was real and what was not. It was as if my body belonged to another. As if I watched it from a dream. I killed him and I wore Rurik's face when I did it."
"Rurik," Freyja whispered, and her gaze turned distant, as if she communicated privately with her mate.
His mouth turned mocking. "Aye, my queen. You came to help rescue an ally; instead you find a murderer. I shan't blame you for leaving me here to rot, but all I ask is you get Malin out of here safely."
Malin had said nothing could tear him from her heart.
She meant it.
Malin reached up and pressed her mouth to his gently.
"I will kill that bitch with my bare hands if I need to," she whispered hoarsely, her lip curling in pure savagery as she withdrew. "And I'm not going anywhere without you. So don't waste your breath. This is upon her head, not yours."
Freyja's gaze focused once again, and the stare she leveled upon Sirius was intense. "Rurik says he always knew. He said if your claim is true—and the queen was the one who manipulated you like a puppet—then he will not take your life if you fight for him. He cannot forgive you. There will be no place in this court for you. But he will pardon you, if you help."
"I will help," Sirius said coldly. "I swore a vow. The queen is mine."
"I believe my prince might have something to say about that." Freyja tore a strip from the bottom of her skirt. "Here." She bound it over the remains of his eye, until he looked like a pirate. "This will have to do until we can get you out of here. Rurik might be able to heal some of your wounds."
"We need to hurry," Malin said. "Someone might notice Ivor is no longer guarding the doors."
"Where are we going?" Sirius demanded.
"We're meeting the others near the Reykjavik portal," Malin replied. "My sister, Elin, is rescuing Andri. They'll meet us in the cellars."
The other woman ducked under Sirius's other arm. Together they eased him down from the dais, but Malin's heart fell.
Sirius managed to hobble, but it would be difficult getting him out of here in this condition. He could barely walk.
Catching a glimpse of a set of crossed swords on the wall, she paused. "Here. This might help."
Tugging one of them free, she gave it to him to lean upon.
And none too soon.
The throne room doors were thrown open, a trio ofdrekiwarriors appearing.
The one in the center froze as he saw what was happening.
"Well," Roar's sneering voice sent a chill down Malin's spine. "My queen grants me the gift of your life, brother, and what do I find but three lives that are mine for the taking. This is truly an auspicious day; a traitor, and two drekling filth nobody will miss."
26
Roar. Florian. And Lor.
Every inch of Sirius stilled as his hated half-brother appeared, limned in light. There was no longer any reason not to kill Roar, no longer any—
The truth slammed into the wall of his pride. Though he might still have enough reservoirs of power to protect Malin if his brother drew too close, he was in no condition to face threedrekiin full battle. This was going to require every ounce of his cunning.
He had never run from a fight in his life, but he couldn't fight and hope to win, and there were two females to protect.
Though both seemed more inclined to step between him and the enemy, rather than use him as a shield.
"Dreklingfilth?" Freyja seemed to take exception to the word. She slipped out from under his arm, lifting her proud chin. "Did you just call me filth?"
"Freyja," he called urgently.
Getting Rurik's queen killed was no way to make amends.
