Page 15 of Clash of Storms
"There is... something that could convince the queen to be reasonable."
He'd expected Stellan to ask for Rurik's heart.
What was one moreZiniheart to a killer like himself, if he could protect the one good thing he knew?
But his father demanded something else.
Árdís.
This would be the end of any hopes he might have had. Magnus, the apple of their father's eye was dead. Andri a traitor. His father wanted the power behind the throne assured. There were too many factions at court,drekiand drekling alike whispering about Prince Rurik's claim to the throne in secret.
With her brothers exiled, Árdís remained heir—the sole member of theZinibloodline that remained loyal to her mother, theZilittuinterloper. The people adored the princess, but she also served as a rallying point. If Árdís remained loyal to her mother, then the rebels would not dare overthrow the princess for her brother.
And Rurik would never strike at his sister.
"What do you wish me to do?"Sirius had finally asked.
"You will mate with the princess and hold her to our cause. This foolish rebellion they plot in the hallways will die a swift death if we maintain our hold on Árdís. It's one thing to plot the overthrow of outsiders—another to betray their precious prince's golden sister. Árdís remains the heart of the court. Whoever holds her in hand, holds the throne. Without her, they will rise up. So you will hold her, Sirius, and force her to our will. And in exchange... I will spare your brother's life. Do you understand?"
"Yes,"he'd said coldly, asany hopes he might have born died a final, bloodied death.
Malin had only ever been a dream; an image reflected back off a still pond of water. So close, but when he reached out to touch her, the image shattered.
And he finally understood that to know the identity of his true mate was no gift of the Goddess.
But a curse instead.
3
There was nothing so enjoyable as thwarting dark, villainous princes, Malin thought as she returned to Árdís's chambers and found the princess nearly packed and ready to leave.
"How are you going to sneak out?" Malin asked, as the princess gathered the food and water she'd taken from the cellars and packed them in her bag. "They'll see you in the skies."
"Unfortunately not." Árdís toyed with the golden manacle around her wrist, biting her lip. "This is made by svartálfar. It traps me within my mortal form, until the man who put it around my wrist takes it off me."
The princess's husband.
Until Árdís revealed it, she'd have never known.
The princess had married a mortal man before leaving him when she was recalled to court; hence why she could not mate with the Blackfrost.
"I cannot fly." Árdís took a deep breath. "Therefore I must rely upon my own two feet and this cursed mortal body."
"Before I forget." Malin produced the small vial of leviathan blood. "If you're captured by adrekiwarrior, use this upon him. But don't get any of it on your skin. Its leviathan blood, and it will burn your flesh to the bone. It's also highly toxic, and will make you vastly unwell for weeks."
"Thank you, Malin. You've been my only true friend here at court."
"Drekling or not," she joked.
Árdís cupped her cheek, a slight frown upon her brow. "You know I've never cared."
And it was true.
Only Árdís had never looked upon her as if she were impure. When the princess was choosing her handmaid, she'd scandalized the entire court by picking Malin.
At first Malin had been terrified.
Drekiwomen hissed at her in the hallways when the princess wasn't there, as if to remind her of her place. She'd been so certain the princess was toying with her, prepared to pounce and tear her confidence to shreds.
