Page 20 of Clash of Storms
His people called itkataru libbu, a bastardized version of Sumerian that at its most basic meant an alliance of the heart, and yet was so much more.
Soul mate. The missing piece. Forever.
One that was undeniably yours, and likewise.
"Who is she?" she whispered.
Enough of this nonsense. He couldn't trust that word wouldn't spread. "It doesn't matter. She's nobody. And nothing will ever come of it. But just as you would prefer to keep his name to yourself, so would I."
"Ylve?"
"Sweet goddess, no! Who would ever lie with that bitch?" Sirius captured her jaw. "I can almost see you thinking. Her identity is none of your concern. Just know she's my reason to want to avoid this mating. Is it a good enough reason to trust me?"
"Good enough. Because if you betray me, I'll tell your father everything you just said. Whoever she is, she's clearly unsuitable or you would have pursued her openly."
"The second you do so, you condemn her to death," he growled fiercely.
"Good. Maybe it will help whittle the ranks of your father's followers."
His grip tightened unconsciously. "She's not... she's not someone my father would care for. And I want power. I cannot have both. You want to tell my father?" He laughed bitterly. "Then go ahead, Árdís. How will you feel when the blood on your hands is that of someone who lovesyou?"
The princess flinched.
"I won't say a word." Backing away, she held the knife between them. "I'm going. You get your wish and so do I. Allow me enough time to get as far away as I can before you rouse the alert."
"Judging from the presence of thedreklingin the next cellar, I think the alert shouldn't be too far away. Just howdidyou get past Claus?" Thedrekiguarding the prison would be punished severely for this infringement.
Árdís froze. "Whatdrekling?"
Really. "I can smell the brand on him, Árdís. And you've both been making enough noise to make it easy to track you. You're playing a dangerous game."
"You're not going to stop Marek from escaping?"
"Father will be furious." The role of drekling within the court was one of the points of contention between he and his father. "And I might be able to smell him, but it appears I didn't see a thing."
Árdís released her held breath. "Why?"
A faint malicious smile kicked at the edges of his mouth. "Becausefather will be furious. And I don't particularly enjoy seeingdreklingburned alive. Just don't get caught. Stellan would like nothing more than to bring you to heel, and he'll most likely insist I do the honor."
"I didn't know you cared."
"I don't." He glared at her. "But if I'm forced to do his bidding, then my mate will never, ever allow me near her."
"All you have to do is defy your father, just once," she whispered. "Then you could have it all. You're strong enough to challenge him. And if you don't like what they're doing to the court—"
"Oh, Árdís. If only we could all be so naive. My father has never been the threat." Sirius reached out with his hand, curling his fingers to snuff the flame of the torches. "Go. Before I think myself a fool for letting you escape. Before your enemies rise up to tear you down. Go. And don't come back.
The princess fled.
And for a brief second, Sirius allowed himself to hope.
4
Be brave. Be brave.
Malin's heart pounded in her ears as two of the queen'sdrekiwarriors dragged her toward the throne room. There was a fist in her hair, and a hand on her upper arm. She'd woken some time in the early hours of the morning, but it wasn't until an hour ago that another maid had come to fetch the princess... and found Malin bound and gagged in the middle of Árdís's bed.
Since then, the court had been like a stirred anthill. The maid took off running, only to be replaced by several of the queen's warriors bursting into the princess's bedchambers.
