Page 42 of Clash of Storms
She suddenly realized exactly what he meant.
Not predator eyes.
Hungry eyes.
"Perhaps I meant to ravish you instead. Every time you look at me like that I want to, sweet Malin. And I wonder... if you want it too?"
The part of her that was purely female preened a little under his attention, unused to being the focus of a male's attentions like this. It awakened some part of herself she'd never known before. Longing. Need. She'd barely been able to think of anything other than the warmth of his body as they shared blankets, never touching, but far too aware of each other all the same.
Somehow the not touching only made it worse.
But her inner voice wanted to slap her face;he's toying with you, nothing more. Why else would he look at a drekling like that?
This is nothing more than a game to him, like all the others.
Malin straightened her shoulders. The last thing she wanted was to be made a fool by the Blackfrost. "I wonder what the princess would think of your intentions?"
Instantly, his smile vanished. "Damn it, Malin, must you throw that in my face every time I look at you?"
"Yes, I think I must." Otherwise she might forget it herself. "Perhaps you think it flattering to smile at me when you're bound to her." A bitter laugh broke from her lips. "We're trying to find your betrothed, and all you can do is flirt with me. It's insulting and if anything was to convince me you're merely toying with me, it's this."
"Malin—"
"No," she told him forcefully. "I want a moment to myself. And you,my prince, can damned well wait."
So saying, she turned and slipped down the hillside, her heart pounding in her chest.
She couldn't trust him. Smiles or not. Kindness or not.
His intentions were quite clear: Find the princess, mate with her and return to court.
Malin, however, was beginning to consider her own goal.
At first this reckless flight from court had been a rush of survival-inspired fear. She'd had no further plans than getting away safely, and helping to track down the princess. Now, however, she was starting to think.
Árdís's position at court held the rebellion at bay. It was one thing to overthrow an evil queen, quite another to cast aside her beloved daughter. And Prince Rurik would never challenge his sister's right to the throne.
But if she was no longer there?
The prince might finally stake his claim....
The rebellion could rise and the queen finally be cast down.
This was no longer merely about Árdís finding love and happiness with her mortal husband. Malin needed to thwart Sirius's intent to bring the princess back, for both Árdís's and the rebellion's sake.
Small she might be; powerless, fragile, and no match for a warrior.
But she was nothing if not determined.
Malin washed her face and hands in the creek to stall, and then slowly straightened. She needed to somehow divert Sirius's focus from the princess.
The only problem was she had a very good idea of how to do that.
If she dared....
"Are you done yet?" Sirius called down to her. "We need to get moving. The princess awaits."
Malin grumbled under her breath as she climbed out of the ravine."Nowyou're worried about the princess."
