Page 5 of Clash of Storms
Two disapproving fathers who would be repulsed by this news. A murderous brother to shield her from. And an entire court who would whisper behind their hands at the difference in their social standing. It felt as if the Goddess was laughing directly at him.
Sirius held out his hand to help her to her feet, thedrekitrembling within him.
This was worse than never knowing a mate.
Malin stared at his hand as if he'd thrown a dead pig down in front of her. Of course. She might have felt something when their hands touched, but she wouldn't recognize it. Not yet. The males always knew first, and it was upon them to court a female's interest until she could feel it too.
Until she accepted it.
You could not force a soul-bond.
"Here," Princess Solveig said, stepping forward and drawing the girl to her feet. "I'll take her in hand, my prince. She's clearly terrified of you."
Both her sisters flinched when he raked them with a glance. His mate cowered. Sirius reined himself in hard, giving her one last, damning look.
There was only possible solution to this entire situation. He could not pursue her or betray a single hint of his interest.
"I would avoid my brother, were I you," he said.
"With pleasure," Malin muttered, and for the first time he caught a glimpse of some hidden fire in her dark eyes as their gazes met.
Saw she meant to include him in the gesture as well as Magnus.
It was for the best.
It had to be.
He was adrekiprince of the finest, purest bloodlines, and she....
His father would consider her bloodlines polluted. A drekling. A nobody. A nothing.
To pursue her meant forsaking everything he'd ever hungered for.
And condemning her to death.
Sirius forced a cold smile. "Keep out of my way, little drekling. If I see you again, I'll...."
He could not say the words.
"You won't," she promised fervently.
And Sirius finally realized the Goddess had not meant this as a gift, but as a punishment for what he had done.
1
Ten years later....
Tomorrow nightthe Blackfrost will mate with Princess Árdís.
The words buzzed around the court as Malin scurried through the rock-hewn passages, gathering supplies to help the princess escape.
Drekiand drekling alike speculated on the news as Malin slipped between them unnoticed. This mad plan might be the death of both her and Árdís, but she couldn't blame the princess for wanting to flee. Nodrekiin her right mind would want to be tied to the coldhearted, vicious prince forever.
Even an insignificant drekling like herself would rather die a virgin than mate with the Blackfrost.
"With the princess as his mate, Sirius will be next in line for the throne,"one drekling muttered.
"There's already an heir. Prince Rurik is—"
