Page 54 of Clash of Storms
"No more arguments?" he demanded gruffly, as he launched himself up onto the rock and shook out his spyglass to scan the skies. "We're doing this, Malin, whether you like it or not."
"No more arguments," she stated flatly. "There's little point in wasting my breath. You've made up your mind. And so have I."
Thunderclouds bloomed to the north. Might be a hintdrekirode the winds. Maybe. Could also just be the warmer winds meeting the cold front rolling in across the Norwegian Sea.
He was so intent upon the skies it took him a second to realize what he was hearing: the thunder of hoofbeats hammering away from him as Malin stole his horse.
Sirius snapped the spyglass shut, his jaw dropping open as he spun around. Iškur's black tail flapped behind him, the glint of his shoes flashing silver as they threw up clods of black loam.
And a banner of red-brown hair streamed behind his mate as she bent low over Iškur's neck and urged him faster.
"Malin! Get back here!" he bellowed, thedrekilashing within him as the packhorse shied away.
But the cursed little drekling was riding as fast as she could away from him. And he had no choice but to follow, which was precisely what she intended.
He wasn't certain whether to roar at her again—or feel impressed at her boldness.
Oh, I am going to thrash you so hard when I get my hands on you.
Well, he'd wanted her to show him her teeth. What was the old saying? Be careful what you wish for.... Sirius smiled a wolfish grin, spread his arms, and when he opened his mouth adreki'sroar came out.
* * *
It wasthe only thing she could think to do.
She couldn't allow Sirius to confront Árdís and her husband. The man was a mortal and no match for the prince. Fewdrekimales were a match for him. If Sirius killed Árdís's husband, she'd never forgive herself.
And Árdís deserved a chance to find happiness with her dragon-slayer.
Malin urged Iškur into a flat-out gallop, her heart thundering in her chest as adreki'sroar shattered the air behind her. There was no hope of escape but perhaps she could buy the princess more time.
Even if it meant Sirius was going to be incredibly angry with her.
An enormous shape suddenly blocked the sunlight. A long serpentine neck stretched across her, and it was as if the Blackfrost's shadow engulfed both her and Iškur. Malin gave into the foolish desire to close her eyes and imagine soaring along herself, her arms spread and wind rippling through her sleeves—
Just a moment. Just a second.
Then Iškur squealed and the moment was lost.
Shadowy wings flared across them, the downdraft of Sirius's enormous thrust momentarily stealing the oxygen from the air. Iškur swerved, and it was all Malin could do to hold onto his mane as her body slammed forward over his withers.
Enormous claws curled around her shoulders, and Malin cried out as Sirius plucked her from the saddle. For a second shewasflying, and then Sirius'sdrekiform shrunk in upon itself and she was no longer in adreki'sclaws.
Hard arms locked around her like a vise, and his feet jarred as they landed, plunging them both forward.
They tumbled across the grass, Malin's skirts whipping around them. She caught a brief glimpse of skin—the broad expanse of Sirius's shoulders—and then she slammed flat on her face, the breath rushing out of her as his heavy body drove her into the ground.
A hand latched around her wrist, flipping her onto her back. Malin's lungs sucked for air, suddenly opening with a gasp. Sirius moved over her, pinning her wrists to the ground and kneeling between her thighs as if he thought she could actually move.
"What the hell did you think you were doing?" He bared his teeth, getting right in her face. "You said yourself—there are otherdrekiout here!"
Malin wheezed. He'd taken most of the impact himself, but her ribs were still protesting. And there was at least two hundred and fifty pounds of solid, furious male sprawled across her like the debris of a collapsed building.
She didn't know if it was the weight of him or the heavy tide of his anger that crushed her.
"Well?"
Couldn't... speak. She shoved a hand to his chest, and he gave her an inch of space as she rolled onto her side, her fingers trailing in the grass. Sirius knelt over her, forearms braced on either side of her head, the skim of his body caging her in, but no longer crushing her.
