Page 67 of Clash of Storms
"Is this better?" Sirius shimmered, a cascade of gold sparks melting over him as he blurred. His shoulders filled out, his long dark hair tumbling down his back, until the Blackfrost stood before her.
Malin threw herself into his arms, squeezing his neck. "Sweet Goddess, I didn't know what was going on. I thought you were dead!"
An odd, almost purring sound came from his throat as he nuzzled her hair. His arms wrapped around her so carefully, as if he feared he could break her. "As if that pack of curs could killme."
Definitely Sirius.
Malin breathed in his familiar scent, her face pressed into the curve of his throat. "How did you do that?" she whispered. She couldn't stop touching him. In the wake of that horrific flight, all she wanted to do was curl in his arms and forget the world.
He lifted his chin from the top her head, his body tensing. "A long time ago I realized if I could shift from adrekito a mortal, then surely I could change my appearance. It's not easy, but I can mimic mostdrekiat will. It's useful if I wish to know something at court. Most people believe their eyes and not what their nose or ears are telling them."
"Promise me one thing?" she asked, with a shudder.
"Anything."
"Please don't ever wear that face again."
Sirius pressed a kiss to her forehead. "With pleasure. And now, I think it best if we get as far away from here as possible." He sighed. "It's going to take an age to find the horses. You get your wish, Malin. I think it's safe to say the princess shall be miles away by now."
15
For someone who'd gotten what she wanted, Malin certainly didn't seem to be enjoying her victory as he gathered the horses and made camp in a crevice overlooking the valley below.
She also didn't seem to be too concerned by his nakedness, which was possibly the most telling of her actions.
Something was wrong.
"Are you all right?" he asked gruffly, as he hauled his last pair of trousers on.
Malin wrapped her arms around herself, and when she looked up, her eyes were suspiciously shiny.
Oh, no.Sirius's stomach plummeted. "What's wrong? Are you crying?"Please don't be crying.
"I thought they were going to kill me today. I nearly died and it's all so suddenly real." Her lip quivered as she looked up. "All I've ever wanted to do is fly, but it was horrible."
She buried her face in her hands.
No, no, no.Sirius panicked. What did one do in this situation?
"You didn't die," he said, capturing her shoulders in his palms. "I rescued you, Malin. I told you I would protect you."
She stepped against him with a quiet sniffle, wrapping her arms around his waist. Sirius held his hands out in shock, then swiftly laced them around her.
She was so small. The top of her head barely came up to his chest. Relaxing inch by inch, he rested his lips against her braids, breathing in the scent of her soap. Something flowery. It reminded him of a spring garden. He closed his eyes and held her, rubbing his hand slowly up and down her spine as she sniffled and hiccupped against him. He'd thought kissing her was the epitome of nirvana; but there was something sweet and gut punching about being the one whom she turned to when she was upset. The one who could hug away her tears.
Such a great fierce warrior prince, you are, he thought gruffly.
If only she could look past that.
"You're safe, Malin."
Malin stepped back, swallowing hard. Some women remained beautiful even when crying. Malin looked all blotchy and red and sniffly, and he never wanted to see her like this again. She was made for smiling.
She must have seen it in his face, for she gave a shaky laugh. "I'm fine. I'm sorry. I'm having a moment," she admitted, rubbing the tears from her eyes. "I miss my father. I miss my sister. My home. It just occurred to me I might never see them again. I just want this to be over. I want to be sitting in my room, tucked up in my nice warm bed with one of my books and a mug of warm tea, and it's never going to happen again."
Sirius rubbed her arms. "Of course it will happen."
"How?"
