Page 72 of Clash of Storms
The world spread before them like an upraised map, icy mountains spearing up toward them and enormous glaciers groaning far to the south. A twinkle of blue in the distance revealed sunlight glinting off the sea. Clouds streamed past like wisps of fog.
There was no time to be frightened anymore. No time for anything but wonder.
Malin's hair whipped behind her as Sirius soared through the clouds, hunting the sun. Each powerful thrust of his wings hauled them into the skies, and she could feel the thick ripple of muscle working beneath her thighs.
They were supposed to be hunting the princess, but he dipped and soared in response to her startled cries of joy, as if he had nothing better to do than show her his world.
She couldn't breathe, her heart racing with exhilaration.
Malin spread her arms wide and closed her eyes, pretending it was the wind whistling past herownwings.
"Hold on,"he told her, and she felt his powers envelop her, cocooning her in some sort of harness made of pure Air.
Then his shoulder rolled, and Malin squealed as he spun into a barrel roll. It was almost too much for her, though his powers held her firmly in place.
By the time he pulled out of it, her cheeks ached from laughing so much.
"Sweet Goddess,"she told him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Or as much of it as she could reach."Thank you. Thank you!"
It was a long time before he replied."You're welcome,"said her gruffdrekiprince, and she caught just a hint of his own pleasure, as if to see her so undone pleased him too.
She barely felt the cold wind as they soared through the skies, and when he finally landed, she was breathless. This waseverything she'd ever wanted—to fly, to truly fly—but after Florian tried to kidnap her, she'd been so certain she'd never dare dream of it again.
Only on Sirius's back did she feel safe enough to reach for the stars.
He would never let her fall.
And he'd given back her dream. Taken away all the fear and anxiety, and left her instead with only the kiss of the wind against her cheeks. Malin wanted to wrap her arms around herself and spin in circles.
Sirius hauled his trousers on, and she couldn't resist stealing a glance at the flex of muscle in his abdomen. A silver chain hung around his throat, an elegant carveddrekidangling from the end of it.
"What are you smiling at?"he mused.
"You."She nibbled on her lower lip."I finally know your secret."
His smile vanished."My secret?"
"Yes."Feeling impulsive, she stretched up on her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek."You're not a villain at all. You'requite the gallant charmer beneath all the snarl."
Sirius gave her a strange look as she lowered her feet firmly to the ground."Ah. That secret."He reached out and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'll let you in on another secret: Iama vicious, snarling dreki warlord who shows his enemies no mercy. But I have just one weakness. You might have guessed what it is."
Her breath caught."If you say it's me, then I shall accuse you of being a romantic."
The smile he gave her was pure evil."You're wrong. It's not you, at all. I find I'm quite partial to... freckles, it seems."
Freckles? She brushed her fingers against her cheeks, feeling them heat again.
"And a drekling who blushes at the slightest compliment? My mortalweakness. It destroys me every time. Such a woman could have me on my knees if she but crooked her finger at me."
Malin couldn't help herself. She threatened to curl her little finger, but he captured it with his own, locking them together."Ah, ah, ah.That's a dangerous weapon you wield. You should be careful tobrandish it only when necessary."
Who would have ever thought the Blackfrost could be such a tease?
Devastatingly handsome. Secretly charming. Protective and growly. Deliverer of books.Oh, no. Malin you are in such trouble....
17
They camped high in the mountains after a full day spent hunting for the princess, and Malin's giddiness remained long into the night.
