Page 73 of Clash of Storms
If Sirius hadn't been naked when he changed back to mortal shape, she'd have hugged him, but thoughdrekiwere used to seeing each other in the flesh—it was a normal part of court life when one shifted shapes so frequently—she blushed and looked away instead.
"That pendant you wear," she called. "It's beautiful."
"She has all ofthisto look at and she focuses on a pendant. It's barely even silver," he teased.
Which was what made her so curious.Drekiadored gems and gold and collected both with equal fervor. Somewhere out there he'd have a volcano all of his own, piled high with precious treasure and warded against trespassers.
She found she almost wanted to see the inside of it, though she had little interest in gold and jewels.Oh dear.
"It was my mother's," he added, after a long second of silence.
Malin half turned, drawn by the hint of confession in his voice. No mockery now. No arrogant demand.Thiswas the Sirius she was curious about. "She gave it to you?"
"Its all I have of her," he admitted. "She is adrekiqueen in a court far to the east of here in the Kamchatka Peninsula. Powerful and regal." His voice softened. "She is beautiful."
I could imagine.After all, he didn't look like his father. Only about the brows and nose. Someone else had given him those dangerous blue eyes, and the lush mouth.
"Do you ever see her?"
"No. It was the arrangement she and my father made. She agreed to gift him two sons in exchange for his assistance in claiming her court. Magnus and I were always meant to belong to Stellan, but she stayed until I was five. They had a falling out."
Malin bit her lip. It sounded so...dreki. No wonder the race was obsessed with finding their Twin Flames—the only otherdrekiwho would share their hopes and dreams—in the wake of the political mating pacts and agreements they usually agreed to.
"One day I will give it to the woman I love," he admitted, and Malin's arms wrapped even tighter around her.
No matter how much she tried to focus on the panoramic vista, she couldn't escape the rustle of his clothing as he tugged it on behind her.
Tanned skin, hulking muscle.... Sweet goddess, when he'd bent to grab his bag, she'd caught a glimpse of the flex of his thigh, the faint curls of hair on his legs, and the smooth gleaming curve of his ass. Even a nun would glance twice, her breath catching in her chest as temptation beckoned.
A single night with a man like that? Or a holy calling?
Malin could appreciate the dilemma.
Because now she knew.
The body Sirius was hiding beneath all that rugged leather and fur was beautiful enough to practically set her chemise on fire.
If you're so curious about my bed, you should invite me into yours....
No. Don't you dare even think about it.
He would burn your entire body to ashes, and it would be worth it, for just a single moment....
Treacherous brain. She was tempted to give it all up for just one night with him, regardless of whether he was bound to another female or not.
"It's safe to look, sweet Malin," he called, as if well aware of the direction her thoughts ran in.
She tested her shields, but they were watertight. Perhaps he was reading the frustrated flex of her shoulders.
Or the color crawling up the back of her neck.
"Who says I wish to look?" she retorted.
He laughed.
Malin swiftly gathered broken branches together, and hovered over her makeshift fire. A swift glance at Sirius found him was shaking out their bedroll and dragging it into the small cave he'd found. Not paying her any mind.
Holding her hand over the kindling, she reached deep within her for that kiss of fire. It smoldered deep within her chest like a heart of coal yearning for a breath to stir it. It burned like wildfire withindreki, but all she had was this.
