Page 78 of Clash of Storms
Her worst fears came true.
"Malin—"
She shoved away from him, wrenching back to the here and now. She almost tripped into the fire in her rush, and staggered to a halt. "It's not there. I couldn't touch it without you."
"There's something there," he told her. "Be patient. We'll have dinner then try again."
Be patient?She wanted this so much it was like a physical ache within her.
Strong arms wrapped around her from behind, and Malin looked up in surprise. Sirius kept the embrace light as if to make this her choice. It was her decision to sink back against his chest with a sigh, toying with his sleeve. Her decision to let her head fall back against his upper arm.
He wanted her in his bed.
He'd made no pretense otherwise.
But how could she reconcile that with his intention to mate with the princess? The very idea made her chest ache.
She'd told Sirius he couldn't have her—not without forsaking his claim upon the princess. She'd meant it too.
What a mess. There was no point dwelling upon it. Malin blinked up at the sky—and the streak of greendrekispirits riding the horizon—and pretended he wanted the rest of her too.
Sirius nuzzled his face into her hair, and she felt his chest expand as he took a deep breath, drawing in her scent. It was a sweet moment, staring out into the dark of night, warmed by the fierce male who protected her.
"You will ride the stars one day, Malin," he whispered. "I promise. Anddrekinever lie."
18
By the time they reached the coast, they'd gone as far north as they could. Sirius had managed to pick up Árdís's trail again, and soon they stared down at a small village tucked in a sheltered bay.
"Their trail's barely half a day old," Sirius said, scenting the air. "I can smell the princess."
Malin felt a prickle of nervousness flood through her as they followed the trail marked by several smallbeinakerlingthat led the way. She paused near the village and added a rock to the top of the small rock cairn. She'd have preferred to add an animal bone, but there was no sign of any nearby.
"Let me guess? Old myths?" Sirius mused, his cloak flapping in the stiff breeze. The winds were stirring and dark clouds lingered in the west. A storm, by the look of it.
"It's for good luck," Malin replied. "And you shouldn't mock the old ways."
Sirius paused, then reached down to fetch a rock of his own to add to the top of the bone crone. "One never knows when one might need some luck. Especially when one has a flighty princess to catch."
He flashed his teeth at her in a smile, but Malin could barely manage a nod.
How in Tiamat's name was she supposed to do this?
Last night had torn the veil from her eyes in regards to her feelings for this powerfuldrekiwarrior. There was a not-so-small piece of her that had wanted to lean into his arms, and draw them around her.
Forever.
What was she thinking?
There was no forever.
There couldn't be.
Sirius was barely hours behind thedrekiprincess who would bring him everything he desired. The second he had Árdís in hand, their time together would vanish like a dream upon waking.
And Malin would be forced to venture on alone, bereft of her family and home, and stricken by the sudden realization this darkly handsome prince had stolen a little piece of her heart when she wasn't looking.
Sirius's smile faded. "You're not planning on foiling my efforts again?"
