Page 2 of Clash of Storms
Harald laughed, clasping hands with him. "Aye, they said you're as arrogant as they come too. I look forward to it."
Magnus lifted the hand of the most beautiful of the princesses. The blonde. "Sweet Aslaug, as radiant as the sun itself."
The youngdrekiwoman blushed and curtsied, her golden hair tumbling down her back in loose waves. "A pleasure, my prince. Your brother's told us much about you."
I'll bet. "Don't trust a word he says, Your Highness. They saydrekicannot lie, but I suspect Magnus has the blood of a lawyer in his veins somewhere."
She tittered. "He said you're a dark, glowering storm cloud, though I see little sign of it so far."
"I'd rather be a storm than a... little squall," he replied, giving her his most dangerous smile.
Aslaug blushed furiously as she took his meaning.
He graced Magnus with a wink—earning a glare in return—and accepted Aslaug's hand to press a kiss upon the back of it, even as he breathed in her scent.Not her. Instantly, his smile faded and he turned to the second daughter eagerly.
"Fair Siv." Magnus gestured to the redhead. "Who burns like Fire itself."
Red-gold hair was woven into a crown of plaits. Sirius gained a good look at them, for she barely dared lift her eyes to his and her scent reeked of nervousness.
"Laying it on a bit thick, aren't we?"Sirius told his brother on a psychic link the others couldn't hear as he bent and kissed Siv's hand. "A delight, Fair Siv."
Not her, either.
Thank goodness. She'd probably faint if she managed to meet his eyes. Imagine trying to bed her? He preferred his women bold, not meek and frightened.
"Father told me to charm them,"Magnus replied, without losing his wolfish smile."He wants one of them mated into our bloodlines. It will keep Harald from bleating like a stuck pig about the fucking king's death. It's all he speaks of."
The king's death.Sirius's smile slipped as his brother's barb flew true. Somehow he resurrected it as he made his way to the last of Harald's daughters. Nothing could darken his mood with the scent of his true mate in his nostrils, and one last, dark-haireddrekiprincess to pursue....
Not even thoughts of murder.
A serving maid entered the peripheral of his vision, kneeling before the last princess, a pair of golden goblets on the tray she held. Sirius was forced around her, curse the girl. His heart skipped a beat as he locked eyes upon the final daughter of King Harald.
Dark of hair and dusky-skinned, she paled beside her sister's fair beauty, but those raven-dark eyes gleamed with intelligence.
With challenge.
This one. A hawk beside a pair of pretty doves. Yes, this one was worthy of his pursuit. He felt almost breathless with anticipation.
Magnus gestured magnanimously, "And last but not least—"
"I am Solveig," the finaldrekiprincess said, holding out a hand to stop Sirius from reaching for hers. "The Fierce, if I may save your brother his breath."
Fierce? Now that was more like it.
The scent he sought curled around her, as fresh as the spring air gliding over the mountains. Sirius stared into her dark eyes, a little perplexed. He'd expected a jolt. A lance of lightning when he laid eyes upon her, but there was nothing but the slight arrogant arch of her brow.
"Not a delight or a pleasure?" Solveig mocked him. "Or has the sight of my face stolen your tongue? Granted, I am not as fair as my sisters."
"Forgive me." Something was wrong. He needed to breathe in her scent. "But you are quite wrong. You are lovely. Enough to momentarily steal my wits."
"Really?"Magnus drawled privately."She's a hag, compared to the others."
Magnus had no concept of beauty. Capturing her hand, Sirius somehow forced a smile when he felt nothing.
Desperately, his lips brushed the back of her hand and he breathed her in, finding the scent of wild moors and stormy winds. A scent both wild and dangerous, but not the one he sought.
Releasing Solveig's hand, he fought a snarl as he straightened. Damn it, what mockery was this?
