Page 93 of Clash of Storms
"I'm fairly certain Malin was saying 'no' from what I could see of her body language from the air." The princess appeared, her long gold hair tumbling in loose curls down her back. "You had better not have laid hands upon her if she was unwilling. Malin, are you all right?" Árdís clasped forearms with Malin, her entire expression softening. "He hasn't hurt you, has he?"
"No. And he wasn't hurting me then. We were arguing. It's good to see you."
Malin embraced the princess, squeezing her tight. There was so much she wanted to say, but now was not the time, and she suddenly wasn't certain whether Árdís would understand.
"What are you doing here?" Árdís demanded.
As Malin drew back, she saw the princess's eyes narrow as she turned to Sirius. He was still a monster in their eyes; how surprising to realize it had been but days since she'd looked at him like this too.
Sirius graced the pair of them with a mocking smile, as if he hadn't expected anything other than suspicion, but Malin's heart broke a little. How could she blame him for believing he would find nothing but disdain from Prince Rurik?
It was all happening right before her eyes, as he'd expected it to.
"She's no longer safe at court," Sirius replied, and then held his hands up as Árdís turned on him with rage glittering in her eyes. "Blame yourself, if you want to blame anyone. Your little ruse in tying her up didn't work. My father wanted her dead."
"Then why is she withyou?"
Malin caught the enraged princess by the wrist. "He... he rescued me and promised to bring me here, where I might be safe." She turned to the prince and curtsied again. "If you would have me."
"Of course you can stay," Árdís promised.
"Not just yet," Sirius turned to the prince. "I'm here to offer Malin in exchange for Árdís. If I take her back, then no fight shall come of this."
"What?" Árdís shoved forward. "Wehadan agreement."
The three of them stared intently at each other, and Malin realized they were communicating privately.
Her fingers curled into fists. She wasn't royalty. She wasn't evendreki, but it ached to have the Blackfrost bargain on her behalf, as if she wasn't even there.
"I can't," the princess finally said. She turned to Rurik. "I can't."
"I don't expect you to," Rurik replied.
Once again Malin was left out in the cold.
"My sister is mated already," Rurik continued. "She cannot undo what is already done, and even if she weren't, I would not trade her freedom for another's life. And there is one last choice left to us.... Let your father and my mother come for Árdís. If Stellan dies on the field of war, then he can't lift a hand against Andri."
"You don't understand—"
"They're not invincible. We have weapons you cannot even dream of. When your father comes, I will challenge him. There's a reason he's afraid to face me."
"It won't be my father they send to battle with you."
Lightning crackled in distant skies, as Malin's head whipped toward Sirius.What?He'd made no mention of this, but the second he gave shape to the words she could suddenly see it.
Stellan would never face a prince he knew could best him.
The Blackfrost always would be his greatest weapon, and she knew Sirius would be forced to face Prince Rurik—or see his brother dead.
"Sirius?" Malin whispered.
He looked at her, his expression softening. "I'll have no choice."
"That's not true," Rurik murmured. "If you defy your father thenhe'llhave no choice but to face me. You want Malin to be safe? I'm the only one who can keep her out of his hands. Your choice, Sirius. Stay off the field of battle. Defy your father. And both your brother and your... Malin might survive."
"You don't know what you're asking," Sirius called as they both stepped away from him.
Árdís held out her hand to Malin.
