Page 48 of Storm of Fury
Sirius alighted with a flap of black wings. Golden light shimmered over him, and then he was shrinking, melding into a naked man crouched on a rock.
“You’re working forhim?” Marduk demanded, backing away with Tormund’s axe held between them.
“Withhim,” Tormund corrected. “Haakon’s in charge. And can someone put some trousers on that bastard? There are ladies present.”
“Don’t rush on my account,” Bryn said, staring appreciatively at thedrekiprince.
“Perhaps I was speaking of poor Ishtar,” he growled, “who’s been buried in darkness for so long that I’m sure the last thing she wants to behold right now is her cousin’s bare ass.”
Bryn tilted her head to the side, trying to peer past him. “It’s an excellent ass.”
Tormund deliberately stepped in her way.
“Cousin.” Sirius straightened with a smirk. “What’s wrong? You don’t look pleased to see me.”
Marduk whirled on the three of them. “You said my brother sent you.”
Tormund held his hands up in a placating manner. “He did. Things have… changed within theZiniclan. Your brother Rurik overthrew your mother. She’s dead. Sirius killed her.”
Marduk shook his head. “She’s not dead.”
“I assure you, she is,” Sirius replied, catching the pair of trousers Haakon tossed toward him. His lip curled. “Are theseyours?”
“I believe you tore through your last pair when you shifted in a hurry,” Haakon replied. “So unless you think you can fit into Bryn’s or Tormund’s, these are your only option.”
Sirius sighed and began to haul them up his legs. “They stink like you.”
“Maybe princesses won’t flee in fear then,” Haakon replied coldly, in reference to the time Sirius had tried to kidnap his wife.
Tormund snickered. They were a little snug.
“I don’t think the trousers are doing what you intended,” Bryn replied, her eyebrows arching. “That’s almost obscene.”
“Put your eyes back in your head. He’s notthathandsome.”
She shot him a dubious look.
“Okay, fine. He probably is that handsome.”
Marduk still held the axe lifted over his shoulder, though he glanced between them as if trying to read the situation. “Rurik is allied with Sirius? Mybrother, Rurik?”
“If you’d been answering their psychic calls,” Sirius said, “you’d know the answer to that question.” A dangerous smile crawled over his mouth. “You’re looking at the new warlord of theZiniclan.” He gave a courtly bow. “I am here on your brother’s orders to return you to the court at Hekla. Preferably in one piece, though I’m not too concerned if it’s in chains. Rurik might quibble on that fact, however, so I’m trying to be nice.”
Marduk slowly lowered the axe. “The world’s gone mad.”
“Truly.” Sirius glanced back at the volcano. “But there’s little time to speak of it. Zorja’s gathering her forces. What happened in there?”
“Ishtar and Marduk touched hands,” Bryn told him, “and the mountain started to shake.”
“Ishtar?” Sirius glanced at the princess, and then his breath caught and a strange look came over his face.
“She’s my sister. My twin sister,” Marduk said, stepping between them.
“Mother Goddess.” Sirius looked like he could barely breathe. “He didn’t kill her.”
“Who didn’t kill whom?” Haakon demanded.
“My father didn’t kill the baby.” Sirius shook his head. “I was with my mother when my father brought the child from the birthing chambers. He said she was Chaos-blighted, and that the queen had ordered her death.” His voice tightened. “My mother argued to spare her, and they fought all night. When I woke the next day, both my mother and the baby were gone. I always thought…. I always thought my father had killed the baby and my mother had fled in fury.” He took a step toward Ishtar. “You were the reason my mother fled my court and left me behind.”
