Page 116 of Master of Storms
A slim figureslipped from the cave, tugging her hood over her blonde hair.
Solveig waited until the last possible moment and then stepped out from behind her tree, pressing the edge of her blade against the drekling’s throat.
Elin froze.
Solveig smiled, letting the wolf slip its leash for a moment. “I finally figured it out. An uprising within theZinicourt. Hints of malicious Chaos magic lingering. Both Marduk and Ishtar searching for any trace of its practitioner, and yet all Ishtar could find was a shattered emerald necklace that once belonged to the evil bitch who spawned theZiniking and his siblings.”
Elin blinked at her, giving a good approximation of innocence. “What are you talking about?”
Solveig stepped forward, pressing the cold iron directly against the girl’s carotid. She grabbed Elin by the throat. “I know who you are. Or who is inhabiting this body. Where is Marduk? Where is your son?”
Innocence sloughed away. “Well, well, you are smarter than the averagedrekiwarrior. The rest of them don’t have a clue. Be careful, Solveig. Nobody knows we’re here. There could be all manner of surprises in store for you.”
“Nobody?” Solveig laughed, and right on cue, someone called her name. It echoed through the forest. “Did you think I came alone? Draco has entire hordes of his guards scouring these woods.”
“Does he?” The woman who was now Amadea actually smiled. “It’s a shame they’ll be too late.”
“I’ll cut your throat,” she promised. “Even you won’t survive a second time.”
“And kill the girl? You’ll break poor Andri’s heart. He’s still besotted with her. And she’s still in here. Still screaming on the inside, trying to get out.”
A heartbeat ticked out.
Another.
Solveig made herself smile again. “You assume I care about the girl?” Shoving the queen backward, she slammed her against the cave wall. “The guards aren’t here yet. Nobody will witness this. Andri’s heart might break, but who will ever suspect I killed poor Elin?”
“What a pity I didn’t take you. Wearing your skin would have suited me very well.” Amadea slid a finger down Solveig’s cheek. “But then, it would have been slightly awkward for one to inhabit the body of one’s son’s mate. Especially when you’re falling in love with him. You haven’t asked, Solveig. You haven’t asked what I’ve done with Marduk.” She pitched her voice higher in mimicry. “Where is Marduk? Where is your son?” She laughed as she reached up and caressed the hand that gripped her throat. “More to the point, you should have asked: What have you done to him?”
A little frisson of doubt worked its way through her. “You haven’t killed him.”
“Haven’t I?”
Despite the fact she held the knife, she was startled to realize Amadea was pushing toward her and she was giving ground. “I would know.”
“In your bones?” Amadea asked with a dreamy smile. “In your skin? In your heart?” Another laugh. “I’ve seen you mooning over him—crawling at his feet for him. What a joke you are, Solveig. What a disappointment. You call yourself a queen in the making, and yet you beg for the merest snippet of my son’s attention.”
She gets inside your head, Marduk had said quietly,and she makes you believe all the worst fears you have about yourself.
But two could play that game.
“Do you know what truly is pathetic?” Solveig mused. “You birthed four children into this world, and every single one of them hates you. My father always said your husband was an honorable man. King Reynar was a giant amongdreki, revered far and wide for his strength of will, his loyalty, and his empathy. Did you hold them in your arms, Amadea, and know they would love him more than they would ever love you? Did you kiss their brows as you placed them in their cradles, desperate to try and bind them to your side before his influence could seduce them? You looked at them and you were alone, weren’t you? Just as you are now. Your brother’s dead.Youdied. And you’re trapped inside a body without access todrekimagic. How that must gall. You’re alone and unloved and that is how you will die. A second time.”
“Do you want to know a little secret, Solveig?” Amadea leaned toward her, all smiles and teeth. “I never said I was alone. I’ve found some new friends. And one of them is very intent on meeting you again.”
Suddenly, Solveig realized the woods were quiet. Not a single bird chirped. Not a single rodent scurried in the undergrowth. The shouts she’d heard from Draco’s soldiers were eerily silenced.
Elin stared over Solveig’s shoulder. “Kill her.”
“With pleasure,” said the sweetest, most melodic voice she’d ever heard.
And then the hiss of an arrow filled the air, and pain exploded through Solveig’s back.
21
There was nothing more than silence. Nothing but the earth pressing in upon him. Marduk tried to summon Fire, but it was as though hisdrekimagics were completely muted. The walls were as smooth as diamonds, without a single handhold to be found.
And he was injured.
