Page 177 of Master of Storms
“Tell me the exact words you swore to the goddess.”
“I swore to kill you!”
“That was exactly what you said?” Intensity blazed to life in his eyes as he started toward her.
If he got his hands on her, then this was all over.
“No. I don’t know.” She reared back, trying to remember that moment. The hall. Her entire court standing there as her father demanded to know why her mate had left her on their mating night. The burn of humiliation in her chest. And the words. Imprinted on her heart. On her soul. Engraved now, with fear. "The prince has played recklessly with my fate," she whispered. "It shall not be allowed to stand. I shall return with Marduk's heart—or not at all."
In the distance thunder rumbled.
The goddess, reminding her that her oath hadn’t been fulfilled.
Both of them looked in that direction.
“Return with my heart….” He rubbed his thumb across his mouth.
“I even had a pretty little box made to put it in. I’m not going home,” she told him stubbornly. “I am trying to protect yourlife.”
“You did protect my life.” There was something in his eyes that she couldn’t identify. “You mated with me.”
And in so doing, destroyed any hope she had of ever returning to her family.
“And now I can never return. But I’ll pay that price. It’s the cost of my pride, and my feelings for you… are stronger than pride.” She had to get out of here. Solveig ripped the door open.
“Stop being a coward,” he told her fiercely, shoving his arm in front of her and slamming the door closed. “Stay here and fight.”
Solveig spun around. “Acoward?”
Never in her life had anyone ever accused her of such a thing.
“Yes,” he growled, lowering his face to hers. “A coward. You’ll face an entire army of elves by yourself, but you won’t face me—”
“I’ve faced you more times than—”
“Guarded. Locked away. Barely daring to let me know a hint of your heart,” he shot back. “Face me, Solveig. No weapons. No shields. No lies. Just you—and the truth in your heart.”
The words slammed into her so hard she could barely breathe.
What did he mean?
A finger slid beneath her chin, forcing her to lift her head. “Look at me.”
Solveig glared at him defiantly.
“So stubborn. Always ready to fight me.” His breath skimmed her lips, and her pulse kicked in her throat. “Why don’t we try something else?”
“Like what?”
His fingertips softened on her cheeks and his thumbs came to rest on her chin. She couldn’t read the look in his eyes; a certain intensity she’d never seen Marduk wear before. “Why don’t we lay down our weapons and try peace?”
Peace?
She took an unsteady breath.
“Peace,” she whispered. “What does that even look like?”
His thumbs grew soft, stroking along her jaw, even as his eyes became warm enough to burn. “A little like this, I imagine.”
