Page 180 of Master of Storms
Morning dawned,bringing with it a femaledrekiwho looked utterly furious with the world.
Marduk brought her breakfast, ignoring the scowl she sent in his direction.
“Good morning, my love.”
“Why are you always so cheerful so early?” She dragged the blankets over her head and hid beneath them as if she took personal affront to his good humor.
He tugged them down and held a mug of tea in front of her as a peace offering. “Because I just spent last night dreaming the most delicious dreams, only to wake up to find they weren’t dreams after all.”
“Ugh.” She hauled herself up into a sitting position, glaring into her mug as if it held the answer to all her questions.
Marduk eased onto the bedroll behind her, kissing her shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“I made you scream with ecstasy nearly ten times last night. And you look like your favorite uncle just died.” He let his hand come to rest on her waist, as he buried his face in her hair and breathed in the scent of her skin. He could smell his own scent all over her, and it made hisdrekiwant to purr with pleasure.
“I can’t go home,” she told him. “I made that foolish vow—”
“You would return with my heart, or not at all?”
She hadn’t wanted to talk about it last night, though he knew he’d planted the seeds within her.
“There are always loopholes in the pledges we make to our gods,” he told her. “Take me with you when you return to your father’s court. You didn’t pledge that you would bring my heart in a bloody box—you just said you would bring my heart. And even if it is contained within my chest, does that not meet the precise sentiment of those words?”
Solveig choked on her tea. “You’re gambling rather recklessly. If the Goddess does not accept, then I’m the one who is going to suffer the consequences.”
He tugged on a sheaf of her silken hair, rubbing it between thumb and forefinger. He’d never been given to faith, and yet he’d seen the effect that mating had held over his brother and sister. “I have a feeling the goddess will approve.”
“Afeeling?”
“Yes. A feeling,” he said, saving the tea mug before she could slosh it everywhere in her agitation. “Trust me.”
A shudder ran through her. “On your head, so be it. I will take you with me and pray she accepts your heart where it lies.”
Marduk rested his forehead against hers.You foolish female. The goddess demanded you return with my heart and you have it. You’ve always had it.
He wanted to tell her in that moment—to spare her the worry—but a part of him suspected she needed time to grow used to the idea.
And a plan formed.
A wild, reckless plan.
She’d told him once that she actually liked romance, and what was better than a grand sweeping gesture?
Árdís had told him the only way to fix the song was to rewrite it. Well, so be it. He could never change the past, but maybe he could create a new song, just for her.
* * *
The goddess did not strikeher down for entering the court.
The pit in Solveig’s stomach churned as they faced the doors to her father’s throne room.
“Relax,” Marduk whispered, sliding his fingers between hers. “You’re home. We’re home.”
This was where she had made her pledge.
This was where it had all gone wrong.
