Page 31 of Master of Storms
Thedrekiwrithed within her, on edge with his presence. It physically hurt to hold it within her, and Solveig’s fingers curled into a fist.
“There’s a storm inside you.” His voice sounded as though he was just making this realization. “How do they not see it?”
“Who?” she whispered.
“All those idiots who think you’re cold and ruthless.” Heat blazed to life in his eyes as he pushed closer, careless of the cold steel she still wielded. “You’re not cold. Not at all—”
“But I am ruthless.”
Stabbing the blades between his legs, she shoved away from him, pleased to see him scramble away from the warning blow. Both swords wavered back and forth, their points driven into stone. Ruined.
But worth it.
Because it gave her a chance to catch her breath.
What was he doing to her?
She could almost taste that thwarted kiss.
And worse still, a part of her wanted it.
“They don’t see it because they don’t want to see it,” she snapped as she crossed to where her water flask sat. Goddess’s mercy, he was getting beneath her skin.Him. A handsome, arrogant charmer.
What was wrong with her?
Marduk pushed away from the wall, his eyes filled with predatory intent, as if he could sense her struggle. “They don’t see it? Or you don’twantthem to see it?”
She froze, unscrewing the lid. It was incredibly close to her intentions. “What do you mean?”
His smile was savage. “I think I understand you now, Princess. Nobody gets close, do they? You don’t allow it. No one is allowed to touch. No one is invited to linger. You take what you want and then you walk away, and it makes me wonder….”
“Wonder what?” she demanded, because she’d never run from a fight in her life.
“Why you’re so intent on scaring away potential suitors.”
Solveig could barely breathe. “Because I willnotbelong to any male.”
Marduk started toward her, but she’d had enough. Thedrekiinside her hissed and screamed, but while it had tolerated him pushing until this point, now it sought escape.
“I’m done here,” she snapped, shoving past him, her shoulder collecting his hard enough to spin him off-balance. “I won, Marduk. Now leave me alone.”
“Did you? I see it.” The words followed her down the stairs, where her heart was rabbiting so hard in her chest she almost felt as though she was fleeing. “I see the storm within you, Solveig. And I want to ride it.”
She couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
Never.
6
Now
Marduk watchedas Solveig’s gaze raked his bedchambers.
One bed. Enormous mounds of pillows. A rug on the floor before the hearth. Two chairs, though one was piled high with his saddlebags and clearly unused.
“These are your chambers,” she said.
“Yes.”
