Page 81 of Master of Storms
Solveig eased herself into the chair Andromeda gestured her to. “I think it’s a universal frustration amongdrekifemales. I have a particularly stubborn prince of my own. Dare I ask?”
Viveka threw her hands up in the air. “How long do you have? Our arguments began the day I was born.”
“Or the day you came of age,” Andromeda muttered into her wine.
“What?” Viveka turned to her sister-in-law.
“Nothing.” But the queen’s eyes sparkled as she met Solveig’s gaze. “Maybe he’s not the only one being stubborn. If you didn’t argue with him all the time….”
“How else am I going to earn an ounce of independence?” Viveka threw herself into the chair opposite them, and slung one knee over the other. “If Talon had his way, I would be locked in the tower. Forever.” She rolled her eyes at Solveig. “Apparently, I am not allowed to take my morning ride with strangers in the keep. Everyone knows theZiniare bound by their ridiculous sense of honor. They’re not going to accost me in the forest, and if they did, I am perfectly capable of protecting myself. No insult intended.”
“Ah.” It was starting to make a great deal of sense now. Solveig accepted the glass of wine Andromeda poured for her. It was a servant’s task, but these were Andromeda’s rooms and to be served by her own hand was a sign of great welcome. “None taken.”
“He offered to ride with you.” Andromeda still seemed amused.
“He doesn’t ridewithme.” Viveka made a small sound of frustration in her throat as she accepted the glass of wine off her queen. “He rides behind me. A good twenty paces. As isproperbetween warlord and princess.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “It’s not as though he taught me to bloody well wield a sword when I was a young girl. It’s like he thinks I ought to set my sword down, put a gown on, and simper at some male.”
“Maybe he likes to admire your figure from behind?” Solveig suggested politely.
Viveka spat a mouthful of wine back into her cup, and choked. “You speak as though he has a thought in his head besides honor, duty andmy brother before all else.”
“I find there are other ways to bring them to their knees. Literally.” Solveig smiled into her wine. “But that does require a little penance on your own knees first.”
Viveka spluttered, her cheeks igniting with heat. “I wouldnever. Not with that enormous elk-headed fool.”
“Never say never. There is one certain way to make ice melt, after all.”
“Set it on fire?” Viveka asked, snapping her fingers and producing a flame.
Interesting. TheZilittutended to be prone to wielding Air and Water. Fire was a rare gift, found in few courts. Something to file away for future reference. “Well, that’s one way to deal with a walking glacier. However, I don’t think your brother would approve if you set his warlord on fire.”
“Maybe just his bed,” Viveka muttered. “With him in it.”
“I’m starting to wonder if you’ve already succeeded in that.”
Andromeda laughed.
Viveka cut them both a glare. “You’re as bad as she is.”
The laughter set them all at ease, but Solveig had to wonder if this entire setup was deliberate, in order to win her over, particularly when she saw the look Viveka gave her queen.
“It works though?” Viveka finally asked. “To bring a prince to his knees?”
“I am currently… in the midst of such negotiations.” Solveig gave a shrug. “As I said, he’s stubborn.”
Andromeda glanced down as if the depths of her wineglass held mysteries only she could decipher. Viveka hovered a little protectively over her sister-in-law.
“But you do desire it?” Viveka met her eyes. “To bring Marduk to heel?”
Ah. So that was where this was going. Solveig silently cursed Draco for following her into the gardens that night. It was far too dangerous for adrekito lie, so maybe there’d been some truth in his statement that Andromeda sought an end to their mating, but she wasn’t entirely certain if such a desire came from the queen’s longing to return home—or from her frustration with her mate.
Dangerous waters to tread.
Because Viveka was clearly on the side of her sister-in-law.
“I have always desired to bring Marduk to his knees.” She wrinkled her nose. “Our relationship is complicated. But frustratingly, he is the onlydrekiwho… who gets beneath my skin.”
There. Truth.
