Page 139 of Master of Storms
“You were seducing your way through half of Mother’s ladies-in-waiting,” Árdís pointed out. “I wanted you to know that you were breaking hearts.”
“I waseighteen.”
“And at eighteen, you were an arrogant little shit.”
He sank onto the bed. He’d wear that. Still, it left a bitter feeling in his chest, because now he was on the other end of the hook. “Well, it seems you have your wish.”
“Oh,” Árdís said softly, and there was sadness in her eyes as she clasped the pillow against her midriff. “I never wanted you to suffer, Marduk. I just wanted you to know… that your actions had consequences.”
“I know my actions have consequences.” His voice roughened. “It’s taken me years to get Solveig to the point where she doesn’t flinch when she hears that stupid song I sang that long-ago night.”
Árdís arched a brow. “I am firmly Solveig’s ally on this point. I’ve heard that song.”
“Of course you did,” he said gruffly. “You wouldn’t be my sister if you didn’t go seek it out, just so you could rub my face in it.”
“Your early years weren’t your best years, brother.”
“The original version wasn’t that bad,” he protested.Goddess’s mercy. “I can’t change the past. I can’t go back and shut my stupid, fucking mouth. And I would.” He met her eyes. “If I could change the past, then I would. I would do anything I could to wipe that moment from both our lives, so she never has to hear it again. I never wanted to humiliate her.”
Árdís nibbled on her lip. “You don’t have to change the past, Marduk. You just have to change the song.”
What did that mean?
“Do you love her?”
“I don’t know.” The scene at the cave flashed through his mind.You’re lying to yourself.He steeled his heart. “Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t want to, because I know she’ll never give me her heart in return.”
There was something about Árdís’s expression that made his stomach twist. “Maybe there’s… hope for that.”
“She swore she’d never mate with me in truth.”
“Mmm.” Árdís glanced away, her hands fidgeting with the pillow before she cast it on the bed.
Árdís, who was the worst liar he’d ever met.
Árdís, who couldn’t keep a secret to save herself.
Marduk pushed slowly to his feet. “You know something.”
She took a step back, her eyes darting here and there. “No.”
“You do.” He grabbed her wrist. “What did she say to you?”
“I made her a promise that I would never reveal to you the truth of what she spoke of,” Árdís said, chopping at his wrists. “Let go of me.”
“I’m your brother,” he said incredulously. “You’re going to keep secrets fromme?”
“Her secrets?Yes. Perhaps my brother should use his damned head and start thinking,” Árdís retorted, “because I made a promise, and femaledrekidon’t break promises to other females.Think, you idiot. Why would Solveig suddenly put her armor in place? Why now? The pair of you have been kissing in every corner of the keep!”
“I don’tknow. We were finally—”
It hit him like a punch to the throat.
She’d been in his bed before. This had nothing to do with surrender. The last few days had been an emotional whirlwind. And last night had been about more than physical desire. She’d let down her guard.
Solveig didn’t surrender to vulnerability.
She was proud and she was furious, but he’d caught enough glimpses of the real woman inside her to know that she saw weakness as something to be fought. Something to be denied.
