Page 155 of Master of Storms
“And now we finish this,” Rurik said grimly, driving the soul-blade directly into Elin’s chest. “I cast you from this body. You will find no tether here. You will never ride the horizon with your ancestors. The goddess shall not welcome you. You will be forgotten and nameless, known only as the murderousdrekiqueen who was struck from her court like a stain on its history. The only name the eddas shall know shall be Reynar, the great king who lived his life with honor.”
The scream that tore from her was so high-pitched it could have shattered glass. Grass whipped past, vanishing inside the heart of the key.
Elin’s body suddenly slumped in Marduk’s arms.
Rurik tossed thekunuk la’atzuinto the gaping hole. It vanished with a sizzle of sparks, and then there was a small implosion. The pressure vanished. They all collapsed on the grass as the key dropped onto the ground, inert once more.
Marduk’s heart pounded. She was gone. His mother was finally gone. His ears were ringing.
“Is Elin breathing?” Sirius yelled.
Marduk hauled himself out of the reverie and held his hand in front of the drekling’s mouth. “Yes.”
Malin threw herself over her sister’s body, squeezing tight. “Thank you.”
He met Solveig’s eyes. “Looks like we’re going to be returning to your father’s court for that promised trip.”
Solveig muttered under her breath and tore a strip of linen from her shirt, using it to wipe at his nose. “Lucky. You were lucky.”
He eased Elin’s unconscious body into Sirius’s arms and then slung his arm around Solveig. “She’s finally gone.”
He wanted to spin her in the air.
He couldn’t stop smiling.
Rurik stared down at the key, before he pocketed it. “It feels like an enormous weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Come. Let’s put Elin back in her body.”
The pair of them smiled at each other.
And gods, he felt the apology on the tip of his tongue—the resentment he’d once felt for his brother, the way he’d cried into his pillow for years because he’d thought the brother he’d loved more than anything hadkilledhis father—none of it mattered.
Because it had all been a lie.
And that lie died. Today.
“I wish I had known you as a youngdreki,” he finally said. “I wish I could have made you proud of me.” His voice broke a little. “I wish I’d been there when you needed me.”
“You bloody fool. I’ve always been proud of you.” Rurik’s eyes flared gold. “And you’re here now. That’s all that matters.”
It was a moment he wished could extend forever, but Sirius’s head suddenly snapped up, his nostrils flaring. “Wait. I can smell—"
“Now,” yelled a melodious voice, and then an arrow hissed out of nowhere and drove straight through Rurik’s chest.
28
“Rurik!” Freyja screamed as she went to one knee.
She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t… stand. The pain in her chest was indescribable, and when she lifted her head, she saw her husband slump to the ground in Marduk’s arms.
She had to get to him.
Just had to… reach him.
Sirius was there. Sirius could heal him. But she could hold Rurik here, through the strength of their mating bond, if nothing else….
She crawled forward, choking on the pain before fetching up in front of a pair of polished boots.
“Well, now” came a mocking voice. “This is more like it. A queen on her knees before me.”
