Page 182 of Master of Storms
A hard weight slammed into her from the side. Siv. And then Aslaug was there, crushing them both together. Silk surrounded her and the smell of lilac, a giggle echoing in her ear. She wanted to drown in their arms.
It felt like nothing had changed.
It felt like everything had changed.
Heat sheened across her vision, but she wasnotgoing to cry in front of her court.
“Goddess’s breath, give me room to breathe,” she muttered as Aslaug squealed and jumped up and down. “You’re so undignified.”
Aslaug saw her eyes and poked her tongue out. “You stole my prince, so don’t you dare lecture me. I can be undignified if I wish.”
Hot shame flooded through her. “I never—”
“Oh, I know. He was never meant for me.” She gave Solveig a fierce squeeze. “And I’m glad he chose you. I’m glad he loves you. You needed him more than I ever did.”
Harald rose to his feet, the smile sliding from his face. “The last time you were in these halls, you made a promise to the goddess. You would return with Prince Marduk’s heart, or not at all.”
The room fell silent.
Even Aslaug clapped her hands over her mouth, as if she was trying to capture any words that might spill free.
“Father.” Solveig eased out a shaky breath. “I….”
And then his gaze slid behind her. “I am grateful to see you have kept your word. Adreki’soathmustbe sacrosanct.”
Kept her word?
She spun around.
“Forgive me for interrupting, my love, but I have something to say.” Marduk knelt at her feet, right in front of her father's court.
Dozens of waiting courtiers shifted, straining to see what was happening. Whispers shifted among the gallery. Several guards leaned closer.
And Solveig stood there in stunned silence, with her mate on his knees before her.
"What are you doing?" she whispered.
"Offering you my heart," said her smiling, handsome prince. “You swore you would return with my heart—or not at all—and so I give it to you.”
Three enormous claps of thunder echoed in the distance as if the goddess approved.
Her breath caught, and a dizzy sensation swept through her.
It couldn’t be so simple.
Marduk captured her hand and pressed a kiss to it. “You’ve had my heart far longer than I have known it. I love you. I love you for your fierceness, for your pride, for every murderous little thought that fills your head. I love you for your strength, and for your protectiveness. I love you, beyond anything I have ever known. And if you will have me, then I will stand at your side—as your shield, as your confidante, as your lover and loyal subject—for the rest of my life.”
“What are you doing?” she demanded, mind-to-mind, even as she glanced around at an entire court of highly interesteddreki. “Get up.”
“Not yet.” He kissed her knuckles. “I made a mockery of you once. Now they can sing songs about how you brought me to heel and made me kneel before you. They can sing songs about Solveig the Fierce, and the foolish, wastrel prince who fell in love with her. I can’t stop the song you hate so much—but Icanchange it. Let me be the fool, Solveig. Your fool.”
That he would do this for her—humble himself so greatly—made her ice-cold heart skip a beat. Or two.
“I must admit,” she mused, “you do look good on your knees.”
Hot fire filled his eyes as he glanced up at her. “After this is done, I intend to worship you on my knees as any good, proper mate should.”
Her cheeks heated and she shot a glance toward her father. “Maybe later.”
