Page 21 of Master of Storms
Solveig reclined with ease, both arms resting on the arms and a relaxed expression on her face. She’d crossed one of her long legs over the other, her borrowed boots laced to her knees, and her lean curves encased in a slim pair of boys’ trousers.
“You did not,” Rurik said flatly. “Though I do note that the last I saw of you, you were going to fetch theassassinwho had tried to put an arrow through your heart. You did not mention the fact you were going to returnwithher.”
“Have a little respect, brother. You speak of my beloved mate. It was a minor misunderstanding between us.”
His sister Árdís gasped. “Your mate?”
Rurik ignored her. “She tried to kill you.”
“I didn’t try that hard,” Solveig purred. “King Rurik. A pleasure to meet you.”
“A pleasure?” Rurik leaned forward. “That arrow was dwarven-forged.”
“Rurik.” His wife, Freyja, put her hand over his. “Shall we let bygones be bygones? I feel like we need to hear what your brother has to say, and he’s the one who should be affronted. Not you.”
Rurik subsided with a smoldering glare.
“I don’t want to hear what Marduk has to say,” Árdís scoffed. “I am much more fascinated by the current conversation.” She leaned forward, eyeing Solveig with predatory eyes. “You tried to kill my brother? Why have I not heard of this?”
She sounded delighted.
“That would make two attempts,” said her husband, Haakon.
Tormund—Haakon’s enormous cousin—rubbed at his beard. “By my count it was three, wasn’t it? Remember that story Marduk told us when we were hanging in her cell? You know, about that song he made up ten years ago—"
Marduk needed to stop this in its tracks.
“Shut up, Árdís. Allow me to introduce my beloved mate, Princess Solveig of theSaduclan. Solveig, may I present to you the people of my clan,” Marduk said, gesturing to the rest of the room. “My brat of a sister, Árdís, and her scowling husband, Haakon Dragonsbane, whom you may recall. You put him in chains three months ago. You also know Tormund” —he clapped a hand on the giant’s shoulder as he circled the table— “and his wife, Bryn, since you paid her to drag me back to your court in chains, but… let us move on. And at the end is my murderous cousin, Sirius, of course, with the lovely Malin.”
He smiled at his cousin’s wife.
Sirius leaned back in his chair and arched a brow, as if to point out that he had no qualms in living up to his reputation should Marduk so much as wink at her.
“I don’t believe you’ve met Ishtar, my much more beloved sister.” He gestured toward his twin, who was staring curiously at Solveig’s boots, and the handsome, black-haired youth at her side. “My cousin, Andri, who is somewhat less murderous than his brother, Sirius. And last but not least is my queen, Freyja.” Marduk captured the queen’s hand and kissed the back of it. “Renowned throughout the lands for her beauty, her temper, and the fact that she’s the only one who can pound sense into this idiot’s thick skull.”
Rurik settled an icy look upon him. “Are you quite done?”
“Sorry. I’ve been looking forward to this moment all flight.”
“Does he always talk this much?” Solveig asked the room in general.
“Yes,” Rurik replied. “He’s always enjoyed the sound of his own voice.”
The two of them stared at each other as if surprised to find themselves momentary allies.
Solveig smiled. It softened her expression in ways that made his gaze lock hard upon that smile. It promised friendship. Offered a warmth he did not expect her to own.
He knew better.
She was biding her time.
And that little smile she wore probably had more to do with a fantasy she was currently indulging in where he was bound and spread-eagled and she had a knife in her hand, rather than any sort of enjoyment over her circumstances. “Since we’re all so terribly interested, allow me to clarify my position. I did as my father instructed. I submitted to a mating that would cement the alliance between our clans. I upheld the good name and faith of theSaduclan.” Eyes as hot as flame locked upon him. “But I am done playing such games. I will have an end to this mating one way or another.”
Silence settled over the room.
It wasn’t unheard of.
Drekimated for many reasons—the prospect of heirs, alliances, territorial disputes, politicking—but such matings rarely survived forever.Drekilived for such a terribly long time, and only those matings where one found their true flame—a true alliance of the heart and soul—tended to survive so many centuries.
