Page 27 of Master of Storms
“Shall we say both and call it a day?”
She moved to push past him, but he was suddenly right in front of her. An obvious sidestep she saw coming, but she simply hadn’t expected him to actuallystandin her way.
Males generally didn’t.
They collided, and Solveig barely avoided running him through with the rapier. Hard hands captured her forearms, but it was the strength of his body that caught her by surprise. Every inch of him was firm and molded with muscle. He had an inch on her in her heels. But it felt like more, and for one unconscionable moment she wanted to lean into that strength, to yield. To have his hands on her appealed in some way she’d never, ever known before.
She paused.
She damned well paused.
And he knew it.
And worse, herdrekiwas suddenly clawing at her from the inside, screaming that she needed to get away from him.
“Why don’t you like me?” It was the voice of a prince who was used to getting his way—a golden prince who’d spent years twitching his finger only to have every maid in the vicinity wilt at his feet.
Instead, he ran into the stone wall of her will and he didn’t understand it.
Patience. Think of the treaty. This is important for the clan. It gives us our best chance against withstanding the encroaching Zilittu. Instead, she opened her mouth, and words fell out of it. “Did you imagine everyone found your presence charming? Is it so impossible to comprehend that one would prefer to linger with a sweaty sock rather than endure another moment of your presence?”
Lightning flashed through his eyes. “Maybe I’m developing quite an enjoyment of punishment?”
“If you find my company punishment, then leave.”
“I would,” he replied, “but your father pointed me in this direction, and now I’m forced to endure your withering stares. I wouldn’t want to disappoint him. You could smile once or twice a day, you know?”
Solveig leaned close enough for her to feel the delicious heat smoldering within him. “I only smile when I’m imagining disemboweling an enemy.”
The bastard actually laughed as she shoved away from him. “At least you’re honest. Do you know what I think?”
“You think?”
“On very rare occasions,” he replied, as if her insult simply bounced off him. “I think we’re both forced into a situation neither of us particularly cares for, and only one of us is handling it gracefully.”
Gracefully?She turned on him, and for the first time, his gaze slid to the rapier as if he’d finally realized she had a dangerous weapon in her handandthe inclination to use it.
“If you kill me, it might complicate matters,” he pointed out.
“But it would besoenjoyable. The question is: Would that single moment of utter bliss be worth it?”
Marduk actually laughed as he began to roll up his sleeves. “Oh, this is better. Now you’re no longer pretending to be polite. I think I prefer this.” Heat seared his amber eyes, as if he’d found his equilibrium again and swiftly changed suit to confront her. “No, it wouldn’t be worth it. A quick death would be too kind, and I haven’t even begun to irritate you yet.”
“Go. Away,” she told him. “We’ll both tell Father you gave it your best attempt. Your smile almost charmed me, but apparently, we wouldn’t suit.”
“Is that what you think I want? To charm you?”
Solveig paused.
“We’ve both figured out that the other wouldn’t suit us. And neither of us is interested in courting the other, so why not dispense with the games? We have to spend a certain amount of time together in order to retain appearances. So why don’t we do something we both enjoy?” Marduk leaned closer, his smile holding dangerous edges. “I want to fight. And you appear to be halfway decent with a sword, according to all sources.”
He truly was an idiot.
But the thought appealed a little.
There was nothing half as enjoyable as absolutely skewering maledrekipride.
Fighting him was reckless. Males, in her experience, didn’t like to lose. “If I set you on your ass, your entire court will be baying for my blood.”
