Page 43 of Master of Storms
Aslaug was the one who—
Aslaug.
Solveig shoved her hand between them, her finger pressing into his lips just before they met hers completely. Her heart erupted in a sudden drumming.
“Don’t you dare,” she told him breathlessly. “You’re mating with one of my sisters.”
His eyes met hers. “We both know I’m not mating with either Aslaug or Siv.”
Solveig sucked in a sharp breath. “Well, my sister thinks you are going to choose her!”
“I never, ever gave her a hint I was inclined toward her.”
“Then what about last night? You had your arms around her. I saw you. I saw the both of you.”
He drew back. “She was upset—"
Solveig had a knife in her hand before she knew it. “You will break her heart and I will not let that—”
“I don’t intend to break her heart. I’ve promised her nothing—”
Solveig shoved away from him with a hiss. “Of course you haven’t. A male like you suggests everything and promises nothing, and you’re never the one who wears the catastrophe of your actions. All you do is take what you want, damn the world. Did you ever consider my sister? Did you ever think of how seeing us like this would hurt her?”
“Wait a moment.” Anger painted itself across his face. “I haven’t done anything of the sort. Your sister is kind and a little… intense, but all we’ve done is dine together, and she took me on a walk through the court, showing me the paintings of your ancestors. I haven’t tried to kiss her. I haven’t given her a single hint I’m even thinking of choosing her, and I certainly haven’t—”
“Well, she thinks you are.” Solveig turned and strode from the river. She could barely breathe. Her hand curled around the knife she held. This was all going wrong. Why?Why?
“DoIget any choice in this matter?” Marduk stalked after her, water streaming down his body.
His verynakedbody.
Despite herself, she stepped back.
As her back hit the tree, he rested one hand on the bark beside her head and leaned closer. “Because I can assure you that the only princess who’s captured my attention is the one in front of me. Even if she looks like she wants to cut my throat.”
“Don’ttempt me. And no. The answer is no.” All she could see was Aslaug’s face tear-stained and ruddy. What was wrong with him? Why was he pursuingher?“Stop flirting withme. I’m not interested.”
“Stoplyingto me,” Marduk said, capturing her chin in his hand. “Because your mouth is saying one thing, and your eyes another. You were about to kiss me back; I know you were.”
“I was never going to kiss you,” she hissed. Her knife met his heart.
He looked down, but when their eyes met again there was heat there. And anger. “Kiss me. Kiss me and prove there’s nothing between us.”
“No!”
Because she wasn’t sure if kissing him would prove anything at all beyond her vulnerability to him.
Rage enveloped her. Rage and violence and a mess of raw lust.
It happened before she even knew what was going on.
The knife was in her hand.
And then she stabbed it low, aiming for his hip. Instead, it drove into his thigh.
Marduk staggered backward, taking the knife with him.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”he yelled, as he clapped a hand around her blade.
