Page 54 of Master of Storms
Torture, that’s what it was.
“You’re avoiding me” came a voice.
Solveig froze, a hand cupping a bloodred rose. Sounds of revelry echoed from within the ancient keep’s dining hall.
She hadn’t expected company this quickly.
So they were going to have this confrontation sooner rather than later. The hilt of her knife felt comforting in her sleeve.
And there was the king, coming toward her like an old nightmare.
Tall and broad-shouldered, with his hungry wolf’s smile, it was like looking into the face of a younger Fornax. And despite the fact she’d spent years building her reputation, she was half-tempted to flinch.
You are not a little girl now,she whispered to herself.You don’t have to be frightened. You killed that bastard, and he can’t haunt you anymore.
She’d told herself those words a thousand times or more, and her spine straightened in defiance.
“Why ever would I avoid you, Your Highness?”
Draco slid both hands into the pockets of his trousers, cocking his head slightly as he considered her. “Because my uncle stole your mother from you and haunted your nightmares for years.”
Direct, then. She almost appreciated it, if not for the hard slam of her heart against the cage of her ribs.
“Do you know how I end those nightmares? I drive my knife through his eye every single night,and I laughas he screams and begs for mercy. Because he did, you know. And I let him plead; I let him have an ounce of hope, before I plunged my thumb through his other eye and killed him.”
Hooded eyelids swept low over his eyes. “Good. He deserved to die.”
It wasn’t what she’d expected.
She was forced to reconsider him.
TheZilittuwere warriors and marauders and always had been. As a clan, ambition consumed them.
And while this king might be proffering words of peace, she could see that same hunger within him.
“My clan owes you a debt, Solveig.” Draco’s voice became whisper-soft, but there was no gentleness to it. Instead, he reached for her hand, brushing featherlight fingers across the back of it. “We paid our weregild for your mother’s loss, but no price can ever make up for the loss of a mother. I wished to apologize in person, because I know the loss burdens you. Just as I know there’s a knife in your other hand, and you would use it if you had cause.” He gave her a slightly dangerous smile. “And I wished for you to know that you do not have cause.”
“An apology from aZilittuking…. In my court we have a saying about such a thing.”
“Don’t trust it?”
“Something along those lines, yes.”
“And now you’re wondering why I would offer such a thing. You’re wondering what game I’m playing?”
“Perhaps.”
He leaned closer, his fingers resting—just briefly—on the side of her face and his thumb pausing on the indentation of her chin. His whisper held a certain kind of heat she’d never anticipated. “I’m playing the most dangerous game of all. King takes queen.”
Solveig stilled.
Is he…?
She drew back a little warily.
“I’m already mated,” she pointed out. “As are you. And I don’t take kindly to the concept of deception—nor the idea of shaming another woman.”
“Andromeda is aware I intend to end our match. It was her idea. She wishes to return to her home. And both you and I are locked into political alliances that don’t suit us,” he replied coldly. “I saw the pair of you arguing. I know of your past.”
