Page 71 of Master of Storms
Marduk snapped his fingers, conjuring a spark of fire that danced off his fingertips and lit the devastating planes of her cheekbones.
“Impressive,” he admitted.
A finally controlled gust of wind like thatwasimpressive.Drekicould turn the skies into blazing battlegrounds, but for her to control a breeze so minutely meant great skill.
Not so impressive was the sudden roiling of his gut as he stared around him. His cock flagged.
Underground. The stone walls were so smooth they might as well have been carved bydrekiwielding the gift of Earth. And the stairs led into a darkened pit.
Marduk swallowed hard.
The walls weren’t going to collapse. They were too smooth. Carved directly out of solid rock. From the indentation in the center of the stairs, enoughdrekihad traveled this stairwell over the years safely.
And if the roof did collapse, then he was with adrekiwho could encase them both in a bubble of Air.
Adrekiwho may or may not enjoy watching him scream….
No, that thought wasn’t helping.
Solveig stalked past him, her boot heels clicking on stone tiles, and her long legs eating up the ground. The leather breeches she wore did marvelous things to her legs, but he didn’t even think the sight of her ass could distract him right now. “You’ve seen nothing yet. Coming? Or do you want me to hold your hand?”
He forced himself to follow her, his gaze settling between those shoulder blades. This wasn’t the first time he’d ventured underground. He could do it again. He just had to lock it all out and focus on the song of Chaos that wound its way up the stairwell.
“I’m fine.”
Solveig hesitated. “I can go on alone if you wish?”
Kindness? Fromher?
“Lead on. You won’t know what you’re looking for. I’ll manage.”
“As you wish,” she called over her shoulder, her dark eyes all too knowing.
* * *
The staircase led downand down, deep into the earth.
Marduk followed her on stealthy feet, and Solveig had to look behind her several times to ensure he was following. For such a large man, he moved with an incredible grace. He moved as though he’d had plenty of practice in being silent and invisible.
Though there was sweat on his throat, and his cheeks looked pale and clammy.
“Which way?” she asked, as they paused at an intersection.
He closed his eyes, tilting his head one way and then the other. His eyes blinked open and his head turned, a flash of eerie green lighting his irises for a second. “Left.”
He pushed past her, the little flicker of firelight dancing over his shoulder.
No mocking commentary. No endless spill of words from his lips.
Solveig’s eyes narrowed as she considered his earlier revelation. Fear could be paralyzing. She needed him whole and focused. “You never did tell me what you’ve been up to for the last ten years.”
“A little of this, and a little of that.”
She followed him like a silent wraith. “I find it interesting how you deflect such questions about your past.”
He sighed. “I found mountains to climb, Solveig, and canyons to chase the wind through. I soared over the pyramids of Egypt, and sought to climb to the top of the highest mountain in Asia.”
“And you bedded half the women between here and the Hindu Kush.”
