Page 113 of The Horde King of Shadow

“She looks for you all the time,” I told him. “Sarkin told me she’s always looking for you.”

Lygath went still. Then he huffed out a breath, and I thought I saw another tendril ofethrall, making me swallow.

Then he lowered himself to the ground. No longer sitting but lying down, the starlight grass illuminating and rippling beneath him. His head came to rest on his forelimbs, the wicked gleam of the talons reflecting in the moonlight. And when he turned his head, I saw the mark of Muron. On the lower right side of his neck, it looked like black ink was spread over his silver scales. Like wild, untamed roots of a tree, though I knew now it was the mark of heartstone lightning.

Still, it was a familiar shape that I could trace in my sleep because I’d studied it in the mirror—cursing it—for nearly my entire life.

“Zaridan chose her rider well,” I told Lygath, feeling a smile stretch over my lips. “Sarkin is…he’s…”

I didn’t know if there was a single word that could describe him aptly.

“He was the best choice she could make,” I said finally, thinking that I felt that way too about him. “He’s a good leader to his people. Fair but honorable. And he has a kind heart, though he holds it close. Your sister chose well. She loves him. And so do I.”

The quiet confession felt easy slipping from my lips, especially to Lygath.

I took a deep breath and stood. The Elthika’s head raised to regard me, his eyes watchful as I approached, but he didn’t stand. He stayed in his position as I drew nearer and nearer.

“You smell like home. Like the wildlands. One day, I hope I’ll show them to you,” I cooed to him softly when I was close enough. I smiled, raking my eyes over him, observing the way his silver scales tapered to points like teeth. “You’re very beautiful.”

He huffed.

“I mean very, very fearsome,” I corrected, biting back a smile.

He huffed again, though it was shorter. Zaridan could be proud. Perhaps Lygath was as well.

I was within arm’s reach of him. I walked until I looked into one of his eyes. Golden and slitted black. I could see my reflection in them, so clear, even in the darkness. His pupil contracted on me.

I felt the warmth of connection. Like I knew him. Ihadseen him the majority of my life. He was familiar.

“I know I’m meant to be yours and you’re meant to be mine,” I said quietly. “Can you not feel that, Lygath?”

A breeze shuffled between us, blowing the ends of my hair, the tendrils caressing the Elthika’s scales. He watched meclosely. I had the sense he could seeallof me. Every facet of my being.

I heard the rustling. I held my breath because it was familiar. Thesy’asha. The song of his scales.

But then he quieted it, as determination rose in me. Hedidfeel it. He did know. My hand rose between us. His pupil flicked to it. A shudder racked through him, a low growl rising in his throat, but it didn’t sound ominous. More like a purr, though perhaps that was my own delusion.

Slowly, with bated breath, I pressed my hand to his snout. His nostrils flared, the muscles pulling and flexing beneath my palm. He was cool to the touch, his scales like armored silk. I traced my fingers over his cheek until they were right below his eye. His pupil contracted before widening.

Dannik and Sora had always wanted me to fight more. Fight more for what I wanted.

There is always defeat in your eyes, sister,Dannik had told me once.

No longer. Their words, their belief in me gave me strength. Sarkin gave me strength, especially knowing what I did now.

“I will be at Tharken again,” I said, the determined words pulled from me.

I knew what I had to do. To carve a place for myself within Sarkin’s horde. To claw my way to his side, where I wanted to belong. I didn’t have to prove it to Sarkin. But his people would never see me as their equal if I didn’t do this.

“If you’d like, come find me there. I’ll be waiting.”

Then I sat down next to him, gazing out at the lake.

“But until then, let’s just sit here together for a little while.”

I woke next to Sarkin, though I felt as awake as I had next to Lygath in my dream.

Calm had settled in place of shame. I felt determination rise in me, a wave that washed over me and gave me strength.

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