Page 25 of The Horde King of Shadow

The male’s voice was booming and rich when he said, “And thankyoufor riling her up. It will be a long journey home now.”

“Difficult to break old habits” was what Sarkin replied. He stepped forward, clutching Gevanth’s outstretched forearm with his own.

“It is when you don’t try to break them,” Gevanth replied. “She would know that better than anyone. You have more in common than either of you would ever admit.”

“Blood is blood,” Sarkin rasped.

“I’ll need your patrol report. The council will call a meeting once we have it.”

Report…on my home? On the Dakkari? To find weakness?

“I’ll send it” was all Sarkin replied. “I’d ask you to stay and rest, friend, but with all due respect, get out of Sarroth. I have enough Elysom problems. I don’t need a dozen more staying in my citadel.”

Gevanth laughed, gruff and short. “Kethra, I’m sure, is already on dragonback to Elysom.”

“Then make sure she stays there,” Sarkin returned. “I meant what I said, Gevanth.”

“I know,” the male replied, inclining his head. His eyes cut to mine, I felt him observing my scar, and then he turned. Without so much as a goodbye—not that Sarkin seemed to want one—he left, the last of the council leaving with him. Until the stone terrace was cleared out, save for myself, Sarkin, and his rider, whose name I still didn’t know.

“That went well,” the rider declared, the sarcasm dripping from his tone.

“Next time,” Sarkin said, “keep the citadel gates locked. They can rot outside for all I care.”

“I was as surprised as you were.”

“How did they know?” Sarkin growled.

“I’ve been trying to figure that out. A watch, perhaps. On the south coast. But we’ve had no reports of riders crossing our territories.”

Sarkin sharply exhaled. “Elysom always knows things they shouldn’t. And you know how that usually happens? A weapon. But now we have our own.”

My spine snapped and I frowned. “I am not yours to use.”

“That’s exactly what you are,” Sarkin answered, so dismissively it made my hackles rise. “Mine to use however I see fit.”

Impossible male!I thought, frustration making my jaw grit. I was tired, hungry, and so sore I didn’t want to move.

“Why don’t you just knock me out so I can dream for you?” I asked, my voice intentionally sweet.

Sarkin came close, dropping down until our eyes were level. He brushed his thumb across my scar and murmured, “Tempting. Should I?”

The rider cleared his throat as I glared.

Sarkin rose. He gestured to the far corner of the garden, to the small structure I’d seen tucked along the stone of the mountain.

“Your accommodations, princess,” he said. “Enjoy the bed while you can. We leave at dawn, and we’ll be staying in wild territory. Just like your hordes andVorakkarof old.”

“If you think that scares me, you’re sorely mistaken. I grew up in a horde,” I said, my chin raising. “On the wildlands of Dakkar.”

“But you’ve never seen wildlands like these,” he said quietly, studying me as if surprised by the discovery. Softly, like a lover, he murmured, “That I promise you.”

Chapter 10

KLARA

I was surprised that Sarkin left me on my own, though I shouldn’t have been. According to him, Zaridan had my scent. She could find me anywhere. And I believed that. I was trapped without the bars of a dungeon, held tethered and leashed by his dragon.

Not that I had anywhere else to go. I’d agreed to this. And on the journey to Sarroth, I’d vowed to myself that I would take advantage of this surreal situation, to learn whatever I could about the Karag, to learn about the Elthika, and to learn about my purpose here.

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