Page 56 of The Horde King of Shadow

She was uncertainly hovering by Zaridan’s wing. The straps of her dress were ripped—my doing—and she was holding it up so the bodice wouldn’t slip. She looked like she’d just been…well, fucked. Well and truly fucked. Her hair was wild, the ends dripping. Her cheeks were flushed. I saw the dark marks on herneck where I’d nipped and bitten and sucked. When she walked closer to Zaridan, she limped.

And self-loathing tore through me all over again, knowing that I’d only addedmorepain to her body. Klara didn’t meet Feranos’s eyes, and it was then I realized I wasn’t making this better. I was making this worse for her.

Get her back home, back to comfort,I told myself.Then you can figure out how to fix this.

Because whether I liked it or not, she was my wife now. My responsibility. We were bonded until death, tied now with the blood of my Elthika and with Lishara’s blessing.

And as her husband, it was now my duty to protect her. To make her feel safe, even if she didn’t feel safe withme.

“Let’s return,” I said, going to Klara. I scooped her up into my arms, watching her blink in surprise, and she met my eyes. Some of the buzzing under my skin calmed when she looked at me, when I felt her comforting weight in my arms and scented myself on her skin.

Ascending Zaridan’s outstretched wing, I prepared to bring my wifehome.

Chapter 21

KLARA

The wedding feast that night was an uncomfortable affair. At least for me. Sarkin’s horde pretended that they didn’t notice theirKarath’s brooding silence or me fidgeting at his side, at the head of the long table that had been set up during our absence.

It was a beautiful night. Balmy from the waterfall and warm. A bright half-moon was hanging overhead, surrounded by a smattering of stars. It brought me comfort to recognize the constellations. Bekkar’s Sword. Tanniva’s Hand. Dakkar history and story, plastered in the night sky, even though I’d never felt further from home than I did right then in my new one.

Nearly all of the village was in attendance it seemed. Brightly colored banners and ribbons had been hung from various buildings. Tall silver torches lit up the pathways, casting a golden, beautiful glow in the night. The food smelled amazing, though I hadn’t yet tried any of it, my stomach cramping from the palpable tension pouring off my now husband.

I listened to the chatter all around me. Sarkin’s riders had long given up trying to speak to him, and we’d been left on our own at the head of the table. Part of the horde and yet separate. As if everyone could feel the tension between us, they all kept tothemselves, seemingly determined to enjoy the feast, which was meant to be a celebration of our union. So why did it feel like a mournful wake?

There’s no reason whyIcan’t enjoy this party even if Sarkin is sour on it,I thought, taking a deep breath, catching sight of Sammenth and Ryena, both laughing with a small group next to one of the trees that made up the edge of the vast forest. The trunk was wide, protected with a cushioned board, and I watched as they played a game, flinging daggers at the target. The object being whoever struck inside the four circles drawn at random areas of the map won points.

Wine was flowing, darkly colored and rich. My own goblet was half-empty. I wasn’t used to drinking fermented fruit, but the Karag produced a delicious brew. I wondered what they used and if the process differed from Dakkari wines. The Karag ones weren’t as sweet, though they were rich and smooth. And dangerously easy to drink.

Emboldened by the wine, I stood from my seat, catching the sharp jerk of Sarkin’s head when he turned to regard me.

“I’ll be over there,” I informed him, not quite meeting his eyes as I gestured toward the tree.

He regarded the group briefly, seeming like he was on the verge of saying something, but all he did was sharply incline his head, as if I needed permission…which I didn’t.

There was a part of me that was angry. A part of mewasmourning. Because for brief moments in Lishara’s temple, though those moments had seemed beautifully and breathtakingly endless, I’d thought that what Sarkin and I had shared had beenspecial. I’d felt connected to him in a way that defied everything I knew.

And he’d taken that away.

He’d retreated, becoming even colder than he’d been to me before. I thought that before we’d left this morning, we might’veeven been on friendly ground. We’d understood what needed to happen. It wasn’t as if sex would’veneverplayed a part in our marriage. I assumed the question of heirs would eventually need to be answered.

But now?

Our relationship felt more tangled and uncertain than ever. I thought…maybe heregrettedwhat had happened. The harsh sting of that realization hurt more than I thought it would.

My body still ached from when he’d been inside me…and he’d never felt further away. Perhaps this was the real Sarkin. Not the male who’d kissed me passionately and squeezed my ass in appreciation, possessiveness pouring from him with every touch.

I nearly shivered just thinking aboutthatSarkin. A part of me was worried I’d never meet him again. It wasn’t fair. To danglethatin front of me, a sublime prize I’d never known I needed, and then to snatch it away, leaving me reeling and confused.

I squared my shoulders as I approached the laughing group, even though nerves tangled through my chest. Would this be another rejection at the hands of the Sarrothian?

No,I thought, determination rising. I was Sarkin’s wife, now. They couldn’t deny that, and I needed to start demanding their respect. I would not be rejected, walked over like I’d been in my father’s palace, for the rest of my life. I refused. I was their queen now. I might not have had their full respect yet—I apparently needed to bond with an Elthika for that to happen—but they had to recognize that I wasn’t goinganywhere.

This was my home now, whether I liked it or not.

And so I needed tomakea home for myself here. I needed to demand it in my own way. Because Sarkin certainly wouldn’t do it for me.

I could feel the burning sear of his eyes on my back as I approached the group. Sammenth noticed me first, and her smile widened, though her gaze tracked to Sarkin first over my shoulder.

---