Page 70 of The Horde King of Shadow

“I didn’t,” he replied. “Did you hear me say that?”

“It was implied.”

“Is that how you learned how to throw daggers so efficiently?” he asked, eyes narrowing on me. “Someone told you you couldn’t?”

“Actually,yes,” I answered. “That is exactly what happened. A boy who lived in the nextvolikiover dared me I couldn’t hit the center target. He thought I was too weak.”

“The same is obviously not working for your mounting lessons,” he pointed out.

“Yet,” I shot back. “Gods, give metime, Sarkin. I’ve been practicing for less than a week.”

I heard what went unspoken. I was runningoutof time. Even with my success in the river yesterday, it was obvious I was still way behind in skill among the acolytes.

“You’re right.”

I nearly jerked at that. “What?”

Sarkin splashed his face with water, scrubbing at his tired eyes. Had he been coming here every night? But where had he been sleeping? Certainly not downhere.

“You’re right, Klara,” he said again. “I forget that you are Dakkari. That the first time you’ve encountered an Elthika, upclose, was the shadow moon. I’ve been pushing you too much. I know I have. It’s only because I’m trying to help you.”

“I know that,” I said quietly, feeling my heart pick up speed in my chest. His words made me soften toward him, and I swam closer as I blinked the spray of the waterfall from my eyes.

“This is unprecedented,” he continued, gesturing between us. “A Sarrothian king taking a wife who hasn’t yet claimed an Elthika. It’s never happened before in Sarroth’s history. Perhaps in one of the other territories, yes. Butneverin Sarroth. That is why I’m hard on you. I have to be.”

I still remembered the solidness of his body against mine. I still remembered how it felt to dig my hand into his back, gripping the obvious strength of his shoulders, threading my fingers through his hair as we shared each other’s breath.

Underneath the water, my hands curled until my fingernails made little half-moons in my palm.

“I understand,” I said, my tone coming out a little breathless, almost sinking beneath the water.

“What do you want to ask of me?” he began, when the silence stretched and it was apparent I wasn’t leaving.

“Where have you been sleeping?”

“I told you,” he said, fire sparking in his eyes, “that I take my vows seriously. Despite…”

He was angry at what I was implying.

“Despite?”

He huffed out a breath. “Despite that we do not love each other. Despite that we barely know each other.”

“I’m trying to change that.”

He stilled. “The former or the latter?”

I flushed, but I hoped the darkness of the night hid the worst of it. Quickly, I said, “The latter, of course.”

He relaxed in obvious relief, and I didn’t know why I felt a thread of disappointment tighten within me.

“There are empty dwellings in the horde,” he told me. “Sarroth is vast. The majority of our people don’t travel with the horde. Only potential riders and those who choose to split their time between the Arsadia and our homeland. As such, there are always places to sleep here in Rysar.”

I nodded, believing him.

“Don’t ask me again,” he continued, walking closer to me, making my heart pick up pace. “I keep my promises, Klara, even to you. It’s an insult for you to continue to question my honor to our union.”

“I won’t,” I whispered. He couldn’t possibly hear me over the falls, but he inclined his head in acceptance nonetheless. Raising my voice, I asked, “Why bathe down here, then?”

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