Page 78 of The Horde King of Shadow

“Gods,” he rasped.

“I thought you didn’t believe in any gods,” I teased in a whisper.

He shook his head. “You’re beautiful, Klara. You know that?”

My brow furrowed. I didn’t know why those simple words made me want to cry. No one had ever called me beautiful. Only my mother, when I’d lamented over my scarred face. But I’d certainly never been called beautiful by someone like Sarkin.

What made the back of my throat burn was that I knew hemeantit. I could hear the honesty in his voice, the awe.

I’d never expected that from him. Not ever. And I was suddenly glad that I’d pushed when he’d tried to keep me at arm’s length. I was glad I’d stepped across that boundary he’d drawn between us because if I hadn’t, I never would’ve realized this.

“Thank you,” I said. Shyly, I added, “You are too.”

But I was certain that someone like Sarkin would’ve heard that throughout his entire life. He was one of the mosthandsome males I’d seen. And his mere presence alone was eye-catching and demanding.

His lips quirked at the corners, and he walked toward the back of the dwelling. I heard the splash of water briefly, and when he returned, he crouched between my thighs. There was a soft, damp cloth in his hands, and my lips parted, my cheeks flushing in realization, when he cleaned me off. The gentle way he stroked me made me bite my lip. I was sensitive, my belly sucking in when he teased at my clit.

When he was done, he wiped his softening cock before he returned to the furs, refastening our ankles together, always mindful.

I felt a little shy as I curled against him. His arms came around me. He was warm, his scent comforting and familiar.

“What did you dream of?” he asked as my eyelids began to flutter.

I blinked, some of my sleep escaping me with that single question.

“My mother,” I lied. I didn’t know what to do with the knowledge I’d uncovered in my dream tonight, but I wouldn’t decide right now. “What did you dream of?”

“My mother,” he answered, but his tone invited no extra questions. “Shy’rissa.”

I’m not the only one who hides things,I thought, closing my eyes.

Chapter 27

KLARA

“You want us to…what?” I asked, gulping.

Kan, another acolyte, snickered until Kyavor shot him a stern look.

“You heard me right, Acolyte,” he said. “You first.”

In the middle of the river, jutting out over the edge of the waterfall, was a narrow plank attached to what appeared to be a practice mount. The body of which had the wide curvature of an Elthika’s back, a harness slung over.

What filled me with trepidation was that the metal plank was attached to a mechanism, of which Kyavor would be handling. He’d demonstrated it, flipping switches and pressing smooth buttons, cranking a handle on the side all the while. It caused the Elthika’s mount to turn and sway, as if it were in flight.

While I’d been on Zaridan’s back for more hours than I could count, Sarkin had always been there. All I’d had to do was hang on for dear life, his strong thighs encasing me, making me feel safe and secure in the air with him.

During this training exercise, I would be alone and dangling over the edge of the waterfall that, after navigating the staircase down its length last night, I knew was a steep drop.

“There’s a net below, Acolyte,” Kyavor said, as if reading my mind. “You don’t need to fear falling. In fact, you will fall. Most do. Falling is a skill in itself that you will also need to master.”

I was stiff with fear atthosewords. My nerves were even shakier given the crowd that this particular exercise drew.

Out in the river, when we’d been practicing our mounts, jumping from the small ledge, there had been a few horde members who would watch from the river’s edge. Hatchery workers would eat their lunch and watch us too from their fenced-in enclosure.

But today? Nearly half the horde was gathered along the riverbank. Groups had spread out blankets, lounging in the sun because it was a nice, balmy morning. Some had even brought snacks, nibbling on bread and what I thought might be aged cheese.

And when I saw Sarkin strolling up with Feranos?

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