Page 93 of The Horde King of Shadow

Zaridan trilled, a sound I’d never heard from her before. It sounded like a call. It sounded delicate. She lifted her head high into the sky.

“Thryn’ar,” Sarkin commanded. The earth began to rumble, the familiar sensation of Zaridan pulling energy toward her, and then she launched herself off the ground to join the horde.

To join the celebration,I realized, moments later. Because that was what it was.

Hundredsof Elthika were flying together, very nearly blocking out the entire expanse of the sky as they drew closer and closer.

I watched themdance. They swayed and weaved in the moonlit sky, dipping and circling together, flaring their wings wide or gliding them close to their bodies.

And the music…

When I closed my eyes, I heard their song. It was like thesy’asha, the whispered song of their scales, only it was joined by trills and guttural bellows. The beat of their wings were like the sound of drums. They produced a symphony in the sky, echoing off the mountain ranges and funneling its way down the valley and meadows. It struck a chord within me, making tears burn in my eyes.

Before I knew it they were right overhead, the gust of their wings creating a storm of wind, whipping my hair, tangling my dress against my ankles. I tracked Zaridan, watching as she joined their dance, swooping overhead in a looping motion, making me smile. She let out a longing cry.

“She’s looking for Lygath,” Sarkin observed quietly, as if he didn’t want to interrupt their song or theaweof this moment.

That breaks my heart,I couldn’t help but think as I squeezed Sarkin’s hand.

For long moments, we watched the hundreds of Elthika overhead, a special performance that I hoped I could see every year. We said nothing, but he kept my hand in his. Sarkin had gone out of his way to share this with me…I would never forget that.

Falling stars sizzled and glittered in the sky behind the Elthika, a magical backdrop that seemed too ethereal to be real.

When we finally sank back down onto the blankets, I was grinning, watching the Elthika continue their way due west. Toward the coast. Toward the Tharken cliffs. Zaridan was still flying with them, but I knew she would return to us before the night’s end.

Sarkin was quiet, watching me, and I spied something in his expression that I’d never seen before. Something that made my skin tingle, awareness making me shiver. An expression that made my heart begin to throb in my chest, a caged little monster wanting to be free.

“Thank you for bringing me here,” I said, a little breathless, feeling more of the wall between us chip away. “I’ll never forget this.”

The scales on Sarkin’s vest rustled together when he shifted forward. He wrapped his hand into the wild tendrils of my hair. I was open to his touch, lifting my chin.

“I’m not any good at this,” Sarkin’s soft voice came, sounding almost amused, though I also heard a thread of frustration. “I’ve never needed to be. But I am trying, Klara.”

“We can figure it out together,” I said softly. “We have to.”

“Ask me whatever you want tonight,” he told me. “I’ll answer your questions.”

I tried to hide my surprise by curling my fingers into his wrist. “Really?”

“Yes. But I want to ask you something first.”

“All right,” I said, not denying I was a little nervous by the seriousness in his expression.

“Did you really believe that I would have unleashed theethrallon Dothik?”

I blinked.

“Youdid,” I reminded him softly, the question coming as a surprise though I answered swiftly. “Not for long, but you still did.”

He grunted. “Did you think I would have let anyone die?”

“In that moment?” I said, meeting his eyes, squeezing his wrist. “Yes. I didn’t know you then. I didn’t know your intentions or how far you would go to claim what you wanted.”

“And now?”

“No,” I breathed, my brow furrowing at the restlessness I heard in his tone. “Now I know you meant theethrallas a bluff. You knew exactly how long to let it linger. But even if I didn’t give you what you wanted, you would have stopped it. You’re a good leader to your people, Sarkin. You’re honorable. You’re fair. You wanted to frighten us, and you succeeded. But I know you wouldn’t have hurt anyone.”

He inclined his head, processing my words, and I spied relief on his features. Was this what he had been worrying about? That I thought him a murderous monster?

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