Page 79 of Sins of His Wrath

They returned to where the beast waited patiently at the edge of the village. Akoro removed a sack of feed from his supplies and poured a measured amount into a shallow bowl. Thenniraedipping its massive head to eat.

“What’s his name?” Naya asked, stroking the animal’s neck.

Akoro looked at her blankly. “Nnirae.”

She made a face. “But what’s his name.”

“He doesn’t have a name,” Akoro said. “He doesn’t need a name.”

Naya snorted. “We name our horses in my land.”

“He is not a horse,” Akoro said sharply. “He is from the Sands.”

She rolled her eyes, and smoothed thennirae’sshort, spiky mane, admiring the deeper beige that cover his tall ears. "You're so handsome, aren't you?" she murmured, running her fingers along the ridge of its spine. "A magnificent beast."

A hand closing around her wrist, yanking her away with a growl. She hit Akoro’s chest, and he locked his arm around her, looking down her with an alarm fury. His grip wasn't painful, but it was firm.

“What are you doing?” she asked, alarmed.

"Do not," he growled, “call anyone handsome in my presence."

Warmth bloomed in her belly, a fluttering sensation that spread outward through her limbs. Her inner Omega preened at his possessiveness, even as she rolled her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous," she said, but her voice betrayed her, coming out breathier than intended. "It's an animal, your animal."

"I don't care if it's a fucking rock!" he bellowed, hunching over her, his eyes dark.

Naya's pulse quickened, as she looked up him. She couldn’t remember being held like this before, but she liked it. It felt like he was enveloping her, his scent all around her, and she could see his face. Her slick began to gather, a secret pleasure curling through her veins.

“Do you understand,tmot zia?”

Naya couldn’t do anything but nod and blink.

His only response was to tighten his hold, a low growl vibrating through his chest. They stood, for a long moment, until he loosened his arm, much to her disappointment… no, much to her inner Omega’s disappointment and then released her.

Naya stumbled back and then went back to stroke thennirae, hiding her face from him. Akoro moved to the other side, just watching her, his eyes hungry and dangerous.

“What er—happened next?” she asked.

Akoro exhaled. "The Sy Dynasty survived because they were ruthless." He began stroking the creature's neck. "They hoarded what magical knowledge remained, kept functioning. They used their remaining resources to establish themselves as leaders among the nomadic groups."

He handed Naya a waterskin. "Pour this into the trough while I check his legs."

She did as instructed, watching as he knelt to examine thennirae'spowerful limbs with practiced hands.

"They didn't rebuild?" she asked.

"They kept hold of Onn Kkulma the best they could. While everyone was living as nomads, following the safe paths to avoid wild magic, they were protecting them in the city." He straightened, running his palm along thennirae'sflank. "It was a desperate existence."

"So they didn’t help anyone?"

Akoro made a face. "Eventually. They accepted people into the city and offered safety in exchange for work. They said their priority was to preserve the culture."

Naya stroked the nnirae's muzzle, feeling its leathery warmth against her palm. "And that's how your family maintained control?"

Akoro's eyes met hers over thennirae'sback, dark and filled with something that might have been shame, might have been defiance. "To some degree. They had the only bulwark against complete extinction, Naya. They were ruthless, and they used their advantage. But they also saved what remained of our people."

The intensity in his gaze made her breath catch. For a moment, neither of them moved.

"You didn't answer my question," she said softly.

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