Broken by the Horde King (Horde Kings of Dakkar #4) - Zoey Draven Page 0,152
me close. And though he smelled like ungira, he also smelled like Kiran and I’d missed having that smell all over me. I dragged in that scent greedily, falling into his arms, burying my face into his wide chest.
Some of the tension that had started to build from that morning—from the sadness and impending grief I’d spied in my father’s eyes—loosened.
“I missed you, rei seffi,” he rasped, his voice thick and gruff. “I missed you so vokking much.”
My face softened and I craned my head to look back at him.
“How’s your father?” he asked quietly. “I checked on him before I left but he was sleeping.”
“Kakkira vor,” I murmured. “I found him outside this morning. So I’d say he’s feeling more like himself.”
Kiran nodded, studying me.
“And you?” he asked next, his voice serious. “How are you, Maeva?”
My chest warmed at his worry.
“It hasn’t been a good week,” I told him truthfully. Hesitantly, softly, I added, “But I’m happy you’re here.”
Those golden eyes heated and it made my belly flutter.
To distract myself, I said quickly, “Were you able to check on Essir when you returned to the horde? On Addie?”
He nodded, his hands sliding to my shoulders. “Essir was handling it well. And Addie was upset that you were gone but she understood. She and the child are healthy.”
Guilt mingled with my relief. Before I left the horde that afternoon, I’d gone to see Addie, gone to explain to her why I needed to leave. She’d been worried, naturally, and upset that I was leaving. But I hoped that she’d forgive me. One day.
“I’m sorry I broke my promise to you,” I said quietly.
His brow furrowed.
“I left the horde. I chose my family over my duty as mokkira,” I said. “And I—I understand if you wish to send for another from Dothik. I—”
“Maeva,” he growled in warning.
I bit my lip.
“You cannot be perfect all the time,” he growled. “I gave that up long ago. I learned that in my first moon cycle as Vorakkar. You will always disappoint someone with your decisions. But you are worth it, lysi? You have not failed in your duty.”
I kept his gaze.
His lips quirked, his face softening. “But you would not be my Maeva unless you worried about this. You care so much about others that you forget to care for yourself.”
I let out a shuddering breath.
A cracking sound filled the air, sharp and sudden. Males cried out in alarm when one of the straps tethered to a pyroki snapped from the cold air and the ungira slid forward.
“Vok,” Kiran cursed. “We will talk later, lysi?”
I nodded. “Go.”
His warmth left me and I watched him jog back to the darukkars who were trying to secure the strap again, though the sound had spooked the pyroki. I turned and headed back to the enclosed safety of the saruk.
Just as I stepped through the gates, I spied the Arakkari. Kiran’s mother.
She was walking with her piki down the road, talking quietly to her, dressed in her white furs. Once, it had been my lomma at her side. The two of them had been great friends.
The Arakkari hadn’t come to see me after I’d arrived and I hadn’t made the effort to see her, knowing what I knew now. I watched as she nodded and stopped to speak with a few female members of the saruk, smiling all the while.
I’d forgotten just how beautiful she was. How engaging and kind she seemed.
Her eyes caught on me and she stilled. The females bid their goodbyes but the Arakkari was frozen on the road, meeting my gaze.
I might never be able to understand why she lied to me.
But I realized right then that it didn’t matter. She thought she was doing what was best for Kiran, even if she’d lied to us both. And maybe she’d taken me under her wing after my lomma died because she felt guilty about that. Maybe that had been why she’d been so kind to me.
Still, it didn’t stop the betrayal and the hurt from simmering in my chest.
I met her gaze steadily and she met mine. I wondered if Kiran had confronted her already. I wondered if she would approach me.
My question was answered in the next moment when she turned her face away, her lips subtly shifting downwards. Then she smoothed the furs around her shoulders and turned, heading back up the path she’d just come from, leaving me to stand there, looking after her.