Madness of the Horde King - Zoey Draven Page 0,132

T-take the slaves,” Lozza rasped. “Take them but spare me. Spare my kingdom. I will do whatever you wish.”

“Of course I will spare you,” I told him. Davik started at my side, a growl tearing from his throat. When I looked at my Vorakkar, I nodded. He procured a silver disk from his pocket and I took it, flipping it open to see a dark blue salve inside.

“Kalles,” Rath Kitala cut in. “We should discuss this.”

“He lives,” I decided, leaning over the Ghertun king and applying the salve to his wound, since his limbs were still heavy. Relief relaxed his features. He looked up at me almost gratefully and I felt a sting of anger rise in my chest. It was a similar expression, no doubt, to how I’d looked at my sibi when they’d finally given me a dose of vovic. “How else will he hold his promise to me?”

That grateful relief gave way to shuddered fear.

I wiped my fingers on his clothes and rose. As I did, my head was beginning to split and throb.

This is done.

I turned from Lozza, my legs feeling heavy and sluggish, like I was wading through water. Davik caught me in his arms, swooping me up against his chest.

“Hedna is here,” I whispered to Davik, starting to feel the strain of holding a thousand minds within my own. Davik was already running down the hallway leading from the great hall, back towards the main level and the staircase that led up to the entrance. Rath Kitala was at his heels. “I—I don’t think I can hold it for much longer, Davik.”

“Stay with me, leikavi,” he rasped, his chest heaving, keeping me tight in his arms. I was convinced the blue light was coming from me now because it shone over Davik’s face, highlighting the deepness of his scar, his scowl, the black threads of his red eyes. “Please. We are almost there.”

Then the light over his face began to fade and I felt Kakkari’s power beginning to drain with it.

My eyes closed.

“Vienne!” Davik grated. “Look at me.”

I heard heavy, booted footsteps. Not Davik’s or Rath Kitala’s. I heard the whisper of bare feet too on the stone, of shivering gasps and sobs. I felt the hard press of hundreds of emotions fill my mind. Relief, fear, confusion, sadness. I felt the presence of dozens...of the enslaved?

Were my family among them?

“Davik, my family,” I told him.

“Hedna will find them,” Davik assured me. “If they are not outside already. Hold on, rei kassiri. I beg you.”

We were ascending stairs now. I gritted my teeth, my eyelids fluttering open to see the blackened stone of the mountain. We were still deep inside.

Just a little longer, I told myself. Hang onto it a little longer.

The power was flickering. Fading. How long did we have until the Ghertun would move freely again? Had the darukkars reached the cellars? Had they found the cure?

“Look at me,” Davik growled.

My eyes found him.

His eyes were panicked and wild as he peered down at me. A wave of affection, of grief went through me, tears beginning to flow freely from my eyes.

“Do not do this, leikavi,” he rasped. “Hanniva, do not do this.”

I wanted to tell him at least once. I did not know what would come next. I did not know what price Kakkari would ask of me for the use of her power…but I wanted to tell him at least once.

“You did a terrible thing, you know,” I told him.

“What is that, leikavi?” he asked quietly. “Keep speaking. Tell me.”

“You made me love you.”

“Nik, Vienne,” he growled. “It was the best thing I have ever done.”

A sound tore from my throat.

“Drokka, she’s fading,” I heard, the voice sounding like Rath Kitala’s. “The heartstone—”

“I know,” Davik growled, just as we reached the top of the stairs.

The hallway to the gates of the Dead Mountain was short but just as we crossed the threshold, I felt Kakkari’s power give way, releasing, a tight tension from the mind unravelling and unravelling until I thought I might unravel with it.

A hum seemed to rise up from within the mountain, growing louder and louder as we burst from the gates, into open, cool air.

I heard crying. I heard human voices—I heard Killup, and Nrunteng, and Dakkari. A loud murmur that seemed to rise.

Then I heard, “Vienne!”

My eyes opened and I could recognize that voice anywhere.

And there, huddled together in the darkness in the open air of the Dead Valley, was my family. Maxen and Eli,