Captive of the Horde King (Horde Kings Of Dakkar #1) - Zoey Draven Page 0,54
position, so fast he was a blur, and begin to sprint away, back towards the forest.
He didn’t make it far.
With a bellow, Arokan slammed the tip of his sword into the long chain that trailed behind the Ghertun, through one of the links. The gold sword rung and vibrated when it caught and the Ghertun gasped out a croaking breath when his neck jerked, choked by the collar, and fell with a heavy thud to the earth on his back.
Frozen, I watched as Arokan tore his sword from the earth, from the chain link, with a growl and stalked towards the scout.
“No, horde king,” the Ghertun choked out, his hands flailing in front of him when Arokan loomed close. “I didn’t mean to—please have mercy on—”
Arokan cut the Ghertun’s head away from his shoulders with one smooth, fast arc of his sword, right above the chained collar. It was so cleanly done, so expertly done, that the green blood didn’t appear for a few long, shocked moments.
I stared at the decapitated Ghertun, my blood rushing in my ears, even as it drained from my face.
Then my gaze trailed from the grotesque head that had rolled across the earth to Arokan, standing just above the still body.
The horde king was looking at me with an expression I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the meaning of.
Disbelief and horror made my stomach clench as I stared back at him.
That was when I heard the Dakkari warrior—the one who the Ghertun had attacked, because of me—groan in pain. I jerked my head over to him, saw that a Dakkari female was hovering over him, trying to stop the bleeding.
I tried to speak, tried to apologized, but the words were lodged in my throat, my tongue glued to the roof of my mouth.
Beyond that sight was the sight of the horde. All still kneeling, as shocked about the turn of events as I was. Most were looking at me, still splayed out on the cool earth.
I caught Hukan’s gaze. Her lips were pressed together, her expression knowing, like I’d just confirmed all her thoughts about me.
You’re an imposter, not fit to be queen, she told me with her eyes. She was almost smug about it.
Arokan approached, sheathing his blade at his hip. Reaching out, he tugged me up into a standing position, though I swayed on my feet and my elbow gave a throb of pain.
He handed me off to one of the guards who hadn’t been attacked.
“Take her away,” he ordered, then seemed to realize he spoke in the universal tongue. In Dakkari, he repeated his orders and the guard inclined his head, taking my arm and leading me from the clearing.
My breath hitched and I looked back to the injured guard. “Wait, will he be—”
“I will deal with you later,” Arokan rasped, his dark eyes on me. Then he turned his back, going to kneel next to the guard on the ground.
Tears burned the backs of my eyes but I looked forward and allowed the guard to lead me back towards the tent.
Now you’ve really made a mess of things, Luna, I told myself quietly, that heavy blood red pendant pressing against my chest.
Chapter Eighteen
Arokan didn’t return to the tent until the crescent moon was already high in the sky.
I was sitting, in my pants and tunic, on a floor cushion with my knees pulled up to my chest, listening to the quiet, to the gentle flicker of the candle flames, when he ducked inside.
My gaze darted to him and I inhaled a slow breath. All day I’d prepared for this, but it still didn’t prepare me for the shame I felt when I saw his expression.
The afternoon and evening had not calmed his ire towards me. It showed, plain as day. I thought of his strength, how easily he’d killed the Ghertun, and for the first time since he’d taken me from my village…I wondered if he would hurt me too.
Whatever he would do to me…I could take, I thought, steeling my spine though I didn’t quite meet his gaze fully.
“How is the warrior?” I asked softly. It was a question I’d thought constantly since I left the clearing. He’d been hurt because of me, because I’d distracted Arokan by questioning his decision, because I’d prolonged an execution that had always been inevitable.
“He will heal,” Arokan said, his voice terse.
Relief went through me, though it was slight. “Can I…can I see him?”