For the rest of my life.”
Hukan’s expression darkened.
“Leave now,” I said. “Don’t speak to me again unless absolutely necessary and I won’t tell Arokan about this, about how you planned to betray him by sneaking me away.”
“One day,” Hukan hissed, “he will ask me to send you away. When that day comes, I will rejoice.”
I bit my tongue, trying to keep my temper in check, and watched her spin and leave the tent without another word.
I brought a shaking hand up to my lips, anger enveloping me, though I tried to see reason. She was his blood relation. She was only trying to do what she thought was best for him.
But that didn’t matter.
I was his wife, his queen.
Act like it, Arokan had told me. He’d told me I was strong. He hadn’t even hesitated when I’d voiced my insecurities that I wasn’t strong enough.
But I was also human. Hukan accused me of having a big heart, but I wouldn’t be ashamed of that. I wouldn’t let her get to me.
So I didn’t care if I had to shovel pyroki shit for the rest of my life. I would do it.
Marching over to the tent’s entrance, I stepped outside into the late afternoon sunlight and looked at the scarred guard, who I knew spoke the universal tongue. I didn’t ask. A queen didn’t ask.
Instead, I demanded, “Take me to the warrior who was injured yesterday.”
Chapter Twenty
The tent was dark when I stepped inside, after the guard announced my presence. Guilt hit me in the stomach when I saw the injured warrior, sprawled out on his bed. A female was tending to him, his mate, I realized, and that guilt doubled.
“Hello,” I greeted, hoping that at least one of them spoke the universal tongue. “May I come in?”
The female nodded and relief went through me. “Morakkari,” she greeted, inclining her head, standing from beside the bed.
The warrior was eyeing me in surprise. His right thigh was bandaged all the way to his knee. It was elevated on cushions and I pressed my lips together, my shoulders sagging.
“I…” I trailed off. Incense was burning in the tent, similar to the one that had been burning in Hukan’s, though not quite as potent. The female had been grinding up herbs in a pestle, probably for her mate’s wound, to decrease the risk of infection. Clearing my throat, I met the warrior’s eyes and said, “I wanted to apologize.”
The female made a sound in the back of her throat, but the warrior kept my gaze.
“It was my fault you were injured,” I said. “I made a mistake. I have come to ask your forgiveness.”
Both of their gazes were wide and the female blinked rapidly, processing my words.
The warrior averted his eyes—which I took as a good sign—as he said, “Morakkari, you do not need to apologize.”
“I do,” I said simply. “And don’t say I don’t need to because of the Vorakkar. I want to apologize, for putting you in danger. The Vorakkar made the right decision. I see that now. And I’m so grateful that no one else was hurt due to my foolishness. Please, warrior, accept my apology.”
Arokan might be upset to know that I’d come there, after he told me I couldn’t see the warrior. But I didn’t care. It was what I should’ve done first thing that morning.
The warrior didn’t hesitate. For a brief flash, he met my gaze and then looked away. “I do, Morakkari. Thank you for honoring our voliki with your presence.”
His acceptance didn’t make all the guilt go away, but I felt slightly better now that I’d come.
“Thank you,” I said. “Kakkira vor.”
Words that Mirari had taught me. They meant ‘thank you’ in Dakkari, or at least I hoped they did. By the small, albeit warm, smile the female gave me, I hoped I didn’t butcher the words.
“I’ll let you rest,” I said softly with a smile at both of them. “But if you don’t mind, I’d like to check in on you later. I can bring you your meals.”
I turned then but the warrior called out, “Morakkari.” I looked at him. “There is talk throughout the horde you worked in the pyroki enclosure this morning.”
“I did,” I said hesitantly.
“The mrikro, the pyroki master,” he started and I assumed he meant the grumpy elderly Dakkari, “enjoys hji. It is a fruit. You can acquire it from one of the merchants near the front of the camp. It will…soften him towards you.”
Bribery. The warrior was telling me to