It was…respect.
We rode through every possible road that connected the camp together until we reached the end. It was there I saw a celebration area had been erected. A raised dais with one golden throne stood off to the right, underneath the starry sky, against the backdrop of the silent landscape of Dakkar. Before that dais were rows and rows of tables filled with food and a cleared area for dancing, I assumed.
Arokan halted thepyrokiwhen we reached that area and turned to face his horde. With his hand still pressed to my very core, with all of their eyes still on us, Arokan bellowed out words in his language, which reverberated in my ear. Whatever he said was short. I heardkassikariandMorakkari, but the other words were alien to me, frustratingly so.
When he was done, the Dakkari cheered in their strange way, like war cries, rolling their tongues, the sound rising into the quiet night, as jarring as it was mesmerizing. Then, all at once, they released their lanterns and they rose into the black sky, lit by little flames that would flicker out long before they touched the earth.
My lips parted, watching the subtle glow within each of them shine through the thin, colorful lanterns. More than a hundred rose, some faster than others, until it seemed like the sky was peppered with a hundred new stars.
I’d never seen anything more beautiful. It was so beautiful that it made me forget what was to come that night.
Soon, the breeze picked up and the lanterns scattered and drifted away, still high in the sky. In the back of my mind, I wondered if one would carry all the way to my village, if my brother would see it.
Suddenly, drums started up and excited cries came from the Dakkari, who all started towards the celebration area.
Arokan’s hand suddenly left between my thighs as he dismounted hispyroki. I swung my leg over and he reached up to snag my waist, effortlessly helping me down. Then he kept that grip on my waist as he led me towards the raised dais, towards the throne.
There was only one seat and Arokan dropped down into it. Just when I began to suspect that I was meant to stand, he tugged me down onto hislap.
My breath hitched when my skirt rose and I wiggled to pull it down. Only his surprised groan made me freeze and I swallowed, my eyes flashing up to his.
“Continue,kalles,” he rasped in my ear, “if you wish for me to end this feast early.”
My cheeks flushed at his meaning as I straightened, feeling the fur cloth covering him settle against the backs of my thighs.
When I didn’t move an inch after that, he murmured, “You will eat tonight. No broth. Meat.”
My jaw clenched as I eyed the long tables of food, as I watched Dakkari gather around them and pick bite-sized morsels off the platters and pop them into their mouths. Cries of delight rose as they socialized with one another in a language I could not understand.
“No,” I said. “You know—”
“The horde will think it an insult if you do not,” he said. “You will eat.”
My shoulders sagged. It was one thing to refuse food in the privacy of the tent. But if I was going to be by Arokan’s side, I couldn’t disrespect his people. Not tonight.
“I will send a gift to your village,” he said next, making me gasp and turn to look at him. “Threebveri. That will be enough meat to feed them for months, if they dry it properly. If you eat from this moment forward, not just tonight, no more fighting me, I will do this.”
“Really?” I said softly.
He inclined his head. “Lysi.”
Relief so potent that it made tears sting my eyes overwhelmed me. This was a step in the right direction, evidence that the horde kingcouldhelp my village.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He regarded me with those yellow eyes. His tail, which had tucked to the side when he sat down, came up to wrap around my knee, the gold cuffs lining it chilly against my skin.
Slowly, I relaxed. As relaxed as I possible could be during a Dakkari marriage celebration with my breasts out, of course. Blowing out a small breath, my gaze darted over the forming crowd, noticing that many had their eyes on us. But just like on thepyroki, they averted their eyes whenever I made contact with them.
Other than mypiki,other than Arokan, I hadn’t held anyone’s gaze for longer than a couple seconds at camp. Even Lavi didn’t look at me for long.
Arokan seemed content to simply watch his people. His features were carefully schooled into an unreadable expression. Though his muscles were loose, his gaze was observant. Always aware…always ready. I wondered if he everrelaxed.
Soon, we were approached by a female, bearing a serving platter. She waited at the base of the dais until Arokan inclined his head and then she ascended the steps. She deposited a tray laden with food and drinks, which she perched on the wide arm of the throne.
With a bow, she turned and went back into the throng of the crowd below.
Arokan lifted a goblet made of white bone to my lips. “Drink,” he ordered.
