The tension in the circle suddenly doubled, the Dakkari males straightening even further, their golden swords dipping.
The messenger said, “Vorakkar?Erunkalles nekkar?”
“Lysi,” the horde king replied. The gold beads in his hair clinked together when he tilted his head. Addressing me in the universal tongue, he asked, “You wish to offer your life in exchange for your brother’s offense?”
I was proud my voice didn’t tremble as I said, “I do.”
“You are willing to die for him?” he asked next.
The memory of my mother’s last moments, begging me to protect Kivan, even as she choked on her own blood—so red it looked black on the ice—made my voice hoarse as I said, “I am.”
“Luna,no—”
“If I decide not to end your life or your brother’s,” the horde king murmured lowly, his gaze dropping down to my body again, his voice deepening even more, “will you serve me,kalles?”
There was no mistaking the meaning behind his words or the way his eyes roamed over the modest curves of my body. Goosebumps broke out over my flesh as I whispered, “Serve you?”
“Lysi,” he rasped.
He wanted me as his whore, wanted me to warm his bed, wanted to use my body for his pleasure…in exchange for my brother’s life.
There was no choice. I’d already made up my mind before they’d entered the village gates. This had always been the second possibility.
Dread swarmed in my belly. I felt like I was floating outside my body as I whispered, numb, “I will.”
Movement behind me made the horde king’s gaze snap away. Before I realized what had happened, Kivan had yanked one of the gold swords from one of the Dakkari’s grip and pushed me aside, his sudden strength surprising. But the sword was too heavy for him, sagging in both hands, even as he tried to swing it at the horde king, who easily dodged the clumsy maneuver.
Horror filled me. I cried out, “Kivan, stop!”
Fool, fool, fool!Surely they would kill himnow.
“Nik, pyroth!” the horde king ordered his Dakkari when they raised their weapons. They halted immediately, though they didn’t lower them, just simply stopped their advance. The horde king’s hand flashed out, gripping the sword by theedgeand he flung it out of my brother’s grasp with ease. He seemed to grow in size, his expression darkening, my brother’s actions yet again an insult to the Dakkari.
I swung on the horde king, stepping between them, holding my hands out in supplication. “P-please. I will go with you now. Please just do not…do not hurt him.”
His nostrils flared wide, but at least his attention was on me, not on my brother.
“Please,” I begged and I had never begged before in my life. I had no pride when it came to my brother, the only family I had left. “Please.Just take me. I promise I will serve you. I will do whatever you want, just do not hurt him.”
Long moments of thick tension lapsed. Even the Dakkari males seemed to wait for their horde king’s decision with bated breath.
He finally growled, “We ride outnow.”
Relief made me sag, but my reprieve was short.
In one swift movement, all the Dakkari sheathed their gold blades as the horde king turned back towards the entrance. My lips parted when I saw the scars across his back, as if he’d been whipped. Brutally.
“Come now,” he barked over his shoulder and halted, waiting for me.
Kivan stood, still encircled by the Dakkari, frozen from shock, fear, disbelief. I went to him, embracing him, which I never did.
Softly, I whispered, “Iwillsee you again. I promise.”
His arms were still at his sides. He didn’t want to accept this, but I wished he would return my embrace.
“Come,” the horde king commanded again. My heart squeezed in my chest, tears burning my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
“Go inside,” I said finally, pulling back. “Be safe, Kivan.”
