His yellow-rimmed eyes came to me once the warriors departed, until it was just the three of us in the tent.
“I have offered your brother a place in this horde,” Arokan told me.
My lips parted, my eyes widening.
“He knows my terms,” my husband said, his expression still careful. “He has not yet told me he will accept my offer, but perhaps after speaking with you,rei Morakkari, he will. I will leave you to speak.”
I caught my husband’s arm before he ducked out of the tent. I squeezed his forearm, holding his gaze, as I whispered, “Thank you.”
He inclined his head. I knew there would be much to discuss with him later, but right now, I needed to make sure my brother was alright.
“There will be guards posted outside,” Arokan told me, though it was perhaps more for my brother’s ears than mine. My horde king didn’t trust my brother. Not yet.
Hopefully in time, he would.
I nodded and then he left, leaving me alone with Kivan.
I immediately embraced my brother again before cupping his face in my hands, inspecting him.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” I whispered, tears tracking down my cheeks.
He frowned, reaching out to trace them. “I’ve never seen you cry before, Luna.”
I laughed, though it sounded slightly hysterical. “I’m happy. So happy that you’re here. I’ve thought about you so much. You’re always on my mind.”
“You’re always on mine,” Kivan said, though his shoulders dropped. He closed his eyes for a long moment and then said, his tone grave, “Luna, I’m so sorry. You’re here because of me. I can’t tell you how sorry—”
“Shhh, Kivan,” I tried to soothe, frowning. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”
“But that Dakkari—the horde king!” Kivan said, his voice hushed. “He—he—”
“He is…” I trailed off with a small smile, not quite knowing how to explain Arokan of Rath Kitala.
He was the strongest, most honorable male I’d ever met. He was everything a leader should be, needed to be, and more.
Finally, I said, “He’s not what you think, Kivan. He’s good to me.Morethan good to me.”
His expression told me he didn’t believe me. “Luna,” he urged quietly. “You’re confused. You don’t know these Dakkari. They—”
I was surprised by how defensive I felt, how quick I was when I argued, “No,youdon’t know them, Kivan. You have no idea who they are. But I’ve lived among them for over six weeks now. They have accepted me as their own.”
Well, with the exception of one, I thought, thinking of Hukan.
Kivan looked at me, seemingly surprised by my tone. “Luna…I—”
“I’ve been treated well,” I continued. “I’ve been fed, I’ve been protected, I’ve been safe. I’velivedhere,” I whispered, “and not simplysurvivedhere. There’s a difference and I didn’t realize that until theVorakkarbrought me to his horde.”
“You…youlikebeing here?” Kivan asked, disbelief in his tone.
“Yes,” I answered immediately. “So much so that whenever I’ve thought about the village, about you, I’ve felt guilty.”
Kivan blinked.
With a deep breath, I said, “The horde king…he means more to me than you realize, Kivan.”
“What?” he asked, in disbelief. “You cannot mean that.”
“I do,” I answered. “He’s my husband.”
