In my ear, he rasped, “You honor me, my Luna. I am proud to be your male.”
Afterwards,I laid against the cushions in our bed, flushed from pleasure, from head-to-toe. My horde king had been thorough and insatiable and I’d loved every moment of it.
I stroked his hair, threading my fingers through it, as he rested his head on my belly. Though the baby was only beginning to grow, while it would still be a while before I began to show, Arokan pressed words into my flesh.
Dakkari words. Soft and low. Some words I understood, but most I did not. Regardless, his voice brought tears to my eyes because I knew they were words of hope, of love, of promise.
Arokan would make a wonderful father. That I knew with certainty.
Ourvolikiwas quiet and warm. My husband was pressed against me and ever so slowly, his words lulled me into sleep.
Everything was falling into place. We’d arrived to our new camp safely, my brother and I had reunited, the distance between Hukan and I was lessening, and now I was pregnant with Arokan’s child.
But that night, though I lay in the safety and warmth of my horde king’s arms, my dreams were dark.
As dark as the black vine forest.
As if Kakkari herself was warning me what would come next.
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Water?” Jriva asked, the young boy sounding out the word slowly. Working with me at thepyrokipen, he’d picked up a few universal tongue words,waterbeing one of them.
“Nik,” I said, smiling, reaching out to ruffle his hair, just like I did with my brother. The boy grinned. “Tei runi.”
You go.
Jriva was due for a break. Themrikrostill had a cough from the journey—due to the dry weather in the southlands and the dirt he’d inhaled along the way—and the elderly Dakkari decided to rest that day in his tent, at the instructions of the healer. So it was just Jriva and I working in the enclosure.
I watched the young boy nod and then exit out the gate, running towards the front of the camp where the water barrels were kept. Knowing Jriva, he would probably try his chance at charming somebverimeat or some of thekuverisweet bread from the cooks while he was there.
Alone with thepyroki, I blew out a long breath and wiped at some of the sweat on my forehead. That morning, I’d gotten a late start due to morning sickness. It had reared its head the past couple mornings, leaving me tired and pale. Arokan had stayed with me longer than he should’ve that morning, worried, hovering over me as I emptied my stomach into the chamber pot.
He did not like seeing me sick. He’d sent for the healer and she’d mixed together a tea, which had helped settle my stomach. After an hour resting in bed, I couldn’t stand another moment in the tent, so I’d gone to thepyrokipen, though Arokan had protested.
I wouldn’t be cooped up in the tent for the duration of my pregnancy, so I would simply push past any discomfort. Morning sickness was temporary, but the satisfaction I felt working was lasting.
A short distance away, I saw Kivan hard at work too. Since Arokan said he had a proclivity for crops—considering he’d burned the earth in order to enrich it—Kivan was planting purple Dakkari grain, which would be harvestable in just a few months, even with the cold season coming. I didn’t know how long we would remain in the southlands, but Arokan seemed to think long enough to grow a small field of crops.
Kivan caught my eye and I gave him a little wave. He nodded, giving me a small grin I hadn’t seen in a long time, and went back to digging out a watering trench for the field.
The sun was low in the sky, casting deep golden rays. In the distance, I heard the laughter of a Dakkari child. Even from thepyrokienclosure, I smelled the delicious aroma of warm spiced meat and simmering broth, wafting from the front of the camp. There would be a communal meal that night to celebrate our new home and it was the perfect, peaceful evening for one. I was looking forward to it.
Hukan emerged from between two tents, coming into sight, two baskets looped around her arms. Her eyes sought me out in the pen and then she they turned to my two guards.
In Dakkari, she addressed them and I watched them exchange looks before gazing over at me.
“Is something wrong?” I asked, approaching the fence of the enclosure, brow furrowed.
“Nik, Morakkari,” Hukan said, inclining her head, when my eyes met hers. “I was wondering if you would help me.”
“With what?” I asked.
“The females need freshkuverifor the grand meal tonight. Many of them and quickly. I fear I cannot gather enough on my own, so I would like to request your help.”
My eyes turned to the black vine forest before returning to her, biting my lip. I was reminded that our relationship was still precarious. Her coming to me for help was surely another step in the right direction, wasn’t it?
I nodded, exiting the enclosure. “Of course,” I said, taking one of the baskets from her when she offered it to me. “I’d be happy to.”
