“I neither like you nor dislike you,” she told me, looking back at me, holding my gaze. “And I do not hold grudges. You had to punish me because of your king and so you did. It is not my place to question the justness of your laws. This is your planet, after all, and I knew it was forbidden. But unless I break any more of your laws, I have no reason to fear you, yes?”
“You called me a demon,” I reminded her. “You seemed to fear me then.”
Thatdrew an uncomfortable expression from her and her eyes darted away. “You are one,” she informed me, her voice certain and firm. “But maybe you cannot help it.”
I had the strangest urge to laugh, but I feared I’d forgotten how. This otherworldly creature, who both mesmerized and maddened me, drew me to the edge of something I’d never explored, something I wasn’t sure I wanted to.
But did I have a choice? She would pull me over to the other side whether I liked it or not.
Vodan’s words of caution flickered through my mind.
You cannot be swayed. And this female? She sways you. She will.
Sobering, I knew I had to tread carefully. I was aVorakkar. Despite Kakkari’s guiding light, despite what I knew to be true, my horde would always come first. Vodan worried because he believed this female would make a home for herself in my mind, that I would forget who I was—what I’d become—because of her.
It was a ridiculous notion, but I had seen it happen before. It had happened to theDothikkar. A female prostitute had whispered into his ear, asking him to grant me entrance into the Trials, though before, only those that came from ancient bloodlines were considered for the position ofVorakkar. I did not even carry my father’s name. I had grown up in the streets ofDothik. No one had known me. I’d stolen to eat. I’d lied to live.
It had sparked outrage in the capitol. Because of that prostitute—my mother—I entered the Trials, breaking centuries of tradition simply due to whispered suggestions and unspoken promises in theDothikkar’sbed.
Females were powerful creatures. Dangerous ones. I’d learned that from my mother and I would not underestimate thevekkiri kallesstanding in front of me, stroking thepyroki’ssnout. Thepyrokiseemed just as enthralled by her as I was and I wondered if shedidpossess a power of her own.
“When can I return to my village?” she asked.
“You wish to?” I asked, my voice nothing but a dark rasp.
She shivered and I frowned. “I don’t know,” she said. “But I am afraid to stay.”
“Why?”
She exhaled, her breath puffing out in front of her. She took her hand away from thepyroki, giving it one last pat.
“Because I think I could like it here,” she said. I noticed she patted the pocket in her freshly crafted pants and I saw something there. She’d done it almost unconsciously, as if reassuring herself. “And I don’t like being disappointed.”
Taking a step towards her, I saw the way her eyes flickered up to me in surprise when I drew close. I’d been a thief once, so she didn’t feel it when I slipped my fingers into her pocket.
But her dark eyes did go wide when I pulled the small bundle out swiftly and inspected what it was that she hid.
Her cheeks went a little red again and my lips pressed together when I saw it was wrapped food, squashed into a ball, the meat sticking to thekuveriloaf, blending the colors and textures together.
Though her cheeks were red, I noticed she tilted her chin up, meeting my eyes directly, as if daring me to challenge her.
“It is a hard habit to break,” I told her instead, “but you do not need to do this. Not here. There is always food, even in the cold season.”
Even still, I rewrapped the food and held it out to her, knowing she would feel more comforted having it close.
“Eat that by nightfall so the meat does not spoil,” I said. “I do not want you sick again.”
Her features were expressive, so I knew my words surprised her. She plucked the bundle from my hand, her small, cold fingers brushing mine, and hastily hid her food away again.
“And you should not give your name so freely,” I told her next.
She frowned. “Why not?”
“To the Dakkari, given names are important. Those who know yours have power over you.”
“What is your name then?” she tried, dangerous creature that she was, looking up at me in expectation.
I was tempted to grin. I was tempted to tell her. A selfish, foolish part of me wanted to, just to see how her mind would use it against me.
