I’d slept longer than I usually did myself, waking with the sun bright overhead deep into the afternoon. Even then, I’d probably only roused because a young Dakkari female had brought in a meal. She’d left without a word and I’d risen to eat because I’d beenravenous.
After my meal and after I’d dressed, I sat on the edge of the bed of furs, waiting. I felt different. My body felt changed and I was sore in places I never knew existed. When I moved too quickly, I felt aching twinges and I was reminded of how deep Davik had been inside my body, the way he’d bellowed with his release, his deep, pensive expression afterwards.
Then I recalled our fight, the energy I’d felt in the shadows of thevoliki, him returning early in the morning hours, pulling me close in his furs.
“Drokka,” came a voice from outside thevoliki’sentrance.
My heart leapt in my throat and then I peered down at Davik.Drokka. I’d heard that before, hadn’t I? What did that mean in Dakkari? Was that the name others called him, those that didn’t know his given name?
Davik didn’t rouse so I rose from the bed, striding hesitantly towards the entrance.
Golden evening sunlight greeted me when I stepped out. As did the hulking bulk of a Dakkari male, who was clearly surprised to see me in place of theVorakkar.
“Kalles,” the male said, his eyes flitting behind me, gaze narrowing. “Where is theVorakkar?”
I wondered if this male was Davik’s second-in-command. What had he called his title?
Pujerak, I remembered.
“He’s sleeping,” I told him, relieved that the male spoke the universal tongue. I bit my lip. “He’s been sleeping all day, actually. I’m a little worried.”
The male leveled me a strange look, running his eyes down my body and back up. Not in a way that made me uncomfortable, but it struck me as assessing.
“Did he sleep last night?” the male asked, keeping his voice low.
I flushed.
“Not much,” I hedged.
“The night before?”
I felt the color in my cheeks deepen further.
“Not much,” I repeated. The male blew out a sharp breath. “Are you…are you hispujerak?”
The dark-haired male tilted his head at me. His eyes weren’t red, like Davik’s, but rather gold. He looked to be around Davik’s age, however, a Dakkari male in his prime.
“Lysi, I am,” the male rasped.
“What does Drokka mean?” I asked next. “Unless you’re not allowed to say.”
Thepujerak’s gaze went back to thevoliki’sentrance. “Drokka is theVorakkar’sline and the designation for this horde. He is theVorakkarof Rath Drokka. We are all Rath Drokka because this is our home and horde. You see?”
Davik of Rath Drokka.
I nodded. I shifted on my feet and then winced when I felt a deep muscle pull slightly.
Thepujerakfrowned at my wince. His eyes ran back down my body and then up again, as if searching for something. But I didn’t know what.
“Would you like to check on him?” I asked. “Just to make sure he isn’t…unwell.”
Thepujerak’seyes widened. Then he laughed, the sound making me start.
“Kalles, here is some advice. Let him sleep,” he said once his laugh faded. “He needs it. When he goes without for too long…”
He trailed off, his expression sobering. I thought of the shadows in thevolikilast night and Davik’s stricken expression.
“He needs it,” was what he repeated, not saying anything more. Already, he was turning his back to me. Over his shoulder, thepujeraksaid, “When he wakes, tell him to find me. Tell him athesperhas come fromDothik.”
