“I am eager to return to my horde,Dothikkar,” I said. “Our meetings have dragged on and I do not think yourentertainmentshelp matters.”
Two nights ago, he’d had a few of his concubines brought in to dance for him as we attempted to revisit the matter of the Ghertun testing their borders of the Dead Lands.
Rath Tuviri’s mother had been among them, a golden-haired beauty, rumored to be theDothikkar’sfavorite whore. I’d quite enjoyed studying the way Rath Tuviri’s jaw tensed so tight I thought it would crack and I’d smirked when he left the table, storming from the grand hall as theDothikkar’slaugh echoed around it. His mother’s eyes had tracked after him and I’d caught the brief downturning of her lips before they curled for the king when he leaned forward to suckle on her neck.
I’d been amused then because I didn’t quite like Rath Tuviri. I didn’t quite like any being outside my horde and I liked my fellowVorakkarsleast of all—because I knew just how cold and cruel they could be. I was one, after all.
But now, instead of amusement, I was annoyed and my temper was throbbing. All week, we’d been here. I was beginning to think theDothikkardidn’thavea plan regarding the Ghertun, that he would rely on the hordes to take care of the matter without the assistance of his army.
TheVorakkarsregarded me, perhaps surprised that I’d said anything at all. Even theDothikkarpaused in his perusal of his newest toy to send me a bewildered look.
Then his expression darkened, his eyes flickering briefly to theVorakkarsstill seated, before he turned to one of the female servants filling the tub. To her, he ordered, “Wash thevekkiri.Now.”
The female servant bowed her head, keeping her gaze averted from his eyes, as was expected. She crossed to Vienne, still standing motionless in her sheer dress, and the human female didn’t even flinch when the servant peeled it away from her body. The strange material crumbled like parchment around her on the floor, leaving her nude and shaking.
Clenching my fists, I looked away from her and straight into the eyes of theDothikkar. Old memories—my sister’s screams among them—arose, my pupils dilating with them.Theyhad humiliated my sister in much the same way.
I wondered about how harsh of a punishment I would receive if I assassinated theDothikkar. Right then. Right there. I imagined unsheathing my sword and plunging it into his widening gut, spilling his innards all over his clean floors in his grand hall. Perhaps the bloodlust was a little too bright in my eyes, which had perhaps begun to glow a brighter red, because theDothikkarrecoiled at whatever he saw and broke my gaze.
He hated that I wasVorakkar, no doubt, but he certainly liked the protection of my sword and the wares that passed from my horde.
He was wary of me because I was unpredictable. If only he knew the thoughts that went through my sick mind…he’d never let me into his prized city again.
TheVorakkarof Rath Kitala stood then, no doubt sensing the waves of rage rolling from my still form. He rounded the table and smiled easily at theDothikkar, cutting through the thickened tension that had suddenly rippled through the room. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rath Rowin’s hand twitch towards his sword.
Rath Kitala stopped in front of the bathing tub, shielding the smallvekkirifemale who had just entered its waters. TheDothikkarfrowned.
“Vekkirilike their privacy in matters like these,Dothikkar,” Rath Kitala said smoothly.
TheDothikkarpressed his lips together, his eyes flashing. “No doubt you have learned this from yourvekkiriMorakkari.”
His human queen, the one he had taken from a human settlement and settled in his furs instead.
“Among many things,lysi,” Rath Kitala replied. Though his tone sounded like a purr, there was a hardened edge to it, a subtle warning. TheDothikkarmight have power here, in his glittering city, but theVorakkarwas stronger, quicker. We all were.
A splash of water came from behind him and I heard, rather than saw, the female servant scrubbing down the girl relentlessly.
A gasp came next. From the servant. The sound of sloshing water suddenly came to a halt. A breath of a moment passed before it started back again, the scrubbing quicker, rougher.
All the while, theDothikkarstared across at theVorakkarof Rath Kitala, simmering anger seeming to heat the air around him.
Then came the small voice of the servant with, “She is bathed,Dothikkar.”
“Rothi kiv,” came his prompt snap and the servant immediately departed the grand hall, the others who’d brought in the bath water after her. Only the guard from the dungeons and theDothikkar’slead advisor, thePrikri, remained.
Rath Kitala removed the furs around his shoulders, leaving his own chest bare, and wordlessly handed it back to the girl, though he kept his eyes on the king.
There was shuffling, water plunking in fat droplets onto the floor. Vienne’s shackles chimed together.
Then came her voice from behind theVorakkar, soft and shuddering.
“Dothikkar, I have come to bring you a message from Lozza, the Ghertun king of the Dead Mountain.”
Even Rath Kitala drew an intake of breath and he stepped away, rounding to peer down at the human girl with disbelief.
It left her in full view and not only did my fists clench, my cock thickened, tightening the front of my trews. Even theDothikkarseemed to be at a loss for words as he stared, frozen in place.
And she was a sight to behold. Even theVorakkarof Rath Loppar drew forward in his chair, as if pulled by an unseen force.
