Hukri was standing at the entrance of thevoliki. Rakoni wasn’t with her today, which was probably for the best. The last few days, she’d entered thevolikiwithout warning, since Wrune hadn’t been sleeping there. This morning, however, everything was different.
“I am expected at the training grounds this morning,” Wrune murmured to me, those red eyes never leaving me. “And then I will meet with my council. To discuss the Dead Mountain,lysi?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hukri shift, but she kept her gaze straight forward, like she was a statue, though one that was trying to disappear.
“All right,” I said quietly, feeling that same hope I felt last night rise, overwhelming and wonderful.
“I’ll come find you later,” he murmured.
He would?
Wrune stood, the hide of his trews creaking behind his knees. He was wearing a tunic today as well, which stretched across the wide expanse of his chest. He’d already bathed. After my fourth orgasm, I must’ve dozed because I’d woken to the sight of him in a hot bath. An unexpectedly tantalizing view.
To Hukri, he inclined his head. “Piki.”
Hukri dropped her gaze in respect.
Wrune passed her but just before he ducked underneath the entrance, he told her, “Have the furs cleaned today,lysi?”
My face flamed but I didn’t sink underneath the water like I wanted to.
“Of course,Vorakkar,” Hukri said. I swore I heard a note ofreliefin her tone.
“I’ll clean them myself,” I called out, not wanting anyone to see the mess we’d made of them.
“You will do no such thing,” Wrune announced, casting a look over his shoulder at me. His expression was all satisfied arrogance, the maddening male. “Lysi?”
Then he disappeared from view, ducking under the flaps, and I heard his heavy footsteps begin to descend the slope from thevoliki.
I huffed out a breath.
“Sailon,” I muttered, though I knew he’d be able to hear me.
A sharp, short bark of a laugh told me he did but then it died as he strode away. I ignored the way that laugh made me feel and fought the smile that threatened to rise.
Still standing near the entrance, I saw Hukri glance my way, her eyes knowing and wide.
“Don’t say a word,” I groaned softly, sinking further into the bath as she approached. “Please.”
“I was very surprised to see him here this morning,” she noted, her tone reserved. Then she smiled, the scar down her face pulling with the expression. “Butdelighted. I knew it would happen eventually.”
“And what exactly did happen?” I asked quietly, though it was more to myself. “Because I’m still not sureIknow.”
“And you do not have to,Missiki. Kakkari has a way with these things,” she told me. “Sometimes, we must be patient to see the right path.”
I stilled. “Kakkari?”
“Lysi. TheVorakkarannounced at yourtassimara, to the entire horde, that he felt Kakkari’s guiding light within him when he first saw you,” Hukri said, a gentle, dreamy quality to her tone. “Considering the nature of ourVorakkar, I knew it was the truth.”
I looked down at the surface of the bath water, biting my lip.
He’d told the entire horde that he felt our meeting was fated?Beforethetassimara? Why did that send a fluttering feeling straight to my belly?
“His nature?” I asked, meeting her gaze once more.
Hukri kneeled next to the bathing tub.
“OurVorakkaris always so serious. He takes the responsibility as our protector, as our leader, with great consideration, as do many of the horde kings that roam our wild lands. It was partly why he was chosen to become one,” Hukri told me and I lapped up her words, processing them quickly. “He is always honest with us. SomeVorakkarslie to their hordes, especially when it comes to mounting danger. SomeVorakkarsthink it’s best to hide the truth to keep panic from rising. But ours has always been open about the danger of the fog. He knows that it is greater than any of us and he wants us to be prepared, should it come.”
