Ever since, I had thought him undisciplined and weak. He’d chosen his selfish needs above what was best for his horde. For what did a human female know of being a queen to the Dakkari? I had decided long ago that I would not bind myself to a female for love, or pleasure, or temporary madness. I would only take aMorakkarifor my horde who would strengthen it, who would bear me strong heirs that would continue to rule the wild lands long after I passed into the next world.
So why was I so incredibly tempted by the human female before me, who offered herself to me in the old way, with words that made my cock rise and my strength leave me?
Like the fog, she was making it difficult to think. Like the fog, she was feeding off me. That was my first clue that something was wrong.
She’s not real, I told myself. Only a fantasy. An imagining.
I shook my head, feeling the fog creep closer.
Nik. This was wrong. It wasn’t right. I only needed to clear my mind and—
Her touch was cool and electric. Her fingers grazed the back of my hand, tracing the thick veins that ran across it, mingled with the scars.
I shivered, a rough guttural growl falling from my throat. Her touch made my tail twitch, made mydevapulse.
“Lo rune tei’ri, Vorakkar,” she said again in a whisper.
The fog began to shroud my vision once more. She guided my hand to her waist and the warmth of her flesh heated my blood. Instead of pulling away, my palm gripped her tight, as if I was afraid she’d disappear entirely, as quickly as she’d arrived.
Her touch found my other hand and I watched with hooded eyes as she brought it up to her lips. With gentleness, like I was a beast that needed taming, her lips brushed a scar I’d received during theVorakkarTrials and I felt my cock throb with that softness.
She took a step backwards but since I was loathe to release her, I followed her. My grip tightened. Was that a flare of alarm I spied in her eyes?
“What are you doing to me?” I demanded, though my tone was as gentle as her kiss as I followed her every step. I couldn’t look away. Nothing could pull my gaze from hers. If she took it from me, I would do anything to reclaim it.
Again, she didn’t speak, though her lips parted as though she was about to.
“You are mine, you say?” I rasped, my voice darkening. “Then give me your words again,kalles.”
I tugged my hand away from her grip and cupped her jaw, tilting her small face up towards me. She felt real enough, warm and soft. But I still felt like my mind was swirling, like I was deep within a fog.
The fog…
What was I supposed to be remembering? The buzzing was starting again, though not as loud as before.
Nik, this wasn’t right, this wasn’t—
“Will you help me?” she asked, that goddess-like voice drawing my rapt attention.
She spoke in the universal tongue this time and my brow furrowed in confusion. She saw the small movement and reached out to grip my wrist, stroking over the golden cuffs that bound my wrists. MyVorakkarcuffs.
“What is it that you need,kalles?” I asked. “Tell me and I will give it to you.”
“Take me back to your horde,” she murmured, her eyes glowing. An expression flashed over her face. Surprise? “Please?”
Lysi.
Take her back to the horde. Back to my furs. And keep her there, came the thought, primal and sovokkingright.
“I will,” I vowed to her. Something nudged forward in my mind, just as the buzzing grew to dizzying heights. “I swear it to you,kalles. I will keep you safe.”
Vok, how long had I been within the fog?
My head snapped up, though the movement felt slow, and I peered around us. A thin barrier of clear air kept the red fog at bay but I realized…I realized I had gone too far inside it.
“This way,” she whispered, stepping back again. My legs felt heavy but I followed.
I shook my head. “Nik.Nik, kalles, my horde lies to the west.”
