Madness of the Horde by Zoey Draven

Chapter Seven

Dizziness made me want to squeeze my eyes shut—but when I did, it only made the sensation worse. The only thing keeping me from toppling over was his possessive hold, which only tightened when the other Vorakkar came rushing inside the overheated room.

“Leave us,” the horde king beneath me drawled almost lazily, a grin on his features as he taunted the other male. “Can you not see we are busy?”

I sucked in a breath when he leaned forward and brushed his lips across the bite he’d given me. As he did, his eyes never left the other Vorakkar, the one who’d given me his furs when I’d been naked in the washing tub.

That spot on my neck tingled.

The other male was furious. I heard it in his tone when he rasped from the doorway, “They call you the Mad Horde King for good reason and now I finally understand why.”

Mad Horde King?I thought, my mind flashing to the darkness I’d felt swirling within him, the remnants of unfathomable agony.

Yes, I could believe the Dakkari called him that.

I felt the way the male underneath me stiffened, though that smirk never slid from his face. Did he not like to be called that? Did it insult him? Hurt him?

Then his eyes refocused on me and up close, I saw inky strands of black threading through the red of his irises. He leaned forward, his lips brushing my ear as he said, “Maybe I will take your tempting offer, leikavi.”

Before I could react, he released me, standing up and sliding me down onto the cushion.

He would help me?

Is that what he meant?

But for a price...

I knew exactly what he wanted, what he expected if he helped me.

I shivered, sitting sprawled in the hide tunic he’d given me, one that reached my knees.

“Finish eating, kalles,” he ordered, every bit the male who expected to be obeyed. Then his gaze trailed to the other Vorakkar, who still held his sword outstretched between them. “Then sleep. I will return later.”

Though I’d been exhausted before, I wasn’t tired now. Not in the least. Stepping past the other Vorakkar, he snagged his sword from its resting place next to the chest and stepped from the room.

As for the other male, the one who’d given me the furs, he seemed to trust the Mad Horde King enough to show him his back as he asked me, “Are you…injured, kalles?”

Injured?

I frowned but then lowered my head, looking down into my lap. “No.”

I sensed that the male hesitated. Only for a moment. Then I heard the whispering of a blade as he sheathed his sword and then his heavy footsteps retreated back into the hallway.

“You will be safe here,” he said quietly to me. “I promise you.”

I squeezed my fists at my sides, tensed, waiting. Then I sagged with relief once the door closed behind him…and I was left alone.

My eyes flashed up to the door and I rushed over to it, dragging the armchair the Mad Horde King had been sitting on with difficulty. I wedged it against the door though my arms shook with the effort. I knew it wouldn’t be enough to stop a Dakkari from entering, but at least it would give me time to prepare.

When I felt marginally safer, I went to sink down at the low table again, placing my back against the wall, staring at the door. My heart was still throbbing in my chest and when I placed my palm over it, it beat a frenzied rhythm against it.

Whether it was from the brew or the tingling bite on my neck—or both—I didn’t know.

There was a stranger in my skin. When I’d opened up my senses to the horde king, just moments ago, I’d felt the stinging urge of desire and arousal…but what frightened me most was that I didn’t know if it stemmed from him or from me. Or were his emotions influencing my own?

It had never happened before. When I used my gift and felt others’ emotions, there was a sense of detachment. A sense of detachment I’d relied on to protect me like a shield or else it would be too overwhelming.

But with him…

I swallowed.

With him, it was different. His emotions tore at me and I felt them deeply. His pain, his darkness…his desire. They became my own, if only briefly.

My stomach growled then, my appetite suddenly awakening. I dragged my gaze away from the door, down to the food in front of me. More food than I’d ever seen at one time.

Did it come at a price?

Everything did.

The Mad Horde King wanted me, desired me for whatever reason. I flushed, remembering how I’d shamelessly begged him for his help.

But he helped me before,I knew. He’d helped me slip away from the guards, last night on the streets of Dothik. Perhaps he would help me again.

I’d given him a truth. I would do whatever it took to help my family. They were depending on me. And if I failed, I would never see them again. Because if I failed, it meant my death.

Already, I was running out of time. I could almost feel the poison thickening my blood like a countdown.