Captive of the Horde King (Horde Kings of Dakkar, #1)

by Zoey Draven

“Relax, kalles,” he murmured. When I chanced a look at him, I saw his eyes were on me, heavy lidded. “I will not fuck you this night.”

“You believe you will be my whore, kalles?” he finally asked. Confusion made my brows furrow and I licked my lips as I said, “Isn’t that what you meant?” The horde king grinned, though it was small and dark. Still, it made my breath hitch. “Nik, you will not be my whore,” he rasped, his voice deepening. I gasped, my body going tight when he brushed his fingertips over my pebbled nipple before thumbing it back and forth in a way that made my hands shake, the sensation foreign and new. “Nik, you will be my kassikari. You will be my Morakkari.” My head went foggy as he continued his caress over my other nipple, but when I tried to squirm away, his tail wrapped around my waist, holding me fast and firm, surprising me with its strength. “What…what is that?” I asked, trying to focus. “I will claim you in the old way, in the old Dakkari tradition,” he told me, which only confused me even more. “You will not be my whore, kalles. You will be my queen.”

“Arokan,” he rasped softly, sending goose bumps over my arms. “My given name is Arokan of Rath Kitala. Now, sleep, kalles.” Arokan.

I would be his wife, but I wouldn’t be his victim. I wouldn’t let him break me. That had never been part of the deal.

“I heard the courage in your voice before I ever saw your face. A human kalles daring to stand against the Dakkari… I was intrigued. I needed to see you. And when I saw your face, your eyes, I knew. Kakkari revealed you to me. I knew you would be my queen. You are strong and you are brave and you were loyal to your kin. That is why.”

“My mother had been mauled by one of your wild pyroki, outside the protection of our village,” I told her, holding her gaze, straightening. I stepped forward so that I was close, so that she would hear me when I whispered, “I killed her myself with a blade to ease her suffering. I was fifteen years old. So don’t tell me what I have the spine or the stomach for. You know nothing about me.”

“Nik. I took you because I wanted you for myself. I do not care that you are human. That never mattered.” “It should,” I whispered. “I told you it would’ve been easier—easier for your people to accept a queen if she was Dakkari.” “I do not want easy,” he murmured. “Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.”

“Dakkari…” I started hesitantly. “They only take one mate?” His expression darkened. “Do humans take multiple? Is this something I need to consider in my future with you? Because I will never allow you to take another or so much as touch another male. Know this, Morakkari. Absolutely not. You will ensure his death if you do.”