Page 54 of Horde King’s Claim

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Visla

Iwoke up the next morning with Khol’s arms around me. He was already awake at the time, stark-naked and watching as I slept. He also greeted with a hard-on that I couldn’t pass on. After two rounds of sex, we finally separated to take showers and make a late morning meal.

Even though, Khol stepped outside to talk to his men a few times while we enjoyed breakfast, I knew he was always close by. Either that, or one of his trusted hordesman was on duty. But this was no way to live. I wouldn’t call it fear but worry from being retaliated against because of a jealous spiteful bitch.

The third time he went outside to discuss business, I got restless and looked out through the window only to be met with the grim image of Zorfov sulking in the sun under the same tree Khol had strapped him to. He’d been there since yesterday. There was a bucket of water with a paddle and what looked like a cloth with half-eaten pieces of bread, but he looked like a sitting duck already—a dead man. I felt sorry for him, but I couldn’t remember anyone bringing me food or water while I was cooped up in that underground prison.

The chains on the door shook and Khol came inside with something folded in his arms. It looked like a fresh tunic made for a woman.

“You are peeping at my prisoner, I see,” he joked.

“I was not,” I lied, and then, “Well maybe I was, but in truth, I was looking for you.”

“I’m sorry, Visla. This will all be over soon, but there are some things that will uncomfortable that must happen first.” He looked away and at the ground.

“What will you do with Zorfov?”

“He must die.”

I didn’t object. Khol had already decided his fate before the traitor was even captured and after hearing about the way he treated women and children and planned to have them meet unfortunate accidents in the hopes that they might end up dead, I didn’t blame Khol. None of this was just about me. Sanjit had come along and uprooted colonies that were doing just fine without her cruel intervention.

Khol handed me the folded tunic.

“What is this for?” I asked, smiling.

“A nice woman made it for you. She says that she was too afraid to give it to you a few days ago, but she wants you to have it. I told her I’d bring it to you personally.”

“Too afraid? Of me. I don’t want to give anyone that impression.”

“She knows that you’re special to me and wanted to gift you with this.”

I unfolded it and held it up in front of me. “It is blue. And it’s beautiful.”

He grinned. “Yes, like you, Visla. You’re stunning.” He leaned in the kissed my forehead softly.

I set the tunic aside. “Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”