Was it hope?She did not know, since she had not seen such an emotion in a long time.
She wasn’t sure how to reply when he looked at her like that.Her heart felt strangely uncomfortable."My Lord, I am Azul of the Borjigin,” her eyes crinkled.“I do not lose.”
That was all the answer she could give him."Even a pact with a devil needs a thread of faith, or it’s just mutually assured destruction."
"Khatun, who is your chi?"
They held each other’s gaze for a moment.Azul finally replied, after a smile, one that entrapped his heart as it pulled across her lips.Was he questioning her abilities?
"My Lord."Her voice was soft.It sent a chill up his spine."If I tell you I don’t know, would you believe me?"
He believed her.
If he kept her eyes on him, she wouldn’t notice the blood that stained the edge of his robes or the bodies that were dragged behind the shrine.
Ragnar’s eyes flickered to the top of the trees; eyes meeting those of a spy, he watched as the man withdrew, disappearing into the darkness.
“Then please stay here before you leave.”
His heart thumped.
If she asked so sweetly, how could he decline?
Chapter 25
Thanehadn'tintendedtoend up here.He'd intended to check the palace perimeters, speak with the night watch, and return to his own room for a few hours of sleep before dawn.That had been the plan.
"The Great Khan," Kaida said, each word punctuated by a sharp thrust."He's really going to marry her?"
Her head was in the sheets, so her voice was muffled, the loudest sound in the room being skin against skin.
"He's an idiot, and now this issue with the viper—" He groaned."Isn't helping the situation."Sweat dripped down his muscles; he took her with deep, delirium-inducing strokes.
Kaida struggled to speak, her legs losing strength with each passing thrust.
"Don't get weak on me," Thane teased, smirking."Tell me about the viper; don't stop."He gripped her hips, pulling her in.
"The viper."She managed."You've…seen the symbol, yes?"She took some time to breathe, cursing between breaths."It's been appearing everywhere this past year.No one knows who it belongs to.But Nyraxa thinks—" A moan escaped her lips, and Thane steadied his pacing.
"Nyraxa thinks what?"
"Nyraxa thinks it belongs to someone in the Borjigin palace."Kaida gasped."That place is a den of vipers if ever there was one.Someone's been sending messages.The question is who."
Thane's harsh grunts punctuated the room as Kaida's body tensed; she muffled her scream, pressing her face into his pillows.Thane slowed, panting; he looked down at the beautiful tanned skin underneath him, firm and muscular.
"Which Elder?"he asked.
Kaida took her time recovering."What makes you think it's a man?"
"I—" Thane hesitated."It's a symbol of power.A mark left on enemies.That's what men of the trade usually do."
Kaida laughed, rolling on her back and sitting up.She scooted to the edge of the bed, taking her clothes so she could dress herself."Women have been playing this game since before your ancestors learned to ride.We just don't get credit for it.Because when we win, it looks like luck.When we lose, it looks like hysteria.And when we leave our mark no one thinks to look for a woman's hand."
"Her," Thane said quietly.
Kaida smiled."Now you're thinking."
"The viper belongs to her."
