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“Except you.” I took the gem and plopped it in the bucket with the other gems.

“Especially me. I am responsible for everyone in the colony.”

I swallowed, knowing that Khol spoke the truth. Ever since his warriors arrived and he became king, no one feared for their lives. After all, we had an entire horde protecting our borders.

“Before I became a warrior, do you know what I did?” he asked.

I turned to look at him. Even still, he took my breath away. “What?”

“I fished. My ma made us do it. We fished and sold it at the markets in a now-defunct settlement that was named Trizur. It’s where the name of my horde came from. Fishing taught me patience—and also how to secure my own food.”

I smiled. “If there’s one thing I learned about you, it’s that you’re patient.”

I shuffled through the remaining sediment and stood up. “I was just leaving. I’m tired. I want to go home.”

He stood as well and placed his hands on my back. “I’ll walk with you.”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Yes. The other option is me carrying you home.” He smiled.

I grinned and shook my head. “I’m not that tired. You can walk with me.”

He grabbed my bucket from me and we began walking. I didn’t miss the looks the other women working at the stream gave me when we passed. He gave each one a nod when they smiled at him. The rumors about us would only intensify. A servant girl getting help from the new king. A couple of small boys ran up to him and he tousled and patted them all on the head and asked them their names. It was nice seeing this side of Khol.

“You’re popular,” I said.

“For someone who doesn’t like large crowds and too much attention, that’s always surprising…and terrorizing.”

“Then why did you become King?”

“I didn’t have a choice. I was chosen because of my accomplishments as a horde king.”

“They say that you’re related by blood to King Oderas,” I noted.

“That’s true. My brother, Ghid and I, are considered royal by blood. But our side of the family chose other duties that were not related to pursuing the crown of all of Xalxa 5. Varras, who was murdered by Magdul, was second in line. And Oderas’s son, who is currently too young to receive the throne, is first.”

“I see.”

With his free hand, Khol took my hand and threaded my finger with his. “I need to explain something. We’ve only been together for a short time, but you understand politics enough to know how things must work in Xalxa.”

“Sort of. Until you came along, I lived at the castle most of my life.”

“My brother and I are prepared to ally with Princess Sanjit. Not only is this approved but expected by the king. We’ll join resources to better protect this side of Xalxa. The Isles is more vulnerable to attack, but those lands will provide us precious resources that involve trading with other colonies.”

“It’s a sound plan and I can’t advise you against it. I just had a bad feeling with Sanjit. I shouldn’t. Maybe it was the way she insulted me. I know she’s a princess and everything, but…”

“You’re right. Her mouth has gotten her in trouble numerous times. We’ll be seeing more of her unfortunately with this union,” he said.

“Union?”

“I suspect Ghid will propose a suitable arrangement with her. In Aurrakian terms, we call it a blood union, in which two leaders of separate colonies arrange a mating.”

“Well…that’ explains everything. I feel so terrible now.”

“You shouldn’t. But I know why this was upsetting to you.”

“She called me a slave after seeing me in bed with you. I know that some high-ranking leaders use pleasure slave, but it was still shocking to be addressed like that. I’m with you because I want to be.”