There was one breathless moment of delay as he ripped through the laces of his pants…but then I cried out when he slammed into me with a swift thrust.

Then he didn’t stop. My teeth chattered together with every powerful pump of his hips. I rocked back into him, biting my forearm to keep from screaming.

His hand landed on my ass hard. “Let me hear you. Don’t ever hide that from me, Klara.”

I moaned but removed my teeth from my flesh. On his next sublime thrust, I let him hear just what he did to me, and I didn’t care who heard, even though we were expecting guests any moment.

Our lovemaking was quick and desperate and exquisite. He knew the angle that made little pinpricks of light burst in my vision, and all too soon, I was tightening around him, crying out my pleasure as the orgasm ripped through me. My legs shook with it, but he kept me steady, always my anchor, keeping me rooted.

“So fucking perfect, my love,” I heard him groan. “Oh, I can feel you. Gods, you’re going to make me⁠—”

His words cut off with a hitch of his breath. Then his thrusts became erratic, chasing his pleasure down, and I nearly whimpered in my triumph when I felt the hot lashes of his come spill inside me.

In the aftermath, once we’d cleaned up, my legs continued to shake. I heard Sarkin’s low, deep chuckle. I felt it reverberate up my spine, and he tugged me to the plush chair by the unlit hearth, close to my books, pulling me into his lap, my legs dangling off the side.

My body was still tingling and I was still catching my breath. He pressed a sweet kiss to my cheekbone, stroking his fingers through my hair. I smiled, snuggling closer.

“How long do we have?” I asked, trying not to grow too sleepy in the aftermath of our lovemaking.

Sarkin grunted. “They can wait for us. Let me keep you here a while. We’ve both been so busy.”

“I know,” I said, placing my hand on his chest. I looked up at him, my eyes tracing the sharp lines and hard curves of his chest-twistingly handsome face. “While I’m looking forward to tonight’s festivities, I’m looking forward even more to having you all to myself for a little while.”

“I’ll be all yours,” Sarkin promised. “No more trips to Elysom or to Grym. I’m staying right here until we leave for the Arsadia.”

I smiled, content with his answer.

“And maybe when we return from the Arsadia after this next rider season,” he continued, brushing his thumb over my lips, “there won’t be a need to take kana tea anymore.”

A pool of warmth and affection spread like ink in my belly, filling all my empty places until it felt like I was bursting.

“That’s what you want?” I asked. “Truly?”

Sarkin inclined his head. “That’s exactly what I want, aralye.”

My grin was so wide that it hurt my cheeks. “Then no more kana when we return to Sarroth.”

The reaction my words wrung from him was unmistakable. His body went tight with it, and then he was growling, tugging me even further into him. I laughed as my arms wound around his neck, as his kiss consumed me.

We’d decided to wait for our first child—to get settled in Sarroth, with me as their new queen. Lygath still needed training, and dragon riding would be a near impossibility if I was pregnant. With our bond so new, we thought it best to wait. Not only that but with the Heartstone Accords now in place, Sarroth and Grym would be accepting their first new residents within the coming months. There was still much to be done.

So…we’d decided to wait as we settled into our new life. And if I happened to get pregnant before we were ready, so be it. We would see that through together.

But this was the first time we’d talked about a future date. A plan. It surprised me how much Sarkin wanted a child. But I knew, without a doubt, that he would be an incredible father.

“When we go to the Arsadia,” I said, pulling away from his kiss, “can you take me north so that can I meet Tyzar?”

Sarkin’s gaze warmed even though his brows furrowed. He stroked my face with the back of one finger. “What makes you think of that now?”

“With a child in the not-so-distant future,” I began, smiling, “I was thinking of your own childhood. How much Tyzar meant to you and your own hopes for his return to Sarroth. If not him, if the memories are too painful for him, then perhaps his children. Perhaps our child will be a blood born, if they want that, and maybe your line and Tyzar’s can be joined once again.”

He pressed his forehead to mine. My husband was not one to show emotion readily, but I saw how much my words affected him. His shoulders were bunched, and he held himself very still, the want pouring out of him.

“You speak of a future that only seems like a dream to me,” he whispered, closing his eyes. I cupped his cheek, holding him close. “The sweetest of dreams. And a future I will hope for. Ardently.”

“Dreams have a way of becoming reality,” I reminded him. “At least in my experience.”

“Yes,” he replied, opening his eyes. “And so it will, my queen.”

I smiled.

“I love you,” Sarkin murmured. “Every day I am surprised by how much more that love grows.”

“Let it,” I told him, “because my love for you is a wild thing, and I have stopped trying to tame it.”

I pressed a kiss to his lips, purposefully chaste.

“Now, we really should prepare for our guests,” I teased.

My husband chuckled. “If we must, aralye. But later, in the early hours of morning, you’re all mine. Lysi?”

“Lysi.”

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Acknowledgments

I always wanted to know what lay beyond Drukkar’s Sea…and that’s why I wrote this book. After I finished Throne of the Horde King in 2022, there was a sense of sadness as I wrapped up that series. But there was also excitement because I knew that I still had many, many stories left to tell about the world of Dakkar. The Horde King of Shadow is only the beginning.

These days it takes a small village to publish a book. The Horde King of Shadow is my 25th novel and I’ve been blessed to have so many supportive people in my life that helped make it happen.

To Naomi, I don’t know how I ever functioned without you. You are a superstar assistant and your continued enthusiasm for this book always kept me moving forward. “No pressure…but a little bit of pressure” definitely needs to be printed on a shirt! Thank you for being the best PA an author could ask for, not to mention a great friend.

A big thank you to Mandi Andrejka, my editor.  Simply put, you make my books better. You spot the smallest of things with your eagle eyes and I always love your reaction GIFs sprinkled throughout a manuscript. You’ve been so kind, generous, and helpful over the years (!!) we’ve been working together.

Thank you to my producer, narrator, and friend, Marcio Catalano, not only for being a supportive force, but for also encouraging me to explore different paths of creativity and to step outside the norm, especially when it comes to audiobooks.

To two of my author friends, Emma Hamm and Juliette Cross—waking up to a plethora of voice messages from you both always made my morning. Thanks for sharing your guidance and opinions on all things publishing and being wonderful friends.