The Horde King of Shadow (Hordes of the Elthika #1)

Chapter 39

KLARA

Lygath appeared at dawn.

His scales sparkled like morning dew as the first rays of the sun broke over the cliffs. He came gliding into the Tharken Pass, heading straight for me.

The sight felt so familiar, even in sunlight. But as my gaze darted around the opposite cliffside, I knew this wasn’t like the illa’rosh . I didn’t truly have any concept of how this would be regarded by the Karag. Technically the choosing was over, the last of the acolytes relented.

Though by their own laws, an Elthika could be claimed at the Tharken cliffs at any time of the year. And here Lygath was…

As I’d known he would be.

I’d crossed the distance to him in my dreams, calling him here. And this time, I knew he wanted to be claimed. He’d been given a choice. Mine had already been made.

And now he’d made his.

Across the cliffside, I could see the Sarrothian horde’s encampment, dotted along the flattened mountain peak. Some horde members were beginning to rouse, and soon they would know that Lygath had returned to Tharken. Sarkin would wake any moment to find me gone, if he hadn’t already.

Zaridan was below, patrolling the pass to watch for me, an exercise Sarkin had told me they’d done endlessly.

The tethers tightened in my grip.

Lygath drew closer and closer. I stepped up to the ledge to draw his attention. Those golden eyes flashed in the sunlight, and then his speed increased, a mighty gust of his wings preceding the burst, and a roar unleashed from him. It boomed along the cliffs, echoing deep and long. It raised the hairs on my arms, nearly making me shudder.

The call of a Vyrin.

Now everyone will know you’re here, you proud thing, I thought, grinning.

I backed up as much as the ledge would allow. I gazed at the spot where I would meet Lygath, ignoring the rising sounds of alarm from the Sarrothian horde that echoed in the pass.

Closer…

Closer…

Closer .

“ Now. ”

I sprinted along the ledge, the tethers tight in my grip.

I swore I could see my reflection in Lygath’s golden eye, flying as close as he did to the cliff.

I jumped.