Page 16 of The Orc's Bride

It had been a long time since I felt so… vulnerable. Yes, vulnerable. So dependent on another person’s opinion of me.

Which was wrong. Not only because he was an orc, although that was my biggest concern. It was wrong, because I was my own woman. I never ever allowed the opinions of others to touch me, to influence how I was feeling.

Now, the turbulent emotions Urgan aroused in me… I hated them. I should have never agreed to come with him. I should leave. I should wait for him to fall asleep and sneak off into the woods, find my way back home.

But how could I leave now, knowing those husks were out there in the woods, hunting prey?

And how could I ever leave the protection of those green arms, keeping me safe from harm?

I was growing more and more dependent on him. With every minute of this journey, I was losing more of myself. I wondered… If this went on, would there be anything left of me?

Chapter 7

Urgan

He frowned when she tensed, her body shying away from him. A moment before, she had been cocooned in him, listening to his heartbeat, asking curious questions.

The moment they had been sharing was peaceful, friendly… even intimate. He was certain she was being her true self. Not pretending anything, at least for a moment.

But now, every fiber of her being was recoiling from him. She was swaying in the saddle, her back rigid, her head high. Silent and unapproachable.

Why?

Was it because of what he had said? That she surprised him? Did she find it offensive?

Urgan was looking at the darkening path in front of him. Soon, they would have to light torches. Orc horses were sturdy and didn’t get injured easily. Even so, one wrong step in the dark wood could lead to a damaged joint or a broken leg.

And they couldn’t afford to lose another horse.

But torches would turn them into easy targets. Urgan heard a sound far away, and he focused on listening… There. Rustling high in the canopy of trees. And a soft, melodious trill.

The forest was coming back to life. That meant they were safe from ragghits for now. Urgan grunted, moving his head, stretching his tense muscles, his vertebrae popping. They would have a much needed moment of respite.

He could focus on solving other problems.

Una was holding onto Brrthak’s mane again. Riding with such a tense posture was already difficult for her. A few hours more of this? She would be hurting all over. And if her muscles became stiff and sore, she could fall easily.

Could it be that what he had said to her meant something different to humans than it did to orcs? Maybe saying someone was surprising had a hidden meaning he wasn’t aware of?

Urgan growled low in his throat. Was this what being bonded to a female was like? Picking apart her every gesture, trying to guess what she meant?

Urgan didn’t have time for this.

“Halt and keep watch,” he called to his warriors.

He got off Brrthak’s back and turned to Una.

“We will talk now,” he said. Without another warning, he grabbed her tiny waist in his large hands and lifted her off Brrthak’s back. Her squeal of surprise made him grin.

Urgan put Una slowly on the ground, making sure her legs, which were certainly tired and stiff after riding for so long, supported her. When he was sure she could stand, he let go of her waist and took her small, pale hand in his. She stifled a grimace, stepping from one foot to another.

“Follow me.”

Urgan led her into the trees, just a few steps away from his warriors. He let his senses expand, straining to pick up sounds and smells from a much larger area than normally. It took effort but was well worth it.

There was no danger nearby.

“Are you upset?” he asked, schooling his voice and face to be polite, even though he was getting angry. Despite the temporary lull, they were still in danger and it was his natural instinct to focus on eliminating that danger. Yet, she was distracting him. He needed to fix this problem, whatever it was, so he could focus on protecting her.

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