Page 27 of The Orc's Bride

Urgan clenched his fists, his claws digging into his palms. Wasn’t she aware he could see her? Or was she doing it on purpose to provoke him?

“Maybe you are the best,” Kluga said after shooting Urgan a glance. To his credit, he said nothing more and did his best to get busy with his horse and ignore Una.

Urgan realized he was probably sending out strong smell signals right now, informing everyone around how possessive and jealous he was of her. Kluga had sensed it and was now doing everything he could to avoid Urgan’s wrath.

Only Una seemed oblivious to his mood.

He gripped his bags and strode to Brrthak. With dexterous hands, he strapped the bags to the saddle. He faced Una, who was standing silently nearby, not looking at him.

“Una.”

She looked up reluctantly. Her face was a mask, perfectly wiped of emotion. She looked bored.

“Yes?”

“When we were setting out, I gave you a choice. I told you if you weren’t interested in being courted, you could go back.”

Her face remained impassive, but she was fidgeting with her hands nervously.

“You chose to ride with me. Is this right?”

“Yes,” she sighed, almost too quiet to hear.

“Did you mislead me, Una? Did you already know you would never become my wife, no matter how the courtship turned out? Tell me. Because the one thing I cannot stand is being used, Una.”

Slowly, her mask peeled off to reveal a look of helpless frustration. She looked into his eyes and he looked back, trying to uncover the mystery she was hiding. But no matter how focused on finding out her secrets he was, he couldn’t help being enchanted by her eyes.

They were buttery brown, a striking flash of darker color in her pale face. Clear and expressive, they were the gates to her internal fires. Through those eyes, one could glimpse the enormous stores of determination and courage inside her.

Now, their light was dimmed.

Urgan was waiting for her answer, sharpening his senses to detect even the smallest hint of deceit.

Chapter 10

Una

There was no wiggling out of this one. I could already tell he wouldn’t let me get away with a lie, and I had already seen that he was too perceptive to be easily fooled.

I couldn’t lie well enough to deceive Urgan. Or maybe I didn’t want to. At this point, I wasn’t sure about anything anymore.

All because of the stupid bread.

So I told him the truth. Well, the least damaging part of it.

“I was… I am… attracted to you. I think you can tell, can’t you?”

His eyes narrowed suspiciously, and he bent his head lower so our faces could be closer. His warm breath brushed my cheek.

“I know that your body is attracted to me. But I don’t know what Una, real Una, thinks and believes. You’re hiding something.”

“Yes,” I said with a sad smile. “But the secret I am hiding is not just for anyone to hear. So unless you are my husband, I’m not telling you.”

For a moment, he looked utterly furious. Despite myself, I took a step back – only for my back to hit a tree. I was trapped between an orc and the trunk.

But then, he threw back his head and laughed that rich, rumbling laughter of his. I sighed with relief. The mood had lightened and maybe I could escape unscathed, after all.

“Throwing my words back at me already?” he asked. “But distraction won’t work. I want my answer. Will you become my bride?”

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