Page 19 of The Orc's Bride

If an orc female avenged her murdered family using poison, he would demand that she wipe away her blame and restore her honor.

He would expect nothing less of his future mate.

“It is done now,” he said. “But your honor is blemished. You should clean your name.”

Una’s jaw jutted out rebelliously.

“This no human law. Because if you tell your Imperator I kill orcs in revenge for mother, what he say? That the law? Or that Una human, so she be raped and killed herself for killing an orc?”

Urgan’s eyes narrowed, and he stepped closer to her, swathing her in his shadow. His displeasure was growing.

“The Imperator is short-sighted and ignorant about many matters. But honor is important. If you are to become my mate, you will have to clean your name.”

Fury flickered in Una’s eyes, and a second later, her face became blank, even though her chest was heaving with her agitated breathing.

“Very well,” she said, only the slightest tremble in her voice betraying her emotions. “How I clean my name?”

Urgan grunted, pleased by her acquiescence. Because in this case, there could be no other solution.

If need be, he could compromise on some matters.

This wasn’t one of them.

“As the general, I can give you a penance. One deed that you must do in order to restore your honor. It is usually a deed of submission and servitude.”

Her eyes flashed again, hot and full of hatred, and she set her mouth in a grim line.

“Will you do your penance?” Urgan asked, the calm in his voice contradicted by his growl.

Her answer was a sharp nod.

He stepped back, giving her a long, calculating look.

“Very well. This is your penance: when we reach the nearest stream, you will kneel before me and do as I say.”

Her face paled in an instant, the only color remaining the brown of her eyes. Eyes that were filled with terror.

Chapter 8

Una

Why had I told him?

I kept thinking about it while we were riding, the torches’ dancing light barely making a dent in the darkness. Why had I told him I had killed those orcs?

It was my temper again. Somehow, it had seemed important that I show him how vicious I could be. That I didn’t need an orc to punish those who had hurt me. I wanted to shock him for once.

Because I had felt weak and vulnerable and wanted to feel strong again.

And now, I would pay for that.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. The punishment Urgan had given me seemed mild enough… but the thought of kneeling in front of an orc was too humiliating.

And not only because it was a gesture of utter subjugation.

I felt doubly humiliated because a part of me feltthrilledto do that. A part of me would enjoy kneeling between Urgan’s muscular thighs. Looking up at him. Being close enough to smell his musk.

What would he demand of me when I knelt at his feet? My belly filled with a cold, roiling terror… and butterflies of nervous excitement.

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