Page 10 of The Orc's Bride

And licked me.

Its surprisingly pink, rough tongue slid across my cheek, leaving behind a trail of horse saliva that smelled of fresh meat and blood.

I used to have a cat when I was little. That cat, after it had eaten fresh meat scraps, had a breath that smelled exactly like the horse’s. It was also the cutest ball of ginger fluff and I had loved him dearly.

Wasn’t it curious that this bloody, murderous beast reminded me of my kitten?

The horse nudged my face with his nose, and I raised my shaking hand to pat him on the side of his muzzle.

“His name is Brrthak,” said Urgan. “And he’s never eaten human flesh. Once they get a taste for it, they hunt humans, so we try to keep them away from your people. And feed them well with animal meat.”

“This is… very kind of you,” I said, still petting Brrthak. My knees were getting weak from all this excitement, and I was feeling fuzzy.

Urgan snorted with disdain.

“It’s not kind, it’s practical. We don’t do kind, Una. Try to remember it when you live among us. Force, military skill, and status are what counts. If someone is ‘kind’ to you, they are pretending. They are trying to trick you or use you.”

“It’s not that different for us,” I said, frowning. “Genuine kindness is rare. Usually, people who are nice to you will want something in return.”

Urgan put his large, dark green hands on my waist. My body suddenly felt hot and tense, and hyper-aware of his touch. I looked up into those silver eyes.

“Remember this every time you think I’m being nice,” he said.

I wasn’t sure if the sparks deep in his eyes meant he was joking and trying to rile me up… or whether he was thinking about the things he would demand from me in return for every kind gesture. Dark, sensuous things. An orc’s violent desires.

I shivered. At that moment, I wasn’t entirely sure I would be able to resist his demands for the next four days.

Chapter 5

Urgan

Why was she working so hard to keep her fear in check? Urgan wondered this when he watched her face Brrthak. She was positively shaking with fear, and yet she let his mount sniff her, touch her. And then, she touched him back.

All this, with her face so pale it seemed bloodless. With legs trembling so hard it was a wonder they supported her.

This woman had a secret.

Urgan frowned, looking at her with more scrutiny now. There was a determination about her that was hard to miss. And discipline. The way she held herself, the way she overcame her strongest, most primal instincts, spoke of an almost military preparation.

Una must have actively trained hiding her fear. Also acting despite of it.

And, if he wasn’t mistaken, that training had been done purposely for interacting with orcs.

Urgan rarely was mistaken.

For the first time since he had the idea of taking this human woman as his wife, he questioned whether he had made the right choice. What exactly was she hiding? Why had she gotten so excited when he said he would take her to the capital?

Was she using him just to get there?

He clenched his jaw, his face turning hard and cold. He had made it clear he would court her. She should at least be open to the possibility of becoming attracted to him.

If she was only treating him as a means to her ends, he would break her neck like a twig.

Urgan snorted, his nostrils flaring wide, the hot air of his fury expelled with force.

If he killed her, he would be without a mate. And forced to marry Urzulah.

Better wait, then. Whatever she wanted, he would make sure she wanted him more. And, judging by her body’s reactions to him, it wouldn’t be that difficult.

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