Page 14 of The Orc's Wife

Urgan couldn’t help being furious with her.

He told Mina to take care of her tasks and make sure they weren’t disturbed. She said something about a basket of books and turned back, while Urgan passed the palace guards and made quick way to his dungeon.

Courtiers were now milling about the halls, calling out greetings. He ignored everyone, and when he was finally in his chambers, he shut the door with much more force than needed.

He put Una on the floor, and before the echoes of the door’s clang died down, he turned to her, his nostrils flaring.

She looked at him with wide eyes, her lips trembling. She was on the brink of tears, he realized, and who wouldn’t be, after being attacked? But there was no controlling his anger now. Una had brought this on herself and if he wanted to prevent something like this from happening again, he needed to make her listen.

“If you had obeyed me, none of this would have happened,” he said, grinding his teeth to keep himself from shouting. “If you’re looking for comfort, I can’t give it to you right now. You knew I have enemies. You knew you are a target, too. Or hasn’t Urzulah made it clear this morning?”

She faced him head on, her haughty mask firmly in place, even though her legs were trembling. She said nothing now, but she was breathing fast, her entire body tense. Urgan sniffed the air, sampling it. There was a tang of fear about her, but it wasn’t the sharp, immediate smell of quivering prey. She had been afraid, but her fear was dissipating.

“Lady Una,” he sneered, walking so close to her she had to tilt her head back to look into his face. “The general’s mate. Her every step reflects back on her mate. Her every word is like his word. And what is the first thing she does? She disobeys her husband. She lands her frail human bottom in the first danger she can find.

“Have you learned your lesson, Una? Will you obey me now?”

Una’s eyebrow twitched, her cheeks flaming.

“Yes,” she said, trying to keep her voice cool, even though she was angry now. “But you done stupid, too, Urgan. I not obey orders that not make sense to me. You not explain I could be attacked in white day where everyone can see. You not explain human males could attack me. All you say is Una sit and not go out. It sound stupid, so I do things my way.”

“You should have trusted me,” he hissed. “I am your mate! When I give you an order, it’s your job to trust me and follow it to the letter!”

“I not one of your soldiers!” Una shouted. “I not soldier to be ordered! I your wife, and your wife is not to obey, your wife is to talk and ask and explain! Your wife is to help you and not only wait for orders!”

“Oh, you were trying to help? What did you want to achieve, my sweet mate? Did you think drawing attention to yourself would help me? That it would help me build trust in the army and with my followers? Do you think showing everyone in the capital that you are such an easy target would make it easier for me to protect you? Was that what you were thinking?!”

She poked him in the chest with her finger. Urgan snarled, but she didn’t flinch. Her own fury was making her immune to his predatory posturing, and Urgan couldn’t help being impressed despite his rage.

“I don’t want be obstacle! I need learn, Urgan. I must know the city, speak better language, know the people! I thought you want this! A clever female, a cunning female.”

He stepped back from her, clenching and unclenching his fists to keep himself from hitting something. How could she not understand that most fundamental rule of mating?

“It isn’t clever or cunning to disobey your mate! You know you should listen to me!”

Una’s eyes narrowed into slits, and she took a careful step back from him, hunching her shoulders, hugging herself.

“So, you be just like my father, then?” she asked, her voice so quiet and hoarse it was almost a whisper. “You think women only good for two things: mating and taking care of house? That women shouldn’t learn, shouldn’t read, shouldn’t think, but only obey…”

Urgan’s brows knitted in confusion. Why was she speaking about her father? And how come such a narrow-minded man had sired such a fearless, brilliant daughter?

“He right,” Una said, suddenly straightening. She looked as strong and haughty as ever, but the fire in her eyes had dulled. “I want to do more than obey and look what happen. I almost die. Could not save myself. Only my husband can save me.”

Urgan groaned with frustration. It seemed she was agreeing to listen to him, but not in the way he wanted. She was supposed to listen because she knew he wanted to protect her, not because of some quaint beliefs of her father’s.

He tried to explain to her what he meant, even though the frustration was only adding fuel to his anger.

“You are not just for mating and taking care of the house. You are my mate. But a female who is mated to an orc must obey. How am I to protect you if you march into danger as soon as my back is turned? Why don’t you trust me?”

Una shook her head, the same dull, surrendered look still in her eyes.

“I trust you. I trust you with my life, Urgan. But I not trust Urzulah. I not trust the Imperator. I not trust this stupid metal door, no matter you say it’s so strong. When you not here, I just a weak human, right? So, you claim me in front of everybody and show them my tit. Will it stop them from killing me, Urgan? When you not by my side, I helpless. Can’t do a thing to protect myself.”

He took a few deep breaths of his own. Her words brought back the fresh fear he had felt when he had seen her pale and lifeless on the street. The fear of losing her. The reason why he was now so angry. Una wasn’t the enemy here.

“It will make them reconsider if they are planning to harm you,” he said finally. “But if someone wants to kill you and I am not by your side, you will be killed. This is why I want you to stay here.” Urgan bent his head low, looking closely into her eyes. He had to make her understand.

“How did it feel when those men were trying to catch you? I bet you didn’t stand a chance. Were you afraid? Did you feel helpless, outnumbered and much too weak to fight them? Tell me, Una. If those had been orcs instead of men, what would have happened?”

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