Page 5 of The Orc's Wife

She would have the best of everything. He would make sure of that.

Now, he focused on ensuring her safety. He examined all his walls, the floor and ceiling, moving furniture to look everywhere. He checked his bathroom with its luxurious metal bathtub and the rudimentary pipe system for draining water. Last, he looked inside the ventilation holes, checking if the traps he had laid for anyone who would tamper with those had been disturbed.

All was clear.

When he was satisfied, he examined everything from the outside. The Imperator wanted him dead, and while he must have been counting on Urgan getting killed by the ragghits, he might have expected that plan to fail. If Urgan had been in the Imperator’s shoes, he would have prepared a way to listen in on his target.

Apparently, the Imperator hadn’t thought that far. The room was safe.

Una was sitting on his bed, alert and bright eyed.

“We can speak freely,” Urgan said, and knelt in front of her on one knee.

“What you doing?” Una asked, slightly startled.

“Making a vow,” he said, hitting his chest with his fist once. “When I took you for my mate, I hadn’t expected that the Imperator himself was my enemy. By taking you, I put you in danger. And now, on the power of our bond, I swear I will protect you from harm. You and our future cubs. You have my word, Una.”

He planted a kiss on the mating mark over her breast, careful not to touch it with his fangs. It was healing well, and soon, she would be bearing his scar.

“I… Thank you,” she said. “But how you want to protect me all time, Urgan? You have duties. You not here all time. I need protect myself, too. I must learn. More about orc culture… and fighting.”

Urgan stood up and looked down at her, scowling. Did she think his protection would not be sufficient? Was she so distrusting of his strength and skills that she’d rather fend for herself?

“You are my mate,” he said, his voice almost a growl. “My responsibility. You will not fight as long as I live. You will not have to do anything, other than…”

“Spread my legs?” she asked, standing. It made no difference whether she sat or stood – he still towered over her petite form. “And wait for mighty orc husband to come home?”

Urgan turned with a snarl, his back to her now. There was truth in her words, but only on the surface. It was how things worked in the world now. But they would be changing the world. He would be changing it for her.

“You know it’s not like this,” he said. “You are my mate, my partner, my future Empress. You have many skills we will use. But this, now, is too dangerous. I can’t risk your life, and every wrong step will be a risk! You will stay here and yes, wait for me. This is final.”

He made for the door, stopping before he opened it. With his back still turned to her, he said: “I will send you someone. Servants to help you get more clothes, to bring you food and whatever you desire. Ask them for anything you want.”

He gave her one last glance and left, the look of fury and betrayal he had seen on her face firmly etched into his mind.

He walked fast, seething. Why was his mate being so unreasonable? Especially after having met Urzulah who threatened her. It hadn’t been an idle threat, either.

For whatever reason, Urzulah had spread rumors that Urgan was intended to be her mate. That was why he had decided to seek a human mate in the first place. How he had found Una.

And Urzulah had a history of trying to eliminate the potential mates of the male orcs she wanted to pursue. When Urgan had been a young, nameless soldier in the army despised for the trickle of human blood in his veins, Urzulah approached him and let him know she wanted to be courted.

Orc courtship involved the female giving tasks for the male to perform. Urzulah had asked him to kill another orc female.

Seeing no advantage in the kill, he refused. It turned out that female was a bride to another orc, Durug, who was an esteemed officer and a military powerhouse in the Imperator’s army. Urzulah wanted him – and that was why she needed his bride out of the way.

Urgan gnashed his teeth now, walking the underground corridors in fast but measured steps. He had told Una that story. Una knew what Urzulah was capable of. And still, she thought she could somehow fight her and live? This was preposterous.

If Urgan had known it was the Imperator who wanted to kill him, he wouldn’t have taken Una for his mate.

He paused, staring at the stone floor. No, he still would have taken her. His mind had been muddled with lust and longing, and there was only one way for him to go: claim her. At that point, nothing could have made him let go of her.

As nothing could make him let go of her now.

But that also meant he was doubly responsible for her life and safety.

He had taken a human mate for himself – a fragile, weak, soft human mate – while suspecting his powerful enemies were out for his blood. If anything happened to her now, no matter if it were just a scratch, it would be his fault.

And he would let nothing and no one hurt his mate. Not even Una herself.

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