Page 130 of The Widow and the Orcs

ButRurikonly waved it away, and giveKillikandUlfarra cool, assessing look. “Youcan thank me by sending help to build my own camp, whenIam ready,” he replied. “Andby inviting me to join your rut upon your woman, also.”

What?Louisa’smouth dropped open, butRurikonly spun around, and waved for the orcs to carryRikardaway.LeavingLouisato dart a disbelieving look betweenKillikandUlfarr, who were both looking…thoughtful.Asthough they were actuallyconsideringthis bizarre demand ofRurik’s?

“Ach, you could do worse, woman,”Killiksaid, with a sly grin toward her. “Ihear healers make for clever bedmates, ach?”

Louisaspluttered at him, her face flooding with heat, her eyes helplessly darting toward whereRurikand the orcs had already disappeared through the trees. “Youreally would both be fine with that?” she demanded, too sharp. “Ithought —Ithought you said you didn’twantto do the sharing anymore!”

Ulfarr’sbrow had been slowly furrowing, but at that last bit, it abruptly cleared again. “No,Ishould not wish to share either of you, asIhave borne withKillik,” he replied. “Butit would not be… the same, in a rut thus, together.”

Louisablinked blankly towardUlfarr— what did he mean, it wasn’t the same?Andshe should be offended by that, right?Appalledthat he would want toshareher, with orcs likeRurik?!

Butwait, nowKillikstepped between them, his hand stroking up and downLouisa’sback. “Wolfmeans,” he said, with a sharp look towardUlfarr, “the scents are not the same, when it is done thus.Ina rut, ifWolfleads this, all else shall yet scent of him and serve him, ach?Notonly you, but any other orcs he grants you, also.Itwould speak ofWolf’sstanding amongst his kin, that he can wield such power, and share such a gift.”

Louisashot an uncertain glance towardUlfarr, who was nodding gratefully atKillik, and then sliding his hand around her waist, too. “Butthere is yet no need for this,Louisa,” he said, with a gentle kiss to her hair. “Noneat all.”

ButwhenLouisadrew away to study him, he did look… flushed.Interested.Hisbreaths drawing in deep, his eyes warm and bright on hers.Andwait, were his trousers bulging?Again?

“Really?” she demanded, staring at him, and then darting a helpless look atKillik, too. “Andyouactually would want this rut, too?!”

Killikshrugged, though his eyes on hers were thoughtful, considering. “Ach, if you both wished for this,Iwould,” he said, with a shrug. “Rutshave long been a deepSkairite, and we do not oft fuss over scents, as some other clans do.AndIken” — his eyes glinted with distinct satisfaction — “it should not be a hardship to flaunt and command our lustySkaiwoman before all our clan.Tobring them all to their knees for her, and then watch her spurt and squeal upon the biggest, most perfect prick of them all, ach?”

Heshot a saucy glance towardUlfarr, who betrayed a low gasp, his hand adjusting his tented trousers.Whilesomething heated low and strange inLouisa’sbelly, too — and she belatedly shook her head, drew up breath, and strength.Truth.Skai.

“But,” she managed, though her voice was hoarse. “Iwouldn’t want to share —you.Eitherof you.”

Shebraced for their answer, for maybe their mockery, for even the end of this, after all — butUlfarr’shand just kept stroking her back, whileKilliklaughed, and rolled his eyes. “No, you ken?” he drawled. “Wewould have never guessed this, woman.”

Louisaglared at him, even as a skittering relief fluttered through her belly. “Imean it,Killik,” she insisted. “Itwouldn’t be — fair.Iwouldn’t be able to handle it.Iwould just be — too jealous.Andif that’s what you both really want, then maybe you should still find someone else, someone who —”

Buther voice broke there, becauseUlfarr’sstrong arms dragged her close, wrapping her tight against his solid chest. “Ach, no,Louisa,” he breathed. “Noneof this.Iyet have no wish to bed any others, beyondKillik, andyou.”

Oh.Louisasagged against him, her breath heaving out, and that was again the feel ofKillik’sarm too, circling around her andUlfarrboth. “Youshallnotnow leave us, woman,”Killiksaid, clipped. “Andagain, this is not the same, forIcan scent you.Ican scent every orc you touch.Ican scent whether you bear true longing for him, or not.Youcannothide this from me.Butwhen you cannot scent this…”

Hisvoice faded, and whenLouisatwitched to look at him, he was studyingUlfarr, with a strange new stillness on his face. “Whenyou cannot fully scent this,” he repeated, slower, “you cannot… know.Youcan only see me ploughing and touching and kissing another.Youcan only seek to trust the wordsIspeak to you, and hope them to be truth.ButifIspeak no words, then…”

Hegrimaced, his eyes briefly closing, his hand sliding up to spread againstUlfarr’sface. “Iam sorry,Wolf,” he murmured. “Thiswas not… fair, to you.”

Ulfarrswallowed, his eyes shifting, butLouisacould feel his hand spasming against her, his former hardness rapidly softening in his trousers.Suggestingthat not being able to smellKillik’struth truly had made this more difficult for him — or perhaps even made him believe thatKillikdidn’t care about him at all.

“Butwouldn’t it feel the same… with me?”Louisafinally asked, into the silence. “Wouldn’tthat also upset you, sweetheart?”

Ulfarrgrimaced, and his glance towardKillikwas almost pleading — to whichKillikhuffed a laugh, and leaned over to nip atLouisa’sneck. “Youcannot thinkWolfwould ever allow you to run off and find pleasure without him, asIdid?” he said flatly. “No.Heshould only grant this whilst you are gasping in his arms, and leaking his fresh seed.AndwhilstIam there to scent you, and make sure you behave for us.”

Louisa’sbreath exhaled in a rush, her gaze again findingUlfarr— and yes, he was nodding, the relief flickering in his eyes. “Ach, just thus,” he said, soft. “Butagain, there is no need for this, should you not wish.Youhave already granted us such great joy,Louisa.MorethanIcould ever have dreamt.”

Louisasmiled back at him, slow and wavering, whileKillikscoffed, and gently slapped her arse. “Well, dream more,Wolf,” he said lightly. “Sheshall come around,Iken.”

Louisashot a glare at him, but he only grinned back, and patted her cheek. “Thinkupon it,” he said. “Now, are we done here?Ishould be most glad to wash off this man’s stench.”

Hewaved toward the blood still spattered across his face and chest, andLouisachoked a laugh as she glanced down at her tattered dress, too.Shewas a filthy mess, yes, but she was safe.Shewas whole.ShewasSkai.

Andeven if it wasn’t fully official yet, it still felt… right.True.Inthe wayKillikandUlfarrfell into step on either side of her as they turned toward the road,Ulfarr’shand spreading on her back.Walkingtogether, breathing together, as more contented warmth shimmered upLouisa’sspine.Shestill hadKillikandUlfarr.Shestill had her sisters and the children.Shestill had her home, her property, the camp.Andshe still had — herself.Herhealth.Herlife.

Butgods, it had still been so close.Onlya few more moments, and she would have been lying there dead, and everything she’d built would have been lost forever.Andgods only knew what fool lord would inheritRikard’slands after his death, and she still had all those debts, and…

Wait.Thedebts.Andthere was still something to that, something they hadn’t yet addressed…

“Youmentioned, back there,”Louisaabruptly said, with a sideways glance atUlfarr, “that you were…gatheringthat payment we agreed on.Didn’tyou?”

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