Page 84 of The Widow and the Orcs

Killikshook his head, and something shifted in his eyes as he huffed a slow exhale. “No, thankSkai-kesh,” he said. “Iken he may never be the same as before, and his prick yet may never obey him as it once did.Andhis scenting was too broken to heal, also.Butthat is naught compared to the pain, andEfterareven said —”

Killikhesitated, his eyes again flickering, his shoulders squaring. “Efterareven said with more time,Wolfmay yet be able to beget — sons,” he continued, quieter. “Ofhis own blood and seed.”

Oh.Somethingflashed upLouisa’sback, flared behind her eyes, and her body snapped to stark, peculiar stillness. “Really?” she demanded. “Isthat — something he actually wants?Somethingyouwant?Ithought you said you didn’t want more children!”

Hervoice sounded too sharp, almost accusing, andKillik’seyes looked strange, distant, as he jerked a dismissive shrug. “Ihave no longing for this,” he said, a little flat. “ButshouldWolfwish for this, ach,Ishould welcome this for him.”

Louisa’smouth felt suddenly dry, her throat tight.Andshe somehow managed a nod, blinking hard at the sudden wetness pooling behind her eyes.Becausethat — that would change things.Wouldn’tit?Andmaybe — maybe that put the limit, the four more nights, in an entirely new light.Becauseof courseUlfarrshould have more sons if he wanted them, he was clearly a devoted and attentive father, and why wereLouisa’schurning thoughts suddenly trapped onSune, running alone and bloody across her lands, looking so uncertain when she’d told himKillikcared for him.Maybe.I’mnot sure.

“Right,” she finally said, into the stilted, empty-feeling silence. “I’m— very happy forUlfarr.Andfor you.”

Butwhen she glanced atKillik’sface, he didn’t look particularly happy, and he’d even snapped up a hand to pluck out one of his daggers from his topknot. “Ach, well,” he said, as he watched the dagger spinning in his fingers. “Weshall not need to think of it for some time yet,Iken.”

Oh.Well.Andthat was something, some small hope to cling to — and maybe it still wouldn’t happen at all, right?Maybeit still wasn’t even possible?

SoLouisainhaled and nodded, and held her eyes onKillik’sspinning dagger, too. “SowillI— see you again soon, then?” she asked him, hoarse, and though it was giving him too much, she just needed to say something, anything. “You’llbe staying at the camp too, right?”

Again, it was too much, too damned betraying, and she didn’t missKillik’stwitch, and then the clutch of his fingers snapping the dagger to stillness again. “Ach,Ishall,” he replied, with an arch of his brow. “Andso shall you, woman.Everyday.”

What?Louisablinked at him, at that familiar glint in his eyes, the curve on his mouth. “Wenow only have a fortnight to put on this show,” he said flatly. “Toready the camp forSimon’sjudgement, and seek to regainWolf’sname, his hope, hislife.Andthis” — he jabbed the dagger toward her — “was allyourdoing, woman!Soach, you shall come to the camp each morn, and help us, until this is done!”

Helpthem.KillikwantedLouisa’shelp.Foran entire fortnight.Andshe couldn’t hide the lurch of eagerness, the sudden delighted grin on her mouth — and before she could catch it, she lurched toward him, and reached up for his cheek.Felthim go sharp and still all over, but not protesting, not resisting, as she bent his face down, and brushed his lips with hers.

Andgods, she shouldn’t be doing this.Shouldn’tbe letting herself feel this again.Theroughness of his lips, the sweet heat of his breath.Thatslick, thrilling touch of his tongue, slipping brief but certain between her parted lips…

Butthen he drew back again, his eyes intently fixed away from her.Asif it was still too much, too presumptuous, too betraying.Butcurse it, he already knew, didn’t he?Louisahad written it all out for him in plain damned ink, called hima wondrous and generous gift…

Butit still didn’t mean anything, it was still only four more nights… or was it?Showme.Provethis to me…

SoLouisaignoredKillik’sdistant eyes, his tight mouth, and instead drew herself straight, drew in breath from the earth.Shewould face this.Fixthis.

“I’llsee you first thing in the morning, then,” she told him, with only a faint waver on her voice. “Andwe’ll put on a damned good show.”

41

Asshe’d promised,Louisaheaded for the camp first thing the next morning.

Shewas dressed in more of her new clothes, courtesy of the overstuffed packKillikhad brought the night before.Whichhad turned out to contain multiple items, many of them dressesLouisahad tried on in the shop — all of them in similar styles and dark colours.Andat the bottom of the pack there had been several new loincloths, too, andLouisahad huffed a rueful laugh at the sight of them, and then pulled one on beneath her new navy dress.

Shewould prove this.Shewould helpKillikput on a show, and saveUlfarr’slife.

Butonce she’d said farewell to her staff, and headed down the path toward the camp, the doubts again began to whisper, nagging at the back of her thoughts.Itcould still fail.Itwas still only four nights.Andafter that, maybeUlfarrwould go and have a new son, even ifKillikandSunedidn’t want it, and…

Shewas frowning to herself, stalking around a large tree without looking — and then she yelped, and staggered backwards.Becausethere, in the middle of the path, stood —

Ulfarr.Ulfarr.Hugeand broad and bare-chested, and here.Here.

“Forgiveme,Louisa,” he said with a tentative smile, his voice rumbling low in her belly. “Iheld no wish to startle you.”

Louisawas still desperately dragging for air, but her shoulders were already sagging, her smile flashing back toward him. “Thinknothing of it, sweetheart,” she said, with a dismissive wave of her hand. “It’s— good to see you.”

Hereyes ran up and down his big body, catching, lingering — because he looked… different, somehow.Almost— easier.Hisstance more fluid, his shoulders low, his hands relaxed at his sides, with their claws drawn in.Andhis face looked easier, too, the lines less etched, perhaps, despite the crinkles deepening at the corners of his eyes.

“Andyou also,Louisa,” he murmured, as he came a slow step toward her, reaching to gently clasp her hand in his. “Iwished to come and meet you, and say — thank you.”

Louisablinked, attempted to wave it away — but nowUlfarrgrasped for her other hand, too, and brought it to his mouth. “Thankyou,Louisa,” he said again, as he softly kissed her skin. “Iken not what possessed you to go to my kin yesterday, and defend me as you did, and speak such kindness upon me.Andthen to invite ourEnforcerhere, to witness our camp, and mayhap…”

Hisvoice trailed off, the hope and the fear mingling bright in his eyes, as he pressed another kiss to her hand. “Wasit…Killikwho sent you to this?” he continued, even quieter. “Heswore to me he did not, but…”

---