Page 97 of The Widow and the Orcs

Right.Simon.Ithad almost been easy to ignore that nagging question, while sitting here cheerfully working and chatting together, as the children ran and played around them.Butthat uncertainty was still hovering, looming over all of it, because yes, they were still waiting onIgull, and that letter they’d sent toSimonthe night before.Noneof this was yet decided,Simoncould still say no…

Butthen, shortly after noon,Igulljogged back into the camp, a broad grin lighting up his face. “TheSkaiSummitshall soon be upon us!” he announced, as he swiftly signed up towardKillikandUlfarrin the tree. “WithourEnforcerSimonand his kin as our guests of honour!”

Aloud, relieved cheer rose through the clearing, and soon it seemed like the entire camp had gathered around their table, talking and asking questions at once.PromptingKillikandUlfarrto call a camp-wide meeting, during which they presented the entireSummitplan, and began assigning volunteers for each project.

AndasLouisawatchedUlfarrlead the meeting in his usual deep, decisive way, whileKillikadded frequent explanations and the occasional wry joke, it again felt… right, somehow.RightthatKillikandUlfarrshould be working together, standing up there together, guiding and supporting their kin.Justthe way the camp felt right.Justthe wayLouisastill felt right, being here.Being…Skai.Hers.

Thatcertainty lingered throughout the rest of the evening, which included a delicious supper, courtesy ofThomas’ excellent cooking — and then, atUlfarr’ssuggestion,KillikandLouisamade a brief trip back to her house.Wherethey foundHalthorrandJoanplaying ball in the yard with the children, whileEliseandGladyscheered them on.

Itwas a promising sight, and onceLouisaandKillikhad joined in for a round,Louisasat them all down, and told them about theSummit.Andto her vague surprise, none of them seemed overly distressed by the news, evenElise— andJoanactually agreed to attend.Earninga bright, delighted grin fromHalthorr, who eagerly promised to serve as her escort — and also, to stay and guard the house until theSummit, too.

Louisafully expectedEliseorGladysto argue this plan, butEliseonly looked away, brushing out her skirts, whileGladysgave a curt nod.AndbesideLouisa,Killiklooked smugly satisfied, and signed something atHalthorrthat might have been,Nicework, brother.

“Ach, then this is settled,”Killiksaid firmly, out loud. “AndLouisashall come back to the camp, and stay another few nights with us.”

What, she would?ButKillikhad already graspedLouisa’selbow, steering her away toward the camp in the deepening darkness.Andperhaps she should have protested, but she only rolled her eyes, and called a cheerful goodbye to her staff over her shoulder.Becauseagain, it felt like part of that promise.Thatchallenge.Twomore nights.Provethis.

“Wishfor another lesson, woman?”Killikabruptly asked, once they’d reached a more open part of the path, where glimmers of moonlight filtered through the trees. “Mayhapyou could seek to listen, and find me?”

Therewas no wayLouisawas refusing, not now — and after a few instructions fromKillik, soon they were playing an actual game of hide-and-seek together in the dark.WithLouisasearching forKillikamidst the trees and the shadows, taking slow, quiet steps as she carefully watched and listened, and even sniffed for traces of his scent in the air.

Itmade for an eerie, unnerving game, creeping around the silvery forest in the darkness — butLouisamanaged to catchKillikseveral times, and each time, he offered more pointers and guidance.Teachingher to create and follow a pattern as she walked, to keep her eye on the moon, to pay attention to the sounds of birds and insects, too.

Bythe end of it,Louisafelt hyper-aware of every noise and movement around her, her nerves taut and scraping, her heartbeat thudding in her ears.Butshe could almost tasteKillik’sapproval in the air, in the brief pat of his hand against her back. “Andnow, we switch,” he murmured. “Yourun ahead, whilstIcover my eyes and nose, and huntyou.”

Itwas doomed to failure, of course, butLouisagave it her best attempt, creeping as quickly and quietly as she could through the forest.Headingtoward the camp, closer and closer, until she was almost, almost there —

Whena pair of strong hands grabbed her, and pinned her hard to a tree.

Itsent instant panic pounding throughLouisa’schest, screeching in her skull — and even a few weeks ago, she would have flinched, flailed, fought to strike or run.Butthis time, she held herself tall and still, drawing in breath from the tree, from the earth beneath her feet.Staying, holding, listening and waiting, even when a cool, blunt-edged blade gently nudged against her throat.Killik’sdagger.

“Caughtyou,”Killikwhispered, close and hot in her ear. “Nowwhat shall you do?”

Hisvoice coiled into her groin, flickered behind her eyes, and the forest felt shimmery and strange, impossibly alive in the dark.Andit was ludicrous, unthinkable,Louisashould be fighting back, escaping, proving this, but all she wanted was…

Shesank to her knees on the moss before him, fumbling for his trousers, yanking them downwards.Andyes,Killikwas already hard, he was ready, he wanted it too — and he even softly chuckled as he leaned forward and sank himself into her mouth, his blade still just touching cool and menacing at her throat.

“Good,” he murmured. “Andyou remember the sign to stop if you need it, ach?”

Louisafervently nodded, sucked him deeper — and that was a husky groan, another low, approving laugh.Andthen he was moving, sliding himself in and out, whileLouisasucked and licked and caressed him.Evenas she kept listening, watching, noticing those faint breaks of his breath, the tremors in his thighs, the rising tightness in his bollocks.Urginghim closer, closer, please — until he bucked and shot out into her mouth, swarming her with rich molten sweetness, as a smoky growl burned from his throat.

Afterwards, he only drew his blade away and yanked up his trousers, without so much as a thank you — but as they started walking again, his hand slipped down to pat againstLouisa’sarse. “Whenwe seeWolf,” he said, his voice deceptively light, “you go kiss him.Onthe mouth.”

Kisshim, on the mouth.Louisa’sbreath caught, her head snapping toward him, because she andUlfarrhadn’t once kissed like that yet, had they?Andwas that — was that becauseKillikhadn’t yet ordered it, and allowed it?

Buthe was allowing it now, andLouisaswallowed and nodded, her heartbeat again far too loud in her ears.Andonce they walked into the camp’s familiar clearing, with the large fire still crackling in the midst of it, she strode over to whereUlfarrwas still working withIgull, securing a ladder ontoSimonandMaria’sbrand-newkofi.

“Louisa!”Ulfarrsaid, with genuine pleasure, as he released the ladder, and slipped a warm hand around her waist. “Howwas this —”

Buthis voice broke beneathLouisa’stouch, her skittering hands drawing his face down toward her.Andher lips, brushing light and careful against his, as his big body jolted to stillness, his breath exhaling sudden and harsh.

Louisatwitched backwards just as quickly, her cheeks already burning — oh, gods, what if he hadn’t wanted that? — butUlfarr’seyes were flashing in the firelight, and his hands drew her close again.Andthen one hand slid to her cheek, tilting her face up as he bent down, and fitted his mouth to hers.

Itwas so gentle, and yet so thoroughly overwhelming, just as he always was — andLouisashuddered and groaned against him, softening, opening.Welcomingthe press of his lips, the deep plunder of his hungry seeking tongue, the throbbing rumble of his groan as he tasted her — and surely tastedKillikon her, too.Allof it so urgent, so thrilling, that she had to stop herself from clutching at him, climbing him, begging him, please…

Andmaybe he’d sensed that, gently drawing back from her, away.Thoughhis eyes were still shimmering, his lips wet and full, his tongue slipping brief against them. “Youtaste,” he murmured, “so good,Louisa.”

Ahard shiver rippled upLouisa’sback, and she huffed a short, breathless laugh. “Well, it’s allKillik, asI’msure you know,” she said, with a wry glance back at where he was smugly watching from across the clearing. “Thiswas — a message from him, you could say.”

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