Page 11 of Tempted By the Orc

Azrael’s men would be back. I knew that much. They weren’t the type to give up easily, and with Christmas Eve only a few days away, their determination to find Rue would only grow stronger.

And now I knew the truth. Azrael wasn’t just planning to marry her. He was planning to destroy everything Christmas stood for. To turn it into something twisted and dark, a night of sacrifices and fear.

I couldn’t let that happen.

I turned and pushed open the door to the cabin, stepping inside and closing it behind me. Rue was crouched behind the table, her eyes wide with fear, her entire body trembling. The sight of her like that, so vulnerable, made my heart ache. I had to protect her.

Without thinking, I crossed the room in three long strides, kneeling beside her and taking her hands in mine. Her skin was cold to the touch, and I could feel her shaking, but she gripped my hands tightly, holding on as if I was the only thing keeping her grounded.

“It’s okay,” I said softly, my voice rough with emotion. “They’re gone.”

She nodded, but the fear in her eyes hadn’t faded. “He’s going to destroy the very magic of Christmas.”

I swallowed hard, my jaw tightening as I remembered the henchman’s words.

Rue shuddered, tears welling in her eyes. “I can’t let him do that. I’ll die before I let him use me to ruin everything my father stands for.”

I pulled her closer, wrapping my arms around her instinctively. She melted into my embrace, her body trembling as she pressed her face into my chest. I held her tightly, feeling the warmth of her against me, the softness of her warm brown hair brushing my chin.

I had never felt anything like this before—this overwhelming need to protect her, to keep her safe, no matter the cost. It scared me. But at the same time, it felt...right.

“You won’t have to,” I murmured, my voice thick with emotion. “I won’t let him take you.”

She pulled back slightly, her eyes searching mine. “Why?” she asked softly. “Why are you helping me?”

I stared down at her, my throat tightening. Why was I helping her? I had asked myself that question a hundred times since I found her in the snow. Why had I risked everything to protect her? Why did I feel this overwhelming need to keep her safe?

But now, as I looked into her eyes, the answer was clear.

“Because I care about you,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know why, but I can’t let him have you. I won’t.”

Her terrified doe eyes softened, and for a moment, the fear in them seemed to fade. She reached up, her fingers brushing mycheek, and I felt a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the fire still burning in the hearth. It was her. It had always been her.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Before I knew what I was doing, I bent my head and lowered my lips to hers.

The kiss was soft at first, tentative, but then it deepened, and I felt something break inside me. A wall I had built around my heart for years, a barrier I had thought would keep me safe. But with Rue’s lips on mine, that wall crumbled, and I knew there was no going back.

I loved her.

When we finally pulled apart, we were both breathing heavily, our foreheads pressed together as we held each other close. I didn’t know what would happen next. I didn’t know how we would survive this, how we would stop Azrael from claiming her.

But I did know one thing.

I wasn’t going to let her go. Not without a fight.

And as long as I had her by my side, I knew we had a chance.

A chance to save Christmas. A chance to save each other.

And maybe even a chance to believe in love again.

Chapter Seven

RUE

The fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting warm light over the cabin, but I couldn’t focus on the heat or the flickering flames. I couldn’t even focus on Noel, who was sitting beside me, his presence a source of quiet strength. My mind was racing, my heart heavy with the weight of what we had just discussed.

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