Page 7 of Lost to the Orcs

“Run.”

“I—

“One.”

“Can you—

“Two.”

“FUCK!” I turn around and start bolting out of the clearing and into the thick forest. Immediately the cloak is a hindrance. But unless I want my breasts on display and just bouncing around, I need to keep it on. I’m panting but I’m moving. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

After a few minutes, hoping I’ve lost him, I lean against a tree and take gulping breaths.

“You do better, ach?” My eyes snap up to the trees where U’snar stands on a branch. It looks way too thin. But he’s well balanced as he looks down on me. “I give you another try?” His words sound benevolent. As though he is graciously offering me a boon. The smirk on his lips makes my belly quiver and my temper rise just a smidgen.

My mouth, agape, won’t shut. I’m so surprised. Horrified even. I’m heregaspingfor air and he’s looking like he went for a fucking stroll. Is this a god damn joke?!

And why does he look good even from all the way down here? I thought certain angles are supposed to make youunattractive! This is such crap!

Bare chest with little hair covering it. There’s a light dapple of it leading to his groin which is covered by what I would call harem pants. Bare feet with black claws. He’s just sharp angles everywhere. I flush with irritated desire.

He nods solemnly at me. “Again?”

So, I run. Hearing him count to ten this time as I go.

My legs pump as I run. Lungs working overtime. I skid in the forest floor, sliding on some leaves. I try to stop the momentum while flailing my arms. My foot clips on a root and I twist in order not to fall face first. I yelp as my other foot lands in order to stop me. But I hear a taking noise behind me. I pick up another burst of speed, ignoring the twinge and throb of my feet.

After another few minutes, I am leaning against another tree when I hear the rustling of leaves. Not again. He did not.

“You run like a child.” He chides. “Loud. Aimless. Lost?” I glower at his slightly smug expression. “I listen. Hear you are lost. You donnae remember here.” He waves his arms around to indicate this place; to me it’s not just this forest or the roads. But the whole damn plane of existence. “You know no’ o’ Orcs.” Because where I come from those are a part of fairy tales and legends.

He drops down from the branch easily, even though he’d been walking on it like it were a tightrope. All seven feet of him drops to the ground gracefully. Soundlessly. A part of me is jealous. Another part is annoyed. I feel so small next to him. Not just in height. But in everything. He bends on one knee before me. He reaches down and takes my foot into his hands, I hiss out a breath. Fuck that is just too damn painful.

He clucks his tongue in reproach. “I chase. You shouldnae harm yourself.” Shaking his head, he growls. “Reckless. Jaedason weel be angered with me.”

“Well, someone took my shoes.” I grit as he pulls a water skin from around his waist. He wipes my foot clean before wrapping it in a strip of leather cloth he had retrieved from a satchel on his waist next to the water skin. He lifts my other foot in order to do the same with it. The clicking of his tongue is loud between us.

“Ach. So, Jaedason weel like scold me. As chief in training, is my duty t’ care for all. Most important, my mate.” He looks at me, curiously. Assessing me before nodding. “Our mate.”

“Our—

He picks me up in his arms like I were just a pile of pillows. A squeak escapes me. “Come. I take you home.”

“I’m not going!” I grit.

He chuckles, a light rumbling in his chest vibrating into mybones with his warmth. A finger grazes my breast beneath the cape. I’m not sure if it’s an accident when the same finger brushes me again. I gasp. “Stop that.” With a swat of my hand on his, I hear a sort of chuffing laugh leave him. “I said I’m not going and you can stop trying to paw at me. I’m not your mate either.”

His golden gaze looks down at me. Not even watching where he is going. Just staring into my very soul. He hums. The sound soothing to my ears. Making my chest ache. “I caught you.”

Oh, for the love of—

“You ran. You agreed.” Technicalities. I just frown at him. A deep crease in my brows. Another chuffing laugh. “Mine. Everything about you. I wish t’ see you smile.” I bare my teeth at him with a snap of my jaws. He stops. Staring at me. Probably at my audacity and childishness but damn it. This whole thing is crap. He’d set me up for the shittiest test. I was never going to get away from him. I don’t even know where ‘here’ is. I don’t even know how to get to the town. Let alone what berries are edible and what are not. I don’t know anything about this world and he gave me five seconds to run away? Yeah. It was a set up. And if that means I’m going to act like a petulant child, then so be it.

His laughter makes me boil. It’s a deep belly laugh that lathers my skin in warmth from his skin and jostles me in his arms. My heart flutters.NO. You stop that right now.But I’m watching him. He’s not human handsome. Never could be. But he’s strong and rugged and his laughter. It’s so warm. Transforming. Have you ever seen someone just laugh and it’s like the sun shines from within them? Just bursting forth and bathing you in their light? That’s his laugh.

His features are very square and sharp angles. High cheekbones, square jaw and a dimpled chin. His eyes are his most striking features as they show the sunshine he hides within. His nose is wide and crooked. Lips full and probably soft and warm with tusks as large as my pinkie finger curve up from between his lips. Ears are long and tapered at the end like one would think of as elf ears. His hair is black as sin, pulled back into a braid and shaved to a fine fuzz on the sides. Not sure but his face looks like it was probably shaved this morning. And there is an odd stripe of darker skin around his neck and wrists.

I want to touch his face. To gander at the difference in colors. Look at how I compare to his moss and ash skin tone. I want to caress hischeek and pull his face down to ki—

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