Page 50 of His Orc Lady

“Aye, I can imagine.” I pout a little, then wink at her. “I was jealous when Gorvor claimed this set of rooms. But mine are closer to the kitchens, so I guess it all levels out in the end.”

The thought of submerging myself in the hot water has me moving toward the door. Just when I’m about to reach for it, it opens on its own—or rather, it’s Vark, Steagor, and Owen carrying stacks of dinner plates and handfuls of cutlery.

“Are you leaving?” Owen asks. He sets the plates on one of the tables and turns back to me. “Will I see you later?”

“Of course.” I resist the urge to kiss him again, but we haven’t talked about what we want to do in public, and besides, Dawn, Vark, and Steagor are watching our exchange with interest. “I’m only going to the baths before dinner.”

Vark puffs out his chest. “That’s a brilliant idea.”

I squint up at him. “What?”

“Aye.” Steagor slings a heavy arm around Owen’s shoulders and brings him closer to his side. “I spoke to Poppy on the way here, and she’s taking a nap before dinner, so I have an hour to kill. Let’s all go together.”

“Oh.” Owen’s eyes widen almost comically. “I, ah, I’m sure?—”

“You’ll want to bathe before dinner, my friend.” Vark leans close to sniff at my mate. “Orcs have averydelicate sense of smell.”

Poor Owen flushes pink, and I’ve had enough of them teasing him. I glower at Steagor until he drops his arm back to his side and sends me a contrite smile—though he doesn’t rescind his offer.

I nudge Vark out of the way, ignoring his grinning face, and loop my arm through Owen’s. I yank him out of the room, waving at Dawn as we leave.

Owen matches my steps easily, then bends his head close to whisper, “Is this some sort of, ah, acceptance ritual?”

Somewhere behind us, Vark’s laughter booms out, echoing down the corridor. He and Steagor are following us, apparently committed to the idea of going to the baths.

“No, that’s just my friends showing their age,” I snipe, knowing full well they can hear me. Then I lower my voice and add, “If they’re making you uncomfortable, tell me, and I’ll ask them to back off. But really, they’re harmless.”

“Hey, now,” Steagor complains. “That’s not a nice thing to say about your oldest friends.”

“Formerfriends,” I call over my shoulder. I face Owen again. “What I’m saying is, theywill nottry to drown you in the pool.”

His blond eyebrows climb up. “I’m not certain this is a good enough endorsement.”

More snickers from behind us. I’m about to demand that they go elsewhere when Owen pats the hand with which I’m gripping his arm.

“It’s all right,” he says, his lips tipping up at the corners. “It’ll be good to get to know your family.”

I let out a tense sigh. “Aye, I understand. But I’ll be just a few pools away if you need me.”

We round the corner, momentarily hidden from Vark and Steagor, and Owen presses a quick kiss to my lips. “Will I see you tonight?”

“Of course.” I peer up at him, confused. “At Ozork’s party?”

“No, I mean later.” Owen straightens just in time and glances back to where my friends are still trailing us.

Heat rushes into my cheeks, but I nod, squeezing his arm. “Deal.”

When we arrive at the baths, he bows politely over my hand, his eyes bright, and leaves with Vark and Steagor to find a pool large enough for the three of them. I pick up a bathing sheet and head in the other direction for one of the smaller pools, grinning to myself. I trust my friends enough to know that they might joke and tease but won’t do anything truly unpleasant to Owen—and I know Owen well enough by now to know he won’t let them cross any lines. Maybe I should have warned the two orcs not to mention mates or discuss me, but after a snatch of laughter wafts from their direction, I decide they’ll know to avoid those topics on their own.

I’m just glad they’ve accepted Owen as my mate without so much as a blink. In the old kingdom, I might have been ridiculed for who I matched up with—humans were seen as weak compared to our warrior race. I never thought my mate would be a soldier, yet he’s exactly right for me.

When I’m done with washing, I wrap the bathing sheet around me and make my way through the mist, following the sounds of the men’s voices. Their pool materializes in front of me, and I notice Owen, who is relaxing at the edge, his long hair wet, his expression serene.

“Everything all right here?” I tuck the sheet more securely around my chest.

Vark peers up at me, then slaps a hand dramatically over his remaining eye. “Gods, Mara, you’re showing your ankles.”

He’s referring to the fact that I’m taking great care not to show an inch more of my skin than absolutely necessary, not because I’m embarrassed by my nakedness but because it’sthem. Steagor and Vark are closer to cousins or older brothers to me, and strutting around naked around them would be too strange.

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