Page 49 of Orc's Forbidden Claim

“How? Tell me what I must do,” she demands.

“Provide cover. Rosalind, the Al’fa, these liz—” he stops the word mid speaking it as his eyes dart down to Sek’su, “the Zmaj will not like me leaving their compound. There is no choice if I am to help save your mate.”

“Done,” she says without hesitation.

“What do you mean you’re leaving the compound?” I ask, it becoming my turn to worry.

I don’t want him outside again. We all almost died more than once out there the last time, him out there alone? No. No fucking way. His frown switches to me.

“Can we… talk?” he asks, gesturing ineffectively with one hand.

“You can tell me what you mean by ‘outside the compound’,” I say.

“Say, honey, if this is the only way to save Sek,” Wren says, her voice no longer cold and icy but with an edge of imploring.

I look at her and I’m torn. She is my best friend and of course, I want to save her mate. But at the expense of the love I haven’t even had time to know myself yet? This isn’t fair. Am I really going to have to choose between her happiness and my own?

Can I be happy if Sek’su dies and I stopped Khiara from saving him? She’d never forgive me, but I don’t think I could ever forgive myself either.

Khiara shifts his weight, making his braids rattle. I look from Wren to him and it feels as if my heart is tearing apart. It physically hurts. There is no good choice. Not even an okay choice. They’re all bad. Worse, they’re all terrible.

“Saylor,” Khiara whispers. “A moment.”

The pressure building behind my eyes is too much. My head throbs as I struggle with not only the decision I have to make but to not break down in tears. I bite my lower lip and nod to Khiara, unable to speak.

He turns and walks out of the room, holding the leather door to one side for me to pass. The door makes a swish sound as it drops back into place. This room is empty. I don’t know where the healers went to, but for the moment it’s only him and I.

I can’t look into his eyes. I know he’s right, that this is the thing to do, but I can’t say it. Can’t admit it out loud. I want to tell him no. Make him stay and never leave my side, but I can’t. He doesn’t speak either. I don’t know if that’s because he’s also struggling or if he’s giving me space to work it out, but I do appreciate it.

He strokes my cheek with the tips of his fingers leaving trails of warmth. I shiver, as even this subtle touch ignites desire. I press my hand against his chest, finding some comfort in the strong and steady beating of his heart.

“Saylor,” he says softly, one arm enclosing around me, pulling me close. I press my face against his chest. “I didn’t know what I wanted in life because I had no hope. No future seemed possible. I was alive, but only in body, not in heart or soul.”

A sob comes out before I can catch it. His words resonate inside my chest.

“Me too,” I whisper past the lump in my throat.

“I didn’t know I wanted someone like you. Someone as bright as the double suns and fresh as morning on the mountains. Someone like the sunshine on the old city from before my people were driven under the mountain.” He runs his hand over my hair, letting the strands trail over his fingers.

“Warm, but not hot, covering all my skin. From the beginning to the night, from the mountains to the stars, the answer to thequestion I didn’t know that what I was asking was simple. I wanted, no I needed you.

You are my life, Saylor. I need you to know this. My heart is yours, always. But, Saylor, my love, I must do this. Sek’su… he is… he’s a good male. He needs my help, and I must give it.”

“I know,” I say, hating the quaver in my voice. “I know.” I raise my head and meet his eyes at last. His are warm, filled with caring and nothing but compassion. His face is blurry from the unshed tears in mine. “You’re who you are, and I love you, Khiara. I would never change that… but…”

“But?” he prompts when I don’t continue.

I swallow, trying to form this into words.

“I can’t lose you,” I sob, tears breaking free. “We’ve only begun. It can’t be over. Not this quick. Not this soon. I need… more.”

He cups my face in his massive emerald hand and smiles.

“My love, Tajss provides,” he says.

And how can I argue with his logic? It’s unreal to me, still, but he is so certain of it that it leaves no room for doubts. I nod, tears streaming down my face, then I rise onto my toes and kiss him.

33

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