Page 15 of Yuletide Orc

But the fact of the matter was we shouldn’t have attacked at all. Bikkar knew that. So did I.

“I’m sorry,” I said finally. “For what it’s worth. I know that’s very little. But Iamsorry. For this morning, for your sister. For all the violence.”

Bikkar sighed heavily, resigned. It caught me off guard. I was way more used to hearing roars and grunts from this orc. “I as well. I know you’ve lost people to this. I’m sorry they left you to die in return.”

My jaw locked tight and I refit my stare on the fire rather than face that truth. “Thanks.”

The sounds of wolves howling rang out. For the briefest of moments, I wondered if my party had made it back to town and safety before the snow had started. And then I wondered if I cared.

Of course I cared. I was angry and hurt, but I hadn’t stopped caring.

“I’m sure they’re fine,” Bikkar said, although his attention was on the window through which we’d heard the wolf howls. The unsettled crease in his brows stoked worry in me. “None looked dangerously injured.”

I reached down and ran my fingers over Bikkar’s shirt. “Except me. Thank you again for the healing salve.”

He pressed his lips together into a firm line and turned away from the window. “Contrary to popular belief, I do not enjoy violence and killing.”

I nodded. I was starting to see that, yes. And that there was so much more to Bikkar than I could have ever guessed.

“Is it fully healed?” Bikkar asked.

“I think so.” I pulled up the dress to check. The skin was still a little angry and an ache resounded deep within. But it was hard to tell if that was from the wound or Bikkar’s tackle earlier. “For the most part.”

Once again, his gaze was transfixed on my skin and suddenly, I felt warm and awkward as he studied me. Like he could see right through me. He had earlier. Bikkar knew how much adrenaline had thrown us together into a beautiful hate-fuck.

Bikkar’s fists clenched as he rested them on his thighs. It drew my attention and slammed me back into the memories of earlier. His hands on my throat. The feeling of his strong body overpowering mine as his hard length had dived into my core. Mypunishment.

This whiplash of emotions, of attraction and hate and guilt, made my head swim.

“I should get more firewood,” Bikkar said, breaking the moment. I was thankful for it. Thinking straight was becoming an issue around him.

To be honest, it always had been. Just for different reasons now.

He stood and set his mug of tea aside. I moved to go with him, but he held out a hand. “Stay here and keep warm. I won’t be long. These woods aren’t safe.”

I nodded to the window. “Do you see something out there?”

Bikkar shook his head slowly. “I don’t think so. I won’t be long, though.”

“Are you sure?” I asked.

Bikkar nodded. “It’s Yule, and you are my guest. Stay here safe and warm. You’ve already given me more today than you should’ve.”

One could argue that was either not true or entirely the other way around, but I recognized the resolve in his voice. It didn’t matter. So I nodded again and focused on the fire and the energy within it that called to my magic.

Bikkar shrugged on a new shirt and went out the front door. A few minutes passed in which all I could hear was the fire crackling low before me. It was only when Bikkar still hadn’t returned more minutes later that I realized the issue.

Silence.

The wolves weren’t howling anymore.

A pained roar broke through the calm, and then wolf cries of pain.

Bikkar.

Panic flooded my system as I stood, stopping only to grab Bikkar’s knife from his bed. When I tore open the front door, it was to find Bikkar surrounded by three black wolves with glowing, red eyes… and blood viciously pouring from an open bite wound on Bikkar’s arm.

The wolves had come for us after all.

---