Page 22 of The Orc's Promised Bride

“He would never have let it happen if he’d known, but he didn’t know about him. It happened while he was serving in the High King’s army and Egon’s mother didn’t tell him.”

She crossed her arms and frowned at him.

“It should have occurred to him that it was a possibility.”

He sighed, wondering how much he should tell her.

“My people are rarely blessed with children. It is… unusual for a male to have more than one child.” If he were even lucky enough to have one. “Even if he had considered it a possibility, he would have dismissed the idea after Wulf was born.”

“But he went on to have you as well. It doesn’t sound that unusual to me.”

“He didn’t expect it to happen when he was mated to my mother. He was shocked to be blessed a second time. Although I’m not sure he always considered it a blessing,” he added dryly. His father had expected another serious responsible child like Wulf. Instead, he had proven to be somewhat of a disappointment. “But that’s enough about the past. You should get some rest. It will be a long day tomorrow.”

She looked at him with those big, dark eyes, but she didn’t question him further. As soon as they finished cleaning up, she went to the bedroll. He followed her shortly thereafter, but sleep was the furthest thing from his mind. Thoughts of his father, and Egon’s horrible childhood, and the Curse swirled in his mind, making sleep impossible.

But then she turned to him in her sleep, her small body pressed against his side, one arm draped across his chest. Her dark hair tickled his shoulder, and her warm breath ghosted across hisskin. Her trust in sleep touched something deep inside him, even as her proximity tested his control. The scent of herbs clung to her skin, mixing with her natural sweetness in a way that made his head spin.

He allowed himself to stroke her hair, then carefully placed his arm around her, savoring the way her body fit perfectly against his, the way she instinctively leaned into his touch. His previous restlessness was replaced by contentment, and yet a thread of uneasiness lingered. Was he doing the right thing? He didn’t want to take her to the shrine. Didn’t want to risk her leaving him. But he could see how much it meant to her.

She’d come here for answers, and it was only right that he help her. He just wished his heart didn’t have to pay the price.

CHAPTER 12

Jana walked alongside Lothar as they slowly made their way through the forest. The cool mountain air filled her lungs, carrying the scent of pine and the wild herbs she was slowly learning to identify in this strange new world.

He walked close enough to catch her if she stumbled but with enough space to move independently, and she found his presence reassuring rather than stifling. Every few steps, she caught him glancing her way, checking on her progress while trying to be subtle about it.

“And then Wulf actually fell into the stream,” he said, gesturing dramatically. “Completely soaked, still holding that tiny fish!”

She laughed, the sound echoing through the trees. His stories about his brothers painted such vivid pictures, she could almost see them. The way he spoke of them, full of love and mischief, made her heart ache with a peculiar longing. And yet, remembering his words from the previous night, she suspected that there was sorrow mixed in as well.

When her foot caught on a root, his hand immediately shot out to steady her, but he didn’t grab her - just offered support until she found her balance. The careful way he respected her boundaries while still protecting her touched something deep inside.

“The path gets a bit steeper here,” he warned, pointing ahead. “We can rest if you need to.”

“I’m fine,” she assured him, though her ankle twinged slightly.

That sense of urgency - the need to find answers - hadn’t disappeared, even though she was enjoying the journey itself. Enjoying his company.

He launched into another tale about a festival gone hilariously wrong, his deep voice accompanying them as they descended the mountain together. She found herself sneaking glances at him as well, enjoying the way his smile transformed his face and the warmth in his eyes when he caught her looking at him.

By the time he made camp for the night, her muscles ached from the day’s journey, but it was a satisfying kind of exhaustion. She watched as he worked, his big hands quick and sure as he spread their bedroll and arranged kindling and larger branches for a fire. The sun dipped behind the mountains, painting the sky in deep purples and oranges.

A shiver ran through her as the temperature dropped. Without thinking, she edged closer to the fire he’d built, and then closer to him. She stared into the flames, acutely aware of his presence beside her, his warmth radiating like a beacon. The fire cast flickering shadows across his strong features, highlighting the sharp angles of his tusks. Her heart raced as she made her decision.

Taking a deep breath, she shifted even closer and deliberately rested her head against his broad shoulder. His body tensed for a moment in surprise, then relaxed. His arm settled around her shoulders, gentle and unconfining. The weight of it felt right, natural, as if they’d done this a hundred times before.

She waited for the panic to set in - that suffocating feeling of being trapped that had haunted her for so long. But it didn’t come. Instead, she slowly relaxed against him, the gentle rise and fall of his breathing and the steady thump of his heart creating a soothing rhythm. She breathed in his scent - leather and pine and something uniquely him that she’d come to associate with safety.

“Cold?” His voice rumbled through his chest where her head rested.

She shook her head. The truth was, she hadn’t felt this comfortable in years. The fire’s warmth wrapped around them like a cocoon, but it was his presence that truly made her feel secure. His thumb traced lazy circles on her shoulder, and she melted further into his embrace.

The crackling fire and chirping night insects created a peaceful backdrop as they sat in comfortable silence. She idly traced the hem of his shirt with her finger, marveling again at how natural this felt. How right.

The realization hit her then - how much she’d been starving for this kind of gentle touch, this easy affection. Her throat tightened as her emotions welled up, threatening to overwhelm her. She’d kept herself isolated for so long, building walls to keep everyone at a safe distance. Yet here she was, those same walls crumbling in the presence of this unlikely protector.

They reachedPort Cael late the following afternoon. Her breath caught as they reached a ridge overlooking the town. It was stretched along the edge of a deep blue fjord, its waters reflecting the afternoon sun. Stone buildings with steep-pitched roofs clustered along winding streets, their windows glinting in the light. Down by the harbor, colorfully painted wooden buildings rose three or four stories high, larger than she’d expected. Ships with carved dragon heads bobbed in the harbor, their sails furled.

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