Page 54 of Summoning the Orc

“Maybe it’s because he’s not from here,” I guessed, rubbing my palm up and down his arm when he stiffened next to me. “But whatever it is, I’m hoping he won’t have to see a doctor. I don’t want him to leave the building.”

“We can have Dristan’s doctor come here if he needs it,” Pen told me, giving Rok an encouraging smile, turning to lead us to the living room where I could hear voices.

When we entered, I gasped, excitement bubbling inside my body. I threw myself at the couple who were already standing from their seats and heading my way.

“Oh my Gods, I didn’t know you guys were coming. I would have picked you up! I would have—” I started, my voice already shaking with emotion.

The past few weeks had been the longest that I’d ever gone without seeing the two people in the world who I considered my parents. Pen’s mother and father reached for me, squeezing meinto tight hugs and I felt Pen wrap herself around us as well.

I held in my tears as something settled inside me that I hadn’t known was missing. With that final piece in place, I looked over my shoulder at Rok, where he was standing, a frown playing across his face.

I grinned at him and held my hand out. He hesitated before moving toward me. When our fingers met, I pulled away from the hug to hold his hand in mine.

“I’m so glad you’re here, though. I have someone I need to introduce you to,” I told them, turning to beam up at the male who’d made his way into my heart. “This is my Rok. He’s my mate.”

His lips parted as he stared down at me, the intensity in his gaze telling me how much he was feeling in that moment. It was the first time that I was introducing him to anyone new and I wanted it to be perfect. Especially this one.

“And these are my parents,” I told him, holding my hand out toward where they stood.

Rok’s eyes went wide and he bowed low in front of them, his fist against his heart. “I’m honored to meet you both,” he told them, not lifting from his pose.

“The honor’s ours,” Keith laughed, reaching out to touch Rok’s shoulder in welcome. “I heard you’re the one who stole our girl’s heart.”

Rok finally rose from his bow, his eyes wary as he nodded. “I should have approached you first, of course. I didn’t mean any disrespect—” he started, but Susan waved him off, grabbing him into a hug and squeezing him as tight as she could.

Rok’s eyes were huge as he stared at me over her shoulder. I couldn’t do anything but grin back at him, knowing that this wonderful couple who’d taken in an orphaned kid when they hadn’t needed to would accept him into the fold as long as I loved him—and I did.

Keith’s arm came around my shoulder and he waggled a finger at Rok. “But you better treat her right. If I hear any complaints, I’m going to sic Rudgar on you,” he announced, pointing toward Rudgar who was in the middle of shoving what I knew to be one of Susan’s famous cookies in his mouth.

He pointed to himself in question and when Keith gave him an encouraging nod, he nodded right back. “Of course,” he choked on his bite of cookie. “I’m available for any siccing that you need.”

He went back to filling his face with cookies and I rolled my eyes.

“I’ll never hurt her,” Rok rushed to reassure them. “And I’ll protect her,” he added. “From anything and anyone that I need to.” His eyes went even bigger and he looked at Dristan. “Do you have the numbers to show them for how much the dragon gold is worth on this plane?” He turned back to Keith and Susan, his expression frantic. “I can provide for her. I don’t have the gold with me, but—”

“No need,” Keith said, holding his hands up to stop the tirade that Rok had started. “Our girl doesn’t need to be provided for. She’s working at the biggest library in Grebath,” he explained, hugging me closer, radiating pride to the entire room and Susan hugged me around my waist to add hers.

My heart was so full, I didn’t know what to do.

“We just need you to be there for her,” Susan explained, turning to give me a stern frown. “She thinks she should be doing everything herself, but that’s not true. Having someone with you to be a partner in this life is very important,” she added, cupping my cheeks and pressing a kiss to my forehead.

I tried to keep the tears from my eyes as I nodded, but I failed. I gave her a watery smile and laugh. “I know that now,” I told her, as she wiped my tear away with her thumb.

“Good,” she said in a low voice, then turned to Rok. “And Imade enough cookies to feed an orc army, so make sure you grab some.”

He grinned as I made my way to him, hugging him close as Rudgar’s garbled voice came from behind us.

“This was for everyone?” he asked, holding up the huge, empty, Tupperware.

“I’m so glad you came over,” I told Susan, taking her hand into mine at the dinner table. All of the dishes were spread out and there was chatter all along the table.

“I wouldn’t miss it,” she told me, nudging my shoulder with hers. “One daughter’s falling in love and the other is pregnant.” She waved a hand in front of her face as her eyes misted. “It’s like all of the dreams I had for both of you are finally coming true.”

I leaned over for a hug and Pen hugged her from the other side. “Mine isn’t exciting yet. We just found out. ButBecca,” she whispered. “She’s finally found the orc of her dreams. I remember when we were six and drawing pictures of what our weddings would be like.”

She covered her mouth to smother a laugh. “I drew myself marrying daddy, butBecks. Becks already knew who her knight in leather armor would be.” She snickered and heat rushed to my face as I remembered what she was talking about.

“I like orcs,” I said with a shrug.

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