Page 20 of Summoning the Orc

My chin lifted with pride. “Of course. And I have more of it in my cave.”

His jaw dropped as he shook his head, stepping back and raising his hands. “I’m not good with gold the way my brother is, so I’ll save the conversion for him, but even one piece of that is going to be worth at least a million dollars,” he said with awe.

I had no idea what adollarwas, but if it was the currency of this plane, that had to bode well for what I could provide my female. I turned to her with a grin, and she blinked up at me before returning a tremulous smile.

“I’d like to keep some to gift to my female as part of her dowry,” I told Rudgar, not taking my eyes off of her.

“Good luck with that,” he snorted. “Females from here might not be as accepting of the old ways as you’d hope.”

“She will be,” I told him, hope filling my chest at the thought of her accepting the dowry and then accepting me. “And I’ll offer it to her and give the rest to Dristan.”

“I’ll let Dristan explain to you how clans work here,” Rudgartold me, amusement clear in his voice. “But it seems like you’ve forgotten that I’m here. Go inside with your female. Get acquainted with the amenities and if you need anything, say my name to her and she’ll know to call me.”

I nodded, giving this male my back as a sign of trust and respect. It helped that I could now admire my female in all her aroused splendor. Her cheeks were flushed, her scent was as lusty as ever and her hand was held out with a firm demand.

I grinned as I gave her five of the gold pieces. Her eyes went wide and her lips parted. She babbled words in her language, shoving them back toward me, but I returned the rest of the coins to the pouch and then safely back into the satchel so I could give them to Dristan later.

If I could, I would gift them all to her. Each and every piece had been hard-won—fighting dragons for their hoard was seen as a death sentence for most orcs—but she deserved every single one.

Plus,my inner voice told me as I puffed out my chest,you’re notmostorcs.

Chapter Fourteen

Becca

I’m holding some kind of gold and Iknowthis is probably worth a fortune.

Just the way that Rudgar had boggled over the pile in Rok’s huge hand told me that this, whatever it was, could probably buymeten times over. I tried to shove the huge, heavy pieces back at him, but the stubborn male didn’t take them, tucking away the rest back into his satchel.

“I can’t take these,” I squeaked, shaking my head as I held them back out to him. “It’s too much! I’ll lose them or something!”

He murmured some words in orcish, his eyes soft as he swept a lock of my hair behind my ear with his big finger. His eyes were soft and intimate on my face and heat rose in my cheeks.

This male was going to make me lose my mind and I was already pretty close to doing that on my own. Licking my lips, I watched as his gaze narrowed on the action and his head dipped down.

I took a step back. “Oh no! No more of that. You said you’d give me the key!”

His strong brow furrowed with confusion and I pointed to the card that was still tucked neatly in his satchel. “Thekey,” I enunciated.

“Key,” he sounded out, searching my expression as he pulled it out and raised it toward me. I nodded, giving him a full smile as I took it from him.

At least I knew he wasn’t a cheater. He’d taken his kiss—andwhat a kiss it’d been—and he’d given me the key along with five pieces of his gold. I was gobsmacked by his generosity for a moment before I narrowed my eyes at him.

“You better not think you can buy me with this,” I told him, waving the heavy gold around and accidentally smacking him in the chest.

He tilted his head at me, his eyes gleaming as they analyzed me. He murmured a word that sounded likeskarsh. I had no idea what the hell that meant, but I’d find a way to let him know I wasn’t for sale.

I didn’t know how mates worked where he was from, but I would not bebought. I’d have to bewon.I stiffened at that, realizing what I’d just thought. Guilt flooded my mind.

There was no way I was going all in with this male who would have to go home. And anything else I did here would only lead him on. He’d want me to return with him to his home, but there was no way I’d be leaving my family behind.

We might not be related by blood, but we were related in all the ways that were important. No matter how delicious this sexy male was, I couldn’t make decisions with my pussy.

She can’t be trusted.

I tapped the card to the door and it unlocked with a click. Rok was staring with that eerie focus that I’d noticed when he was observing his surroundings. I had a feeling he was going to be a fast learner and I didn’t know how I felt about that.

He murmured a few words in orcish as I pushed the door open,allowing him to see inside. It sounded like a prayer, but it could just as easily have been a curse and I’d never know.

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