Page 10 of One Stolen Night with Her Orc

“Is he laughing?” I whisper to August, never taking my eyes off him and the door.

“Probably,” she whispers back. “They have a weird relationship. I don’t get boys sometimes.” I nod in agreement. Brothers are completely different beasts.

“Who’s there?” Bjorn sing-songs.

“The reaper, here to put you in your watery grave.” Koru’s voice is low and menacing, but we hear it loud and clear.

“Aww, thanks for the offer, but my schedule’s booked for the day.”

Silence. We wait. Bjorn looks over his shoulder at us and winks at August. She giggles. That makes me look at her. She’s smiling at him, all toothy and dreamy-eyed. Wow.

“So, what’s the plan?” I whisper. She shrugs, her eyes never leaving her green hunk.

“Wanna try again?” Bjorn asks the door.

“Please open the door?” The voice is monotone, calmer.

“Who’s a good orc?” Bjorn asks in that same obnoxious sing-song voice as he unlocks the door and opens it.

Bjorn is big. His skin is a rich green color, and he’s ripped. Koru, though, is bigger. Taller. More muscles. And his septum ring gives him a warrior vibe that makes me weak in the knees. Without saying anything else, Koru ducks his head and steps into the apartment.

And just like that, the apartment just got a lot smaller. Like I somehow entered a room fromAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland, after Alice ate the cake or drank the potion or whatever. My cheeks heat, and my armpits sweat as butterflies swoop low in my belly.

“Poppy,” Koru says, taking a step toward me. Bjorn stops him. Steps in front of him with his arms out.

“Wait. We need to talk first.”

“No time,” Koru barks at his brother.

“I need to know you’re calm.” Born says, his arms crossed and his chest puffed out. “I’m keeping Poppy safe right now. And I take that job very seriously.”

Koru runs a hand over his face. He looks ragged, like he didn’t sleep. Good. Neither did I. “Bjorn, it’s my job to keep her safe.”

“No, it isn’t!” I jump up. “It’s my job, thank you very much. Both of you. Put your egos away.” August’s hand rests gently on my arm. It’s strangely calming. Addy is the only one who has been able to calm me in recent years, and even that is hit and miss. Both orcs look at me with raised eyebrows. I sit back down, uncomfortable under their gazes. This whole enterprise is unnerving.

“Poppy, please, let me speak to you. I need to apologize.” Koru’s voice is softer, and my eyebrows raise at the wordapology.

I nod. Just once. August stands and comes in front of me, her hands on both of my shoulders, giving me strength. “You sure? We’ll be downstairs.” I nod again. She grabs Bjorn by the arm and yanks him past Koru to the door. Bjorn puts the brakes on for a moment.

“I’m downstairs. If I hear any shouting or thumping, I’ll be here in two seconds flat.” He shoves one finger into Koru’s chest. Koru looks down at the finger, then back at Bjorn with a look that only brothers must understand, because Bjorn gives a curt nod and walks away, his arm over August’s shoulders.

Once the door shuts, Koru comes over slowly, hands out to show he means no harm. When he gets a couple of feet away, he kneels in front of me.

“Poppy, I owe you an apology. I—”

“Stop. Let me explain. You were right to be angry. I stole from you.” Koru reaches out and places his four fingers over my mouth. I jolt back a little and raise my eyebrows at him.

Seriously?

“I know. And thieving is a pet peeve of mine. As is lying.” I begin to protest, but his fingers refuse to budge from my mouth. I point at his hand. His lip crooks, just a little, in the tiniest hint of a smile.

“Let me finish. I was a mess this morning. Couldn’t sleep, couldn’t focus on anything other than you. I was furious—at you and at me. A complete wreck. Then, a customer came in. Your stepdad.” Here he takes a breath, removes his fingers from my mouth. I lick my lips. “It was—enlightening, to say the least. And I promise you, he will never bother you again.” There shouldn’t be tears. Crying isn’t a thing I do. But the sight of him on his knees brings all sorts of emotions to the surface. The thought that he met Marcus shames me even further.

“And I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kicked you out last night. I’m lucky Bjorn was there to take care of you. I hate that I was an asshat to you. I’m here to beg for your forgiveness.” Picking up one of my hands, he kisses it with those big fat lips of his, so surprisingly gentle. My belly flutters as his broken tusk rubs against the top of my hand.

“Marcus? Came to the brewery? Did you kill him?”

At that, Koru busts up laughing. His laugh makes me laugh. An awkward, snot-filled, unsexy laugh. Once we settle, me wiping my nose all over the sleeve of August’s sweater that I’m borrowing, he touches my chin, making sure we are eye to eye. “Listen, Poppy. I will kill him if you want me to. I ensured that he doesn’t bother you again, and that Addy gets the money she needs for university.”

---