Page 31 of X'nath

The others noticed, and the room seemed to come alive with a new energy. Vakgar grinned, leaning back in his chair, clearly enjoying the sight.

"Well, well," he said with a low chuckle, his arms crossed over his chest. "Looks like someone’s found herself a comfortable perch."

Greag just chuckled, his hands sliding around Sophie’s waist, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "I didn’t realize I was so irresistible," he teased, his voice warm, yet still laced with that same dominant confidence that always seemed to surround him.

"You’re not going to start laying claim to her already, are you?" I threw in, my grin sharp and teasing.

Greag met my gaze with a laugh. "Not unless she asks, X’nath," he said, tightening his hold on Sophie. She rolled her eyes and gave his chest a playful slap but didn’t pull away. A small smile tugged at her lips.

The others kept going, clearly enjoying the playful back-and-forth. Korrin, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, raised an eyebrow and spoke up. "Seems like Greag’s got a little soft spot for Sophie. Should we start calling him ‘the tame one’?" His voice was dry, but there was a hint of amusement in his gaze.

I raised an eyebrow and took a long drink from my mug. "I think we all know that Greag’s not so tame," I said, leaning back in my chair, a smirk playing on my lips. "But it’s good to see Sophie keeping him on his toes."

Vakgar chuckled. "Yeah, Greag’s got more than a few tricks up his sleeve, but it seems like Sophie’s got him wrapped around her finger."

Sophie leaned back against Greag’s chest, clearly enjoying the attention but playing along. "He’s not that wild, Vakgar," she replied, her voice light, though there was an edge to it. "But I suppose none of you would know that, would you?"

The table erupted in laughter, and even I let out a quiet chuckle. It was the kind of laughter that came from familiarity, from shared moments, from being a part of something that felt like it could last.

I stole a glance at Gracie, who had been quietly observing the scene. She seemed... distant, more so than usual. There was a quiet intensity in her gaze that made me wonder what she was thinking. Did she long for what they had? Did she not realize that I could offer her everything, if only she'd let me in?

What was the real reason behind her wariness? It had to be more than just caution. There was something deeper, somethingI wasn't picking up on yet. Even as the others found their place here, as Sophie and Greag, Kelly and Vakgar, even quiet Salma and Korrin, began to settle into their roles, Gracie remained a mystery to me. The walls she had built around herself were solid, and despite my best attempts, I was beginning to realize that breaking them down was going to take more than just a few teasing words.

Perhaps it was going to require more action.

With every hint of resistance she showed, it only fueled my determination to uncover what lay beneath the surface of the beautiful human female who chose to fight, instead of cowering like the others in the face of uncertainty.

"You think you’re going to keep this up, X’nath?" Vakgar’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "You sure about chasing after Gracie? She’s not like the others."

I gave him a smirk, leaning forward on my elbows. "I’m not giving up," I said with quiet confidence. "She’s just got more layers than the rest of them."

The men exchanged looks, some skeptical, others amused, but I could tell they respected my determination. I wasn’t just after her for the chase. Gracie was different. There was something deeper than I could figure out with just a few words and a few gestures. I could sense it in the way she reacted to me—soft, but guarded. Cautious, yet not entirely closed off.

And that, more than anything, made her all the more captivating and worth it.

"She’s got a lot of walls up," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else. "But I’ll get through them."

Vakgar just chuckled, shaking his head. "You sure about that?"

I met his gaze, a small smile playing at the corner of my lips. "I never thought I’d see the day your ugly mug finally settleddown." I chuckled. "Just proves that there’s a first time for everything."

"Who's he calling ugly?" Kelly's protective voice cut through the air. I turned to see her cradling Vakgar's face and pressing her lips to his. It was a curious human custom, one that had caught all of our attention the first time Sophie did it to Greag.

The first time I’d seen Sophie do that—pressing her lips to Greag's in front of all of us—it had caught him completely off guard. The big, intimidating warrior, usually so confident and in control, froze like prey. He stood there, stunned, his usual bravado replaced by an almost sheepish look. It was the first time I’d ever seen Greag look vulnerable.

It was in that moment that I realized—she had tamed him, in a way. The strong, fearless leader, who once commanded everyone with an iron fist, had softened beneath her touch. Sophie had cracked through his layers, breaking down that tough exterior, and now, every time they were together, I could see how much he’d changed.

Now here Kelly was, doing the same thing with Vakgar. I had to admit, it was amusing to see how quickly the big, tough orcs could be reduced to putty in the hands of these human women.

But there was something else there too, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It wasn’t just about the kisses or the flirting. It was about something deeper—something these women were offering that none of us had ever really had before. Connection, warmth, tenderness—things that were foreign to us in a world of constant fighting and survival.

I glanced at Gracie across the room, watching her watch Kelly and Vakgar. She hadn’t moved, her gaze steady but distant, as if lost in thought.

I found myself wondering what was going through her mind. What was she hiding behind that calm, collected facade?

Just as I began to step closer to her, one of the younger males called my name with urgency. "X'nath, you need to come. There's something you need to see."

I gave Gracie one last look before following him out.

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