Page 34 of X'nath

The creature’s head turned toward me, its eyes narrowing as it roared, but it was too late. X’nath’s axe swung again, taking the creature’s head off with one final, precise strike.

For a long moment, the world stood still as its decapitated head rolled away. The only sound around us was the raggedbreaths we were all taking. The creature’s massive body collapsed with a heavy thud, the last remnants of its life spilling out across the forest floor.

I stood there, panting, my heart racing, as I surveyed the scene. The battle was over. It was really over. The child was safe.

I looked over at X’nath. His chest heaved as he stood over the fallen monster, his axe still raised. Blood soaked his clothing, his face smeared with the creature’s gore. Despite the carnage, he didn’t look tired. He didn’t look afraid. He looked... alive.

I wanted to say something, anything, to acknowledge what had just happened, but the words caught in my throat.

X’nath turned to me, his eyes narrowing as he took in my appearance. I knew I must look like a mess—blood streaked across my face, my clothes torn and stained, my body aching. But when he spoke, his voice was calm, as though we’d just had a casual conversation.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his gaze softening.

I nodded, but my body felt like it was about to collapse. My legs wobbled, and I had to brace myself against a nearby tree to stay standing.

“Thank you,” I managed to say, my voice barely a whisper.

He gave me a small nod, though there was a glimmer of something—something more than gratitude—in his eyes. But before I could say anything else, I turned away, feeling the weight of everything crash down on me. I had to get away for a moment, to clear my head, to breathe.

As I escorted the child back toward the tribe, I glanced over my shoulder.

Yargol, thankfully, had scrambled back to his feet, shaking off the dirt and debris from the battle. He quickly returned to X’nath’s side, his form brimming with determination despite the chaos.

X’nath stood there, watching me as the other orcs rushed toward them, their expressions filled with concern and awe. His arms were crossed, his posture relaxed yet commanding, as he surveyed the aftermath of the battle. Despite the blood and gore surrounding him, there was a quiet confidence in his gaze—a reminder of how much I still didn’t fully understand about him.

The admiration I had for him—despite myself—was growing. I hated it. I hated that he had come to my rescue, that he had saved me, that he had been so powerful and capable.

But the truth was undeniable: there was more to him than the cocky orc who flirted and teased. He was a warrior, a protector, and something about the way he fought alongside me made me want to understand him more.

And that terrified me.

20

The Woman who Slays

X’NATH

Iwatched her as we made our way back to camp, the image of Gracie in my mind burned deeper than anything else. She had done it. She’d fought that creature and kept it at bay, a beast so massive in comparison to her, I couldn’t believe it. Her strength and resolve, her quick thinking, it all came together to save that child.

I’d always known she had fire inside her. But now, seeing her bloodied and exhausted, she was more than a warrior. She was everything I’d been searching for in a mate, but never thought I’d find. The way her eyes burned with courage, even when it was clear she was shaken… She was the female for me.

But as we walked through the trees, a small gnawing feeling formed in my chest, an unfamiliar discomfort. My gaze wandered to the other men, and I noticed the way their eyes followed Gracie’s every move. The way their eyes lingered, the subtle glances from the other men who hadn’t shown interest before—competition was in the air. The realization made my blood boil, and I pushed the anger down. No one else was goingto claim her. She was mine. I had been patient. Now, I was done waiting.

I moved closer to her, trying to mask the jealousy with a grin. “You’ve got quite the skill with a weapon, Gracie,” I said, my voice low and teasing, knowing full well she wasn’t in the mood. “You should teach me sometime. I’m sure I could learn a thing or two from you.”

Her eyes flicked to me, but there was no warmth in her gaze. Instead, I saw the annoyance flash there, the same resistance she always showed me. “X’nath. I’m covered in blood and not in the mood for your games,” she snapped, brushing past me, her tone curt and final.

"Ahnak! Ahnak!" Rasha sprinted toward her child, who ran into her arms, crying and trembling. She rocked him gently, her eyes lifting to the sky in gratitude, thanking the higher powers for her son’s safe return.

I watched Gracie from a distance, noting the strange somberness in her eyes as she observed the reunion. There was something in her expression—something I couldn’t quite grasp. Did she long for children of her own, I wondered? If she did, I could give her an entire tribe’s worth, should she ever want it.

So why was she resisting this—us—so fiercely?

I watched Gracie as she began to walk again, the weight of the moment hanging on her shoulders. She moved with a purposeful stride, but there was an unmistakable heaviness in the way she held herself, as though the battle had taken more out of her than she was willing to admit. Even so, there was strength in every step, a quiet kind of resolve that I admired.

I couldn’t help myself. The pull to be near her, to speak with her again, was too strong. I stepped into her path, blocking her way just enough to make her pause. My heart thrummed in my chest, and I smiled, the kind of smile that only appeared when I knew I had her attention.

"You know," I said, my voice low and warm, "for someone who just saved a child’s life, you don’t look like you’ve been enjoying the victory."

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