Page 47 of X'nath

Images of Gracie’s lips and teeth on my body made my cock stir once again and I grimaced.

“Shut it,” I replied, my voice gruff but the corners of my mouth twitching up. “I’ll show you a real love bite if you don’t keep it down.”

I finished patching myself up once more, gritting my teeth against the sting, since my recent activity made me bleed through my bandage. The satisfaction of my work was short-lived as I stood, preparing for the night patrol ahead. We needed to secure the area against possible rival clans and, worse yet, the dragons that had been rumored to circle our skies.

“Ready to take on the world, eh?” Gorruk teased, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk. “Or at least, a few dragons?”

“Just keeping watch. You know how it is,” I said, my tone serious despite the banter. “We’ve got to set traps before those winged nuisances decide to drop in for a visit.”

“Right, because nothing says ‘welcome’ like a face full of spikes,” another voice chimed in. It was Greag, hefting a crude but sturdy spear. “You think they’ll fly down and ask for directions first?”

“Maybe they’ll offer us a nice meal in return,” Gorruk added, laughing heartily.

The mention of a meal reminded me of the one I had missed during my journey to find the Nightshade with Karg. I had heard that Gracie was the one who took charge of the effort, ensuring everything went smoothly to feed the clan. I felt a surge of pride at her resourcefulness, but then a bitter edge of anger crept in. I wasn’t there to be a part of it, to share in the blessing shehad prepared. And worse, the other men—did they take that opportunity to court her while I wasn’t there to keep them at bay? The thought gnawed at me.

“Or we could just tell them to shove off,” I said, trying to maintain my focus as I strapped my belt on, readying my weapons. “Let’s get moving before we give them more ideas.”

It hadn’t been my intention to stay away from Gracie these past few days. The news of the dragons and the threat of a rival clan invasion had consumed my time. It was one problem after another, and I kept telling myself that once we got through it, I’d go see her.

As a few of the men and I descended into the lower areas of the mountain, the air grew cooler, the atmosphere thick with the scent of the forest. I could hear the distant rumble of thunder and feel the tension in the air. The dragons had been flying close, and we couldn’t afford to take any chances.

“X’nath, how’d you get that gash anyway?” Gorruk asked, his tone shifting to something more genuine as we reached our first trap site. “Did you forget to look behind you while you were off dreaming about our lady friend?”

“Not quite. Just got a little too close to a creature that didn’t appreciate my presence,” I replied, setting down my gear to prepare the trap. “Not that you’d know anything about that, considering you’re the one who usually gets caught in the snares with your old age.”

He let out a barking laugh. “But next time, don’t go risking life and limb for her. You’re just asking for trouble.”

“Yeah? And what’s wrong with that?” I shot back, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. “You think I should just sit back and let her fend for herself?”

“I think you should consider your own life first, my friend. We need you in one piece for this patrol,” Greag chimed in, a bitmore serious. “Besides, what’s a few gifts when you could end up as dragon food?”

I scoffed, shaking my head as I prepared the makeshift booby trap. “You don’t understand. She deserves more than just a few tokens. She’s been through enough, and if I can help, then I will.”

“Whatever you say,” Gorruk said with a smirk. “Just remember, if you get yourself killed, she’ll have to find someone else to patch her up.”

“Speaking of which,” I cut him off, glancing at the dark sky where the shadows of dragons flitted against the clouds. “We need to be on high alert. Set the traps, and keep your eyes peeled. We don’t want to be caught off guard.”

As we worked, the banter continued, lightening the mood despite the looming threat. But in the back of my mind, I couldn’t shake the images of her face, the way her eyes lit up when she realized someone cared. That thought fueled my determination.

With each trap we set, I made a silent promise to her—to protect her no matter the cost. I might not have been good enough for her in my own eyes, but I would ensure she had the chance to thrive in this new life.

As we finished up the last trap, I glanced back at my friends, feeling the weight of camaraderie and unspoken bonds. I might have sustained injuries, but they were nothing compared to the scars we all carried—ones that could only be healed through courage, support, and a bit of mischief along the way.

“Alright, let’s get back before those dragons decide to drop by uninvited,” I said, leading the way back up the mountain. “And keep your heads low. We don’t want them thinking we’re offering ourselves as snacks.”

With a collective chuckle, we set off, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, fueled by laughter, purpose, and the hope of a brighter future for us all.

29

Under my Skin

GRACIE

It had been a strange few days since I last saw X’nath. I had tried to push thoughts of him aside, burying them beneath the tasks of the day, but as the afternoon light began to fade, my mind wandered back to him once again.

The other women and I had gathered to help with the building of a new house, preparing for one of the young orcs about to leave their parents' homes as he came of age. It was a welcome distraction, the laughter and chatter providing a brief respite from the heavy weight of my thoughts. But even as we worked, I felt that familiar pang of unease whenever X’nath crossed my mind.

I wondered what X’nath had been like when he left his first home to become a warrior. According to the tribe, males typically left around the age of sixteen. X’nath didn’t look any older than Erin, who was nearing thirty, which meant he was likely in his twenties, assuming orcs aged similarly to humans.

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