Page 30 of Bound in Flames

His grip tightened, his expression darkening with an intensity that sent a shiver through me, before he pulled me into his arms. “No one will ever lay a hand on you again, Cleo. That, I can promise.”

I let out a soft scoff, sinking into his embrace, greedily taking the solace he so willingly gave. “You can’t promise that, Dex. But I appreciate you for wanting to.”

His hands gripped my shoulders with a bruising intensity as he pulled me back.His golden eyes burned, molten with fury, his jaw clenched tight enough to crack stone. My breath caught as he scanned my face, his presence overwhelming.

“I can,” he growled, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through my chest. “And I will. I’ll rip them apart with my bare hands, drain every drop of blood from their bodies, and feed it to the earth before I let them so much as touch you.”

His words should have terrified me, the violence of his promise something no sane person would wish to hear. But instead, it fed a flickering ember deep inside me, stoking it into a roaring flame. A soft, involuntary sound escaped my lips, the need pooling low in my stomach as I absorbed the sheer possessiveness in his tone. His dominance, his protectiveness, left me trembling with an overwhelming desire that threatened to consume me.

Dex’s towering frame leaned closer, his hands sliding to my hips as though he owned every inch of me. The roughness of hislarge palms against my skin sent a jolt through me, and the heat of his breath brushed my ear as he spoke again, softer but no less commanding. “You’re mine, Cleo. No one will ever take you from me.”

I didn’t trust my voice, my body too caught in the electrifying pull of him, so I nodded, my fingers curling into the leather of his armor as though to keep myself grounded. He tilted my chin up, thumb brushing across my jaw as he studied me with an intensity that sent my heart hammering in my chest.

His lips claimed mine with a deliberate slowness, coaxing rather than demanding. The kiss wasn’t just passion. It was a vow of devotion, of protection. His tusks grazed my skin, the faint scrape a thrilling reminder of just how different we were.

When he pulled back, his forehead rested against mine, his breath uneven, his golden eyes searching mine as though seeking something only I could provide. “You’re my mate.Mine, understand?” he murmured, his voice raw with honesty.

I exhaled shakily, the weight of his words settling deep into my chest.How had this fierce warrior become my sanctuary in a matter of days? How had I, a human girl destined to be cast aside, become his?

We stood there, tangled in each other, until the world crept back in—the murmurs of the orcs as they shifted uncomfortably a short distance away, attempting to give us what little privacy they could on this mountain path. Reluctantly, we parted, his hand slipping back into mine as we fell into step once more.

The orcs walked with a quiet determination, their steps steady despite the steep climb. I could feel their resolve humming through the ground like a drumbeat. Hope flared in my chest. We were retreating to Blackfoot Clan territory, but I knew the battles ahead would not stop at the mountains’ edge. Dex’s hand brushed mine again, a silent reassurance, and I glanced at him. The determination in his eyes barelyovershadowed the desire that lurked in their depths. I knew, without a doubt, that I needed to help them.

“We’re close,”Gornak said, his deep voice cutting through the cold silence. He pointed ahead to where the mist parted, revealing a narrow path winding upward toward the jagged cliffs. “The cave entrance is just beyond those rocks. Once we’re inside, we’ll be safe from the humans, at least for now.”

Relief surged through me at the sight of the narrow path ahead, promising shelter from the cold. My legs were trembling from the effort, and the icy air burned in my lungs, each breath a struggle, but I forced myself to keep going. I had come too far to falter now.

As we neared the path, low murmurs rippled through the group, their voices barely carrying over the gusting wind, tinged with the weariness of the journey. Kaldor glanced at me, his sharp eyes studying my face.

His gaze settled on me, curiosity in his eyes. “You’ve been quiet. What’s on your mind, human?”

I blinked, surprised by the question. The orcs hadn’t asked much about me since I’d joined them, likely more concerned with survival than small talk. But now that we were nearing their stronghold, it seemed they were finally relaxing.

I paused, words catching in my throat, uncertain how much to reveal. “I’ve just been thinking,” I said carefully, “about everything that’s happened.”

Kaldor snorted. “A lot’s happened, that’s for sure. But you’ve been through a lot too. What about your life before all this? What was it like? You don’t seem like the type of human we usually encounter.”

I glanced at Dex, who gave me a small nod of encouragement. My old life seemed like a distant memory, blurred and fading. It was strange to think about how much had changed in so little time.

“I grew up in a family that owned farmland in Sleek Valley,” I began slowly, the words feeling foreign on my tongue now. “My mother died when I was younger, and my father turned to liquor and gambling to fill the void she left behind.”

Ograk had been listening quietly, an eyebrow raised as he joined our conversation. “He didn’t care for his own young?”

I exhaled, feeling the familiar weight of resentment settle over me. “My father wasn’t a kind man. He was cruel. He didn’t care about anyone but himself when he gambled away our fields, our livestock, and eventually, my dowry. He was negotiating my betrothal to a merchant in exchange to clear his debts.”

The orcs listened, their eyes narrowing as I continued. “To him, I was nothing more than a tool to be wielded for his own ends. He wasn’t shy about showing it, either. He made sure I knew exactly what my place was. Punished and beat me if I ever forgot. He blamed me for our mother taking ill.”

Thorn let out a low grunt, his expression darkening. “That sounds like a familiar story,” he muttered. “Humans love their power games. They love to think they can control everything.”

“That’s exactly what it was.” A bitter edge crept into my voice, each word feeling like a confession I had long buried. “Control. Everything in my life was decided for me. I sold the last pieces of my mother’s jewelry for his damn debts.”

Kaldor frowned. “Sounds like the Gods were at play when they put you in the Chieftain’s path. I’m sorry you had to grow up under a cruel hand.”

I nodded. The memory of that day was still sharp in my mind. “Even if he didn’t call for the guards to arrest me for channelingto defend myself, I wouldn’t have been able to stay there. I had wanted to find a way out for a while.”

Ograk gave a small grunt of approval. “Good on you, girl. It takes guts to leave that kind of life behind.”

Dex’s expression softened. “Learning control is the most important thing right now for you, and then you get to decide who you want to be.”

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