Page 27 of Orc Charming

“I was told it was ready and if I didn’t sign, the deal wouldn’t go through. I love you. I want to be with you. I would’veendangered everything to come back to you, but I couldn’t break free.”

“What about the orc woman?”

He frowned and shook his head. “I don’t know who you mean.” When his face cleared, he sighed. “If you saw pictures of me with . . .” He pulled his wallet from his back pocket—a very humanlike thing that surprised me—and slipped out a photo of the same woman. “This is my cousin, Valina.”

“She’s pretty.”

“She’s amazing.” He grinned, though it held too much sadness. “She’s now the heir to the orc kingdom. I’ve renounced the throne and handed it to her.”

“You didn’t,” I breathed.

“I did.” He flashed me a smile, but it faded fast. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who I am. I should’ve. But . . . It’s stupid actually, but at first, I wanted to be a regular old orc, someone who’d walk into a diner and meet the woman of his dreams. And then as I got to know you, I wasn’t sure how to tell you. I can’t make that up to you, but if you give me a second chance, I’ll try.”

“Deegar.” I wasn’t sure what to say. I’d tried to stamp out the love I felt for him, but it was impossible. “You really gave up the throne?”

He nodded. “I spent the past three days in the orc kingdom fixing this so I could return to you and be with you always. Didn’t you see my message on TV?”

I shrugged. “I haven’t watched TV.”

“Not even a romcom?”

How could I when he wasn’t sitting beside me, laughing? “No.”

“Do you have your phone handy?”

“Why?”

He held out his hand. “I don’t have mine, so I can’t show you.”

No harm in that. I handed it over and he scrolled it with a skill I envied.

“When did you get so good with phones?” I asked.

“I made my head bodyguard show me how to use it while we waited for the final treaty paperwork and as he took me back to the orc kingdom.” He turned the phone my way. “Note the date.”

Three days ago.

He pressed play on the video, and it showed him leaving the embassy, shouting out for me and telling me he loved me, that he’d come back to me.

I tried to swallow, but it wouldn’t pass the solid lump in my throat. “I didn’t see it.”

“I made a vow, and I’ve kept it. I’m here. I want to stay with you forever. And I love you more than life itself. What do you say? Will you be my true mate, my forever love, and the reason I exist?”

My heart split wide open and the pain I’d felt for days spilled out. No, it was pushed out by my love for this orc.

“I love you, Deegar,” I croaked. “I missed you so much.”

He opened his arms. “That’s all I needed to hear.”

I jumped into his arms, and he spun me around while we kissed. He lost his footing and tumbled into the water, shocking us both.

We rolled in the water, still kissing.

And there wasn’t anything better than that.

Chapter 18

Epilogue

---