Page 50 of Orc's Mate

Her head tilted. “We don’t drink the rainwater?”

“We can, though we save most of it for our crops. If you boil salt water and collect the steam, it’s fresh and drinkable. Boiling leaves the salt behind in the pan.” I gestured to the small container on the table. “We then use the salt to season our food.”

“Is it possible to boil and collect enough clean water to feed a huge field of crops?”

I shook my head. “We’ve tried it with large kettles and big open fires, but it’s an incredible amount of work. Too much work when so few people live on the island.”

“I wish there was a way to make this possible for everyone. Then you could recruit people to live here with us. We need to grow the population to a level that will provide the services we all need to share our best lives.”

“I wish that was possible too, but it isn’t. The life you see here is fading faster than I ever thought possible. When my father took over the clan, there were over one hundred living on the island. Now we’re just twenty-six.”

“Twenty-seven.”

I frowned.

“Don’t forget me, love.”

“Ah, you’re right.” This time, my smile was true. Being with Eleri made everything better. “If only the Mate Hunt ran each month. We could bring woman to the island and match them with our males. Then our population would go up instead of down.”

“I’m not giving up yet.”

And I appreciated that. I took her hand lying on the table beside her plate and squeezed it. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

I gestured to my food. “This excellent meal. And for being here with me. For listening and loving me.”

“There’s no place I’d rather be and no one I’d rather be with.”

We ate, savoring the meal, then cleaned the dishes together in the sink.

After, I leaned against the counter, watching as Eleri puttered around the living area, tidying things that truly didn’t need tidying.

The wind howled around my snug home, seeking entrance it wouldn’t find. I expected the full force of the storm to hit just past midnight.

“I believe I owe you a song and a dance,” I said.

She stopped and turned my way, a throw pillow held against her body. “Remember, I’ve never danced.”

I stepped toward her. “Then it’s time you did, my love.”

“My leg may hold me back.”

Taking the pillow from her, I tossed it onto the sofa and tugged her into my arms. “If it hurts, tell me, and we’ll stop.” To make sure it wouldn’t ache, I lifted her. This also put us at eye level, which meant I could give her a quick kiss.

She moaned and clung to my shoulders.

Lifting my head, I grinned with happiness. “I believe I mentioned something about singing as well?”

“If I know the tune, I’ll hum it for you.”

“How about this one?” I started a robust song about females with skirts swirling about their ankles and a male’s intention to seduce her.

Eleri laughed as I twirled her around the small space between the kitchen and living area, her head tilted back, and her hair swishing across her back.

My life may be getting harder, and only the fates knew what the future had in store for my clan, but as long as I held Eleri, I could smile.

Chapter26

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