Page 9 of Orc's Mate

“You enjoy flying?”

“Well, I’ve never done it before. But it always takes me twice as long as everyone else to go from one location to another. My leg has held me back almost all my life. I love that I’m traveling through the sky on a great winged creature named Zarran and that I’m going somewhere quickly. It’s quite freeing.” She sucked in a deep breath and released it.

“I feel the same.” A frown brewed on my brow. “Why aren’t you afraid ofme?”

“I’m sure I should be.”

“Actually, you shouldn’t. I told you I won’t claim you as my mate until you’re ready.”

“And that’s why I’m not afraid. Back in the village, everyone tells horror stories about orcs, how they’re fierce beings—”

“We are.”

“I could see that when you fought the ashenclaws. Watching you battle them was both exhilarating and astonishing.”

“Why astonishing?”

“Everyone else would have run in the opposite direction.”

“You’re my mate. My fated one. My clan pendant chose you for me. I’d be a poor mate if I ran and didn’t remain to defend you.”

“What do you mean your clan pendant chose me for you?” She lifted her arms, tipped her head back with her eyes closed, and grinned.

I’d felt the same the first year or so I’d ridden Zarran—once I’d learned how to hold on and not fall off. When had I lost the joy of flight?

Perhaps when I took over the burden of leading my people.

Worry about that would consume me soon enough. For now, I nudged it aside to focus on my mate.

“Our pendants always choose.” Realizing that wasn’t much of an explanation, I continued, hoping I didn’t bore her. “There are six orc clans, and each member wears a pendant with a different symbol. When we meet our fated one, our pendants flare. Mine did when you left the fortress.”

“Ah, interesting. Magical?”

I shrugged. “No one knows why.”

“I noticed your pendant has swirls.”

“To represent air. I’m Caedos of the Zephyr Clan.”

“Caedos?”

“Leader.”

“Ah.”

“What does ah mean?” Females were complicated creatures. Since the shaydes killed most of them five years ago, I’d only interacted with a few of them.

“It just means I assumed so. You have a commanding presence.”

My chest puffed with pride. “Thank you.”

“And you take charge quite easily.”

She hadn’t even seen me among my people, and she’d noted this already? My chest expanded further.

“As I said, Zephyr represents air,” I said. “My people live on an island far out to sea that juts into the air.”

“And your vox flies you from the shore to your home.”

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