Page 33 of Orc's Mate

I strode to the window facing the vast open sea and growled.

“What is it?” Eleri asked, joining me.

“A tempest is coming.”

She frowned and looked out the window. “A storm? It looks calm out there, though I don’t know how to gauge a vast body of water like this one. When a storm approaches the village, we see dark clouds to the west, and the wind picks up, swirling around us. Zur said you could always tell a storm was coming when the leaves on the trees flipped over, revealing their paler undersides.”

“Look there.” I pointed to the ominous strip of darkness burgeoning along the horizon. “A day, maybe two at best before it hits.”

“Since you were still away, I made sure everyone was notified,” Trilden said. “We’ve begun covering the windows in the community gathering area, and I’ve sent males to those living in the more isolated areas to make sure they’re aware and lend any assistance they might need.”

“Thank you.” I was grateful to have Trilden as a second. Would Drabass have stepped into my place and started the preparations? I doubted it.

Eleri’s wide eyes met mine. “I’m not sure what to expect from a storm at sea.” A shiver tracked through her, and she wrapped her arms around her waist, holding herself.

I gave her a level look that I hoped would give her some reassurance. “We’ll be ready when it arrives, but I need to leave you now and work with Trilden and Drabass to get ready.”

“I’m sorry for taking your mate from you so soon,” Trilden told her. “I realize you’ve just arrived.”

“I’m fine alone,” she said, keeping her tone light. Her eyes spoke volumes, however. She was nervous, perhaps because of the storm. She knew nothing about what it was like to live on an island or among an orc clan.

“Let me make sure she’s settled,” I told them. “I’ll join you two at the community center.”

Trilden gave me a sharp nod, then bowed to Eleri again before leaving.

Drabass’s gaze lingered on her before he sauntered out of our home.

“I’ll finish showing you around.” I opened the cold box that thankfully still held food. Long ago, orcs discovered a way to pipe the coolness from deep below the surface and use it to keep a box made out of special material cold. Food could then be stored in the box to be eaten over a few days. “After I make sure everyone’s prepared to weather the storm, I need to fish. We’ll store enough food to hold us through the tempest.”

“Do you have a boat?”

“I fish from the smooth boulders on the edge of the sea.” I braced her forearms and looked down at her. “I’ll take you with me if you’d like.” My grin slipped out. Despite my concern about the storm, I was still grateful she was with me. I looked forward to getting to know her better.

And taking her to my bed.

But that would have to wait. Until we were ready to weather anything the sea might throw our way, I couldn’t relax within my home with Eleri.

“What can I do to help get ready?” she asked, nodding sharply. The fear that had flitted through her eyes was gone, replaced with resolve. This female could be strong when it mattered most.

“I’ll cover the windows when I return. I’ve done that so many times, it’s easier to do it than tell you how to do it for me. Otherwise, I scour the area and put anything loose inside the shed nestled close to the patch of trees. I sunk the footers deep, and the shed won’t go anywhere, no matter how strong the wind is. If you put loose things inside, they won’t fly around and be lost or potentially cause damage.”

“What about the voxes?”

“They’ll sense the storm coming and prepare in their own way.”

“All right. I’ll do what I can.” She sent me a smile and nudged me away. “Go. Do what you need to do to get things ready for our people. I’ll find my way here and walk around outside, collecting anything I can.”

“You’re amazing. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your help and your . . .”

“The fact that I’m not a wreck?” She laughed. “Inside, I am, but I don’t want to hold you back. Go help everyone and come back to me.”

“Oh, I will. You can count on that.”

I kissed her quickly, wishing I could linger longer, then darted through the door.

It was only when I’d caught up to Trilden and Drabass that I realized that was our first kiss.

I’d barely had time to savor it.

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