Page 33 of Mountain Orc Daddy

“Great. Then Uzul can make a scene as much as you can but not enough to scare the citizens. We’ll disguise ourselves. Once you sense something off-putting, you make your way out of the city. You let yourself get caught. Pretend to be injured until you both are at the shack.”

Uzul nods without any questions. The plan sounds smooth and like nothing can happen. There are infinite possibilities of the plan going wrong. In the end, Uzul will be the victim.

No, no, no. I don’t like this. My family seems to just brush off those possibilities like they’re nothing. They of all people should know the law of probability. Isn’t it one important factor of using magic?

The rest of the conversation goes through deaf ears. They start preparing to leave. I stand up quickly from the couch, interrupting their meeting.

“Stop, let’s stop here,” I say.

My parents look at me with annoyance.

“What do you mean? Stop the plan?” my dad asks.

“Yes. Well, no. I mean to stop the plan where Uzul’s the bait. It’s more dangerous for him. It’s better if I’m the bait, since I don’t have magic powers.”

Mom holds her finger against her temple.

“Blair, wealsotalked about this. Uzul agreed to it without any problem. You went into detail about Gideon’s only interest being the orcs.”

“I know. I know. But what if this time he intends to kill him?Justlike I told you guys. If he gets me, then he can't kill me because he needs me to get to Uzul.”

“Did you stop and think that he can absolutely kill you to lure him out? Do you think Uzul won’t go after him himself because you’re dead?” Dad says.

“But, Dad—”

He raises his hand. “Enough. We already made a plan that works for all of us. You can’t be near and you can’t be the bait. End of conversation.”

That was my father’s cue for everyone to head out. My siblings disperse to gather their things while my parents head outside. I’m left there with a ball in my throat and balled up fists.

I feel hot tears coming but I hold them back. I already made myself a fool trying to stand up to my parents. I don’t want Uzul to think of me as a brat that doesn’t get her way.

My anger dissipates when I feel a gentle palm on my cheek. I look up at Uzul, blinking away the frustrated tears. He wipes one away with his thumb.

He looks at me sympathetically. “Stay here at your parents house. I want you here, safe, when I return.”

I nuzzle against his touch. “What if you don’t?”

He grins. “I faced worse and survived.”

Once out of my parents' sight, Uzul leans down and gives me a sweet kiss. It lasts for only a few seconds before he breaks away. He grazes my bottom lip.

“I’m sorry. I won’t be able to go if I kiss you any longer.”

I laugh forcefully. “Please be careful, Uzul. I’ll be waiting for you.”

“I know. Don’t worry.”

With that, he leaves as well. I watch them from a window as they depart in the car. My smile completely falls when they leave the driveway.

My heart drops to my stomach. At the same time, I feel it beating hard in my throat. It feels like I want to throw up. It’s only been less than a minute and I already want him to return.

I pace around the living room, glancing out the window. What if it’s the last time I see him? This can’t be our goodbye. It just can’t be.

He’ll never know what I feel for him.

“But how do I feel?” I say out loud.

I like having him around. I don’t want him to leave. The sex was incredible. But that’s not the only reason.

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