Page 73 of The Orc's Innocent Plaything

He needed an excuse to stop.

“There is a croft.” I pointed to a picturesque cottage with smoke coming from the chimney, sitting in a field dotted with sheep. “Could we trade horses, mayhap, and take a little rest? I am…”

I pretended to yawn, and Vartok made a sharp turn toward the cottage.

It turned out that the crofter was used to such requests, and once he examined our animals, declared them fit enough for a trade, needing only some rest and pampering to make up for the hard days’ journey. Vartok was ready to demand the crofter’s bed for me when I interrupted.

“Could we just lie down for a bit here in the stable? We will not stay long.” I smiled at my Mate. “I sleep so much better with your arms around me.”

Vartok obediently wrapped me in his arms…and began to snore almost immediately. I wriggled from his hold, moved his head to my lap, and sat up, determined to keep watch over him.

His nap lasted an hour, but he woke ready to ride again.

And so it went; the horses carried both of us, and I dozed in his arms. When he could take it no longer, he curled up in his cloak and allowed me to keep watch, which was flattering and nerve-wracking all at once.

During those watches, I was glad for my mother’s knife.

What had been a three-day journey was made in two on the return trip, although we traded horses twice more, each with a promise of Bloodfire goodwill in the exchange. It seemed as if the entire Highlands knew of Vartok’s position as the temporary chief of his clan.

Except…

‘Twas possible he would not be for much longer.

We were almost to Bloodfire land when I finally brought up his brother.

“Do you think Kragorn escaped? Or will we need to wait until the full moon to rescue him?”

My Mate’s lips twitched as he glanced down at me, then bent to brush a kiss on the crown of my head.

“What did the Stormseeker call ye? A fierce wee warrior? Ye’d come with us on that attack, would ye?”

Pretending indignation, I poked him.

“You will need a healer.”

Unspoken was the assumption that, according to the description we’d heard, so might Kragorn.

He merely grunted and tightened his hold on me, his attention returning to the path ahead.

“I notice you have not agreed,” I pointed out a few minutes later, just to keep him talking. But when I tipped my head to one side to study his expression. I was surprised to see him looking thoughtful.

“Ye ken the Mating Bond grows with time?” he suddenly asked. “The longer we live together, the longer we love one another, the tighter ‘twill be. Mated pairs canfeeleach other, sometimes across distances, and understand each other’s feelings without being told.”

I hummed in agreement, not understanding what this had to do with my earlier question.

“Aye, Nan has pointed it out to me a time or two.”

Vartok grunted faintly, then exhaled. His lips twisted almost ruefully as he glanced down at me, then up again.

“There are other relationships that can result in such a bond, although never as strong. Kragorn is my brother. I shared a womb with him and have lived my life by his side.”

My breath caught as I understood what he was saying. “You canfeelKragorn? Since he is your twin?”

Behind me, Vartok stretched, taking his time answering. I appreciated that he was considering his words.

“For years, I didnae realize it. But when he disappeared last autumn, there was a…a hole in my life. I thought ‘twas because I missed him—I mean, och,ayeI missed him! And since I’d been forced to take his place as chief, it made sense that I’d been focused on the space he used to occupy…”

When he trailed off, I twisted on his lap so I could focus on him.

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