Page 31 of Valpar

Her eyes narrowed, and again it pierced through my drum.

I was in such trouble with this female.

Chapter Ten

Calliope

I let Simon down.He wasn’t used to being carried, especially since he weighed as much as me. I wasn’t about to have Valpar carry him, either.

Valpar.

Sounds much better than Leave, even so, I wasn’t overly happy about these new revelations. Don’t get me wrong, I’m ecstatic to have a mate. I never thought I would have one, let alone that mine would be an orc.

The first person to get an orc!

I bet everyone is super jealous that I got the best looking one, too.

Still, it wasn’t the enchanting scene I had thought in my head what my mate might do to claim me at the ball, but it was the most exciting.

Valpar picked me up as soon as I let Simon off my lap. He cradled me to his chest, and Simon jumped off the stone wall and trotted close behind. Simon didn’t like Valpar much. He was nipping at Valpar’s pants as we walked through the courtyard, instead of taking a bite out of the flowers he wasn’t supposed to eat.

It was hard to stay mad at Valpar. I’m sure it was the bond at work. Mom would get mad at Dad often, but it wasn’t long before he was making her smile with just a touch of his hand on her arm or whispering dirty things in her ear.

Yeah, they were really dirty things, too.

That’s when I would go to my room and read about other people doing dirty things.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t hide from Valpar. The way he held me in his arms and scouted the area for anyone coming our way was a small hint of that. Even with his long strides and his constant alertness, he would dip his giant head to take a strong whiff of my hair, and I thanked the Goddess that I actually washed it today.

Sometimes, this girl is lazy.

Valpar continued to take us deeper into the garden until it opened up into a wide area of the lawn. The grass, meticulously cut short, lacked the presence of any trees or flowers, leaving a barren landscape. Normally, it served as a picturesque spot for picnics during parties, joyous tea celebrations, and hosting lively yard games. However, this time, it lay in a mess that would have Aunt Melina clutching her dress. Tents were haphazardly pitched and cluttered the area. The once-enormous bonfire wasnow smoldered, its flames on the verge of extinction, emitting a faint crackle. The air was heavy with the acrid scent of burnt wood and lingering smoke. Amongst the chaos, weapons lay strewn carelessly across the grass. The worst part was a gruesome sight when I saw a half-eaten boar that continued to rotate on a spit above the dwindling fire.

Poor piggie.

I guess the orcs were having a lot of fun while they stayed.

“We can’t stay here,” Valpar grumbled and had me sit on a leather chair next to a tent. It was large enough to fit Valpar and three other orcs. It was made of brown leather and the bedding looked like plush fur, giving it a cozy feel.

I leaned over and peeked inside, revealing a treasure trove of warmth and comfort - an abundance of furs and blankets adorned the interior. Soft, fluffy fur lined the walls, providing a sumptuous backdrop, while a variety of thick, velvety blankets were scattered and not yet made.

I was instantly drawn to it. It was like an invitation for me to sink in and indulge in ultimate fluffy coziness.

Instantly, I jumped off the chair and scrambled inside while he rooted for a bag on the other side of the tent.

“This is awesome!” I yelled from the inside. It was soft, and the underside of the fur blankets, where the leather was, equally so. The furs were warm, much warmer than the silky blankets I usually slept on. I rubbed my face in it and burrowed my body inside.

That’s it, I’m never leaving.

“This is my burrow now, I have claimed it for my own,” I whispered and took in deep breaths. It didn’t smell like the wood or the stink of animals—it smelled like Valpar. And he just smelled like… a man. No, an orc. He smelled like a clean orc? No, he smelled like forest rain. Yeah, he smelled like clean forest rain. Like a fresh beasty.

“Miresa, what are you doing?” Valpar whispered.

“It’s so soft. How do you get it so soft? And it smells just like you.” I took a large inhale.

I groaned and wiggled deeper into the furs. Gah, this was better than Uncle Osirus’ beds. Shh, don’t tell him that.

“We can’t stay here. The tribe will be back. I will not let them come near you—” Valpar said quickly, still packing the bag. “Come out and I will pack our bedding.” He grabbed his crotch and held out his hand.

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