Page 25 of Bred By the Orc
Drakolt did.
He spent time asking me questions, listening to my answers. Debating my opinions and admitting when I was right. He watched me, he learned from me, and used that knowledge to ensure I was happy.
That was remarkable.
Aye, ‘twas easy enough to fall in love with a male who did that, I supposed, even if ‘twas an orc.
But Drakolt does not speak of love.
Nay, he spoke ofMating. The way he described it, ‘twas more than marriage. More than love. ‘Twas a certainty felt in his blood and his heart and his gut.
And I could admit that I’d felt that call, that connection to him as well. Even before I touched him,somethinghad tugged me toward him.
Was that the Mate bond he had spoken of? The bond he said would be finalized when he spilled inside me for the first time, breeding me…in front of everyone?
A fortnight ago, such a shame would have been bearable.
I might have closed my eyes and blocked out the sounds and endured the embarrassment of everyone watchinghim fook me…
But now?
Now that I had become intimately familiar with his body, his cock, his tongue? Now that I worried I had fallen in love with him?
I wasn’t certain I could share him like that.
This connection we shared—whether ‘twas called love or the Mate bond—was special. And I didn’t know if I could bear to share it with his clan.
“Only a few more miles.” Drakolt was relaxed, the horse well-rested and as well-fed as I was. Another example of Drakolt’s caring. “I look forward to introducing you to our people.”
But how would he do that? By throwing me down and taking me in the village square?
Mayhap he felt me stiffen, because his fingertips stroked down my arm. “’Twill be aright, Sorcha,” he murmured. “I vowed.”
“I…” I swallowed. How to admit what bothered me? “Will your grandmother be there?”
He had told me all about the old woman, how her prophecies guided the clan for three generations.
“Aye!” There was pride in his voice. “She will have seen our arrival and will be there to greet us. And we’ll be in time for the feast.”
“And when will you…” I swallowed again. “When will we…?”
His arm tightened around me. “After the feast, little Mate.” His voice was calm, comforting. “Gelma will have a big bonfire lit against the darkness, and you will become mine then.”
With everyone watching.
I still couldn’t decide if that was exciting…or humiliating.
How could I love a male who would humiliate me?
How could he expect me to help lead a clan who had seen mebred?
“The others…have you seen…” Oh Lord, how to ask? “When the other Mated pairs came together, did you witness…?”
Drakolt made a little noise of understanding and sighed as he pulled me flush against him, so he could twine his fingers through mine. “Nay lass,” he finally admitted. “My future doesnae depend on if and when their Mating produces kits. But their future, the future of the Bladesedge clan, depends on ye nurturing the next chieftain.”
When he said it like that, I felt even more pressure.
“And Gelma says tonight is the night for that?”
