Page 9 of Bred By the Orc
Because dazed, I reached up and placed my hand in his.
The spark I felt that traveled up my arm was nothing compared to the surprise that jolted through me as he yanked me into his lap atop his horse and wheeled the beast toward the circle of standing stones.
Oh, no.
Chapter 4
Drakolt
The female on my lap began to struggle as we passed through the standing stones. I heard Varkaan tell the Tarbert soldiers to report their leader’s betrayal to their lord, and I appreciated his foresight. Mayhap Laird Tarbert would think better of us for ridding him of a traitor.
I needed him to agree to this alliance, and I knew there was no other way.
Sorcha’s kicking was coming perilously close to my ballocks, so I clamped my palm against her arse to hold her still. MyKteerhad jumped into high alert the moment I’d felt her in that doorway, and now my cock throbbed against the inside of my kilt, desperate for her.
For my Mate.
Aye, Gelma had been right; this was my Mate, although I would not have expected it. MyKteer’sresponse to Sorcha Tarbert had confirmed it.
Now I just had to convince her.
Behind me, my men thundered across the landscape, putting miles between the humans and ourselves. While I doubted the Tarbert guards could recover soon enough to follow us through the stones, I didn’t want to leave it to chance.
Gods willing, ‘twould be another month before the next full moon allowed them to travel through the veil, and by then our trail would be long cold.
Still, ‘twould be foolish to lead them directly to Bladesedge land until we were ready to make an alliance with Tarbert. I had planned to take a circuitous route for the three-day journey home…now I would need another plan, because of the extra women.
Damn John! Why had he chosen greed? He was already betraying his laird for gold, and now he thrust two more females into our clutches. Would Tarbert forgive this audacity, or were—as John had claimed—these females less important?
After miles, I realized Sorcha’s spitting curses had faded to whimpers, and hated the feeling of defeatcoming from my Mate. I held up a fist, signaling my men to halt.
The horses circled, crowding us together to hear my words, and I realized Moltar held the waifish female John had used as a shield.Damnation. How had he taken her?
The third female, the one that looked like my Mate, slid from the back of the horse where one of my warriors had held her, and stomped across the circle to reach for the waifish one.
“Effie,” she called, pulling the other woman out of Moltar’s arms and off the horse, catching her. “’Twill be alright. I have ye.” The one she called Effie sobbed in her arms, while the bold one glared at each of us in turn.
Across my lap, Sorcha began to struggle once again, and I helped her sit upright.
I did not, however, release her.
“We need to split up,” I announced, my arm wrapping around my Mate’s waist, holding her against my chest. “As many paths as possible. Split into pairs and take the long way home, a fortnight at least.”
“That will return us in time for the new moon, Chief,” Varkaan smirked, nodded at the female in my arms. At the reminder of the ceremony tohappen on that auspicious day, my cock jumped again, and Sorcha sucked in a breath.
MyKteerexalted, knowing she could feel how much I wanted her.
Not here. Not now. I had a fortnight until I could make my Mate mine.
But having her in my arms like this, being able toscenther, her moods, the way the elders claimed…gods, ‘twould be difficult to withstand her allure. Were there other ways to claim her that wouldn’t be the breeding ceremony Gelma insisted was necessary?
Korvak was already dividing our warriors into pairs, giving them instructions on routes and allies to hide with on their journey to Bladesedge land.
When my Mate began to struggle again, I instinctively tightened my hold, causing her to suck in a breath.
“And us, my lord?” she bit out, surprising me.
“I am nae lord, little one.” I realized now her struggles were just an attempt to turn in my lap to face me, so I loosened my arm around her waist, admiring her bravery.
