Page 2 of Running from the Orc
“Do not leave me,” she begged hoarsely.
“Never,” I vowed, holding her gaze, willing her to be strong.
But fate has a way of making me a liar.
I didn’t even hear the orc approach me from behind. One moment I was clutching at Effie, vowing to protect her, and the next I was flying through the air. The hulking monster had grabbed me around my middle, yanking me upward, pulling my hand from Effie’s grip.
Air released in a loud grunt from my lungs when my arse hit the tops of his thighs, but I immediately began to struggle.
After spending a lifetime scrapping with the lads in the stables and standing up to my father’s iron will, I thought I was strong.
Apparently, I was wrong about that too.
“Let me go!” I screeched, which was stupid. Not only ineffective, but I did not even know if these beasts spoke my language.
Judging from the small chuckle that ruffled the hair on the top of my head, they did. Scowling, I twisted in his hold to glare up at him…and my breath caught.
Dear God Almighty, an actualorcheld me.
Up until that moment, I don’t think I believed it.
And up close, even with the battle raging around us, I couldn’t help studying him.
Know thine enemy, and all that.
He wasn’t quite so monstrous after all. Especially not the way his lips curled around those tusks in a not-completely-horrific smirk. His dark eyes twinkled with something that might be amusement, might be admiration.
And the color of his skin reallywasthe most appealing shade, wasn’t it? The glen in springtime, mayhap…
What are you thinking? This beast is trying to kidnap you and drag you back to his lair for all sorts of horrible acts!
I began to struggle again, trying to reach my blade.
“Och, lass, be careful!” he chastised, grabbing my knee before it could knock into his groin. “Ye could do a male some serious damage.”
“That is the idea,” I huffed, squirming. “Put me down! I have to save my cousin!”
“That wee angel in Moltar’s arms? He’smycousin, and he’ll no’ harm the lassie if he kens what’s good for him.”
His promise shouldn’t mean anything to me, but I found myself glancing to where Effie now huddled, sobbing on the orc’s lap.I scowled, hating howproudthe male looked for stealing my helpless wee cousin.
“Come on, lass,” the one who held me murmured, rearranging me on his lap. “Best to get out of here.”
“Before my father’s men rally?” I managed, trying to keep the hopelessness from my voice. “Because theywill. They will return with hundreds of his allies and chase you to the ends of the earth.”
The handsome orc merely grinned and I wanted to hit him.
“Then ‘tis a good thing we’re no’ going to the ends of yer earth. We’re going through the stones, and by the time yer father’s army arrives, the veil will be long closed, and he’ll have to wait another moon’s cycle.”
It was the longest speech he had given, and I wanted to hate him. But his voice was surprisingly soothing, and that grin…
God’s Wounds, Roxanna, get it together.
The beast tightened his hold on me, jammed his heels into the sides of his horse, and wheeled about when his leader—who held Sorcha—gave the signal.
Then we were galloping. The stone circle loomed ahead of us and I felt myself cringing back against the large chest behind me. I did not want to take comfort from it—fromhim—but I felt his musclestense as well as we plunged through the mist that gathered in the middle of the stones.
And then we were through, and a strange landscape stretched beneath the horse’s hoofs.
