Page 44 of Loved By the Orc
“Why not? It’s true.”
“Were you supposed to get me to fall in love with you?”
“That was my original plan. I know you’re upset…”
“Upset?”
“I was ordered to mate with you. But somewhere along the line, it became more than that.”
She scoffs. “Yes, it became kidnapping.”
“I would never have done that. If you weren’t interested in me, I would have understood your choice, Negan. Just like I understood my choice wasn’t to fall in love. It was simply to barter a mating contract.”
“Mission accomplished,” she says bitterly.
“But I fell in love with you first. From the first moment I saw you, you owned my heart, little mate.” I reach out and tug her hairgently and while she’s distracted, I take a step closer to her. “You have me wrapped around your finger.”
“Don’t play with me.”
“Never. I’ll only tell you the truth. I’ll always tell you the truth.” I pull her toward me and though she’s stiff, she allows it. I think she needs it. She craves my touch as much as I do hers.
Resting my forehead to hers, we both freeze. Our hearts are beating in tandem, and she fits against me perfectly.
“I’m not pregnant,” she whispers.
“I didn’t think you were. Not this soon. I figured you were queasy from the chloroform—our clan keeps that on hand—and used that to my advantage. I hoped it might be enough that my father wouldn’t give you to Leviton. Apparently, it didn’t work.”
“Leviton told me if I was pregnant, I’d lose it soon enough.”
I can feel every muscle in my back tense, and I force myself to relax my suddenly clenched fists. I have no way to know if he’s touched her. If he’s already hurt her on the way in. Her being unconscious wouldn’t deter him, either.
“If you were pregnant by him, I’d love your brat like my own,” I say softly.
“I’m not. I threw up on him.” Her eyes grow wide and she takes a step back. “Oh, I never brushed my teeth.”
I chuckle.
“Not the most comfortable of places but I did set up a curtained area in the corner to use as a bathroom. Away from the window where we can light a candle and it shouldn’t glow through the rest of the room, despite coverings on the window.”
“You really didn’t plan this out with your brothers?”
“Nay. I was shocked that he was alive. When he was drinking at the party, he told me he regained his breath right before he was carried out of Creede. Mayhap the jostling of being carried.”
“He told me that the two of you planned his pretend death.”
“He lies, Negan. I had no idea he was alive until I saw him on that stage.”
“So, what now?”
“I asked your Aunt Rosemary to send a message to your clan in Solaya, giving me time to return you. That we might be riding hard by then, but it will be safer in Solaya than in Creede.”
I don’t tell her they more than likely will imprison me until this is sorted out.
From outside we can hear raised voices, thumping, and then an angry roar into the night.
“Looks like my brothers got home and discovered you’re gone.”
Her eyes are wide; even in the dim light I can see the whites. “Will they find us?”
