Page 33 of Claimed By Stone
“Thavros?” I reached toward the other side of the bed, expecting the familiar weight of his sleeping form.
Empty.
I stilled. Then I heard it—muffled voices just outside the room. Deep. Familiar.
I slid from the bed, snuck quietly to the heavy door, and leaned close.
“—just saying, the timing is suspicious,” Khuldruk said, his voice low but not quite low enough. “The crystal returns to life, and suddenly your mysterious statue is flesh again?”
“She’s notmy—” Thavros’s voice dropped into a growl, but even that was careful, contained. “She’s not dangerous, brother. I would know.”
“She could be a threat to the entire clan.”
“I’ll take responsibility. Whatever comes of this, she remains under my protection.”
There was a long pause, and then Khuldruk muttered something I couldn’t make out.
My breath caught. They were arguing aboutme. Thavros was protecting me—again. He believed in me.
But what if he was wrong?
Images flickered again. The same ones that had come last night in dreams. Fire. Chains. The pulse of magic pressed into skin like a brand. Not memories—more like stains on my soul I couldn’t scrub clean.
I backed away from the door, wrapping my arms around myself just as it creaked open.
"You're awake," Thavros said as I sat down on the bed.
I nodded. "I woke up and wondered where you'd gone."
"I was only just outside the door. I meant what I said last night. I am by your side as long as you need me to be."
The sincere look on his face warmed my heart, though I wasn't sure I deserved such kindness. I wasn't even sure I deserved his protection. While I couldn't remember much, I had this feeling I couldn’t shake, that I was put here for a purpose.And that purpose is not suitable for the wonderful orc clan that lives in this mountain.
"Come," he said. "Are you hungry? They have brought us breakfast."
He guided me over to a table in the corner of his chambers by the fire. It was a small table with two chairs. Even as half the table was covered in books and a journal and a quill, they had been pushed aside to make space for a tray with two covered plates, a small loaf of bread, and two steaming mugs of tea.
He pulled out the chair for me as I sat down. I looked up at him, and it was hard to believe I had once brazenly asked this orc to 'make me feel real'. All I wanted to do right now was shrink away. But as he lowered himself into the chair across from me and smiled warmly at me, I started to remember. The way the tips of his tusks peeked out of that smile made me smile back. It was a good feeling.
He raised the lid, revealing a plate filled with hard-boiled eggs and a bowl of warm cereal. He broke the loaf of bread and handed me half with a slight dip of his head.
I slowly took a bite of bread. I could not remember the last time I ate anything. While it was an odd feeling, it wasn't completely foreign —more like coming home after a long journey. Sure, it was a little dusty and the air was a little stale, but it was good to be home.
As she looked at Thavros, I couldn't help but want to explore the other parts of being fully alive again. My cheeks heated at the thought of what we did in the study the other night.
I took a spoonful of the porridge. It was warm and rich, tasting of cinnamon and dried fruits, with nuts and grains.
"Is it to your liking? I can have the cook prepare something else?" Thavros said, his brows knitted in concern.
"No," I said with a warm smile. "It's delicious. I just haven't eaten anything since... well, since I don't know when."
His big hand came up, covering mine that was on the table as he looked at me with an adoring warmth. As much as I still had to figure out, I knew one thing for sure. Having this orc by my side filled me with a deep sense of peace. I trusted him. Even if I had no reason for feeling it as strongly as I did, I justknewI could trust him.
"When we finish here, would you like to go to the study? I thought we might be able to refine our search with the new information," he said as a small, warm smile appeared on his face. His thumb traced a small circle on my hand, and I realized then that I would do anything he said, even if I was terrified of uncovering the truth.
"That sounds lovely," I said with a smile.
Thavros cocked his head to the side, evaluating me. It was as if he could sense my apprehension. I had no words to explain them, so I just took another bite of porridge. After a moment, he got back to eating.
