Page 42 of Claimed By Stone
“Well … Don’t we need another mated couple to plan a mating ceremony?”
My heart thumped in my chest. I knew he was talking about me, but I wasn’t even sure she was my mate. I thought she was, but I should know. Orcs know.
“Thavros, thoughts?” Khuldruk asked, biting back a grin.
I glared at him while Frema looked between us in confusion.
“I'm missing something.”
“Well,” Khuldruk said, leaning back in his chair. “Let’s reconvene in a week and look for more updates and ideas. Until then, let’s just enjoy the return of our magic.”
The sound of chairs scraping against the floor filled the room as the orcs all stood, preparing to leave.
“Frema, Thavros, a word,” Khuldruk said before I could leave.
I knew I needed to talk to them about what was going on, but all I wanted to do was find Seraphina. I needed to make sure she was cared for and happy.
The rest of the warriors cleared out, and I turned to face my brother and sister.
“What’s going on?” Frema asked.
Khuldruk nodded over to me, and Frema turned to face me with questioning eyes.
“Why are you looking at me?”
“Tell Frema why we need another mating ceremony.”
Frema’s gaze flew to meet mine; her eyes danced with anticipation. “Have you found someone? Was it Varka? I thought she might do it for you. I’m so glad–”
“No.” Khuldruk just crossed his arms over his chest and waited for me to continue.
“And I’m not even certain she’s my mate. Plus, there is still so much to figure out before we announce anything.”
“Will someone please tell me what is going on?” Frema demanded.
“It’s kind of a long story,” I said as I sat back down at the table. “But it is one, I suppose, I will tell you both. I only ask …” I paused, uncertain of how to proceed. “I only ask that you keep an open mind.”
They both sat down and watched me carefully, waiting for me to proceed. My gaze wandered up to the empty marble base that used to be where Seraphina lived, but now she was real, and I was just about to tell them the whole story.
“So… I suppose you heard about the woman who was in here the night of the feast.”
“Yes, Khuldruk said you knew her.”
I nodded.
“Wait, is she your mate?”
“No … I mean … Maybe.. I don’t know.”
“It all started a few weeks ago when I started having strange dreams.”
“Is this why you’ve been holing yourself up here?”
I nodded. There was no other way to say it but to just say it. “The woman found here the night of the Yule Feast was a woman who was previously trapped in a statue. She’d been coming to life at night, and I’d been helping her try to figure out why. But now she is here permanently, and we don’t know why.”
“What?” Frema asked. While Khuldruk didn’t know the whole story, he’d had the bare bones and had been leaving me alone about it, but it looked like that was coming to an end.
I just shrugged.
