Page 15 of Orc's Pride

She rears her head back, and then lunges toward me. Clamping down on my ear, she bites with all her strength. I can see the flash of fury in her eyes, that inner lioness coming out again, just before she attaches herself to me.

I clamp my lips together, trying hard not to laugh at the ticklish sensation. I have no idea why I want to humor this strange woman so much. For some reason, the way that she acts so unshakeable and ferocious makes me feel an urge to play along. To just let her have her victory.

“Ouch!” I protest, trying to pretend it hurts. She relaxes her clenched jaw, letting me go. I sit up, moving away from her, and rub at my ear.

She doesn’t take any time to gloat. Instead, she jumps out of bed as quickly as possible, and darts to the door. I realize what she’s doing in time to stop her at the last possible second.

Standing up, I take a few long strides to the door. She’s sprinting much faster, but my legs are so much longer that it makes no difference. I can take one step for three of hers.

Then I lean forward, my arms snaking out to grab her firmly by the waist. I pull her against me, feeling her stiffen. She tries to jerk away but can’t escape my solid grip.

Her face fills with frustration. I can tell that, in her mind, she thinks I am the only thing that stands between her and freedom. I’m beginning to see that this woman may be brave, but she’s also a bit foolhardy.

As if she’s simply going to leave my tent and disappear out there. Like she got away fair and square, so the game is over, and she gets to go home.

Does she not understand how serious this is? I’ve been taking it remarkably easy on her, and even I’m not entirely sure why. I know part of it is because she doesn’t seem to pose any real threat at all, but still – I could have her executed with no pushback if I wanted to.

I just don’t want to.

The idea of hurting someone so small and helpless makes a knot form in my stomach. Even if she is a spy, I’ll probably just keep her stashed away somewhere. Somewhere I can keep an eye on her, prevent her from causing any problems.

She’s useless as a spy, and mildly entertaining. Almost like a cute little pet rabbit. Killing her seems unnecessary. But not everyone would see it that way.

“It’s not safe for you out there,” I warn her. “Anyone out there would kill you on sight. Orc or human.”

She gives me a suspicious look, trying to decide if I’m still making empty threats.

“They’ll think you’re a spy, same as Gor did. And spies get handled. End of story. The only reason I got Gor to let you go is because he respects me too much to go against my wishes. But most of those men would gladly risk an angry Chieftain for a dead spy.”

I can see a muscle in her jaw flex, up and down, as she thinks it over. Finally, she breaks the long silence.

“Let me go,” she insists in a gravelly voice.

I pick her up by the waist, gently swiveling her back to the bed. “As you wish,” I agree, dropping her back onto the mattress for the second time.

“Now.” I sit beside her on the bed once more. This time, there are no threats, no intimidations. Instead, I just get down to business, blunt and direct.

Leaning closer to read her eyes, I study her. “Are you a spy?”

8

Dana

Yes, but not like you think.

His eyes are dangerous. Guileless. He looks like he’d believe me, that he’d understand. Like I can trust him, as if he hasn’t just carried me to his bed. Hasn’t just implied if I don’t tell him the truth, he’ll force me.

And yet, has he? He hasn’t hurt me at all, or groped me. He hasn’t done anything I thought he might when he brought me to his tent. I can’t make sense of him, or what he wants.

Dangerous.

I take a deep breath and lie. Lies are safe. Whatever’s happening between us is definitely not. “No. Of course not.”

Until I know for certain he isn’t a traitor, I have to keep my distance. I’m not sure what it is exactly about him that makes it so difficult. I’ve spent my entire life keeping even people I trust at a distance.

“Are you?” My voice is light and flirty. Distracting.

If there’s an attraction here, I might as well use it to my advantage, and try to get him to drop his guard. He has to know that bringing me to his bed won’t intimidate me, or else who knows how far he might go?

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