Page 64 of Orc's Pride

“Mmhm?”

“Be mine.”

She smiles at me. “Of course I will.”

27

Dana

It’s a welcomed surprise to see Malik arrive at the base the next day.

There’s a buzz in the air that is palpable, one that I’m more than happy to fall into. Since being kept at the dark elves’ encampment for so long and then here at the base, I haven’t seen Malik in what feels like forever.

I hope he isn’t upset with me that I never returned to him. Though, with everything that’s gone down here at the base, I don’t believe he can really blame me.

Pitha takes us to the meeting room where we find Malik and a few other orcs from his clan accompanying him. He smiles widely at me, holding his arms out the moment he spots me next to Pitha.

I can’t help it when my eyes well up with tears, overcome to see that the person that had taken me in when I'd been so badly mistreated still holds the same affection for me after all this time away.

“Dana!”

I fold myself into his arms, letting him sweep me up into a tight hold.

“I was beginning to worry when you didn’t come back!”

“I’m sorry.” I wipe my eyes as I pull away from him. “I didn’t mean to worry you.”

He shakes his head at me. “I’m only glad that you are safe. I trust the people here have been taking care of you?”

At that, he gives Pitha a narrow eyes look.

My mate snorts.

Mate. I smile at the word. That’s what he is to me now.

“I’ve been treated very well.” I assure Malik.

“Good. I’m glad to hear it. I’m not above disciplining Chieftains that aren’t taking care of my information gatherers.”

Speaking of which…

Leaning down to reach into my boot, I extract the paper from it and hold it out to him. “I found this when I was looking for more letters. It seems to be a list with the conspirators working with the dark elves.”

He blinks in surprise. “Oh?”

Taking it from my fingers, he heads over to one of the chairs seated around the table in the center of the room. Settling down into it, he unfolds the ledger and runs his eyes over it. I feel Pitha brush his hand against my side and carefully slip mine into his.

Malik is quiet for a while as he studies the list. I can’t imagine what he’s thinking while reading it. He’s been around for so long and has traveled to so many places that I have no doubt there are names on that list he absolutely recognizes.

How horrible would it be to realize that the people you once thought would never betray their own kind would turn their backs and do just that?

I don’t know what I would do if I were in his position.

“This is certainly concerning.” he finally says.

“Ishta paid us a visit not too long ago.” Pitha frowns. “He was working with dark elves and attacked the base as a result.”

Malik lifts his head. “Of Blackwater?”

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