Page 49 of Shared By Two Orcs

Yamarz comes to my side, clapping his hand on my shoulder. I turn to him, immediately scanning him for injuries. There’s only a light bruise on his face.

“Are you okay?” I ask him. “They got a few good hits in.”

“Just a scratch,” he replies. “I’ve fought animals more menacing than these losers.”

“Yaghed got me good, how does my face look?”

“He’s a lousy shot. You’re fine, I’m sure Willo can look past your extra ugly mug for a few days.”

I snort, returning my attention to Yaghed’s lackeys as they slowly begin regaining consciousness, helping each other to their feet. Yamarz and I cast defiant looks upon them as they raise their hands in surrender.

“Get the fuck out of here,” he snarls.

They groan in pain as they hobble away, clutching broken noses and bones. At the same time, the crows around us gaze at us in astonishment before they too begin dispersing. A fight like this is just another daily occurrence in the Shattered Lands clan for them.

“Thank you,” I say, not knowing how else to express my gratitude and the strange myriad of sensations I feel at having someone stick up for me for the first time.

“There’s no need to thank me. I’m protecting family.”

At that moment, I realize just how much my dynamic with Yamarz has progressed. Once upon a time, we would have been enemies– and now, I have this fearsome orc not only as a protector, but as a friend. As family. The emotions crash through me so suddenly that I don’t even have time to riddle them out, and thankfully, I don’t have to– because it’s then that a familiar voice calls our names from behind us.

26

WILLO

Things have taken quite the turn in the last while. For some time, everything was so uncertain. I wasn’t even sure if I was still in a relationship, let alone friends with Duma and Yamarz. As if by some miracle twist, not only did they start talking again, but things took a deeper, more intimate twist.

Now every day feels like magic, filled with laughter, good food, and great sex. Lately, I’ve been feeling something incredibly profound for both of them. Things are so good between us all that I can’t help but wish to take things further.

Am I falling in love?

I keep asking myself all day long as I work, giggling to myself with glee. Every aspect of my life has been better since everything got resolved. I no longer feel frustrated, nor am I ridden with exhaustion in the mines. Even now as I swing my pickaxe back and forth into the hidium ore veins, it feels like nothing more than a good workout.

I hear giggling behind me as I gather some ore into a bucket. I spin around to see Jinnow trying to hide a smirk.

“Hey Willo,” she greets. “Want to take a break?”

“Sure.”

I place my tool down on the wall and join Jinnow for a walk.

“What are you all giggly for?” I ask.

“I could ask you the same thing,” she chickles. “You’re a whole lot happier than the last time we were in this section of the mines.”

“Oh you know, just my dating situation,” I say embarrassingly.

“Uh huh, sure. All of the guys in this camp have been after you since you came here.”

I nudge her at the elbow.

“Seriously though, you’re carrying yourself a lot better these days. You’re all smiles and are the best miner on our team. Is it safe to assume you got everything sorted out with those orcs you’re seeing?”

“Oh, more than sorted.”

“What? Tell me everything,” she pleads, squeezing my arm.

“Well, it all worked out very strangely yet perfectly. Remember how I mentioned that I always felt like they could’ve been friends?”

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