Epilogue

EPILOGUE

U ndercover in the Arena. I ran my finger over the book's cover, hardly able to believe it. Bad enough that I'd written a book, but one that came out in print? It seemed impossible.

"Congratulations, my beloved," Gragash said, and slipped an arm around my waist to squeeze me gently. Which from him still meant tight enough to force the air from my lungs. He chuckled at my oof and let go.

He seemed bemused by the whole book thing, but he showed his pride in my accomplishment, even if he didn't understand it. One more thing to love about the hulking brute the universe had bound me to.

The Orc's Nest— no one wanted to keep the name Darha's Blessing —stood ready to greet us. Freshly painted, hull re-patched, it looked better than it had in years. Those repairs cost us all the operating budget, though. We needed to make a profit quickly, the orc kids ate a lot.

I grinned up at Gragash. "So, what first, Captain Gragash?"

He pretended to ponder the question. "First? Hm. The kosh-ra, I think. An important orcish tradition."

I still only knew a few words of orcish. That wasn't among them. "What's that me— ah!"

The question turned into a startled yelp as he answered by picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder. By the time we reached the ship, I was laughing and blushing.

"Jarchess is first mate. She will find us a client," he said as he bounded up the boarding ramp. "It has been far too long since we were naked together."

"We got out of bed three hours ago, " I protested, winning myself a playful slap on the ass.

"As I said, far too long."

My orc has his priorities, I thought to myself with a happy smile. They were priorities I'd never object to.