Chapter Six

brEAC

E vie was quiet the next morning as we rode through the mist of the early morning. Her scent teased me, taunting me with what I couldn't have, shouldn't have, and I gritted my teeth against the bond that was forming between us. I shifted in the saddle, trying to put distance between Evie and I, but there wasn't enough space. I understood now how the collectors disappeared so frequently on their mission to find females for the king. If any of the females had half the allure of Evie, the collectors didn't have a chance of resisting.

One thing I knew for sure. I had to get Evie new clothes, something that covered her and helped her blend in better, not to mention provided a better barrier between us. We were leaving the wilds of the realm and entering a more populated area, more likely to meet travelers and villages. If she was dressed as an outsider, it would be harder to hide her, to deceive others into believing we were mated. For her protection, of course.

The stench of smoke and despair hit me before we even entered the village. Blackened timbers jutted from the ground like broken teeth, and the air hung heavy with the acrid scent of destruction. My stomach clenched. I'd seen this before, knew the devastation King Gnarlug could wreak when his temper flared.

Evie gasped in front of me, her small hand flying to cover her mouth. "Oh, Breac," she whispered, her voice thick with horror. "We have to help them."

I wanted to grab her, to drag her away from this place and the danger it represented. Every instinct screamed at me to protect her, to keep moving towards the false promise I'd made about returning her home. But the truth was a weight in my chest, threatening to crush me.

"We can't," I growled, hating the words even as I spoke them. "It's not safe. We need to keep moving."

I was already pulling on the reins, turning Mankala back into the forest to go around the town. Evie's eyes flashed, a spark of defiance I'd come to both admire and fear. "Not safe? Look at them, Breac! They're suffering. How can we just walk away?"

I clenched my jaw, searching for words that wouldn't betray me. "You don't understand the danger."

Her hand touched my arm, impossibly gentle against my rough skin. "Then help me understand. Don't you wish someone had helped your family when they needed it?"

The words struck like a physical blow. Images of my mother's terrified face, my little brother's tears as the king's guards dragged them away, flashed through my mind. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the memories away.

When I opened them, Evie was staring up at me, her gaze filled with a compassion I didn't deserve. I nodded once, sharply. "Fine. We'll help. But we can't linger. We leave at first light."

The relief on her face was almost worth the risk. Almost.

As we moved through the village, offering what meager aid we could, I felt the weight of suspicious gazes. The village was mostly orc, with a scattering of humans mixed in. They all knew of me, especially since I had stopped here on my way to the auction. Whispers followed in our wake, and more than once, I caught the word "dishonorable" hissed in my direction.

Evie, bless her na?ve heart, leapt to my defense. "You don't know him," she insisted to a group of wary villagers. "Breac has suffered as much as any of you at the hands of the king. He's a good man... er, orc."

Their doubt was palpable, but Evie ignored them. I dismounted from Mankala and helped her down. She immediately went to the older female orc, the innkeeper's wife, who was organizing relief efforts, and volunteered her services. The female eyed me suspiciously, but I only stood, my arms folded as I waited for her direction. She pointed Evie to the small human group, and Evie began helping with their injuries.

The female ignored me, so I settled for watching over Evie, scanning the horizon with a predatory focus in case the Kings' Guard returned and cause further damage. I might not be able to fight off the guard, but I could raise the alarm and possibly save lives. Orcs and humans bustled around me, cleaning debris, mending injuries, and soothing young ones, ignoring me as if I didn't exist. That was fine with me. My focus was on Evie and ensuring her safety.

Suddenly, a child's terrified cry pierced the air. Evie's head whipped around, locating the source. The sound came from a burnt home on the edge of town, on the verge of collapse. It sounded like a young boy possibly trapped in the partially collapsed building. Before I could stop her, she was running towards the danger.

"Evie, no!" I bellowed, racing after her, my heart in my throat.

She was already trying to shift a heavy beam, her small frame straining against the impossible weight. I reached her side, assessing the situation in an instant. The entire structure groaned ominously.

"Move," I ordered, shouldering her aside. I braced myself against the beam, muscles burning as I lifted. Splinters dug into my flesh, but I ignored the pain. With a last roar of effort, I heaved the beam aside.

Evie darted in, scooping up the sobbing child and carrying him to safety. As I staggered away, the rest of the building collapsed with a loud roar. I searched for Evie and saw her clutching the boy to her chest, her eyes wide. Behind her, I was met with a sea of astonished faces. The suspicion in their eyes had been replaced by something new—grudging respect, tinged with gratitude.

I grabbed Evie, yanking her to me and hugging her tightly. "Never do that again. You could have been killed."

She wrapped her arms around my waist and laid her head on my chest. "I'm okay, Breac. I knew you'd come."

I tightened my arms around her, crushing her to me, trying to hide the trembling in my limbs. She had terrified me. All I could see is Evie being crushed by the heavy beams, her sweet, sassy light extinguished too soon. "I could have lost you."

She tilted up her head and opened her mouth to speak, but I didn't wait. I lowered my mouth over hers, careful of my tusks, not wanting to cause her any harm. Her gasp was swallowed up in the kiss, but soon her hands were in my hair, pulling me closer, her soft lips parting under mine. The taste of her was intoxicating, a mix of sweetness and a hint of something wild. As our kiss deepened, desire surged inside of me, mixed with a powerful sense of protectiveness. I wanted to keep her safe, to shield her from the dangers lurking around us, even from myself.

When we finally pulled apart, she looked at me with wide eyes, her cheeks flushed and her breath coming in quick gasps. I tucked her dark hair behind her ear and upper her cheek gently with a hand, my thumb caressing her swollen lips.

"Sorry if I got carried away," I said, my voice low and husky.

She shook her head, a shy smile playing on her lips. "No need to apologize. That was incredible."

I felt a surge of pride at her words, but also a flicker of worry. I was no ordinary being, and she was not destined for me. But as she stared at me with those eyes that seemed to see right through me and into the depths of my soul, I couldn't deny the connection that crackled between us like lightning in a stormy sky. The forbidden thrill of our attraction only fueled the flames of desire burning within me, a desperate need to protect her at all costs.

I knew the risks of allowing myself to care for her, to let her in past the barriers I had built around my heart to shield myself from pain. But in that moment, with her soft breath mingling with mine, I didn't care about the consequences. I wanted her, needed her, in a way that shook me to my core.

As if sensing the turmoil raging inside me, she reached out and placed a hand on my chest, over the place where my heart beat erratically. "I don't care about any of that," she whispered, determination shining in her gaze. "All I know is how I feel when I'm with you, and nothing else matters."

Her words washed over me like a soothing balm, quelling the doubts that had been lingering at the edges of my mind. I leaned into her touch, the warmth of her hand seeping through my tough exterior, reaching the core of my being. The walls I had built around my heart began to crumble under the weight of her unwavering acceptance.

With a mix of trepidation and longing, I cupped her face in my hands, tracing the lines of her features with a reverence I didn't know I possessed. She closed her eyes, leaning into my touch, a soft sigh escaping her lips. The air around us crackled with an electric energy, charged with unspoken desires and untold secrets.

In that moment, I made a silent vow to protect her, to shield her from the darkness that threatened to consume us both. I knew the risks of letting her in, but the pull between us was too potent to resist. With a deep breath, I whispered, "I will keep you safe, no matter what."

Her eyes fluttered open, locking onto mine with a fierce intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. "I trust you," she said, her voice a soft melody that resonated in the depths of my soul. In that instant, it felt as if the world faded away, leaving only the two of us standing on the precipice of something unknown yet undeniably powerful.

I gathered her into my arms, holding her close to me as if she were the most precious thing in the universe. Her heartbeat echoed against my chest, syncing with mine in a rhythm that felt like destiny unfolding before us. We stood there in silence, enveloped in a bubble of warmth and affection that seemed to defy the odds stacked against us.

But just as I began to believe that we could carve out our own path together, the scent of charred wood carried on the breeze brushed against my skin. I tensed, instinctively pulling her even closer to shield her from whatever unseen danger lurked nearby. The murmuring of the villagers penetrated the bubble that surrounded us, and I lifted my head to see the innkeeper and his wife standing nearby.

"Thank you for saving the boy. He is our grandson. We owe you a great debt," the innkeeper said solemnly, his arm around his wife, tears streaking her face.

I inclined my head. "No thanks needed. We are grateful to be here to help. He will recover?"

The wife nodded. "He has a broken leg but will heal cleanly. He is with our healer now." Impulsively, she took my hand, clutching it to her chest. "Thank you for saving him."

After that, I was no longer invisible, nor was I a statue, guarding the town. I was put to work, helping to clear debris in the hardest damaged areas. By nightfall, we had salvaged what we could and repairs were beginning. Evie and I could leave the next morning as planned, knowing they were on the road to recovery.

As night fell, we gathered around a hastily built fire. The villagers huddled close, sharing stories of loss and resilience. Evie listened intently, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she offered what comfort she could.

I sat apart, the weight of my deception heavy on my shoulders. These people had suffered because of the king I served, the king I was leading Evie towards. The same king who held my family's lives in his cruel hands.

"What about you, Breac?" one of the older villagers asked, startling me from my brooding. "What's your story?"

I looked up, meeting Evie's encouraging gaze. With a deep breath, I began to speak. I told them of my father's execution, of my family held hostage, of the impossible choice I'd been forced to make. As I spoke, I saw understanding dawn in their eyes.

When I finished, a weathered hand clasped my shoulder. "We misjudged you, friend," the old villager said softly. "It seems we all bear scars from Gnarlug's cruelty."

I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. As the fire crackled and the villagers murmured their sympathies, I caught Evie's eye across the flames. The trust and admiration I saw there twisted like a knife in my gut.

I'd helped these people, yes. But with every step closer to the king's stronghold, I was betraying the one person who truly believed in me. As I stared into the fire, I knew a terrible choice lay ahead—and I had no idea how to make it.