6. Turren

It seemed that in my desperation to convince Kaila we were true mates; I’d come up with the plan. The beast crashing through the woods gave me aid.

Didn’t she know? There was no way I’d leave her and her brother to make their own way to a village three days’ travel from here with predators stalking them. If she insisted they do this alone, I’d shadow them, remaining far enough behind they wouldn’t know I was there but close enough to protect them.

“Woo me?” she barked.

Brunnen shot a panicked glance toward the forest. “Kaila. Stop shouting. We’re going to get eaten by shaydes and it’ll be your fault.”

She whirled to face her brother. “We don’t need him. And I don’t need him trying to get me into his bed.”

“There are no beds in the forest,” I kindly pointed out.

“You know what I mean. I’m not having sex with you.”

Brunnen sighed and turned toward her. After lowering his stick to the ground, he braced her upper arms, holding her still, looking down at her. “I love you, Kaila.”

“I love you too, Brunnen.”

“I’d do anything for you.”

“Same.”

“If you say traveling alone is something we must do, then I’ll follow. I’ll do my best to hunt, and I’ll stay awake all night to protect you. I’ll even fight off the beast coming this way.”

“Brunnen,” she half-wailed. “I don’t want to have sex with him.”

He growled and shot me a look that again told me that this male would be a strong warrior one day. “No sex.”

“I’d never force her to do anything she didn’t want to,” I said.

Brunnen turned back to Kaila. “I can’t do everything.” The starkness in his voice cut through my chest, leaving me bleeding.

It must’ve done the same thing to my mate because she staggered.

His hands on her arms shored her up. “Our odds of surviving this journey go up substantially if we’re with Turren.”

“No . . .”

“I want you to listen to what he has to offer.” Again, he looked my way, as if he needed to state this once more. “No sex.”

“I’d never force her to have sex with me.” No orc would ever make a woman do something like that.

Brunnen grunted and turned back to Kaila. “You two need to work this out. I’m going to walk in the opposite direction of that beast. I’ll stay close enough to hear you if you shout. But you two need to determine where we go from here.” he released her and stalked to the forest, easing among the trees before stopping. I could still see him, but he was right that he probably couldn’t hear us.

“No sex,” Kaila snarled at me.

“Not unless you want it.”

“Well, I can comfortably state that I never will.”

“Instead . . .” I couldn’t believe I was able to think around her, let alone speak. Fortunately, whatever was in the woods didn’t seem to be coming this way anymore. Perhaps it was a large herbivore and not a predator picking up our scent.

“Instead what?”

“I . . .” If there was ever a time to speak, it was now. “I also want three kisses and for you to rest with me at night.” A daring move on my part. “They’re part of the wooing.”

“There you go again. If I rest with you at night, you’ll take advantage of me.”

“I told you I wouldn’t. My word is my vow.”

She studied me a long time before jerking out a nod. “What exactly does orc wooing entail?” At least she wasn’t outright refusing my kisses or resting with me.

“I’ll care for you, show you complete devotion. I’ll . . . try to talk to you.”

“You’re talking now.”

“I’m a male of few words most of the time.”

“Except now,” she said wryly.

“This is not usual for me.”

She frowned. “I see.” Her chin lifted. “What else?”

“I’ll keep you safe and protect you.”

“This sounds like something a parent would do.”

My offer was much different from that of a parent, but she’d see.

“I don’t like this,” she said.

And I didn’t want to force her, but I was desperate. If she walked away, yes, I’d follow. But this . . . this was a chance to show her how strong a mate bond could be. A chance to prove to her that I was worthy of love.

I waited patiently while emotions flitted across her face. Anger. Frustration. And finally, reluctant agreement.

“Alright,” she said. “You have the three days it’ll take to reach the village. Please know that no matter how much wooing you do, it won’t make a difference. I’m going to remain in the new village with my brother, and you’re going to walk away.”

We’d see about that.

“Good.” I gave her a nod.

“I suppose you want a kiss now.” Her lips twisted in disgust. “To solidify this cursed deal.”

Inside, I quivered. Outside, I continued to show strength. But everywhere, I felt fear that it wouldn’t matter what I did, that she’d reject me like everyone else other than my clan had.

“I don’t want a kiss yet. I’ll let you know when the time’s right.”

She rolled her eyes and softly called out to her brother, who strode back to join us. He looked back and forth from her to me. “All set?”

“Yes,” she groaned.

I lifted my pendant and gently sent spurts of air across it, creating a series of low hums that would tell my vox waiting in the canopy above that he was to fly to the edge of the desert and wait. He’d eat and relax, waiting there for me patiently.

Kaila watched me with confusion on her face but said nothing.

Whatever was in the woods had moved on. I didn’t hear shaydes coming near either. I could take a moment to show them what I had to offer.

I removed my pouch from where I’d strapped it to my lower back and opened it, giving them each a seed and dried fruit cake. We’d wash it down with water from my small flask, and it would tide us over until morning.

Afterward, I looked around and found a few likely trees. “I’ll take Brunnen up to the canopy and then you, my . . . surly mate . . .”

She lifted one eyebrow.

“Then you, mate, will climb a tree with me.”