19. Kharag

King Tarfu. That throne-stealing oath breaker. He'd stolen the throne after a coup on the previous king, though he alleged that he'd come upon the coup leaders too late to save the legitimate king and his family. No one knew what had happened to the true heir, Torgan, but I knew orcs still looked for him, some to support him and others to kill him. In the intervening decade, Tarfu had solidified his position, marrying the previous queen and killing all contenders. It was a brutal decade, one of scarcity and fear in the orc kingdom. If the goblins, natural enemies of the orcs, were now their allies, this boded ill for free orcs and my mate.

Jarrus jerked his head to the side. "They're flanking us. We'll soon be surrounded. We're running out of time."

"The stream will slow them down," I said, but it was only a matter of time before we had no options left and were trapped.

I glanced at the horse, and Jarrus grumbled. "It's time."

Olivia looked between us, understanding dawning. "No, no, I'm not leaving. We stick together, no matter what."

Whoops and shrieks sounded from the forest, and I knew the goblins were gearing up for another assault. I grabbed her waist to hoist her onto the horse. "It's now or never. You have to go or you'll never have another chance to leave. We'll deal with these creatures and follow behind you. Promise."

She struggled in my arms, but my hold was firm. I started to lift her when the horse reared, whinnying in panic and bolted, streaking for the narrow opening and out of the ruins. Jarrus's ax flashed, and he cut down the two goblins before I could react, their bodies falling to the ground. I pulled Olivia to my chest, averting her face at the last minute.

I cursed. There went her last escape. I met Jarrus's grim gaze. He hefted his ax and trudged to the other side and braced himself for the onslaught. Now we had to fight or lose Olivia forever.

I set Olivia down and tucked her into an alcove in the rock where I hoped she'd be protected from the worst of the fighting, hidden from goblin eyes for as long as possible. "Stay here. Fight only if necessary. Stay out of our way."

"I can fight, too, you know," she grumbled, but burrowed against the stone, making herself as small as possible and holding the sword in front of her, ready to defend herself.

Despair filled me. This was why I had not been gifted a mate until now. I was not worthy, not able to protect my mate and, if a male can't protect his mate, he doesn't deserve her. This was punishment for daring to take Olivia. But if I could give my life to protect hers, I would gladly do so. Maybe then I would be worthy.

The shrieks came closer, and I braced myself. I was prepared to die and take as many goblin fuckers as I could with me.

A shimmering caught my eye from the side of the ruins. Olivia stood and walked closer. We could see a landscape a little out of focus that didn't match our own place.

Olivia gasped. "That's my home. That's the road I was on when I left."

My heart sank. This was what she had been searching for since she came to our world. A way back to her own world. I looked at Jarrus, who had a resigned look on his face. We had bonded with her. There would be no other mates for us. But we could save her life, spare her from capture by goblins and a forced mating by the orc king.

"You should go. Step through the portal, back to your world."

She faced me, tears in her eyes. "You don't want me anymore?"

"You'll be safer there, Olivia. No goblin can follow you." Jarrus held himself stiff, a distance already growing between all of us, as if he were protecting himself from further pain.

She glanced at the goblins pouring from the trees, then at the portal, doubt riddling her expression. Then she took a step forward.