15. Khuldruk

15

KHULDRUK

K huldruk walked through the crowd of people. He wasn't sure what his plan was. He was still stuck where he was this morning, finding his mate and wanting to save his people. The situation before him felt impossible. He wished he could split himself in two and be both here with his mate and restore the magic to his people. Maybe completing the bond would be enough to save his people. If he completed the bond and then chose to live without his mate, he would wither away, he knew that. Either choice would kill a part of him.

"There ye are. What's going on with ye, ye silly thing?" Bridget scolded him.

He turned, and he could see her expression change from that of irritation to sympathy. "What's going on?"

"She is truly my mate," he said solemnly.

"Aye," she answered, still not quite following him.

A roar of frustration ripped from him.

"I'm afraid I don't understand. Ye came here to find yer mate, did ye not?"

"Yes, I did, but I didn't think it through. What am I supposed to do? I can't stay here and leave my people, but now I don't think I can leave here. I cannot be in two places at the same time, but I cannot be whole without the other. What am I to do?" he asked in desperation.

"Bring her with ye," she said simply.

He looked at her and expected her to continue, but that was all she said.

"Bring her with me?"

"Yes."

"Why on Earth would she leave her home to come to another realm with a near stranger?"

"Because ye’re her mate. Have ye not told her?"

"No. It doesn't seem to work the same way here."

Bridget nodded as she finally began to understand his predicament. "I see. I think ye should tell her."

He shook his head.

"Look, I know I don't understand the magic of the mate bond in the monster realm. I know it works differently in all the realms, but I assure ye, she feels it. As a human, I experienced the mating bond as well. It may not feel like it does in the monster realm, but I can assure ye, she feels it. Also, Calli doesn't belong here."

"What do you mean?" he asked. Bridget's words were kindling hope inside him, but it still seemed insurmountable.

"I've known her for years. I’ve been able to feel something about her, but it never made sense until now." She paused and waited for him to say anything, but he didn't know what to say. "I think ye need to tell her."

He nodded and gave a deep sigh. "I agree. It must be done."

"Well, try and cheer up. It's not like ye're on yer way to the gallows," she said with a pat on his arm.

Funny, because he sure felt like he was on his way to the gallows. But Bridget was right; he did need to tell her why he had come.

So, he went about his day, which consisted of watching Calli's sets and bringing her lunch. When they were walking down the throughfare, a necklace caught her eye. After her last set, when she was busy with the band, he walked back to the jeweler.

"How much for this necklace?" he asked.

"$50," answered the woman at the booth. He was glad the gold pieces he had brought from his realm turned into the proper currency for the human realm as he pulled out a couple of bills from his pouch.

After getting the necklace, he slipped it back into his pouch along with the change from the woman, and he set back on his way to Calli's tent.

Later that night, they sat with the band around the campfire. Something about the camaraderie felt familiar to him.

"So, Calli, do you know what's next for you?" asked one of her bandmates. "We finish up here in three days. My offer still stands for you to stay with us."

Khuldruk stilled, waiting for the answer. He was interested in knowing her plans too.

"I appreciate that, but I'll be good. Good things are coming for me, I can feel it."

"Okay," said the red-haired man next to her with a sigh. "I think I'm going to turn in... Try to not be late tomorrow," he said with a cocked eyebrow.

"I make no such promise," she quipped back at him.

Before long, all the other members of her band turned in, leaving Callie and Khuldruk by the fire alone. Calli was sitting between his legs, his little mate's back pressed to his chest and her head resting on his shoulder. The rightness of her body pressed into his was intoxicating.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked as she laced her hands through his that were resting on her soft belly.

"Of course," he answered instantly. He thought he knew what was coming.

"And don't take this wrong, because I'm clearly really glad you’re here, but what did bring you here? I don't know, I just feel like there is something you’re not telling me."

Khuldruk did not like the uncertain sound in her voice one bit. It would seem his own fear of admitting this had caused some insecurity in his little mate. If he was going to be a protector of her or his people, he needed to be brave enough for hard conversations, conversations that had the power to rip his heart out.

"Yes..." His voice was clouded with uncertainty. He cleared his throat and continued. "Yes, I came here to help save the magic of my realm."

"You've said that before, but I don't understand how coming here will help," she said as she turned in his arms to look at him.

He tightened his hold on her, keeping her close, resting her against his chest. This might have been easier to do if she wasn't looking at him.

"There is a sacred magic for orcs. It is the source of all other magic we wield, but it has been slowly disappearing from our people, and I came to find it."

"Why would it be here?"

He took a breath; it was now or never. "It is the magic of a mate bond. There is a special magic that exists between two people who were created for each other, but there hasn't been a mated pair for my people since my parents."

She had gone still in his arms. His heart started thudding loud and hard in his chest.

"You came here to find your mate?" she asked quietly.

"Yes."

"How will you know if you find them?"

"Because the bond will call to me, and I will know."

"Oh... Well, ummm... Good luck with that. I hope you find your...ummm...mate," she said as she tensed his arms.

"Calli, I already have."

"You have?" she asked breathlessly.

"Yes, I have."

"Who is it?"

"Calli..."

She turned in his arms again, and this time, he let her. "Is it me?"

"Yes," he said solemnly. "It is you, but I under--"

She cut him off by turning completely and throwing her arms around his neck, kissing him. He gave a huff of surprise, and then his arms laced around her waist, holding her to him. The magic of their bond pulsed through him like never before. She pulled away from him, and his mouth chased hers. Ending this kiss just might kill him. But when she put her hands on his chest, pushing him away, she stopped.

"How long have you known?" she asked.

"From the moment I saw you."

"Really? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was scared. At first, I didn't want to scare you, but then, it was because I am a coward, and I wasn't sure how you would react."

"How could I be anything less than happy? I’ve never felt like I feel when I'm with you, and now, at least I understand it a little better."

The warmth of that statement washed over him. Maybe things would be okay. Maybe he wouldn't have to choose between his mate and his people.

"So now what?" she asked.

He cocked his head, not knowing quite what she was referring to.

"You've found your mate. Now what? Is your magic fixed?"

"There is a little more to it than that."

"Okay," she said and then waited for him to continue. He wasn't sure if it was the right time, but he needed to be honest with her.

"We have to complete the mating bond for the magic to take hold."

"How do you do that? I've read some books, and I would think what we did might be enough. Maybe we need to try again, see if it will work this time," she said with a saucy smile that filled his heart and had his cock twitching to life.

"For the bond to take hold, there are some other steps to follow. We must have a ceremony...and there is a bite involved."

"So I would have to go to the monster realm with you. Is that even possible?"

"You would want to come to the realm with me?"

A look of confusion crossed her face as she turned her head. She looked so cute, Khuldruk could barely stand it. "Isn't that what we need to do to restore the magic or whatever?"

"That was the plan."

"So why has the plan changed?"

"I just..." He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, taking in her face. "I didn't think it through."

"Why? Do you not want me to come?" she asked quietly.

"No. Nothing would make me happier than to have you by my side always. I thought I would come and find my mate and take them back, and everything would fall into place, but I was being selfish."

"How is trying to help your people selfish? That sounds like the opposite of selfish to me," she protested.

"Because I didn't stop to think that my mate would have a life. She would have a family and things she wouldn't just want to leave," he said, letting his finger trace her chin.

"Oh..." Even in the dim light from the fire, he could see doubt dance across her beautiful features. "So what? You just go back and find someone else?"

"No, my little mate. There is no one else for me. I’ll go back and try to save my people, but my heart belongs to you," he said plainly, because that was the truth of it. It would kill him to go back without her, but he would never take another lover.

"And what? I just stay here feeling like I don't belong, knowing you exist but unable to ever talk to you again?" She sat up straight, pulling away from him. "I want to go with you."

"What about your life here?"

"What life? My band that is breaking up? The small town I ran away from years ago? I have been floating from town to town, band to band, trying to find a place that felt like home, and I never found it. I never found it until I met you. I know that sounds crazy, but it seems there is a reason for that, and?—"

He cut off her rant, pulling her close and claiming her mouth with his. He was overcome. Just the thought that she might want to come with him lit a fire inside of him.

She broke the kiss and looked up at him, staying close in his arms. "Would we be able to come back? I don't see my sisters often, but I’d miss them."

"Of course, we could come back. We can spend time with your family whenever you want."

"Do you want me to come with you?" she asked with a sense of apprehension.

How could she even ask him that? "Yes, of course, I do. I just don't want to pull you from your life. I want you to be happy. I’d do anything to make you happy."

The firelight danced across her features again, but this time, it wasn’t doubt. This time, a small smile pulled at the corner of her lips, and Khuldruk felt like he was soaring.

She sat up and turned fully, facing him. "I’ve been living my whole life feeling like I never quite belonged. I’ve always felt like there was this barrier between me and other people keeping me from fully connecting with them. As much as I tried, nothing ever felt like home." She paused, searching his eyes. "I've never felt that until I met you. I know that doesn't make any sense. Maybe that’s the bond you keep talking about. This all sounds crazy, but it doesn't feel crazy. Ugh! I don't know how to even say it, but maybe, I might feel at home there... I don't know. I think I would just feel at home wherever you are, and now that I know what home feels like with you, I'm not sure if I can?—"

"Calli," he said, taking her face between his hands. "Breath, my pet," he said calmly and then modeled a slow breath. "Nothing you’re saying sounds crazy. I think what you're feeling is due to the bond because I feel it too. I never wish to be parted from you. It was my greatest dream to find my mate, lead my people, and bring back some of the magic, but then I met you. Now, the greatest dream I have is for your happiness. I want nothing more than to have you by my side."

The moment hung heavy between them. A log shifted as the campfire slowly burned to nothing but coals, but they were lost in each other. The idea of Calli with him in his realm was a thought he could get lost in. It still felt entirely too good to be true.