26. Calli

26

CALLI

C alli awoke as reached for Khuldruk, but felt nothing except the giant wet spot she was in. She sat up and felt an ache in her body. She rolled her head, only to be reminded of the throbbing bite.

"You are awake," said Khuldruk, still naked as he entered the room with a wet rag and a warm cup of tea.

"How long have you been up?" she asked.

"Not long. I brought you tea. It is your choice if you drink it. As long as you have a cup every day, you will not become pregnant," he said as he sat the tea down on the bed.

"Do you want a baby?" she asked.

"Of course, I want nothing more than to make you round with our orcling, but in time, and that time is your decision to make."

He sat on the bed and pulled her leg to the side. "Let me," he said as she used the warm rag to gently wipe her before taking a salve from the bedside table and applying it.

Instantly, the ache lessened. "What is that?"

"It is a remedy to help you to heal. After this and a bath, you should feel much better. As for the bite, I do wish there was a salve for it, but it will heal in time, and I can help it along," he said, giving it another wet kiss and lifting her from the bed. "Come. The warm water will feel good. Then, I will change the sheets and have some food brought to the room."

As he carried her to the bath, the look in his eyes held something she didn't quite understand, but it felt like everything. It warmed her and called to her. Closing her eyes, she snuggled into his chest. That same feeling she found in his gaze, she felt in his arms. She had never felt anything like it before. It felt like love and belonging. It felt like home. He felt like home. This was the feeling she had been chasing her entire life, and the emotions threatened to overwhelm her.

"What are you singing?" he asked

She looked up at him, confused. "I wasn't singing?"

The loving expression on his face changed into a furrowed brow. "Singing or not, I heard you all the same. I think your heart might be singing to mine."

“Is that possible?”

"I don't know. I've never been mated to a siren before," he said as she lowered them into the bath.

The warmth of the water enveloped her as she stayed in her orc’s strong arms. The feeling of home once again overwhelmed her as this magical moment shimmered between them.

"I hear it again," he said as he pressed a kiss to her head and took a deep breath, breathing her in.

"Are you ever going to stop smelling me?" she asked with a giggle that seemed to twinkle in the warm air of the bath.

"No. I will never stop," he said as he lowered his hand and took an exaggerated sniff of her neck.

As they laughed, their eyes connected, and the laughing stopped, turning into a heated gaze.

"I still hear it," he said as he leaned in and kissed her. "Have you ever heard of a heartsong?"

She shook her head.

"I’ll have Thavros research it, but I do believe Sirens have them. It is a song that is individual to every siren, and I'm wondering if I can hear yours now that the bond is completed."

"Hopefully you like it," she said as she pressed another kiss to his lips. "Otherwise, you might get sick of me."

His brows drew together, and he gave an irritated huff. "Never. It is not a possibility. Your song, your scent, your taste—they all call to me. You are mine, little mate, and you are mine forever."

And with that, he claimed her mouth, and Calli let him. His hands roamed her body, and before long, they were claiming each other in the bath.

When they were finished in the bath, Khuldruk dried her off and carried her to the bed.

"You know you are going to have to let me walk at some point, right?"

"No," he said simply as he went for the tray of bread and cheese that had been left for them.

He sat next to her on the bed and fed her a piece of cheese.

"I'm so happy you found me, Khuldruk. I feel like I am home for the first time."

His big finger traced her jaw. "I am glad you feel at home on our mountain."

"I do, and I look forward to learning more about your mountain, but it is not the mountain that makes me feel like home."

He gave her an inquisitive look as he kissed her hand and her wrist.

"It's you. You are my home. Wherever we are, I’m at home, as long as you’re with me."

A sound like purring came from his chest as he pressed a kiss to her lips, and she sank into the perfect moment between them.

"You are my home too, little mate."