Chapter 22

22

THORAK

T he door creaks as I enter my stone cottage, my mind alight with thoughts of Mariah. The softness of her skin, and of her sweet lips. The way she moaned my name when I was deep inside her. I can hardly wait to get back to the inn tonight and learn every way to make her come undone beneath me.

But as I walk through my home, my fantasies slowly dissipate as I realize something's off. It's too quiet.

"Snuffles?" I call out. Silence. No patter of hooves, no eager snorting.

Panic rises as I rush from room to room, searching for any sign of my beloved boar. He's nowhere to be found. I groan, a sinking sensation in my gut.

Ygra. It has to be her.

When we broke things off, we fought bitterly over custody of Snuffles. He is and was my boar, my beloved pet even before I knew Ygra, but she insisted that because of our time together Snuffles was as much hers as mine.

She must have taken him while I was at work.

Jaw clenched, I grab my phone and angrily punch in her number. She picks up on the second ring.

"Where are you and where is my boar?" I demand, not even trying to hide the snarl in my voice.

"Thorak," Ygra says calmly. "Snuffles is with me, and he's fine. Relax."

Her calm voice only makes me angrier. "Where are you right this moment?" I grit out, feeling my lips pulling back into a growl.

Ygra sighs. "Meet me at our old spot, the glade by the stream. I'll explain everything there."

I bristle with irritation. "Fine. I'll be there soon."

Ending the call, I stuff the phone in my pocket and storm out. Ygra better have a damn good explanation for this.

Sunlight filters through the rustling leaves overhead as I make my way through the forest toward the familiar grove. The gentle babbling of the brook reaches my ears and my heart clenches at the sound, memories flooding back.

Ygra and I spent countless hours here when we were together—talking, laughing, making love on the mossy banks. Back when things were good between us, before it all turned sour.

It's no mere coincidence that she's led me to this place.

I emerge into the sun-dappled clearing to find Ygra perched on a fallen log, Snuffles curled up beside her. Relief crashes through me at the sight of him safe and sound.

But seeing him with her...my relief mixes with anger at her audacity.

"Thorak," Ygra says softly, unshed tears shimmering in her steely eyes as she rises to greet me. "Thank you for coming."

I cross my arms. "You didn't give me much choice. What's this about, Ygra? Why'd you take Snuffles?"

She takes a shaky breath. "I wanted to apologize. For everything."

My brow furrows but I stay silent, letting her continue.

"I know I messed up what we had. I pushed you too hard, trying to change you into something you're not," Ygra admits, voice thick with emotion. "But look at you now. You've built something incredible with the brewery, all on your own terms. You've proven me so wrong and I couldn't be more proud."

Her words wash over me, anger slowly ebbing away. I sigh heavily.

"I appreciate you saying that. Truly. But Ygra...you can't just barge into my house and take Snuffles whenever you want. We're not together anymore. It's not appropriate."

Ygra nods, face reddening. "I know. I'm sorry, it won't happen again. I just...I miss you, Thorak. Miss us. Don't you ever wonder...what would happen if we gave this a second chance?"

She steps closer, an imploring look in her eyes. I take a deep breath.

"Ygra," I say gently, choosing my words with care. "The past is the past. What we had was meaningful, and I'll always be glad for the time we shared together, but things have changed, and I've moved on. Truly moved on. And I think it's time you do the same."

I try to soften the blow, to let her down easy. The last thing I want is to hurt her more than I already have. But she needs to understand that there's no going back, needs to stop interfering with my life, showing up unannounced.

Ygra's face crumples and for a moment, I feel a pang of sympathy. It can't be easy, seeing me thriving without her, building a life that doesn't include her.

As I'm about to reach for her hand, a glint of metal catches my eye. I freeze, zeroing in on Ygra's hand.

No. It can't be.

There on her finger sits my family's heirloom engagement ring, the very one passed down for generations. The one my father gave my mother when he proposed.

The one my mother always told me was meant for my future wife, whoever she may be.

"What the fuck, Ygra?" I demand, anger reigniting in an instant. "Where did you get that ring?"

Ygra at least has the decency to look sheepish. "Your mother gave it to me. She believes we belong together, that I'm the right woman for you."

I see red. The audacity, the nerve, the utter disrespect?—

"She had no right!" I bellow, startling Snuffles. "No fucking right to give that to you. To interfere in my life like this!"

Ygra crosses her arms defiantly. "She's not the only one who thinks we should be together. Why do you think I've been walking Snuffles around town, wearing this ring? People support us, Thorak. They know we're meant to be. Even that little human girl helping you out at the brewery basically said as much."

My blood runs cold. Mariah. Oh no. If Ygra's been flaunting that ring around Elderberry Falls, if she's talked to Mariah...

I have to find her. Have to explain. Before it's too late.

I whistle for Snuffles, who eagerly trots to my side. "This conversation is over," I growl at Ygra. "Bring that ring back to my mother and don't ever let me catch you wearing it again. We're done, Ygra. You need to accept that, and move on."

Without waiting for a reply, I turn on my heel and sprint back toward town, Snuffles bounding alongside me. Please, let me have time to make this right...

There was no sign of Mariah at the inn; Laurelle said Mariah had taken the afternoon off and was out meeting a friend. The bustling town square comes into view and my eyes dart frantically, trying to figure out where she might be.

I duck into the coffeeshop, the bookstore, searching for any sign of her.

There! As I leave the bookstore, I spot her chestnut waves across the square. Relief floods through me as I push my way through the throng of people outside enjoying the fine day, Snuffles close at my heels.

"Mariah!" I call out, my voice nearly drowned by the chatter and noise.

She turns, her green eyes widening as they meet mine. But instead of the warmth and affection I've grown accustomed to, they blaze with hurt and fury.

My steps falter. I haven't seen her like this in years.

Even back then, even when I was at my worst…I don't think I've ever seen her level me with such a hate-filled glare.

"Thorak." Her tone is sharp as a blade. She stands rigid, arms crossed tight over her chest. "Come to make a fool of me in front of the whole town, have you?"

"What? No, I?—"

"Save it," she snaps, her words laced with venom. "I don't want to hear your excuses. I saw Ygra's ring. Your family's ring. I know you two are back together."

Murmurs ripple through the growing crowd of onlookers. My face burns with shame and frustration.

"It's not what you think," I plead, reaching for her. She jerks away from my touch as if burned. "My mother gave Ygra that ring without my knowledge. I had no idea until today. You have to believe me, Mariah. There's nothing between Ygra and me anymore."

"Funny, that's not what everyone's saying." Her voice trembles, and unshed tears glisten in her eyes. "They're all talking about your big reunion. About how perfect you two are for each other. Everybody but me knew what was going on. And like an idiot, I fell for your act. Fell for you."

Each word cuts to the quick. "It wasn't an act," I rasp. "It's real, Mariah. More real than anything."

She laughs, but there's no humor in it. Only pain. "You really had me going, didn't you? The changed man. The kind, sweet orc who saw past my humanity." Her voice breaks. "But it was all a lie. A ploy to win your investor's approval."

"No, I?—"

"Well, we can stop pretending now!" she cries, tears spilling down her cheeks. Mariah wrenches the emerald ring I gave her off of her finger, and tosses it at my feet. "The deal's off. We're off. I won't be your little prop anymore for this twisted show we're putting on for Kingsley. Go be with your gorgeous giantess bride and leave me alone."

She turns to flee and panic seizes me. I lunge forward, grasping her wrist. "Mariah, wait?—"

"Let me go!" She wrenches free of my grip, green eyes blazing. "I mean it, Thorak. We're done. I never want to see you again!"

As we stare at each other, another figure steps forward—Robert.

Oh no. It's clear he has overheard everything. His eyes narrow as he looks first at Mariah and then me, and he shakes his head, disbelieving.

"I knew something was off about this, I just knew it," he says, more to himself than to either of us. Mariah looks away, folding her arms across her chest.

"Robert, wait—" I start, but he cuts me off.

"No. I'm done. The deal is off, obviously. I will not be investing in your brewery. This has all been an enormous waste of my time."

The condemnation in his eyes hits me like a sword. Blood drains from my face, as I stand rooted to the spot, helpless as all my dreams fall apart.

Robert shakes his head again, derisively. "I should have known not to trust an orc."

He pivots on his foot and marches away before I can say a word in my defense. My gaze snaps back to Mariah, and I catch her eye for a long moment before she too turns and disappears into the crowd.

I stand paralyzed, as if staying still will stop time, give me a chance to make things right. Somehow fix this mess with Robert and the brewery. Somehow mend this rift with Mariah.

She's gone. And it's all my fault.

Desolation crashes over me in waves. What have I done? How could I let things spiral so far out of control?

Snuffles nudges my leg with a concerned snort, but I barely sense it. All I feel is the void opening up inside me, a black hole where my heart used to be.

I stoop to pick up Snuffles, and he huffs and settles into my arms. His warmth against my chest is a tiny comfort. I look down at him as he gazes up at me with soulful eyes.

"What just happened?" I whisper, my voice cracking with emotion.

In the blink of an eye, the entire future I've imagined for myself is…gone.