Epilogue - Sloane

FOUR WEEKS LATER.

I adjust the communicator's holo-projector, making sure Mia can see the entirety of our newly redecorated living room. I haven't tackled the bedroom redesign yet.

"What do you think? Too much?" I ask, gesturing to the Earth-inspired decor I've integrated with Dex's boring orc furnishings.

Mia's holographic form shrugs, but there's a warm smile on her face. "Maybe a little. But you've managed to blend both cultures beautifully. If you love it, Sloane, Dexari must love it, too"

I grin. "He says he does, although I'm pretty sure he's just saying that because I threatened to withhold sex if he didn't."

"You would do that?" Mia asks, surprised.

"Oh, hell no," I clarify. My libido has never been stronger—and Dex is the only one my body craves. "But he doesn't know that."

We both laugh, and I feel so much gratitude for Mia's friendship. It's been invaluable having another human to talk to, especially one who understands the unique challenges of being mated to an alien orc king.

"So," Mia says, her eyes twinkling with mischief, "when are you going to tell Dexari your news? I'm dying to hear about his reaction!"

I bite my lip, excitement and nerves warring in my stomach. "Soon. I want to break it to him in a special way, you know? In a way he'll never forget."

Just then, I hear the door to our quarters open, and Dexari walks in.

"Speak of the devil," I murmur to Mia. "I should go. I'll call you back later with all the details, I promise."

Mia nods. "Good luck!"

Dexari's brow quirks with curiosity. "Break what to me in a special way?" he asks, the deep rumble of his voice sending a delicious shiver down my spine. "Do you have more decorating plans?"

"I do, but that's not it." Time to tell my orc mate the most important news of our lives. I take a deep breath, my eyes already filling with tears. "I went to see Vagan this morning."

"You are crying." Dexari's expression immediately shifts to concern. He steps closer, his large hands gently grasping my shoulders. "Are you ill?"

I shake my head. "No, I'm fine. These are happy tears." I take his hand and place it over my flat belly. "Vagan just confirmed what I suspected. I'm pregnant, Dex. We're going to have a baby."

Dexari stands perfectly still, his eyes wide with shock. Then, a smile brighter than both suns combined spreads across his face. Without warning, he sweeps me into his arms, lifting me off my feet in a crushing embrace.

"Sloane," he murmurs against my hair, his voice thick with emotion. "My love, there are no words, I do not know…"

I wrap my arms around his neck, laughing and crying at the same time. "Just tell me you're happy."

Dexari kisses me senseless, then presses his forehead to mine. "Happy does not begin to describe what I feel," he says softly, though there's a wicked glint in his eyes. "This calls for a celebration!"

With a playful growl, he carries me into the bedroom, since hot sex is our favorite way to celebrate…well, pretty much anything.

"Shouldn't we go tell your parents, or make an announcement first?"

"Celebrate first, make announcements later." He grins as he strips, then makes quick work of undressing me, too. "I intend to show my beautiful, pregnant mate just how much I love and cherish her."

Later, as we lay tangled together in the afterglow, Dexari's hand splays protectively over my abdomen. "I have news to share as well," he says.

"Oh?" I raise an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "What's it about?"

"It is about King Thorzor—the one we call the Brute."

"The Brute?" I tense slightly. News about an orc king called the Brute can't be good. "What about him?"

"I hear he and his guards freed the rest of the human females from the slave traders' ship in the spaceport," Dexari explains. "He has offered them asylum in the kingdom of Zor."

My eyes widen in surprise. "That's great news!" Then I notice the slight grimace on Dexari's face. "There's a catch, though, isn't there?"

He nods. "Before freeing them, he demanded a volunteer to conceive and carry his heir."

I sit up abruptly, shock and anger coursing through me. I don't remember any of the captives on the slaver's ship—I was drugged most of the time, and we were, um, encouraged by an alien cattle prod not to talk to each other. But none of them deserved to be coerced like that.

"He forced one of the women to sacrifice herself for the rest? That's barbaric! No wonder you call him the Brute."

Dexari pulls me back into his arms, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "From what I hear, I do not think there is need to worry for the human female who is called Kat."

I frown up at him. "Why not?"

A mischievous glint appears in Dexari's eyes. "It sounds like she and the Brute have different ideas of what volunteering means, and have not yet agreed on how to proceed."

I blink, processing this information. Then, despite myself, I laugh. "I need to meet her. How far away is Zor?"

"It is far." Dexari pulls me closer. "And Thorzor is not an ally."

I snuggle in for a nap. "All the more reason to plan a trip to check on the women. Maybe we can get Renowlf and Mia to go with us."

His hand drifts back to my stomach, caressing it gently. "I will talk to Renowlf."

I nod, my eyelids already feeling heavy. If Kat is anything like me, the Brute is in for quite a surprise. A smile forms on my lips as I drift off to sleep.

Thank you for reading The Orc King's Bride.