Chapter 4

Shewould welcome his fallen kin-brother into her bed. For ten nights.

Louisa'smouth fell open, the shock roiling through her chest, flashing into her aching skull. He meant — another orc. He had to mean another orc. Right? In her bed? Forten nights?

Andperhaps most alarming of all was that strange, unmistakable twitch, low and heated in Louisa's belly. An orc. In her bed. For ten nights.

Thewatching orc's smirk pulled even higher, as his too-aware eyes flicked down Louisa's front, and… lingered. As if — as if he suspected. Heknew. He —

"Absolutely not," Louisa said, far too late, her hand clutching desperately to her knife-hilt. "I am not about to trade my body — my autonomy, and my freedom — for such a shocking and highly inappropriate proposal! At the behest of a rude, mocking, trespassing orc who broke into my bedroom!"

Hervoice echoed shrilly through the too-small room, ringing with decision, with truth. It was the right response, of course it was, so why was Louisa's stomach plummeting, her throat convulsing. And why was the orc still smiling, cool and smug and dispassionate, as though he wasn't perturbed by this in the least.

"This has naught to do with your autonomy, or your freedom, woman," he replied, with a dismissive shrug. "I shall make no other demands upon you, beyond the camp on your lands, and these ten nights in your bed. And the camp is already there, you ken, whilst" — his black brows rose, his clawed hand waving toward Louisa's ancient four-poster bed — "your bed is now empty, is it not?"

Louisashot a dark look over at her bed — which yes, had been devoid of guests for an excessively long time. Gods knew she'd tried with that cheat LordKaspar, but it had never gone further than kissing and touching, and even that had been fraught, tainted with dark, bitter memories of LordScall…

But— no. No. LordScall was dead. AndLouisa glared ferociously back toward the orc, fighting to wade through his infuriating words, to find some coherent response. "Yes, and you think I don't know what happens to women who welcome orcs into their beds?" she finally demanded. "They soon end up welcoming orcs' sons into their bellies, too!"

Itwas an excellent argument, even if it didn't apply to Louisa herself — but she glared at the orc with ever-deepening suspicion, waiting for his answer. Was this all some devious ploy to get his kin-brother a son, without needing to bother with courting a woman, or caring for her? Just like Rikard wanted, too?

Butthe orc still looked entirely unconcerned, and gave a careless wave of his dagger. "Naught to fear, woman," he said. "My kin-brother cannot now beget sons, and I can prove this to you, should you wish. Your nights with him shall only be for pleasure, for you both."

Louisa'sheart skipped, her breath frozen in her throat. His kin-brother couldn't have children, either? So it really would be… only for pleasure? Pleasure. With an orc. Forten nights.

"My kin-brother shall not harm nor mistreat you," the orc continued, spinning his dagger in his fingers. "He is also a big, strong, hearty warrior, and his face and form are pleasing to the eye. And" — another spin of the dagger, a higher arch of his black brows toward Louisa — "he bears one of the biggest pricks in our mountain, ach? This shall grant you great joy, I ken."

Morestrange, hurtling heat was simmering in Louisa's belly, and her affronted scoff back toward the orc felt too flat, too late. She didn't care about such things. Shedidn't. Many women considered LordRikard a strong, athletic, attractive man, when in truth he was the most odious little cretin in existence, and…

Abig, strong, well-endowed orc warrior. In her bed. Touching her. Tasting her. Pleasing her…

No. No. Louisa squeezed her eyes shut and silently cursed herself, cursed this invading orc, this entire appalling situation. It made no sense, it had no point, it had to be some kind of nefarious orc trick, right? Right?

"If your kin-brother is such a stunning catch," Louisa finally said, glaring back at the orc again, "then why are you here, making his proposals for him? Why can't he come and ask me himself? And why isn't he already settled with some other happy woman instead?"

Shefully expected the orc to answer with more dismissal, more flippant nonchalance — so she was surprised to see his gaze dropping, as something tightened on his mouth. "He has not been… himself, of late," he replied, slower than before. "He has faced and fostered deep darkness, some of it his own making, much of it not. He now seeks in earnest to make amends for his failings, and to regain his place in our clan, but…"

Hisvoice trailed off, his eyes now fixed to his dagger, to his claw scraping down the blade's sharp edge. "But amidst this," he continued, "He has… wilted. Faded. Become wounded and hollow and disgraced. In years past, he would oft laugh and command and play, and draw his kin to his side. But now" — he jerked a shrug — "he is quiet. Fearful. Alone. With no hope, and no peace."

Louisa'sstomach dropped, her throat spasming with something damnably like sympathy, like… commiseration. But no, no, damn it, she didn't care about this downtrodden orc, about this ludicrous offer, or…

"Thus, he would not come to you himself," the orc continued, as his flinty gaze snapped back to Louisa's face. "ButI ken having a woman in his bed again shall bring him deep joy. He was happiest, when he once had this — but it has been many, many summers now, and I wish to help him regain this. Not only for his sake, but for… our son's."

Wait. Theirson's? They already had a son? But yes, yes, the orc's voice had slightly softened as he'd said it, and his eyes had softened, too. Looking almost… warm, or even affectionate. And it seemed to change his entire face, somehow, turning it from something hard and cold and forbidding into something… handsome. Appealing.

Toolate, Louisa shook herself all over, and fought for air, for the next logical response. "What do you mean, you have a son?" she managed. "I thought you said you and this other orc were brothers?"

Theorc huffed a short laugh, and shook his head. "Ach, we are kin-brothers," he said, clipped. "We are both from the Skai clan. But there is no blood shared between us, and our son is not our blood, either. You shall not even need to meet him, ach?"

Louisablinked at the orc for another blank, bewildered moment, digesting all that. He wasn't related to his brother, to the co-parent of his son? And their son wasn't related to either of them?

Butthe orc's gaze on her sharpened again, as if daring her to challenge the validity of his chosen family. And no, no, Louisa wasn't going to question that, but…

"So are you two… a couple, then?" she tentatively asked. "You and your… kin-brother?"

Adistant part of her whirling brain vaguely recalled hearing that relationships between males were common among orcs — but wait. If this orc was in a committed partnership with his kin-brother, surely he wouldn't be going around seeking out strange women to share his partner's bed?

Butthe orc's eyes flicked past hers, subtle but intentional, as his jaw tightened in his cheek. "Ach, he and I take pleasure together, when we wish," he said coolly, "but we have sworn no vows of matehood or fidelity to one another. I take as many others to my bed as I please, and he is free to do the same."

Oh. It seemed an unusual arrangement, and one that Louisa would personally struggle to bear — but then again, many humans of her acquaintance carried on with such arrangements too, didn't they? And at least this orc was openly telling her about it, as opposed to lying and sneaking about, the way her foul lord husband had. The way LordRikard certainly would, too.

"And you really think," Louisa croaked, and she wasn't saying this, she wasn't, "your kin-brother would want — me. I mean" — she waved an erratic hand at her torn, shabby nightdress — "I mean, I'm poor and widowed, I'm not that young anymore, I look like —"

Shewinced and belatedly clamped her cursed mouth shut, because she didn't care what this orc thought of her, she didn't… right? But the words just kept hanging there, betraying her, making her small and ashamed, and the orc —

Theorc scoffed. Rolled his eyes. And then he again took his time looking at her, leisurely sweeping his glinting eyes down, and up, and down again. "You humans," he said, heavy with derision. "You ken I did not scent you, or look at you, before I came? You ken I would not seek out the best, comeliest woman I could find for my kin-brother? The one most suited to help him, and please him, and bring him joy?"

Wait. Really? This orc had intentionally sought Louisa out? On purpose? For this? And he thought she was — comely?

ButLouisa was already frowning back at him, shaking her head, because there was no way. Absolutely none. Not when there was a lovely girl like Elise just downstairs. Not when there were countless other untouched, unencumbered, sweet-tempered women populating the realm, without scars and grey hair and holes in their dresses. And, more importantly, without raging, orc-hating lord neighbours.

Butthe orc just rolled his eyes again, even more impatient than before. "My kin-brother has now seen forty summers," he said flatly, "and as I have said, he has seen and sown much darkness, in all those days. You ken I wish to bring him some delicate, untested flower that he shall crush underfoot, before he has even followed what he has done? You ken I wish to grant him more regret and grief, more to fear and fret over? More weight to bear? Ach, and this is if" — his lip curled — "this woman should even speak to us, and agree to this, without running off and screeching in fear of him? Ofme?"

Louisa'sthoughts again darted toward Elise, toward how she would have reacted when faced with an orc in her bedroom — while the orc's mouth pulled into a grim little smile, his eyes chilly and triumphant. "But you," he said, with a careless wave of his dagger toward her. "You do not run in fear of me. You hear me. You speak to me. And you have done this in times past, also, when my kin came to you for help."

Louisa'sunhelpful brain was now dredging up memories of all the ways she'd helped that sweet girl Rosa, up to and including being locked in a library's tiny back room with an orc. He'd been huge and highly intimidating, frowning and towering over her — but when Louisa had gathered her courage and introduced herself, he'd given her a careful, kind smile in return.I am Simon, he'd told her, in a deep, rich voice that had rumbled in her belly. OfClanSkai.

Andwait, this new orc had said he was from the Skai clan too, hadn't he? And he was again circling his dagger toward her, his eyes speculative, his mouth pursed. "And now, for all these past moons," he continued, "you have allowed my kin to live on your land. You have seen the gain in this, in how it has helped you care for your own kin — and thus, you have made this trade. And you have made it without sulking or weeping, or casting demands or blame upon us."

Louisaattempted a dismissive shrug — she'd only done what any responsible person would have done in her place — but the orc was already speaking again, smooth and certain. "You have shown yourself to be a shrewd, strong, steady woman. You have borne much, but you have not buckled beneath its weight, nor abandoned those in your care. And this" — his circling dagger-blade jabbed a little toward her — "this is what I wish for. This is what any Skai should wish for. In his life, and in his bed."

What any Skai should wish for. It was a bizarre statement, an impossible claim, and it rang through Louisa's thoughts with strange, dizzying strength. Because — no. No. This orc didn't think this. No one thought this. A shrewd, strong, steady woman. This is what I wish for…

Andas those words kept ringing, Louisa's gaze seemed caught, frozen, on the orc. On the quick glittering watchfulness of his eyes. On the way his long lashes slightly lowered as he looked back toward her. On how his throat bobbed, brief but unmistakable, and a sliver of a glistening black tongue brushed against his lips. As if inviting her to look at it, at him.

Andyes, yes, Louisa was looking. Looking at the orc's tall, fluid, relaxed body, at his deft, long-fingered hand on his dagger. At the scarred silver skin of his arms and shoulders, at all the hard lean muscle beneath…

Andthen at his bare, exposed chest. The deep grey nipples, the ridges of his abdomen, the taut navel, the sharp cut of his hips above his shabby, low-slung trousers. And that distinctive line of black hair, leading down toward his groin, toward where those trousers now betrayed a… a bulge. A shocking, highly obvious bulge, one that seemed to swell even larger the longer Louisa looked at it…

He and I take pleasure together, as we wish. I take as many others to my bed as I please…

Andfor another startling, frozen instant, Louisa could almost see it, bright and alarmingly vivid behind her eyes. This orc coolly, carelessly taking his pleasure, tossing out easy commands, wielding his lean, supple body to gain whatever — or whoever — he pleased. And that was not — not — longing, or even jealousy, curling up deep in Louisa's belly, no, no, no —

Whenin a sudden movement, the orc's body stiffened all over, too. Its relaxed languidness snapping into cold sharp distance, as he again jabbed his dagger in Louisa's direction, far harsher than before.

"But you ken, woman," he hissed, "Ihave no wish for you. I only wish for you for him. And once this is done, I shall have naught more to do with it. Or with you!"

Itwas as though he'd hurled that dagger straight toward her, its sharpened end plunging deep into her gut — and Louisa had to drag for air, shaking her head, digging her palms painfully into her eyes. No. No. She didn't care. Shedidn't. This orc had broken into her house, he kept waving a weapon at her, making proposals that she did not want or need whatsoever…

"But would you keep taking pleasure with him?" her rasping, treacherous voice demanded, all on its own. "Your kin-brother? During his ten nights with me?"

Sheglared at the orc again, blinking back the damnable stinging behind her eyes — and she was viciously satisfied by how he betrayed a faint flinch, his eyes narrowing toward her. Because no, clearly he didn't want to be kept from his own enjoyments either, did he? He is a big, strong, hearty warrior. His face and form are pleasing to the eye. He bears one of the biggest pricks in our mountain…

"Then no," Louisa snapped, because maybe she just needed to strike back at him, to hit him where it hurt, just like he'd done to her. "IfI'm sharing my bed with an orc, he's most certainly not sharing his bed with anyone else during that time, especially you. As if I have any desire to contract some sort of debilitating orc-pox, due to my bedmate being highly injudicious with his partners!"

Hervoice scraped out between them, cold and contemptuous, and the orc's glower deepened, glittering with a dark, malicious dislike. While his long fingers hungrily caressed at his dagger, as if he indeed longed for nothing more than to hurl it into Louisa's belly, and watch her weep and scream upon it.

ButLouisa kept frowning back toward him, unflinching, demanding. Until finally — finally — the orc looked away first, his mouth and jaw very tight.

"Ach, then," he replied, clipped. "He shall touch no other, whilst he shares your bed for these ten nights. Are we agreed, then? You wish to do this?"

Wait. Wait. No, they weren't agreed, hell no Louisa didn't want to do this — right? Right?

"Then here is a list of our terms for the camp, and our offer of payment," the orc flatly continued, as he produced a folded square of paper from his trousers, and tossed it onto her desk. "And mayhap I shall add my own terms to this, also. First, you shall not speak to him of his past, or ask him of this. You shall not bring him guilt or shame for what is done, and what cannot now be undone. Ach?"

Louisamight have nodded, even as she winced — was she really doing this? — and the orc rose to his feet, and reached into a little pouch she hadn't noticed before, hanging off his belt. "And second," he added, sharper than before, "you shall prove to me that you can please him. That you can bear this."

Hethrust out something toward her, something long and thick and cylindrical. Something rather the size and shape of a — a rolling pin, perhaps, but with a wide flare at one end, and the other tapering to a blunt, rounded bulb. But unlike a rolling pin, it appeared to be carved entirely of grey stone, and it was polished to a smooth, glossy shine…

Andeven as Louisa reflexively reached to take it, gripping the cool heavy stone in her hand, her suspicion was rapidly rising. No. No, this couldn't be what she thought it was, he wouldn't dare…

"What the hell is this?" she demanded, but curse it, she already knew. And the devious bastard only smirked at her again, and even reached down to circle his fingers around the massive girth of it. His long claws scarcely touching on either side as he gave a slow, suggestive stroke up and down, easy and familiar, as if this was something he'd done a hundred times before.

"Ach, I wonder what it could be," he drawled at her, all smug slippery satisfaction. "A loaf of bread, mayhap. Or a shoe?"

Louisaglared at him, at his smoothly stroking hand, at his cruel vicious smile. "It is just the shape and size of his prick," he hissed. "And if you prove you can swallow this within you" — his brows arched up — "then we shall go forth with our vow. Butonly then, ach?"

Wait. Wait. They weren't — really making a vow, right? Louisa hadn't agreed to anything, had she? And this orc wasn't actually leaving this monstrosity here with her?!

Buthe was already spinning away from her, and striding toward the window. "It is newly made, so you need not fear any orc-pox upon it," he said over his shoulder, his voice flat and cold again. "AndI shall come back tomorrow eve to gain your proof of this, and hear your answer."

What? Louisa gaped at him, and then down at the shockingly large stone still in her hand — but wait, the orc was thrusting up the window's sash, and casting a brief, surveying glance down beyond it. As if he was going to jump, gods curse it, and they were all the way up in the attic, and —

"Wait!" Louisa gasped, flailing her hands toward him. "Wait, orc!"

Andto her surprise, the orc… hesitated. His body stilling, his shoulders hunching, as he glanced backwards over his shoulder. And for a brief, breathless moment, Louisa was again caught to stillness, held in the strange, glittering misery of his gaze.

Becausemaybe… maybe he hadn't wanted to do this. Maybe he regretted this. Maybe he wanted to keep his kin-brother — his son's other father — all to himself, in whatever unconventional relationship they already had. The relationship that he clearly felt wasn't… enough.

"Andyou really want this?" Louisa choked, and that wasn't at all what she'd meant to say, was it? "You really want to… give up your partner, like this?"

Theorc's mouth betrayed a faint grimace, but suddenly the dislike was there again, snapping across his eyes. "Ach, no, woman," he said, his voice laced with snide, bitter sarcasm. "I only came here and made you this offer on a merry little lark, you ken. What deep joy it has been, to dangle the gift of my best, most steadfast Skai brother before a thankless human! Only to have her sneer at my gift, and claim he shall grant her orc-pox!"

Louisawinced, even as she shook her head, drew down a ragged, bracing breath. "Look, orc, you cannot possibly blame me for being wary of you!" she shot back. "I'm already in a — a highly precarious position, and you broke into my house, waved around your weapon, and made me this shocking offer, when I know absolutely nothing about you! I don't even know your name! Or the name of the orc you want me to go to bed with — though I suppose I at least know what he has down his trousers!"

Shebrandished her heavy stone — replica — out toward the orc, and she couldn't at all read his eyes as he gazed back, his mouth still very thin. But then his shoulders slumped, and his head tilted up and back, his eyes fluttering closed. Almost as if he were sending up a prayer, begging his gods for patience, for peace…

"I am Killik," he finally replied, without looking at her. "And my kin-brother is Ulfarr. TheWolf of the Skai."

TheWolf of the Skai. The words seemed to hang there, heavy with strange, unspoken meaning — but before Louisa could speak another word, the orc ducked out through the window, and disappeared into the night.