Chapter 54

Marryhim. Marry him. Marry him.

Somethingswayed and swooped in Louisa's chest, while a sudden shrill whine blared through her skull. Ulfarr wanted to marry her. Tomarry her?!

Shecouldn't stop gaping at him, at where he was still kneeling before her, looking at her like that, with such soft, reverent hope glimmering in his eyes. WhileLouisa's brain just kept spinning, shouting louder and louder. He wanted to marry her.

"But — why?" she finally asked, numb, into the sudden, waiting silence. "Why — marriage? You've spoken so often of — of mates, so I thought —"

Andoh, gods, what had she thought? What had she hoped? ThatUlfarr would ask her to be his mate, perhaps, her and Killik both — and no, no, she hadn't once thought of marriage. Of going through with another wedding, risking another disaster like LordScall. LordScall was dead…

"Ach, matehood is most oft the orc way of this," cut in Killik's voice, snapping Louisa's blinking eyes toward him. "But many orcs choose to wed their human mates, also. And if you and Wolf wed" — his eyes glittered, strange and intent — "this will better help you. Better keep you safe."

Itwould? Louisa kept staring at Killik, uncomprehending, and he nodded back, his mouth set. "If you have a husband," he said, "then by your human laws, he shall be seen as the owner of this land, not you. And thus, any attacks against you would then be turned toward him. You should never need to fear this Rikard again, or face his threats or strikes against you. Ever."

Louisa'sheartbeat skipped — he didn't want her to face Rikard, to fear Rikard? AndKillik nodded again, his eyes grim and glinting on her face. "This man has been hunting you for many days now," he said, quieter. "Seeking to bring you harm. And we should far rather he seek to hunt Wolf instead, ach?"

Louisaswallowed, and darted a look at Ulfarr — who firmly nodded as he rose to his feet again, his hand still clasping hers. As if he truly wanted this. Wanted to take on this risk for her. Wanted to marry her. But gods, why hadn't they told her this, was Rikard truly hunting her, they wanted her to escape Rikard, to forget…

"And also," Killik continued, snapping her gaze back to his face, "if you and Wolf wed, you then have surety for your sisters and their younglings. You have no more need to fear what might befall them, or their home, if aught ever befalls you. For you ken we should care for them, always, on your behalf."

Oh. Oh, gods. So it was also about the — the inheritance. The property. The house. About how by marrying her, Ulfarr would replace Rikard as Louisa's heir. And how that would make sure Louisa's kin were taken care of, if anything ever happened to her.

Andwait. Surely — Louisa rapidly searched Killik's eyes — surely it was about the camp, too. About ensuring the camp could stay here, on her lands, no matter what. EnsuringKillik and Ulfarr's own kin were cared for, too.

Andwhile a distant part of Louisa's brain could see the logic of all this — and could even appreciate the neat, obvious solution in it — the rest of her was still stuck, staggering, shrieking. They wanted to get married. They wanted her to offer up her land and her safety and her life, after she'd sworn never to put herself at such risk again, after all the hell LordScall had put her through. But no, no, LordScall was dead…

"And — you want that?" Louisa croaked, toward Ulfarr's flushed, watching face. "You really want to — get married? Tome?"

Becauseyes, yes, that was a rising whispering hope, wasn't it? MaybeUlfarr didn't really want it, maybe this was just Killik pushing him into it, maybe —

ButUlfarr's eyes just kept shimmering like that on hers, and he brought her hand to his mouth, gave it a soft, gentle kiss. "I should be most honoured, Louisa," he whispered, hoarse. "AndI should swear to honour you in return, and uphold your wishes, for always. And the payment we have been gathering for you shall yet be only yours, however you wish for this."

Thepayment they'd been gathering? Wait, did they not even have it yet? And it all just kept catching, spasming in Louisa's gut, swift and dark and painful, because that was just what LordScall had done too, wasn't it? Just what he'd promised? Marry him, and he would care for her, honour her, support her. But it had all been a lie, it had been for the dowry, for the coin he'd so desperately needed from her father, for the fool war he kept fighting, for the orcs he wanted to kill. For the sons he expected her to give him…

Louisatwitched, jolted, bit her lip, hard. No. No. LordScall was dead. Dead.

Butthe terror was still there, jostling and churning far too close, and her wild eyes searched, and found… Killik. Killik, still standing here watching this, now with his fists and jaw clenched tight. His eyes shifting, his head slowly tilting as he studied her…

"But what," Louisa somehow gasped, and yes, this was something solid, something else she could cling to, please. "But what about — Killik?"

Therewas more ringing, dangling silence, and now Ulfarr's eyes darted to Killik, too. Looking him up and down, as his brow slowly furrowed, and his head tilted, too. "Killik wishes for this, also," Ulfarr said, though his voice wavered. "Ach, Killik?"

Killik'snod was too smooth, too quick, his smile too cool and practiced on his mouth. "Ach, I do," he said lightly. "I have always wished to see you settled and happy with a good woman, Wolf. And now I have granted you this, to all our gain."

Granted you this, to all our gain.So easy, so generous and dismissive, and dredging up such sharp, painful bitterness in Louisa's gut. Granted you this, he'd said. You. Meaning… Ulfarr. Not… not himself.

AndKillik even had the audacity to reach toward Louisa, to gently caress his hand against her cheek. To make her look at him, so he could smile at her, and sway her, and say…

"Breathe, woman," he murmured. "You have naught to fear from this. You and Wolf shall find much joy and peace together, and you shall be good, strong leaders to our camp, and good parents to our son. I have oft tested you these past weeks, and you have proven yourself to me as a strong, fierce, faithful, worthy woman, ach?"

I have oft tested you. You have proven yourself to me. It swerved and juddered in Louisa's chest, snapped her to staggering stillness. Because — because yes, she should be rejoicing that she'd finally proven it, she'd shown him, she'd gained his approval, his permission…

ButKillik was still talking about them. AboutLouisa and Ulfarr, apart, separate from him. Right? And he'd even fucking brought Sune into it, and that truth jolted deeper, harsher. DidKillik really think he could just hand Sune over to Louisa, did he really still think — was he really still planning to — to —

"And," Killik continued, so soft, he was still talking, still touching her, damn him, damn him. "And mayhap soon, you and Wolf shall also welcome a son of your own, also."

Ason of their own. Louisa startled, stared, but Killik just kept talking, kept smiling. "A good, strong Skai son," he said, lower. "A son of Wolf's own blood, and yours. A son who shall know only safety, and peace."

Ason. A son. A son.

Andit was that, finally, that sliced through all the wailing mayhem clamouring in Louisa's skull. And escaped in a shrill, grating laugh, echoing cold and empty through the trees. A son, a son, a son…

"No," she hissed, at Killik's lying, lying face. "No. I can't."