Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

I 'm in deep trouble.

And not just because I have a beautiful, barely-clothed human woman in my bed whom I've decided is my fated mate. No, the real trouble, or at least the immediate threat, is currently pounding on my front door.

"Red! Open up!" Troth's gruff voice bellows. "We need to talk about that intruder!"

Panic grips me as I peek once more into the bedroom to glance at her prone form on the bed. I hastily pull the blanket up to cover her more fully.

"Don't make a sound," I whisper urgently before rushing to answer the door.

I crack it open just enough to look out at Troth's massive ogre form looming on my doorstep. "Hey there, friend. What brings you by at this late hour?"

Troth's bushy eyebrows furrow. "Don't play coy with me, Red. Word's spreading about a human breaching our borders. You were sent to deal with it. So? How'd it go?"

I force what I hope is a casual chuckle. "Oh, that? All taken care of. Nothing to worry about."

"Really?" Troth crosses his massive arms, clearly skeptical. "Because I heard you carried something back here. Something human-sized."

Damn.

News travels fast in this village. I need to think quick.

"Oh, that was just… uh… some firewood. Yep, big bundle of firewood. Heavy stuff."

Troth's frown deepens. "Firewood. In the middle of summer."

"Well, you know what they say—be prepared!" I cringe internally at how fake my cheeriness sounds.

"Uh-huh." Troth doesn't look convinced. He leans in closer, sniffing the air. "Say, what's that smell? Smells like… human."

My heart pounds. "What? No, that's just… leftover stew. From the other day. Very pungent stuff."

"So you made her into a stew. It that what you are saying?"

"No, what… I…" I stammer. Now he is just messing with me.

"Red." Troth fixes me with a hard stare. "What's really going on here?"

I sigh, shoulders slumping. I've never been good at lying, especially to my friends. "All right, all right. Come in and I'll explain."

As soon as Troth steps inside, his head swivels towards my bedroom. Damn ogre sense of smell. Especially for humans—better than trolls, actually. Before I can stop him, he's marching over to investigate.

"Wait!" I call, hurrying after him. "It's not what you think!"

But it's too late. Troth pushes open the door, and there's Alexandra, still blindfolded in my bed.

For a long moment, Troth just stares. Then he whirls on me, eyes blazing. "By the elder gods, Red! I half suspected, but I didn't really think you would dare. What have you done?"

"Shh!" I hiss, trying to usher him back to the front room. "I can explain!"

"Red?" Alexandra's groggy voice pipes up. "What's going on?"

Oh, no. This is not good.

"Nothing, um, dear!" I call back, wincing at how strained I sound. "Just go back to sleep!"

"Is everything okay?"

"Yes, just fine. Just chatting with a friend."

"Oh, a friend? Good, I was worried. Um, maybe I can meet him? I think my eyes are better now," I hear her call. "I think I can take this blindfold off."

"NO!" I shout, perhaps a bit too forcefully. Troth gives me a bewildered look. I lower my voice. "I mean, no, not yet. Best to keep resting those peepers a bit longer. You hit your head pretty hard."

I turn back to Troth, who's looking at me like I've sprouted a second head.

"Red," he says slowly. "That's the intruder you were supposed to get rid of, isn't she? A human woman? And she's in your bed?"

I nod sheepishly. "Yes, but—"

"Have you lost your mind?" Troth's voice rises, and I frantically shush him. "Do you know what the elders will do when they find out?"

"They won't find out," I insist. "Because you're not going to tell them. Right, old friend?"

His expression softens slightly. "Red, you know I'd never betray you. But this… this is serious. Why in the world did you bring her here?"

I take a deep breath.

Here goes nothing.

"Because she's my mate."

Troth's jaw drops. For a moment, he just gapes at me. Then he bursts out laughing.

"Oh, that's rich!" he guffaws. "Your mate! A human! Good one, Red."

"I'm serious," I growl. "Whatever Tabitha did… well… it must have worked."

His laughter dies as he sees my expression and thinks about what I said.

"Garnuth's Club!" he exclaims in wonder. "But how can she be your mate? Red, she's human."

"I don't know," I admit. "I know nothing of the ways of mates! But I felt it the moment I saw her. She's the one, Troth. I don't know how to explain except that I just know it. I feel it! I'm sure of it."

Troth shakes his head in disbelief. "It must be a coincidence… with Tabitha and whatever that was about. But even if she is your mate—which I highly doubt—she's still human…" Troth trails off. "Wait! Blindfold? She doesn't know what you are, does she?"

I glance guiltily at the bedroom. "Not… exactly."

"Red!" Troth brings his huge hands up to his equally huge head. "What are you thinking? You can't keep that from her! She's going to find out!"

"I know, I know," I sigh. "I'm going to tell her. I just… need to find the right moment."

Troth snorts. "And when will that be? After the wedding?"

I glare at him. "I'll figure it out, all right? For now, I just need to keep her safe until she recovers. Then I'll explain everything."

"And if she rejects you?" Troth asks gently. "Humans aren't exactly known for their tolerance of our kind."

"Tolerance? Are you kidding? They don't even believe we exist anymore to tolerate in the first place!"

"Fair point, and all the more reason to rethink this!"

He's not wrong.

The thought sends a pang through my chest. "Then… I'll deal with that when it happens. But I have to try, Troth. I can't let her go. You don't know what this feels like!"

Troth studies me for a long moment, then sighs heavily. "You're in deep, my friend. I hope you know what you're doing."

"So do I," I mutter.

"Well," he says, clapping me on the shoulder. "I suppose congratulations are in order then. Though I must say, your taste in women is… interesting."

I can't help but grin. "Hey now, don't insult my mate. She's perfect."

Troth chuckles. "If you say so. Though I must admit, her scent is rather… enticing. I can see why you're so smitten."

A growl rumbles in my chest before I can stop it. Troth holds up his hands. "Easy there, big guy. I'm not trying to steal your woman. Just making an observation."

I force myself to relax. "Sorry. I guess I'm feeling a bit… protective."

"Perfectly understandable," he nods. "Now, what are you going to do about the elders? They'll want to know the intruder's been dealt with."

I run a hand through my hair, mind racing. "I'll… tell them I escorted her safely out of our lands. That should buy me some time, at least."

Troth looks skeptical. "And when they want proof?"

"I'll figure something out," I insist. "For now, I just need you to keep this quiet. Please, Troth. As my friend."

He sighs again. "All right, all right. My lips are sealed. But you'd better sort this out quick, Red. You know she can't stay here forever."

"I know," I say softly. "Thank you, friend."

As I show Troth out, he pauses at the door. "She doesn't know where she is, does she? What this place really is?"

I shake my head. "She doesn't know a thing. But I'll tell her everything soon. I promise."

"Good. Because the longer you wait, the harder it'll be." He claps me on the shoulder one last time. "Good luck, Red. You're going to need it."

As I close the door behind him, I lean my forehead against the cool wood.

What have I gotten myself into?