9. Gorthak

9

GORTHAK

" S he knows my name."

I can't shake off the remnants of that dream, as if I've been wide awake all night. The human woman's voice still echoes in my mind, calling out my name. It's bizarre; I've never laid eyes on her before. How the hell does she know who I am?

That crazy orc woman might've been onto something. These dreams, they're more than just dreams. They've got to be visions, sent by some higher power. But why me? And why this human woman?

Could it be possible that she's my mate?

I can't get her out of my head. The way her eyes sparkled with defiance, even in the face of captivity. The way her fiery red hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing her delicate features. And her lips... Gods, those lips. Full and pink, like ripe fruit begging to be tasted.

I remember the way she looked at me, with a mix of fear and curiosity. But there was something else in her gaze, something that made my heart race and my cock twitch. It was desire, pure and unadulterated. I could see it in the way her pupils dilated, in the way her breath hitched when I got close.

And when she said my name... fuck. It was like a jolt of electricity running through my body. The sound of her voice was intoxicating, like a siren's song luring me in. I wanted to hear it again and again, to lose myself in the sweet sound of her calling out to me.

I wanted to free her from that cage, to take her away from that dark and twisted place. I wanted to protect her, to keep her safe from harm. But most of all, I wanted to claim her as my own. To make her mine, in every sense of the word.

The thought of it makes my cock throb with need. I can almost taste her, sweet and tangy like a ripe peach—like I've tasted her before. I want to devour her, to consume her until there's nothing left but the two of us, lost in our own world.

But then again, dreams are just dreams, right? Maybe I'm just losing my mind, listening to the nonsense of a mad woman.

I shake my head, trying to clear the haze, but it's no use. The storm outside is growing fiercer, the wind howling like a pack of starving wolves. I struggle to my feet, my legs unsteady. The boat rocks violently, and I crash into the wall, my battle-axe clattering to the floor. I steady myself, my grip tightening around the handle of my weapon. Whatever this is, I need to figure it out. And fast.

Shoving aside the lingering thoughts of the mysterious woman's words, I dash out of my cabin, my heart thundering in my chest. The deck, slick with rain, forces me to tread carefully as waves batter the boat's sides. My crew, faces ashen with fear, scrambles to secure the lines.

"Gorthak!" Kogan's voice pierces the storm's roar, just barely. "We need you!"

With a curt nod, I concentrate on the task at hand, snatching a rope and pulling with all my might. My muscles strain under the force, but I refuse to relent. The wind's relentless fury tugs at my clothes and sends my dreads whipping into my face. But I can't afford to falter, not when my crew relies on me.

Not when she knows my name.

"All hands! On deck!" I boom, my voice barely audible over the wind's howling. "Tighten those lines! Seal the hatches!"

My crew leaps into action, following my commands with frantic movements. The storm shows no mercy, waves crashing over the boat with a ferocity I've never before witnessed. The rain stings my skin, but I steel myself against it, determined to weather this storm and uncover the truth about the woman who claims to know me.

"Gorthak, we're taking on water!" Kogan's voice cuts through the wind, laced with panic.

My heart pounds like a battering ram against my ribs. I race towards the stern, dreads whipping wildly. Water swirls around my boots as I grab a bucket and start bailing, every muscle straining.

"We need to turn her into the wind!" I bellow, voice barely carrying over the gale. "Brace yourselves!"

My crew fights to spin the wheel, faces twisted with exertion. The boat groans, timbers creaking under the onslaught. But the storm's merciless, waves relentless, and my gut twists with a cold dread only matched by the icy rain stinging my skin.

The wind screeches its fury, hungry to devour this rickety hull that harbors more than my ragtag bunch of misfits. It carries the secret of the woman who insists she's acquainted with my past. And by the gods, I won't let it sink without a battle.

With a nauseating plunge, the boat submerges, hurling me into the frigid embrace of the sea. My breath is ripped away as I wrestle to the surface, lungs begging for a gasp of air.

I plow through the water, muscles protesting, but fueled by a desperate determination I never knew existed. The relentless waves pummel me, threatening to drag me into the watery depths.

As I wrestle against the tempest, a realization strikes me like a bolt of lightning. I do know her name. I've always known it, buried somewhere in the recesses of my memory.

Cassia.