Chapter 9

Effie

I slept that night in Korvak's arms again, warm and safe. I loved it so much I almost ached with it, with the desperate hope this could continue always. I wanted to stay awake and savor the sensation of being cherished and protected…but after he cleaned me, I fell asleep almost immediately.

The next morning, porridge was waiting for me again, and Korvak was working with the horses. Instead of being worried I had offended him, I saw the gesture for what ‘twas: his way of caring for me .

Yesterday had taught me many things. About him. About myself.

I realized I was humming as I cleaned the kitchen area, but didn't stop myself. I was alone, and for the first time in my life, I didn't have to worry about anyone judging me.

Growing up in between worlds, I often helped the servants in the kitchen, because it was a lofty enough position the lord wouldn't think me demeaning myself…although I didn't receive pay the way the servants did. I learned to cook and bake simple dishes, which had served me well enough during these last days in Korvak's home.

I shook my head, wondering what those servants would think when they heard of my abduction. Of John's death. I wondered if I could get word to them—to the keep—next full moon.

And tell them I was safe and happy here.

Wait .

Could I be happy here? With Korvak? I was safe, yes, and I was coming to appreciate the way he took care of me. But was that because he was the first male to treat me as if I was worth safety and security? The first male to treat me with kindness and a loving touch?

I had to wait my whole life to be thought worthy of such pleasure, and it came from a male my family would have called monster .

But Korvak wasn't a monster; he was special. He hadn't taken what I had offered. He had been angered by my story of what had happened to me in the past. He had accepted me—a disruption—into his life just to protect me from his cousin.

My fingers rose to my jaw, to the bruise which had long faded, the soreness gone. When his cousin had hit me for vomiting in terror, I had thought my life was over. I feared I would curl up there in the dirt and allow a male to beat me to death.

But Korvak saved me.

Was that why I felt this way about him?

When we reached the village, would Sorcha and her new Mate return me to Tarbert keep?

Did I want to go?

I moved toward the open window in a thoughtful sort of daze, studying the mountainside—home to the elusive glowworms—and the babbling stream. This place…'twas peaceful. And more than that…

My gaze sought out Korvak who had been putting Mags the mare through her paces in the meadow. But…he was not there.

Placing my hands on the sill, I leaned out the window, stretching my neck from one side to the other, searching for him.

I saw the horses first.

Four of them .

Mags and Kelty, our animals…and two others, belonging to the two figures who were now sitting atop them, speaking with Korvak. He had his hands on his hips, his head tipped back to speak to them.

I couldn't hear what was being said, but that didn't stop the panic from shooting from me. Who were they? What did they want?

My breathing was suddenly too fast, my pulse pounding in my ears. I stumbled away from the window, my hand blindly groping for the open door. Who were they?

I tucked myself behind the door and peered out, trying to see if Korvak was arguing with the newcomers. Oh God, what if they were from Tarbert? What if they were friends of John?

What if they were here to take me back?

Oh God, no .

Korvak

I waved the travelers on their way, happy I could give them the directions they needed to the croft they sought. They were a Mated pair, and the female was large with kit. I wondered if she was having twin males, not uncommon in our world.

But the sight made me…sad, somehow. I'd never hoped for kits, but seeing how protective the male was of his Mate, how solicitous…it made me yearn for something I would never have.

Unless…unless I could convince Effie to stay? Why would she, though?

I was turning back to the cottage, my stomach churning and my heart aching, when I became aware of the pounding of footsteps. I lifted my gaze in time to catch Effie as she hurtled herself against me.

"What is it?" I immediately growled, my senses on high alert, glancing about for the threat. "What is wrong, Effie? Tell me so I can fix it."

"Are they gone?" she mumbled against my chest, her small hands gripping my plaid. "Who were they?"

I glanced over my shoulder, not pausing in my striding toward home. "Aye, they're gone, love, they're gone. They were nae threat." I pulled her away just enough to peek down at her. "Was that yer worry? That they would hurt ye?"

She didn't answer for a moment, then shook her head. "I suppose I should have been worried they would hurt you , but aye, I was being selfish. "

I cuddled her closer. "Ye can never be selfish, Effie. Ye are allowed to worry for yerself. The gods ken ye've had enough reasons."

Settling myself on the bench outside the front door, I checked to ensure the horses had followed, then turned my attention to the woman in my arms.

"What was it ye were afraid of?"

She shook her head, her forehead pressed against my chest.

I rubbed my hand down her spine, a soothing motion. "Tell me, Effie. Please?"

Taking a deep, shuddering breath, she finally straightened. "I was afraid…'twas John. Come to take me back."

My heart stuttered, I swear it did.

"John is dead, love. I killed him because he was threatening ye."

"I know." She turned tear-filled blue eyes my way. "I know . But he hurt me so often, I sometimes am afraid…"

Her meaning was slow to penetrate my mind, but when they did, I sucked in a gasp.

John had been the bastard who'd hurt her.

"He—" Rage overtook my urge to comfort her, my muscles going tight. "Effie, was he the man ye— fook ." My jaw was so tight I could hear it creaking as I tried to confirm what I feared. "Was he the one ye sold yerself to?"

She swallowed, her eyes showing her wariness as her fingers patted and petted my chest. Then she nodded, uncertain.

"Fook ," I hissed, my claws digging into the wool of her gown. " Fook. I wish I'd beat him with my fists. He didnae deserve a quick death."

"Nay, Korvak," she blurted with a shake of her head, still stroking me. "Nay, you are not like that. Do not let the anger consume you."

It took a moment to realize she was comforting me.

And to my surprise, the realization did calm me, likely out of sheer fascination. She was comforting me? She didn't want me to harbor this rage?

I exhaled, gazing down into her wary eyes. "I am sorry, Effie."

Her smile was a little crooked. "You were not the one to hurt me. Nor the one to make me believe I needed John's protection so badly I should…allow the abuse."

Uttering a curse I remembered from my father, I crushed her to me, burying my nose in her hair. "I am sorry I couldnae be there to protect ye when ye needed it. "

There.

That was the truth.

I'm sorry I didnae ken ye then. Didnae meet ye until after ye'd gone through such pain.

"I'm sorry I couldnae save ye."

I felt her smile against the bare skin of my throat. "Oh, Korvak, the past is…passed. I was…" She sighed. "When I saw the visitors, I will admit I became irrationally scared. I feared they were humans, here to take me away."

"Never," I growled, tightening my hold on her. "I'll never let anyone take ye away, never let ye be hurt again."

‘Twas not until I realized she hadn't responded to such a vow that I realized what I had said. The unspoken words she might have heard.

Clearing my throat, I set her away from me, on my lap so I could study her. Had I frightened her? Was that look fear, or consideration, or was she blushing because she wanted that?

"Unless of course…" Torvor's Hammer, how to come back from such a vow? "If ye want to return to the Tarbert keep. If ye dinnae like it here—"

"I do like it here," she confessed in a whisper, her gaze flickering across my face, as if searching for a reaction. "But I know you have to take me to your village in a sennight for the full moon."

I slowly nodded, picking my way through the confession ahead. "Aye. Drakolt, my brother and chief, will publicly claim his Mate on the night of the new moon, the darkest night of the summer. Yer cousin will become his partner and will rule Clan Bladesedge until their son is auld enough to take over."

"Sorcha is not going home."

It wasn't a question, but I nodded. Lifting my fingertip to her cheek, I traced my claw along her jaw. "She has a new home now, love. Kenning my brother, she'll be happy."

Effie leaned into my touch, but her gaze didn't leave my face. "She is Drakolt's Mate. And Drakolt is her Mate. So, they are…married? Nay, you said Mating is more than marriage..."

Gods below, was it finally my time to confess? The rage from moments ago was slowly turning to fear. Fear of rejection. Fear I might hurt her.

With my heart pounding fiercely in my chest, I nodded. Then shook my head.

"To an orc, finding one's Mate is…a knowing . Here." My hand went to my chest, my claws digging into my skin, trying to tear out the horrible uncertainty I'd been living with for the last few days since I suspected the truth. "'Tis part of who we are, our verra nature. Like when we make our Mates climax when we enter them, in order to soothe the way for our fooking. ‘Tis just part of who we are."

Her eyes had widened. "When you penetrate a female, she climaxes?"

Flicking my fingers, I dismissed the question. "'Tis who I am, Effie. Finding a Mate is more than just falling in love and marriage. ‘Tis a certainty, a knowledge, a peace . In my Mate's arms, I am where I belong, and I will spend the rest of my life trying to make myself worthy of her."

"And you…" She shook her head, obviously still not understanding. Or possibly stuck on the little fact I revealed about the way orcs fooked. "Sorcha has found that, and you want that too? Well of course you do—it sounds lovely. Imagine being absolutely certain of your future!" My sweet little human smiled up at me. "I can see that would be something to wish for."

"I dinnae have to wish," I whispered harshly, willing her to understand. I returned my hand to my chest, then moved the fingertips to hers. "I have found my Mate. Ye, Effie. I realized the truth…ye are my Mate, and I am yers."

I held my breath, praying to all the gods she wouldn't reject me.