Page 23 of Enchanted with the Orc (The Kingverse Orcs #4)

Enka

I ’ m exhausted.

I’d trained to be a warrior. I’d survived in the leanest, most difficult situations. But this playroom with this many younglings was killing me.

I lifted what felt like the seven hundred and fifth child into the air, swinging them in an arc over my head while they laughed raucously. I looked down at the line that was still going strong in front of me.

Fuck me.

“Alright,” Tasia said, coming over and folding her arms under her ample chest—accentuating a pair of breasts that held me in a thrall. “It’s time for cake! Let’s leave Enka alone and all get a spot at the table.”

The collective groan was loud in the room, but I sagged with relief, sending a grateful smile in her direction. She winked at me—something I’d never thought I would ever see in my lifetime—before leading the younglings toward the tables near the door.

They were laden with food and the younglings hit them like a pack of wild locusts, giggling, screaming as they did.

I was making my way over when a little hand took mine.

I looked down to see Gabbi walking alongside me, completely nonchalant about the fact that her tiny hand only wrapped around one of my fingers.

“Blow out the candles with me, Abu,” she demanded, and I nodded, struggling to clear my throat so I could speak through the rush of emotions that filled me.

“Of course,” I told her, charmed and humbled that she was making me such a big part of her day.

At the head of the table was a huge cake of her favorite cartoon—that we watched together. Her scream when she spotted the cake was drowned out by the noise of all the other younglings.

She dropped my finger, lifting her arms for me to lift her instead. I did, ensuring she was secure and comfortable before turning back to the table. Tasia stood next to the cake, a smile lighting up her gorgeous face.

“Happy birthday, Gabbi-girl,” she whispered, for our ears alone, leaning in to press a kiss to our daughter’s cheek.

I lowered her so she had access and Gabbi threw her arm around her mother’s neck and then mine, yanking us close so that we were all pressed together.

I found myself face to face with Tasia, our breaths mingling and our gazes locked .

“Hey,” I whispered, my brain misfiring. I couldn’t think of a single thing that I wanted more than to stay here—right in this position—surrounded by my two females for the rest of my life.

“Kiss her, Abu,” Gabbi insisted, shoving us even harder together.

Since when did she get so strong?

“I don’t think your mommy wants that,” I chuckled, knowing she was probably uncomfortable.

“She does!” Gabbi said with a frown, shoving her face and planting a loud kiss on her mother’s lips. “See? Mommy loves being kissed.”

It took us a moment but it wasn’t long before both Tasia and I fell into laughter. Gabbi frowned at us, pushing at our necks even harder and I searched Tasia’s gaze, waiting for consent. When she nodded, I leaned in, pressing my lips gently against hers.

It didn’t last longer than a few seconds, but when I pulled away from the innocent kiss, I was breathless. Clearing my throat, I settled Gabbi back against my chest, ignoring the smug grin she had across her face.

Our daughter’s matchmaking.

“Are you ready for those candles?” Tasia asked, unable to look at me. She was nibbling on her lower lip and it was everything I could do to not crow to the ceiling. The scent of her arousal was strong in my nose.

She wants me.

“Yes!” our daughter chirped in my arms, vibrating with excitement as Tasia lit the candles. The distracted younglings around the table all turned to face us, cheering with excitement.

“Blow them out, Gabbi!” the little centaur cried and I scowled as Tasia smothered a laugh.

I angled her lower and she leaned forward without hesitation, trusting me completely to keep her balanced.

I did, but Tasia had to pull Gabbi’s braids back before they splattered into the cake.

She sent me an amused look and I wasn’t sure when I would get used to it—the shared intimacy that was growing between us, joining us together—but I hoped I never did.

“Make a wish,” she gasped, before Gabbi blew on the candles and she shook her little head.

“Nope! I got my wish already. I got a daddy.” And with that pronouncement, that shocked both Tasia and I into silence, our jaws falling open, she blew on her candles and then shoved her hand into the cake, turning to face Tasia. “Taste, Mommy!”

She took advantage of her parted lips and shoved her cake covered fingers between them. “Yummy?” Gabbi grinned, turning to shove her fingers into my mouth next.

I widened my mouth at once, worried she’d graze her precious, soft skin against my fangs. I pulled her hand out, smacking my lips and leaning forward to press a kiss to her cheek.

“Thank you. But we’ll eat on plates, okay?” I murmured, struggling not to look at Tasia. I wouldn’t recover if I saw horror in her expression at the thought of me as Gabbi’s father.

“I want a big slice, Abu,” Gabbi insisted, pointing at the cake.

I nodded, but just as I was going to start cutting it, Tasia jumped into action, cutting and plating with efficient ease.

She wasn’t facing me and I lowered Gabbi to the floor so she could eat with her new friends, sitting next to the centaur and making me scowl again.

“Here’s yours,” Tasia’s voice was little more than a whisper and when her eyes met mine, soft pools of an emotion I couldn’t read, I prayed to every God I could think of.

Don’t let her hate me.

“I… I didn’t ask her to say that,” I explained and she shook her head.

“Trust me, no one can put words in my daughter’s mouth,” she said with a rueful smile. “I’m sorry she put you in that position.”

It was my turn to frown now .

“What position?”

The tug of a little hand on her clothes had her turning her attention away from me and back to the younglings surrounding her for cake. I didn’t get my answer, but she wasn’t going to get away without one.

A little chirp sound left my phone and I tugged it out of my pocket, seeing Rudgar’s name on the screen. I turned around, making my way toward the door of the room. I lifted the phone to my ear, bracing myself for news.

“Hey Enka,” he called, and his cheerful voice made me a little less apprehensive. Still, when it came to the safety of my mate and youngling, I didn’t want to let down my guard.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, not waiting for pleasantries.

“Oh, yeah. The females just wanted to wish Gabbi a happy birthday,” he told me, and I beamed, turning back to where half of her face was smothered in frosting.

“She’s having her cake right now,” I told him.

“There’s so much noise there. Are those other younglings?” he asked, and I could hear the frown in his voice.

“The other younglings from the hotel that Darak could find for her party,” I explained, and Rudgar’s laugh was deep.

“I knew the bastard had a soft spot somewhere. Turns out it’s for younglings. Good to know,” he chuckled.

“No bullying Darak,” I growled the warning. “He’s helped too much for me to help pick on him.”

“I’m offended,” Rudgar scoffed, sounding the exact opposite. “I wouldn’t do anything to one of my most beloved friends.”

The threat in those words was clear and I shook my head, hoping poor Darak would survive however Rudgar planned to mess with him.

“Did they want to talk to her now?” I asked, “Because she’s with her little friends. I’ll ask Darak to plan a few more of these, but I want her to get as much socialization as possible. It’s important.”

The silence on the other end should have warned me. Instead, I wasn’t prepared.

“When are you planning to deal with the real issue then? So you can both come back home and host some of those younglings in a safe space here instead?” he asked, and I heard the sound of cooking. I was almost certain he was in his kitchen with his mate.

“As soon as possible,” I growled, my lips curling and baring my fangs involuntarily.

“Good. Ask Darak to get the younglings’ information so we can have something here, get that shit done and bring those females back. Let me know what you need, and if you need my backup.”

“My brothers and I have it handled,” I told him, knowing it was true. “But I’ll let you know.”

“I’ll let Zara know that you’ll call when you’re finished,” he told me and with a quick farewell, we hung up. I turned to look at my family, where Tasia was doling out even more cake to our daughter and her friends, and felt my gut tighten.

They were being threatened and I was going to protect them. Darak had his best workers keeping an eye on the surrounding buildings. If that good for nothing male had followed them, we’d know soon.

He’d reported that there had been a few sightings of a male who might fit a description of the human trash my mate was still—to my utmost chagrin—married to, but he’d only darted around nearby wearing hats and hoodies, so they hadn’t been able to confirm.

The only one who would be able to recognize him that way was Tasia but I refused to get her involved unless it was absolutely necessary. She turned to look at me, her eyebrows high in question. That was when I realized I’d been scowling in their direction.

Fuck. I can’t let her know that there’s anything wrong .

I sent a quick, reassuring smile, but my mate was too smart to be fooled by that. She ran a hand over our daughter’s head and made her way close.

“Hey,” she murmured, moving close enough that her scent surrounded me, comforting me and turning me inside out at the same time. “Is everything alright?”

“It was Rudgar,” I told her, honestly. “The coven wants to wish our Gruk-ir a happy birthday, but I didn’t want to disturb her while she was with her new friends.”

Her expression softened at once. “That’s so sweet. Thank you for thinking of that,” she told me, pressing her hand to my forearm. I should be used to the electricity that arced between us, but I wasn’t.

I licked my lips, looking down at where she was touching me before my eyes flicked up to hers. Her pupils were dilated and I could see everything I was feeling reflected back at me.

You want this as much as I do.

She cleared her throat, pulling her hand away and rubbing it against her thigh. I wasn’t offended. She was trying to ward off her feelings, but it wouldn’t work. I’d make sure of it.

“I’ll call them back when we’re done,” I told her and she nodded, swallowing hard before turning away from me. My gaze followed the sensual sway of her hips and I held in a barely checked groan.

You can run, my mate, but I’ll always catch you.