Page 29 of Enchanted with the Orc (The Kingverse Orcs #4)

Enka

R age was a living thing inside me.

I was flooded by the need to find that pathetic male and string him up by his balls. He’d left Gruk-ir on her own when she was sick and too little to fend for herself. I couldn’t imagine what kind of monster could do that to her and then rub it into Tasia’s face .

Especially when she would have been crazed with worry. Even now, my extremities tingled with a panicked need to comfort her. I took a deep breath, holding her shaking form against me as she sobbed and I vowed to avenge every tear that she wept.

My useless murmurs and the stroke of my hand on her back couldn’t take away her pain and I knew it. I’d have to fix that, but until I had the male in front of me, all I could do was focus on my female and what she needed. And that was the priority anyway.

I’d get him eventually. This moment etched his eventual demise into my brain, but not until my mate felt safe enough for me to go hunting.

“I couldn’t get to her,” she whispered, reliving the trauma in her head.

“And I begged him. I was on my knees. I did… whatever he told me to.” She ducked her face into my chest again and I ground my fangs together so hard I wondered if I was going to crack them.

“But he still didn’t unlock the door. He went to sleep, but I stayed at the door, listening to her cry. ”

I pressed kisses to the top of her head, listening to the recrimination in her voice. She was angry at herself, and I wished she could see that there was nothing she could do. That he was a monster who had hurt them both and it wasn’t her fault.

“I tried to pick the lock, but I didn’t know how and I didn’t have any way to look it up,” she sniffled. “He password protected the computer and only let me use it when he was standing behind me.”

I frowned, my brow dropping low as I realized just how much control he’d held over my female. Both the big and little ways he’d trapped her in his abusive cycle.

What a fucking asshole.

“But the next day when he let me have her,” she whispered, swiping her fingers under her eyes, “I pretended like I was grateful to him and only took care of her long enough to make sure she was safe, clean and fed before I…” She went still, her breathing shallow and harried. “Distracted hi m.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, knowing what she was saying. She’d done things that she wished she hadn’t to keep him focused on her and not her baby. She was the best female I knew. The most amazing mother. I couldn’t imagine the sacrifices she’d made for Gabbi.

And it had all worked out. That little female was the happiest youngling I knew. Not that I knew that many younglings, but she was well-adjusted, loved and brave. Everything that Tasia had fought for.

“When he was sleeping, I packed a bag for us and ran. I stole money from his wallet and took a bus out of there,” she murmured, her lips moving against my skin again, and I begged my cock not to react the way it had before.

She needs you to be a friend for her right now. Focus.

“I knew the address for my coven,” she whispered, nuzzling my skin for comfort and I gritted my fangs. “So that’s where I went. They were so happy to see me, even after I’d abandoned them for him.” Her tiny sniffle told me everything I needed to know about her reunion.

They’d been there for her and wouldn’t have asked too many questions. They’d have taken her back into the fold and welcomed their newest, youngest member as well. I knew them well enough to know that much.

They’d done the same with Krusk, Savla and I. They didn’t need to know our history. Just that we’d treat them and others well. The judgement had been low and we’d been allowed to hold onto whatever secrets we had.

“Our High Priestess at the time—Zara’s mom—helped cast a protection spell on us. So he couldn’t find us even if he used magick to try.” She was smiling now, her voice thick with tears and I continued stroking my fingers down her soft back.

When she pulled away, she smiled as tears continued to leak down her face.

“I never got a chance to tell her how much I appreciated that. Appreciated her. She hid how sick she was from us. And near the end, we were too busy trying to find a way to save her…” she trailed off, squeezing her eyes shut as tears poured again.

“I probably look like a lunatic,” she wailed, throwing herself into my arms, and I savored the feel of her against me again. “I just keep crying and telling you sad things.”

“You’re telling me your story,” I murmured against her hair, keeping my eyes closed so I could cherish her scent. “And I’m so grateful you trust me with it.”

She peeked up at me with red eyes and a moist face. “Really?” she whispered, her gorgeous, splotchy face so filled with hope that I just nodded, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips.

She pulled away, her eyes widening with shock and I froze, unable to believe that I’d just done that. My mate had cut herself open, baring herself to me. Her most vulnerable parts, and instead of making her feel safe, I’d mauled her the first opportunity I got.

“I’m sorry—” I started, but she cut me off by pressing her lips to mine. I went still, not sure what to do, but she didn’t need to be told. She deepened the kiss and I could feel my eyes rolling back in my head.

This is the best moment of my entire life.

I returned the kiss, cupping her soft, wet cheek, scraping my blunted claw against her jaw.

I’m going to savor this moment for the rest of my days.

My female was kissing me. She’d made herself vulnerable to me, seeking comfort in my arms, and then kissed me. This was everything that I could ever hope for. I wasn’t going to wish for more. This might just be a moment of temporary insanity after all, but I was taking what I could get.

The low beep at the door followed by the scrape of the handle being turned was the only warning we had. We pulled away from each other, blinking blearily into each other’s shocked faces, when Gabbi ran inside with Darak behind her, holding a large bag in his hands.

He eyed us with a raised eyebrow but didn’t say anything. Gabbi on the other hand, ran straight for us and launched herself into Tasia’s lap. I was holding both my females in my arms and it was everything perfect in this world. Even if I’d been interrupted during the best kiss of my life.