EPILOGUE

“Magoza Cydassi, it gives me great pride to announce you as the winner of the trials,” her father shouted.

The crowd in the arena roared with cheers.

Magoza’s body ached in ways she didn’t know it could.

But as Tulak strode toward her with the winner’s medal, she straightened to her full height.

This last battle had been brutal.

She hadn’t had to kill her opponent this time, he had yielded.

She had much respect for the warrior who hailed from the Babul Clan.

He’d fought honorably but was still no match for her.

Tulak arrived in front of her with a large smile on his face.

As he had done and his father before him, she had won the trials.

She could now hold the title of heir to Aghon.

Whenever Tulak decided he no longer wanted to rule Aghon, she would be next in line.

“It is an honor to fight for the Nidani.” Magoza lowered her head to allow him the opportunity to slide the medal around her neck.

The warm medal rested on her chest and would be a symbol of her commitment to her country.

The trials was a hard battle to win, and she was proud that she had done it.

A motion behind Tulak caught her eye.

Amuleta and her mother came striding out of the doorway and into the arena.

Security had been heightened since the attack on the viewing box.

There was a mixture of boos and cheers.

Magoza tried to not snarl at those who dared boo her mate.

It was going to take time for their people to get used to the fact that she was going to mate with Amuleta.

Since the night the Council of Clans had come together, much had gone on.

Her parents finally had their meeting with Gelisha.

It had been private with only the three of them.

Magoza and Amuleta were not allowed to be present.

Her mate had worried about her mother speaking with the Cydassis, but all was well.

Gelisha insisted on staying in her cabin.

She said the keep was nice, but it wasn’t home.

Home was the cabin Xagok had built for her.

With Amuleta deciding to spend most of her time at the keep, Magoza changed the security detail her father had arranged to patrol closer so that someone could lay eyes on Gelisha to ensure she was safe at least once a day.

The first report she had received was the information of the person—animal—who had been camping out near Amuleta’s cottage.

It had been Amuleta’s wild shukan, Lulu.

Apparently the shukan would settle down and stay nearby.

The animal, who had recently given birth to her calf, had brought the babe by the cottage when she and Amuleta had stopped by to visit.

Amuleta took off at a run.

Magoza opened her arms just as her mate’s body slammed into her.

“You did it!” Amuleta exclaimed.

Magoza closed her arms around her and ignored the disgruntled onlookers who shouted their displeasure.

It was going to take time for Aghon to get used to change.

Magoza was trying to learn patience, but it was so hard to not want to go and confront every single orc who had something negative to say about her and Amuleta’s relationship.

“I knew you would be able to do it.”

Bloodied and bruised, the only thing Magoza felt was the love of her mate radiating from her smaller body.

“I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Yes you could have. You are a great warrior, Magoza. I would say you did it for Aghon because you are her future,” Amuleta said.

“We are her future.” Magoza ignored everyone around them and lowered her head and claimed her mate’s lips in a searing kiss.

Nothing else mattered.

She had won the trials, she had her title as heir, and she would be mated with the love of her life.

~Nargol~

“Is the prisoner ready for me?” Nargol asked.

She strode next to Aguk who was a warrior she trusted.

He had served her father for years and had moved up the ranks.

They arrived at the staircase that led underground to the dungeons.

“Yes. We have three ready for questioning. The first is already in the interrogation room,” Aguk replied.

He followed her down to the lower level of the stronghold.

While her sister was planning her bonding ceremony, Nargol would continue to investigate the attack on the viewing box.

She was happy for her sister.

Magoza deserved everything the gods were blessing her with.

Amuleta was a beautiful woman who made her sibling happy, and Nargol was determined to ensure that the happy couple’s bonding ceremony went on without an issue.

Nargol would never forget the day her father had come to her with a classified mission.

One she had yet to tell anyone about.

It was the day after Xagok Sesh’s funeral.

Her father, mourning his friend, had asked her to follow a human to see where she lived.

Nargol never knew why he’d had her do it.

But now she did.

The cottage she had followed the woman to belonged to Gelisha Sesh, Xagok’s widow.

She arrived at the foot of the stairs and continued on down the drafty hallway.

There wasn’t much light, but her eyes adjusted to where she could see.

“He’s not going to talk,” Aguk said.

The warrior walked alongside her.

She smirked. They all started off not willing to speak, but once she was done with them, they never shut up.

“Don’t worry. I’ll have him singing in no time.” She arrived outside the door where a guard stood.

He pounded his fist over his heart.

She gave him a nod then turned back to Aguk.

“Did he at least reveal his name?”

“No.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’ll do this alone.” Nargol didn’t need any assistance when it came to interrogating.

She was an expert at extracting information.

The warrior stepped out of the way and opened the door for her.

Nargol went inside the room.

The orc sat with his wrists in chains which were attached to the metal in the center of the table.

He smirked at the sight of her and rested his palms on the table.

She didn’t say a word but slipped her large hunting knife from the sheath on her waist. She slammed the knife down hard, piercing the middle of his hand.

Blood flew out from the new wound.

He roared and tried to grab his wrist with this other hand.

Nargol smiled.

“You fecking cunt,” he spat.

“Oh, you are going to have to do better than that.” She slipped another blade from her waist and rested a hand on his shoulder.

She guided the knife to his cheek and gently slid the sharp edge along it and stopped just below his eye.

“Now I want information, and you are going to give it to me.”

“Feck you,” he hollered.

Blood continued pouring out around the knife wedged into his hand.

“I wouldn’t touch your tiny little cock for all the jewels in the world,” she sneered.

She gripped his hair and tilted his head back.

Her knife rested comfortably beneath his eyelid.

“Now I’m going to ask a series of questions, and you’re going to answer them.”

The orc grew still.

His chest was rising and falling rapidly as he stared at Nargol.

“What do you want to know?”

“Let’s start easy. What is your name and clan?” She moved the knife a mere millimeter toward his eye.

He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.

“My name is Sodah, and I hail from the Ogola Clan.”