Page 27

We get to work, and soon our shelter takes shape, snug but just large enough for the two of us. We settle in, taking opposite sides of the fire. It’s burning bright but sizzles as raindrops splatter into it, driven by the wind.

“It’s lucky you found this place,” Tessa comments around a mouthful of bread as the wind howls overhead. “Thank you for coming to get me.”

“Anytime.” The word comes out a little mumbled because I’ve just taken a bite of the roll she shared with me. I swallow the food and add,

“The horses will be fine, you know.”

I noticed her glancing toward the thicket of brambles every now and again, and each time, her scent spiked with worry. Now, she raises an eyebrow at me.

I grin at her challenge.

“I picked the spot because it’s in a dip in the ground but won’t flood, either. They’re protected by the bushes and those firs, and the three of them together will hold out through the night.”

She relaxes marginally.

“I know. And Clover is better off here than she was under that tree with me.”

“Hey, you did the best you could under the circumstances.” I reach for my saddlebag and take out the sack of food Sarrai assembled for me.

I offer Tessa an apple, then cut thin slices off the chunk of cheese and hand them over one by one.

Next, it’s the smoked sausage, and after that, the hard honey biscuits I find stashed at the very bottom.

She eats a bit of everything I hand her.

A wonderful glow of satisfaction grows in my chest at the sight.

I thought I understood what meeting my mate would be like, but I couldn’t grasp the depth of it until now.

Aye, there was the expectation that I would find her irresistibly attractive, which I do, but there’s more: I want to take care of her.

Make sure she’s eaten enough, that she’s warm and safe.

This reminds me to put another branch on the fire as a gust of wind rushes through our small camp and sends the flames dancing.

“It was a good idea, building the shelter,” I tell Tessa. “I didn’t expect a storm this strong this late in the season.”

She casts a worried glance into the darkness, then turns her attention back to me. “Well, we’re dry for now, we’re both fed, and as safe as we can expect. You promised to explain your presence here, sir.”

I straighten, surprised at the sharpness in her tone.

She seemed so relaxed a mere moment ago, but now she’s glaring at me again.

And I suppose it’s only fair. I did lure her here with the expectation that I would tell her everything.

But now that she’s sitting right there, not three feet away, I would much rather talk about her.

I want to ask about her profession and find out why on earth she robbed the Ravens.

Yet she’ll never trust me if I don’t deliver on my promises.

I tug on my tunic, suddenly feeling hot all over. “Er, well, you’re my mate,” I begin awkwardly.

She purses her lips. “Yes, you’ve said as much. But why?”

It’s my turn to be confused. “Why what?”

Tessa makes an impatient motion with her hand. “Why would you choose me as your mate? We didn’t exactly meet under the most auspicious circumstances.”

Oh. She’s unfamiliar with the concept of mates? Gods, I never thought I’d have to explain that to a woman. This might be harder than I thought.

“Every orc has a fated mate,” I tell her slowly. “Or more than one at the same time, though that’s rare.”

“So there’s a possibility you have more than one mate?” she demands, a furrow appearing between her eyebrows.

I shake my head decisively. “No, not me. I’ve been searching for you for years. I’m absolutely certain you’re the only one.”

“But how?” She throws her hands up in exasperation. “You don’t know me. And I doubt I made such a good impression on you when I bashed you in the head.”

I rub the bruise on my temple out of instinct. It’s still tender—I gave the healing salve to Tessa—but I don’t regret that decision. Her hand looks much better now, with only faint outlines of the blisters remaining. And it clearly doesn’t bother her if she was swinging a hatchet earlier.

“That’s not how…” I lower my hand and stare across the fire at her. “I smelled you. On the roof. And I knew.”

She recoils. “You smelled me? Is that why you’ve been sniffing at me?”

“Aye. Cherries and sweet peas.”

Saying it aloud brings back the memory of that night I dreamed of my mate, only to wake and realize I’d been robbed.

“I think I knew it was you even before then. There was something in my room I couldn’t quite place. The night you snuck into the inn, I mean. But now that I know it was you, it all makes sense.”

Tessa studies me, like she’s weighing whether or not I’m serious.

I hold her gaze, trying not to fidget. I grip my knees and fight the urge to go to her.

She’s still cold, despite the fire. I can tell by how she’s pulled up her collar and tucked her sleeves over her hands.

But she’s not complaining. That’s not what she does.

“And where does my will come in?” she asks finally.

I flinch at the question. “What?”

She motions toward me. “Well, you’ve been searching for me for years, as you said. But I most certainly wasn’t searching for you.”

The words slice through my thoughts of how perfect she is. “Y-you don’t want…? Is it because I’m an orc?”

“What? No!” Tessa leans in, frowning. “It’s because I don’t know you. I know nothing about you. I don’t even know your name. You’re here talking about smelling me and dreaming about me, and you’ve been following my every move, don’t think I haven’t noticed. But I don’t want a mate.”

She clamps her mouth shut and folds her arms, signaling the conversation is over. But all I can think is—she doesn’t know my name?

“Arlon,” I blurt out. “Son of Takmor. That-that’s my name.”

Fuck me, but how could I have forgotten about that?

“Oh.” She drops her hands into her lap, her shoulders relaxing a notch. “I’m Tessa.”

I don’t want to tell her I already knew that from Etta. This feels like a good first step, exchanging names. I should have led with that, but my excitement got the best of me.

“Hello, Tessa,” I rumble, my voice dropping as I say her name.

It’s pretty and suits her well, and I want to say it over and over again like a fool. I grin, unable to help myself.

To my surprise, she flushes, her cheeks turning red in the warm firelight.

Oh.

Tessa has said she doesn’t want a mate, and I can respect that. But maybe it’s all right if we take things slowly. The last thing I want to do is overwhelm her and send her running again.

So instead of reaching for her like I might have done if she were an orc and ready to start this new life with me, I lean back against the cliff face and stretch out my legs in front of me.

“I’ll take the first watch,” I tell her. “You get some rest, and we can talk more in the morning.”

She bites her lip, worry painting her features again. Of course she doesn’t want to shut her eyes without knowing she’s safe.

“I know you don’t trust me yet, but that’s because you don’t know what it means to me to have finally found you.” I frown, remembering the years spent in Ultrup, searching every crowd for her. “I won’t let anything happen to you, and I’d rather chop off my own hand than hurt you.”

Tessa hesitates a moment longer, then relents and curls up on her blanket, her back to the cliff.

I study her as her eyelids flutter, then finally close.

Her breathing evens out. She must have been tired, because she doesn’t wake when I cover her with my own blanket, then gently lift her head to put my spare shirt beneath her cheek.

Then I settle down in my previous space, across the fire from her, and resume my watch. I lean back and listen to the storm raging above us.

“Sleep well, little thief.”