Page 73 of Warlord's Mate
Toren took in the camp. “Did the one we rescued your people from do this?”
“Yes. His name was Allok.”
He nodded. “My brother’s mate, Claudia, is a seer. She told us of him. She is the one who assured us you were worthy of our help, otherwise, Tharius would not have allowed us to come to your rescue. He is the highest ranking general that survived the wars. He is still doing as he’s always done—protecting the people. I could not have helped you even had I wanted to.” He nodded to the females. “My mate yelled loud enough to rouse the dead when we returned alone and when we relayed what had happened, Claudia said we should have destroyed the camp. That those who remained were not to be trusted and needed to be destroyed as well so, here we are.”
Jorrick raised an eyebrow. “Here you are, what?”
He nodded toward Mar-see and his mate. “I have reunited your mate with mine.” He turned to look at him. “I would ask you to help keep her safe until I return.”
“Return from what?”
“We mean to finish what we should have last night.”
He said nothing else. Jorrick followed as Toren headed toward the females, said something quick to his mate and gave her a quick kiss, then raced off into the trees. Two others went with him while the others remained in camp.
A loud groan and popping of tree limbs filled the air moments before several dragons sprung from the forest, the small orbs that follow all movement here in pursuit. He watched them until he could no longer see them but imagined what it was they saw as they raced over the treetops. He’d love to see the world from above. More than that, he’d love to see his Mar-see happy and at the moment she was. He could see it on her face and he knew, the moment he took her away from everyone that smile would vanish. He sighed. His word may be law but it only took a look at Mar-see’s face to know he’d do anything she wanted—even take a rag-tag group of females with him when they left.
Being so conflicted was making her stomach hurt. Marcy watched Jorrick stare after the dragons. His hair was sleep-tousled, and he still had that sexy half-awake look about him.
Sara nudged her arm with an elbow. She didn’t have to look at her to know what she wanted. Jorrick had made it clear the night before what his plans were and she’d disagreed with him about it. Now, she had another option, one Sara let him know about immediately by saying, “Marcy is going to come to Dra’Lera with me.”
Marcy gasped at what she’d said as Jorrick’s head whipped around. Without a word she knew Sara had said the wrong thing. Tight lines bracketed his mouth and his amber eyes had darkened to the point they looked nearly brown. The dangerous warlord who had taken her from the arena was standing before her and she grabbed Sara’s hand and squeezed with everything she had in hopes she’d keep her mouth shut.
She cleared her throat to pull his attention from her friend. “Sara said Toren’s people would allow us to come live with them.”
“The humans,” Sara corrected, squeezing her hand back. “Tharius balked at the idea but he said humans are a weak species and were no threat so, he agreed. You’re welcome to follow but you won’t be allowed in.”
“Then my mate will not go.”
Marcy opened her mouth but shut it when Jorrick looked at her. A question lingered in his eyes. She didn’t think he’d forcably keep her from going with Sara but she’d given up trying to figure out his every response a long time ago but that look said he wasn’t sure she’d stay with him. “We could make a camp outside their walls.” Her voice shook. She cleared her throat, hating that she felt so rattled.
She’d wanted to go with Sara since Jorrick had found them, then run them off but that was—before. Her life was very different from what it had been all those months ago. Now, she was in love with an overbearing barbarian warlord and leaving him to live with Sara didn’t hold the same appeal.
Their argument the night before had kept her awake until just before dawn. Him wanting to leave this place was a given, but he wanted to leave the others behind. The other females were the closest thing to a family she had now. They were her friends and knowing they were out in this cruel world unprotected would give her nightmares for the rest of her life. She couldn’t leave them behind.
She couldn’t go with Sara and leave Jorrick either.
Letting go of Sara’s hand, she took a step closer to Jorrick. “Sara said a river flows nearby the entrance to Dra’Lera. We could make a new camp there.”
He shook his head. “I will not be responsible for these people any longer.”
“You don’t have to be.” She reached for him, taking his hand in hers as she stepped closer. “On Earth, I lived alone. I had a shitty little one-bedroom apartment and the only protection I had was a metal baseball bat I kept by my bed. I was responsible for myself. Most all humans are once they reach adulthood. Having protection is nice, but it’s not something we need to survive.”
“This is not Earth. Prison Moon One is a harsh, brutal place. Here—you do need protection or you will be slave to any who captures you.” He raised his hand, the back of one finger sliding over her cheek. “Just as you were when I took you from the arena.” The corner of his mouth turned up into a half-smile. He lowered his head until their foreheads were nearly touching, his voice when he spoke again so soft she barely heard him as he said, “I do not care what happens to anyone save you and Aris. Your safety and happiness is all I care about.” He glanced over her shoulder, looking at Sara if she had to guess. “Do you wish to go with Sara and the Draegon?”
He’d only ever shown her his vulnerability once. Him believing Aris was dead had put it on full display and the look she’d seen on his face then was there again.
She kissed him, leaned into him and slipped her tongue into his mouth and kissed him as if no one was watching. His arms wrapping around her felt like steel bands holding her to his chest, his grip alone telling her he wasn’t ever going to let her go. When she pulled away long moments later, she whispered, “I want to be where you are. Here—there—anywhere.” She laughed suddenly.
“What is so funny?”
She shook her head and grinned. He’d never get her Dr. Seuss reference so didn’t mention it. “If you want to hike to the other side of this stinking little moon, then I’ll hike there with you, Jorrick. I want to be with Sara and the others but I want to be with your more. You are my home.”
“And you are mine.”
Epilogue
Six Months Later