Page 31 of When the Merchant Met the Orc

“Aye.”

“Not being stupid again?”

She frowns up at me. A smear of soot runs from her forehead across her adorable nose. “I don’t think so.”

I lift the hem of my tunic and clean the soot away. When I lower my hand from her face, she stares at me. My heart trembles with the hopeless feelings I have for her. It’s painful how love burns despite rejection. There’s no putting out this fire in my heart. It has always been Rychell, and it will always be Rychell. I’m never going to get over her. Standing here in the moonlight, filthy and exhausted, I know that fact like I know my own name.

“You’re so beautiful, Rychell.” I hold up my hands. “I know. You aren’t interested, and I promised to try to stay out of your way, but I had to say it. You are the most beautiful thing in the entire world. I would do absolutely anything for you. You could order me to leap from the sea cliffs and I’d do it just to see you get your way.”

Her pretty pink lips part like she’s going to respond, but an incredibly steady and incredibly grating voice breaks the spell cast between us.

“Rychell. Halvard. Are you all right? I heard about the fire.”

It’s Osric. Of course, it is. I grit my teeth and force a smile.

“We’re fine,” Rychell says.

I hate the way she’s looking at him. Like he’s saving her from me and my school lad feelings. I feel like an idiot. Iaman idiot.

“I’d be happy to host you both at my house since the inn is no longer an option,” Osric says.

The words are out of my mouth like a crossbow bolt. “We are staying with my cousin and his wife, but thank you.”

Rychell glances at me, eyes questioning, but she nods like we already agreed.

“Well, I will take my leave then,” Osric says.

Not soon enough for me. “Good night.”

“I will see you at the ninth hour at The Steaming Kettle,” Rychell says.

Osric bows shallowly and walks into the night.

“We’re staying with Aila and Magnus?” she asks.

“Definitely. It’s Orcish culture. In an emergency, we must stay with relatives or other orcs if we have been in their home within the last moon.”

I completely made that up. That is one hundred percent not a thing.

We help the innkeeper clean up some of the fire’s mess, then trudge to Magnus and Aila’s home. Thankfully, they welcome us in like they were expecting us. We’re both exhausted. Aila, Magnus, and their housemaid fill a tub for each of us, the new pump and heater system making that task far easier than it used to be.

Aila eyes us like projects. “The baths are ready. Just yell if you need anything further.”

She and Magnus bid us good night. Before Rychell can turn away and enter the bathing room and guest bed set up for her, I take her hand.

“If you have breathing trouble tonight, come get me. I’ll sleep right outside your door.”

“You don’t need to do that. Just sleep in the room they gave you.”

“Your coughing scared me. It would be wrong as a bodyguard to leave my client without proper supervision after such an event.”

She narrows her eyes, but then she smiles. “Okay, Halvard. Thanks again.”

I nod and begin to release her, savoring her soft skin as I slowly peel my fingers away.

Chapter 17

Rychell