Page 11 of The Orc and the Innkeeper

I raise the glass to my lips and the brew slides down my throat, smooth and slightly sweet. But it does little to quell the turmoil raging inside me. As I stare into the inky depths of my glass, I feel like I’m standing on the edge of a precarious cliff...

And I’m terrified that this fake engagement might be the thing that finally makes me fall.

5

MARIAH

Istand before the full-length mirror in my cozy living quarters, which are nestled to the side of the inn’s premises. My gaze flicks over my reflection—the flowing earth-toned blouse, my nicest pair of jeans, my broken-in and comfortable ankle boots. I look good, even if this whole evening is an elaborate farce.

“It’s just business,” I mutter, meeting my own eyes in the glass. “A means to an end. That’s all.”

But even as the words leave my lips, a flicker of doubt curls in my stomach. Memories drift unbidden to the surface, dredged up from a past I’d rather forget. High school. Thorak’s cruel sneer as he cornered me by the lockers, his orcish bulk looming over me.

“Look at the little human girl,” he’d sneered, thick fingers pinching my cheek hard enough to bruise. “Thinking she’s good enough to walk these halls with the rest of us. You’re nothing, you know that? Just a pathetic sack of mundane flesh.”

His words had cut deep, targeting every insecurity with ruthless precision. But even then, I refused to cower. I held hisgaze, defiant even as angry tears pricked the corners of my eyes. He could mock my humanity all he wanted—I knew my own worth.

A buzz from my phone jolts me back to the present. I fumble for it, swiping to accept the call.

“Hey, songbird,” I greet my best friend, Ecco. “What’s up?”

A heavy sigh crackles through the speaker. “Mar, I don’t know what to do. That gig at the Crooked Broom fell through and rent’s due next week and I just...”

Her normally melodic voice cracks. Ecco’s struggled so much lately, her siren’s allure no match for reality. If I’m judged for being human, Ecco is judged just as much for her siren powers. She’s done nothing to earn scorn but it follows her everywhere.

It’s part of the reason we bonded, all those years ago.

“Come perform at the Moonflower,” I say without hesitation. “Tomorrow night. I’ll clear the stage in the dining room, spread the word. We’ll pack the place, I know it.”

“I don’t know,” Ecco hedges, her tone laced with uncharacteristic doubt. “What if no one shows? What if they hate me? I can’t afford another flop right now, Mar.”

I perch on my bed, the patchwork quilt soft beneath my fingertips. “They could never hate you. Your voice is pure magic—it’ll draw them in droves. And I’ll be right there in the front row, cheering you on. We’ll get through this, Ecco. Together. Like always.”

There’s a long pause, then a shuddery exhale. “Okay,” she says at last. “I trust you. If you think this will help, I’m in.”

“I know it will,” I assure her, injecting confidence into my tone. “The Moonflower’s yours.”

“Love you, Mar,” Ecco says. “Dunno what I’d do without you.”

“Back at you, Ecco. Always.”

I hang up without telling her about the deal I struck with Thorak, and there’s a twinge of guilt in my stomach for not being immediately honest and open about it.

I know Ecco would never approve of me making a deal with Thorak, even a fake one. Not after the hell he put me through. She was there for all of it, holding me as I cried, plotting elaborate revenge schemes we never followed through on. If she knew I was willingly spending time with him now, even if it was to save my inn...

I can already picture the disappointment on her face, the concern in her ocean-blue eyes. She’d tell me it’s not worth it, that there has to be another way. That Thorak can’t be trusted, no matter how much he claims to have changed.

And maybe she’d be right. But I also know that desperate times call for desperate measures. And right now, I’m drowning in desperation.

I smooth my hands over my blouse, straightening invisible wrinkles. No more stalling. I look good, and more importantly, I feel good. Confident. Ready to take on whatever the night throws my way.

With a deep breath, I grab my clutch and head out the door. The inn is quiet tonight, most of the guests either out enjoying Elderberry Falls’ vibrant nightlife or tucked away in their rooms. I’m grateful for the solitude as I make my way outside, the cool evening air a welcome respite from the nervous energy thrumming through my veins.

Thorak is waiting for me at the restaurant, a trendy spot called Fusion that’s known for its innovative blend of human and monster cuisine. As I approach, I take a moment to appreciate the way his dark suit jacket fits his broad frame, the fabric straining slightly against his muscular shoulders. He looks good, too.

Damn him.

“Mariah,” he greets me, his deep voice sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. “You look stunning.”

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