Page 27 of The Orc and the Innkeeper

Not until I hear my mother’s tentative voice saying, “Thorak?”

My head jerks up and my heart free-falls straight to the floor.

Standing in the entrance, wearing near-identical expressions of stony disapproval, are my parents.

13

THORAK

My stomach drops as my parents weave through the crowd, their faces stormy. Beside me, Mariah tenses.

“Thorak, what’s going on?” she whispers, her hand finding mine and gripping it tightly. Her touch sends a jolt of heat through me despite the dread churning in my gut.

Before I can respond, Gruna appears at my elbow, her eyes wide with panic. “I tried to stop them, but they heard about the event tonight and insisted on coming to show their support.”

I swallow hard, my mouth going dry. This is the absolute worst timing. I’m not going to be able to hide my “relationship” with Mariah. And the thought of me being engaged to a human? It’s sure to send them into a rage.

I square my shoulders as they approach, Ma’s eyes narrowed and Da’s jaw clenched beneath his beard. I paste on a welcoming smile.

“Ma, Da. I didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”

“We wanted to surprise you,” Ma says tightly, her gaze flickering to Mariah. “But it seems you’re the one with the surprises, Thorak. Who’s this?”

Her tone is sharp, accusatory. Mariah stiffens beside me but she stands her ground, meeting my mother’s glare head-on. Her fiery defiance is so damn sexy. It takes all of my self-control not to grab her and kiss her senseless, audience be damned.

Robert looks over curiously and my pulse quickens. I have to play this right or the whole charade will fall apart. I slide my arm around Mariah’s waist, pulling her close.

“This is Mariah,” I say clearly, making sure my voice carries. “My fiancée.”

The shock that ripples across my parents’ faces would be comical if my heart wasn’t pounding so hard. Mariah breathes rapidly against my side, her body taut with tension.

Da’s eyes flash dangerously as a deafening silence descends over the taproom. “What do you mean, fiancée?” he growls. “You’re engaged? To a human?”

I meet his furious gaze unflinchingly. I’ve never defied my parents so openly before.

“I am,” I tell him coolly.

Gods, this is a nightmare situation. I feel horrible for lying to them, even as I want to get this out into the open. I know what their views are, and I don’t agree with them. It’s just unfortunate that this is playing out so publicly.

And that this inevitable rift with my parents is the price for securing my distribution deal.

Ma gapes at me, her eyes wide. “But what about Ygra? How could you do this to her, Thorak?” Her voice trembles with barely contained emotion.

I suppress a sigh of frustration.

“Ma, we’ve discussed this so many times. Ygra and I are long over,” I say firmly, willing her to understand. “I’ve moved on. I’m happy with Mariah now.”

Mariah’s fingers lace with mine and she squeezes my hand, a silent show of support even as tension thrums through her. I glance down at her and my breath catches. She’s putting on a brave face for me, for this ruse, but I can see the fear and uncertainty in her eyes. It makes me want to gather her in my arms and never let go.

Da takes a menacing step forward, his bulky frame cutting an intimidating figure. “She’s ahuman, Thorak! What can she possibly know of our ways? Of your responsibilities to our clan?”

We don’t practice the orcish ways of old anymore. What he really means is my responsibility to have many children and keep the Ironfist line going strong.

Mariah flinches almost imperceptibly and a flare of anger pulses through me. I know my parents’ prejudices run deep but I won’t let them disrespect the woman I love.

Love. The realization hits me like a war hammer to the gut. I’ve fallen irrevocably in love with Mariah Parker. And now I’m caught between my duties as a son and my desires as a man.

I chance a look at Robert, who is watching the unfolding drama with a speculative gleam in his eye. I can’t let my parents’ disapproval jeopardize this deal. But more than that, I can’t bear to see Mariah hurt by their callous judgments.

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