Page 48 of The Orc and the Innkeeper

My blood runs cold. Mariah. Oh no. If Ygra’s been flaunting that ring around Elderberry Falls, if she’s talked to Mariah...

I have to find her. Have to explain. Before it’s too late.

I whistle for Snuffles, who eagerly trots to my side. “This conversation is over,” I growl at Ygra. “Bring that ring back to my mother and don’t ever let me catch you wearing it again. We’re done, Ygra. You need to accept that, and move on.”

Without waiting for a reply, I turn on my heel and sprint back toward town, Snuffles bounding alongside me. Please, let me have time to make this right...

There wasno sign of Mariah at the inn; Laurelle said Mariah had taken the afternoon off and was out meeting a friend. The bustling town square comes into view and my eyes dart frantically, trying to figure out where she might be.

I duck into the coffeeshop, the bookstore, searching for any sign of her.

There! As I leave the bookstore, I spot her chestnut waves across the square. Relief floods through me as I push my way through the throng of people outside enjoying the fine day, Snuffles close at my heels.

“Mariah!” I call out, my voice nearly drowned by the chatter and noise.

She turns, her green eyes widening as they meet mine. But instead of the warmth and affection I’ve grown accustomed to, they blaze with hurt and fury.

My steps falter. I haven’t seen her like this in years.

Even back then, even when I was at my worst…I don’t think I’ve ever seen her level me with such a hate-filled glare.

“Thorak.” Her tone is sharp as a blade. She stands rigid, arms crossed tight over her chest. “Come to make a fool of me in front of the whole town, have you?”

“What? No, I?—”

“Save it,” she snaps, her words laced with venom. “I don’t want to hear your excuses. I saw Ygra’s ring. Yourfamily’sring. I know you two are back together.”

Murmurs ripple through the growing crowd of onlookers. My face burns with shame and frustration.

“It’s not what you think,” I plead, reaching for her. She jerks away from my touch as if burned. “My mother gave Ygra thatring without my knowledge. I had no idea until today. You have to believe me, Mariah. There’s nothing between Ygra and me anymore.”

“Funny, that’s not what everyone’s saying.” Her voice trembles, and unshed tears glisten in her eyes. “They’re all talking about your big reunion. About howperfectyou two are for each other. Everybody but me knew what was going on. And like an idiot, I fell for your act. Fell for you.”

Each word cuts to the quick. “It wasn’t an act,” I rasp. “It’s real, Mariah. More real than anything.”

She laughs, but there’s no humor in it. Only pain. “You really had me going, didn’t you? The changed man. The kind, sweet orc who saw past my humanity.” Her voice breaks. “But it was all a lie. A ploy to win your investor’s approval.”

“No, I?—”

“Well, we can stop pretending now!” she cries, tears spilling down her cheeks. Mariah wrenches the emerald ring I gave her off of her finger, and tosses it at my feet. “The deal’s off.We’reoff. I won’t be your little prop anymore for this twisted show we’re putting on for Kingsley. Go be with your gorgeous giantess bride and leave me alone.”

She turns to flee and panic seizes me. I lunge forward, grasping her wrist. “Mariah, wait?—”

“Let me go!” She wrenches free of my grip, green eyes blazing. “I mean it, Thorak. We’re done. I never want to see you again!”

As we stare at each other, another figure steps forward—Robert.

Oh no. It’s clear he has overheard everything. His eyes narrow as he looks first at Mariah and then me, and he shakes his head, disbelieving.

“I knew something was off about this, I just knew it,” he says, more to himself than to either of us. Mariah looks away, folding her arms across her chest.

“Robert, wait—” I start, but he cuts me off.

“No. I’m done. The deal is off, obviously. I will not be investing in your brewery. This has all been an enormous waste of my time.”

The condemnation in his eyes hits me like a sword. Blood drains from my face, as I stand rooted to the spot, helpless as all my dreams fall apart.

Robert shakes his head again, derisively. “I should have known not to trust an orc.”

---