Page 29 of The Orc King's Bride

My heart leaps into my throat as he sinks to one knee, his head bowed. Like dominoes, the other guards follow suit, taking aknee one by one. These fierce warriors kneeling to me is both awesome and terrifying.

Relief floods through me, but it's short-lived. I steal a quick glance at Dexari, expecting to see triumph on his face. Instead, my blood runs cold. Fresh crimson is seeping through the wound sealant I used on him. His face is ashen, and he’s unconscious again.

Shit.

I stand tall, channeling every ounce of faux royal haughtiness I can muster. “On your feet,” I command, surprised by the authority in my own voice. “Your king needs the healer's attention. We need to get him back to the palace immediately.”

To my dismay, they obey without hesitation. Gorlag barks orders, and within moments, they've carefully loaded Dexari onto the travois. Before I can even catch my breath, we're moving through the forest at a brisk pace.

I have to practically jog to keep up with their long strides. It's only when I hear footsteps behind me that I realize two guards have fallen into step at my back. My first instinct is to tense up, to prepare for an attack. Then I realize they fell back to protect me.

Dman. I could get used to this future queen stuff.

That’s when it hits me: I've accepted my fate. Sometime between Dexari’s explanation of cockspikes and issuing my first order to his guards, I've embraced my future as Dexari's mate and future queen. The thought should terrify me. Instead, a small smile tugs at my lips.

Being an orc king's bride isn’t exactly what I had in mind when dreaming about escaping from slavery. But it sure is a major upgrade. And the more I think about it, the more I find the idea of having power, respect, and a say in my own destiny appealing.

My newfound enthusiasm for my role is quickly tempered when my eyes land on Dexari's pale face. He doesn’t look good, and worry clamps around my heart.

C’mon, pretty boy. You can't die on me now. Not when things are just getting interesting.

I push my legs harder, determined to keep up with the guards' relentless pace. We need to get Dexari to the healer, and fast. Because if I'm going to be an orc queen, I damn well need a king by my side.

Chapter 27

Dexari

The first thingI notice as I claw my way back to consciousness is the pungent scent of healing herbs. My eyes flutter open, squinting against the soft infirmary light.

Mornah's voice, laced with worry, greets me. “Welcome back to the land of the living, sire.”

Hiding my disappointment at my maid rather than Sloane being by my side, I try to sit up, flinching as pain lances through my side. Mornah's firm hand on my shoulder keeps me in place.

“How long have I been out?” I ask, my raspy throat impossibly dry.

“Three sun cycles,” she replies, offering me a sip of water. “You had us worried for a while there.”

The cool liquid soothes my throat, and memories come flooding back. The forest. The fanghounds. Sloane. My fever. The guards. “Where is my—”

“Consort?” Mornah's lips twitch from a suppressed smile. “She has been quite...busy during your recovery.”

I nearly choke on another sip of water. “Consort? Does...does everyone in the palace know that my spikes have emerged for her? That Sloane is my intended queen?”

Mornah's eyebrows rise. “The entire kingdom knows. News of this importance travels fast.”

I sink back into the pillows. “Sloane has been busy? How so?”

My maid chuckles. “Well, for starters, she has turned the kitchen upside down by introducing a program to share leftovers with your less fortunate subjects. And poor Chef Groknak is being run ragged learning how to prepare all sorts of exotic Earth dishes, including something calledpizza.”

I groan through a grin. “See that Groknak gets some extra time off in compensation.”

“Yes, sire,” Mornah says. “Much to Gorlag’s frustration, Sloane has also been watching the guards’ training sessions. She is not shy about offering...suggestions for improvement.”

“Has he fully accepted her as my consort?”

Mornah shrugs. “That may be a stretch, although he has provided her with a guard detail, so he understands the need to keep her protected. Not that she needs it. That dragalor of hers always seems to be nearby. She even takes her meals with it in the courtyard. The maids and groundskeepers are beside themselves.”

I laugh, then immediately regret it as pain flares in my side. “Sounds like Sloane.”

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