Page 17 of Marked By the Wild Orc

“Huh?”

“He treats you nice because you’re his bride.”

“He doesn’t treat me nice at all… Wait, what did you say? I can’t be his bride, or any orc’s bride ever, because I can’t get pregnant.”

“That’s not true. You can get pregnant.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, when you first arrived, it’s true, I didn’t scent your compatibility, but lately it’s very strong.”

“Compatibility? Do you mean you can scent that I can…”

“All orcs can scent that you are now able to become pregnant. It’s a thing amongst our species. In ancient times we had to know in order to, um, identify and kidnap as quickly as we did. We don’t kidnap anymore but we still have the ancient ability to know if a potential mate is fertile.”

“But neither you or Oreg have ever asked me out or shown any interest in me at all.”

He parks in the spot in guest parking, closest to my apartment and turns to answer my question. “Well, to be truthful, it’s because the both of us could also immediately scent your arousal for Talon.”

My cheeks grow hot. “No.”

“Yes.”

“This whole time you’ve been able to…and Talon could scent this also?”

“Yes, he’s always known how you felt towards him, as we did. But don’t worry, once we knew that Talon was interested, we backed off and especially when it was clear lately that he returned your feelings. And now neither of us feels any way for you other than friendship, or coworkers. That’s how it works amongst orcs. Once a female has been identified by another, we don’t fight amongst ourselves for that female, instead we step aside and keep looking for another.”

“What is that noise?”

I look out the window and let out a whimper of fear. “It’s my brother.”

Chapter 6

Talon

The front door of Heat & Ink bursts open. Glass shatters and wood cracks.

Luckily, I’d already sent out an email and text blast that we would be closed today.

I look up and see Kavin has blown through the door and lower my head with acceptance. There was always the very real possibility of this happening. I stopped by his house to tell him face to face about my need to keep his sister away from me, but Mia was stubborn and wouldn't tell me where he was. I assumed he was on shift, but when I went to the firehouse, he was out actually working on a fire.

And now he got to Krissy before I could.

He stomps inside, ready for battle. “I placed my sister here with you because I promised she’d be safe,” he snarls. “She told me you fired her today, and that, in fact, this was the second time, but she hid it from me the first time. You're lucky that happened.”

“You don't understand, Kavin. I wanted to tell you.”

“I put my sister under your care, only you, not anybody else. I don't have any other family besides my father and this sister. You have lots of family and I have none. She's the same, all shehas is me, and I put her under my best friend's care. I told you that she needed to be treated well. You knew what I expected.” He cracks his neck and lifts his fists. “And I warned you what would happen if you didn't.”

“You did,” I acknowledge.

“I found her crying.”

Shame settles in my chest. “I had to fire her,” I tell him.

“You did not.” He steps forward and slams a fist in my face.

I feel the crunch of bone and nearly fall.

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