Page 47 of Romancing the Orc

Edgerton steps up to the wall I just examined. It’s the same shimmering gray stone as the rest of the building, only instead of the large slabs used elsewhere, it’s made up of small bricks. He touches certain ones in a specific order, making a complex pattern as his arm rises and falls, darting from side to side. A tune fills the air, an ancient song of Faerie I hum under my breath. When he pushes on the last brick, instead of a musical note, a click resounds through the room, and the wall splits down the middle.

“How the hell did you figure that out?” Lara asks, wonder filling her voice.

“It’s amazing what money can do. I paid three code breakers to write a computer program that would map every possible combination,” Edgerton says, his tone casual, as if all of this is nothing. “Then I paid another team to suss out which works. It took them over three weeks and several thousand attempts before they found the right song.”

“You’re insane.” Lara lifts her hand and pats the air with her palm. “I don’t mean that as a pejorative—okay, maybe partly as one, because you’re the asshole whokidnappedme, and who even does that?—but none of this is what a sane person does.”

“Really, Ms. Jade? That’s rather rich coming from you.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I paid for a very extensive background report on you. It’s amazing how much of our lives we put on the internet these days.” He shakes his head and tsks. “You’ve spent your entire life obsessed by Faerie. You want to go there just as badly as I do.”

“What?” Her voice hits a false note as her face twists into an exaggerated grimace and she shifts from foot to foot. “No.”

“Ha!” Edgerton barks out a dismissive laugh and points at her. “You really are a shit liar, aren’t you? That’s going to make the rest of this much easier. Because mark my words—I want you to unlock this magical artifact, and Ialwaysget what I want.”

Lara squirms, looking miserable, and I vow then and there to take her to Faerie as soon as possible to make her dream come true. I want to give her all the joy possible to wipe away the trauma of this kidnapping.

But for any of that to happen, I need to save her first.

Edgerton waves his people forward, and two of them strain against each side of the wall until the halves hinge inward like a massive double door.

The room beyond is everything the first chamber isn’t. Instead of plain walls, intricate carvings decorate fluted columns. Sunlight pours through arched windows that aren’tvisible from the outside. A long oval pool fills the length of the room, tiled with a colorful mosaic of sea creatures, its water fresh and clear.

I crouch beside it, scooping up a handful of the warm water and splashing it across my bare chest. Then I flick my fingers at Lara, wetting her face.

She blinks and winces, then throws me a frown.

I stare into her eyes, willing her to see that I do not do this lightly. This is a ritual pool, here for a reason. No matter what comes next, it might go easier for us if we’re anointed in its waters. To make certain I got enough on her, I reach out and drag my wet hand across the back of hers.

Understanding flashes across her face, and Lara squats and dips her hands in the pool and pats some of the liquid onto the exposed skin of her chest. Goddess, she’s brilliant. I couldn’t be any prouder to call her mine.

The hard muzzle of a gun pokes into my back, and Klaus growls, “Stop flirting.”

I suppress a snarl, hating that I need to bide my time until a better opportunity to strike presents itself. I’m an excellent fighter, but even the best orc warrior would be hard pressed to take on eight foes armed with human guns.

“Let them play,” Edgerton says. “It’s a good thing they like it so much.” He waves a lazy hand, and Klaus pushes Lara into the pool.

Ice digs claws into my heart. My mate isn’t a good swimmer, and to be thrown into the water with no warning…

“Lara!” I spring forward, diving after her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Lara

I suck in a startled gasp of water, then face plant onto a hard surface. Coughs wrack me, shaking my entire body. It takes several seconds to realize I’m not actually underwater and my clothes aren’t even wet.

A deep thump comes from behind me while I’m still fighting to catch my breath. Then familiar hands clasp my shoulders, supporting me as I wheeze. “Lara! By the goddess, I was so worried!”

“I’m okay,” I choke out, patting at one of Brokk’s hands. It’s a lie, but it doesn’t cost me anything and hopefully makes him worry less.

“This is our chance.” He scoops me off the ground in a bridal carry and runs toward a bright light.

I brush tears from my eyes and blink. We’re in a room with three stone walls. The fourth is missing, and Brokk slides to a halt right at its lip.

I press backward instinctively, burrowing into him. The opening lets out onto empty air, the cliff falling away below us, water cascading down its front.

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