Page 34 of Claimed By the Orc Lord

“Hm?” I had to fight to make sense of what he said, and his fingers trailing back and forth against my nape didn’t help.

“Mating? Is it like marriage? You say some shit and boom, connected?”

“No,” I answered. “You join together—I would fuck you, fill you up, bite you, and you would bite me in turn…” Kai’s gaze darted to my face, his pupils slightly dilating at my words. “And when I was buried so deep inside you that we were one, I would knot you.”

“Knot?” His eyes went wide and I couldn’t help but stare at the morbid fascination I saw cross his expression. “You have aknot? Holy shit,is that what I felt the other night?”

From the way he said it, he knew the word… and I knew he’d never been to this world before, so… “You know what that is?”

He had the grace to blush as he looked away with a sheepish grin. “I read a lot.” I wanted to question him more, but he prompted me to go on with a gentle nudge. “What happens after you knot me?”

Hearing him say the words was nearly enough to make me lose myself, to show him what would happen. Instead, I took a breath to steady myself and continued. “The bites would take, and the connection between us would be unbreakable.” When I leaned closer, he tilted his head like he couldn’t help himself, and I pressed a kiss to his throat, right above the place my teeth would set into the tender skin—I gave the softest nip that drew a sound from his chest.

“Unbreakable?” The word came out on a moan, and I nodded against his skin, placing one more kiss before pulling back.

“We would fade without one another, until we were nothing. We would be each other’s home, no matter where we were, no matter what world we were in.”

When Kai’s lids fluttered this time, the smile that touched his face was soft. Sweet. Almost euphoric.

“That sounds nice.”

I cupped his cheek gently, brushing my thumb along his lower lip. “I’ve dreamed my entire life of finding my mate, my home. I’ve traveled all the land, and I’ve always felt restless, half empty, like my purpose was unfulfilled.”

Those blue eyes shifted to look at me again, and for the first time, it felt like he was really seeing me.

Like he really understood.

“Nash… I…”

But whatever he was going to say was interrupted by the sound of footsteps as two children—our healer’s twins—spilled around the corner with a giggle.

“There you are! Mama is looking for you.” When I made to stand, Elia, the younger girl, shook her head. “Not you, Nash.” She pointed to Kai. “Him. She said our tent is broken and he can fix it.”

Kai bit his lower lip, a small smile blooming across his face. “Yeah, I can fix it.” He stood, but he didn’t let go of my hand. I came to my feet with him, and he threw me a smile over his shoulder. “Come on, Nash. Maybe I can teach you to be useful.”

The children giggled louder, Elia’s brother actually covering his mouth at the quip. They weren’t used to someone being so brazen with me, and even less used to the way I slid my arm around Kai’s waist and pulled him to me in a quick hug. I spared them anything more than a gentle kiss pressed to the corner of his mouth that still made him blush.

“Lead the way, Little Mate.”

And instead of arguing or telling me the words weren’t true, he gave my fingers a squeeze and trotted ahead so he could join the twins. When they each caught one of his hands, I felt something in me nearly break with longing at the image of Kai walking just the same withourchildren and loving them with that fierce warmth that was so unique to him.

He might truly be the death of me before I ever felt our mate bond. My heart had never been so full.

Chapter thirteen

Kai

“Theystillhavenotfound Koth, Nash. Have you asked your brother for full permission to hunt him down?” The hush of Vex’s tone flitted in and out, and I forced myself to stay still. Even though my mind was clouded with sleep, I was still aware enough to realize that whatever they were talking about was important.

And honestly, I was curious. If there was danger lurking around, I wanted to know… I wanted to help.

I wanted to make sure Nash was okay.

Damn it, it had only been a couple of weeks, and I was really, really in over my head with these feelings.

“I did, though you and I both know that I do not need his permission to take care of issues within our own group.”

Vex laughed. “You say that because you know he will tell you yes. Axum rarely denies you anything.”

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