Page 7 of The Princess and the Orc

She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Why didn’t you tell me that you thought we were mated? I would have never agreed to that.”

He leaned back in his chair and narrowed his eyes. “So you had no intention of honoring your word?”

Her jaw snapped shut. Anger flashed in her eyes. “That’s not what I meant.”

“So you running away and blocking me from entering the castle was a misunderstanding?” He challenged, almost laughing at the frustration coming off of her in waves.

Amalia turned to her father, who studied them thoughtfully. “Daddy, you can’t make me marry an orc.”

“I admit, this is not the marriage I had envisioned for you. However, it appears that your recklessness has actually made that point moot. You are mated to an orc. You made a deal with him and you must honor your word, Amalia. And I believe an alliance with the orcs might be in our best interest.”

“But daddy, I’m supposed to marry Prince Frederich!” she wailed.

“I told you once before that I will never allow that. I don’t trust him and would never want you tied to him,” her father said sternly.

Amalia stood and raced from the room, crying. The men watched her leave. Her father sighed. “She may give you trouble, Drogath.”

Drogath nodded solemnly. “I can handle her, sir. And I think your distrust is well placed. I believe Prince Frederich is behind the attacks on both of our people.”

The king stood and extended his hand. “Then we have a common enemy. For now, be our guest for a few days.”

Drogath stood, relief loosening the muscles in his shoulders. The king believed him. The alliance was still possible. “Thank you. But I must return to my people as soon as possible.”

“I understand. But we must have a wedding ceremony, so everything is legal on our side as well. I will hurry it along as soon as possible. One of our servants will escort you to Amalia’s rooms, since you are mated, as you call it.”

Drogath bowed. “I can find her, your majesty. Thank you.”

He left the room, following the scent of his sweet mate, ready to finish what they had started earlier that day.

ChapterFive

Amalia's hands trembled as she unpinned her hair, letting the dark auburn waves cascade down her back. The events of the day felt like a dream, or perhaps a nightmare. Her armed escort had returned before her, raising an alarm, but she quickly quelled the concerns, saying that she had evaded the attackers and returned by a different route, carefully omitting any mention of the orc or their bargain. There was no need to worry anyone about a promise that would never be fulfilled.

Then Drogath had burst on the scene, revealing the true events of the day. She had been convinced that her father would throw him in the dungeon for daring to touch his daughter, or presume to claim Amalia’s hand in marriage. Never mind that she had made the foolish bargain in the first place. Who could hold her to such a thing when she had feared her life was in danger? The orc showed no honor by forcing her into this deal.

But her father shocked her by agreeing with the orc, inviting him to dinner and upholding the foul arrangement. He took her to task for trying to get out of it and insisted she keep her word, going so far as to promise a quick wedding, even as the orc said they were already mated in the eyes of his people.

Her life was ruined! Just that morning, she had been trying to figure out how to convince her father to accept Prince Frederich’s betrothal, and tonight, she was pledged to an orc, their kingdom’s enemy. What had happened? How could her life have changed so dramatically?

Her maid had helped her undress, and she was seated in front of her vanity in a plush emerald green robe, the color reminding her of Drogath. She dismissed the maid, needing quiet to think and settle her nerves. Amalia had just picked up her silver-backed brush when the bedroom doors burst open. She whirled, clutching the brush like a weapon, only to freeze at the sight of Drogath filling her doorway. Candlelight from the hallway silvered his green skin and glinted off his tusks, making him appear even more otherworldly than before. Guards flanked him on either side but made no move to arrest him or remove him from her quarters.

“Get out!” she hissed, glancing frantically at her chamber door. “You cannot be here.”

“Why not? I’m your mate. Where else would I sleep but by your side?” He asked, closing the door behind him. “I have every right to be here, my little princess.”

She wrapped the edges of the robe closer around her, his black eyes heating as they tracked her hands.

That word sent a shiver down her spine. “I am not your mate, and I am not your little princess. That bargain was made under duress.”

His dark eyebrow arched. “Duress, aye. You were in danger and I saved you from it, under significant threat to my own life.”

She scoffed. “You had no problem handling those soldiers. In fact, you probably organized the whole thing!”

“No, princess. I don’t deceive others. I keep my word and speak my truth plainly. Something you seem to have trouble with, since I believe you planned to break the oath as soon as you made it.” He advanced on her slowly, step by step until he towered above her. “Did you think I wouldn't know? That I couldn't smell the deception on you even as you agreed to my terms?”

Amalia backed away until her legs hit the edge of her bed. “That's not true. I only wanted time to prepare my father for your arrival. To explain the situation.”

“I do not allow my mate to lie to me.” The word rumbled from his chest. “You ran from me. Tried to bar me from following. These are not the actions of a mate preparing her family, but of one trying to escape her obligations.”

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