Page 28 of My Orc Nanny

Tarkhan grunted his thanks, his attention on the kitlings. “He’s good with his sister. Patient.”

“Yeah,” I agree proudly, popping of the cap. “For a long time, he thought he had to be the mature, responsible one, and I think that really weighed on him.”

“Too much responsibility,” my friend muttered. “I feel that.”

I glanced at him and hid my wince. Yeah. Yeah, hedidunderstand. “Well, it’s been cool to watch Ben realize he can be a kid again, you know? Now I see that”—I tipped my bottle at the pair of them working together in the shade of one of the oaks—“and I know that’s the real him. Heispatient and kind. I mean, little sisters can be annoying, but he does well with her.”

Tarkhan didn’t say anything, and eventually I glanced over…only to see a sort of stricken look on his face as he stared at Tova.

And I remembered why he was here in the human world in the first place.

“Oh shit, Tark,” I whispered. “I’m sorry.”

He swallowed and glanced away. “It’s okay. Long time ago, you know? I don’t think about it.”

That was a lie, but I wasn’t going to call him out on it.

Not now.

Not ever.

While I struggled to find a way to drag this normally cheerful friend of mine back into the conversation, he cleared his throat. “So…the party’s on Sunday?”

Thankful, I latched onto the offer. “Yeah. I’m thinking slow-cooked ribs, a few salads, lots of burgers and brats forthe kids. Hannah says you and the others are welcome to come. Sakkara will be here, of course.”

He grunted and sipped his beer. “Maybe,” he finally said. Then he shot me a look and took another sip. Then another look.

“What?” I finally asked.

“So…Hannah, huh? She’s…”

I felt myself bristling. “She’s what? Wonderful? Beautiful?”

When his lips curled, I saw the trap.Crap.

“Yeah, wonderful and beautiful, that’s what I was going to say,” Tarkhan smirked. “I’m glad you see it.”

“Of course I see it.” My eyes narrowed. “Doyousee it?” This friend of ours was used to human women throwing themselves at him, and if he thought he was going to charm Hannah…

What? What are you going to do? It’s not like you have a claim to her.

Didn’t I?

That kiss…

His chuckle told me everything I needed to know. “I’m not interested in your Mate, Aswan, relax. I’m just…happy for you.”

With that, he pushed himself to his feet with a grunt and meandered toward the half-completed playset, sipping his beer idly while he examined the next steps.

And me?

I sat there, my beer forgotten, stunned.

Mate.

Hannah was my Mate.

Holy fucking shit, Hannah is my Mate?

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