Page 18 of Charming the Orc's Mate

I felt my eyebrows climb. “That bad?”

“Between you and me?” She glanced at the office door. “I’m emailing my advisors to ask what happens if my internship closes.”

I rapped my knuckles on the counter, then stationed myself outside the office. Carissa’s voice rose and fell in frustrated waves on the other side of the wood.

“Yes, I’m aware of the outstanding balance, but—” Her voice tightened enough I imagined I heard her teeth cracking. “I understand you, too, have a business to run?—”

A pause, and my mind raced with all the possible bullshit the person on the other end spewed.

“No, that won’t be necessary. I can have payment by—” Another pause, shorter this time. “End of the week. Yes, I understand. Thank you for your patience.”

The phone slammed into its cradle, followed by a muffled groan. I imagined Carissa slumped over the desk, the weight of whatever was happening crushing down on her slim shoulders. The need to comfort her, to fix whatever was wrong, lit up every cell in my body.

The door flew open and Carissa stormed past, her delicious vanilla-cinnamon scent now sharp with distress. She snatched up a pile of abandoned books, shoving them onto shelves with more force than necessary.

I followed as she retreated deeper into the stacks. “What’s going on?”

She whirled to face me, eyes blazing. “What’s going on is some overly physical buffoon decided to play hero, and now I’m dealing with the fallout. Every vendor with an outstanding invoice suddenly needs immediate payment. Even the ones who offered me extensions last week.”

“Tate’s behind this.” It wasn’t a question.

“Of course Tate’s behind this!” She shoved another book into place. “Did you think he’d just let it go after that little display at the bar?”

Guilt churned in my gut. I’d acted on instinct—protect my mate, eliminate the threat. Which, truthfully, didn’t require my mate. Any asshole getting handsy deserved the same shove out the door.

But I’d only made things worse. For her.

“I’ll fix it,” I muttered.

Hopelessness and helplessness swirled in a dangerous mixture. I kept fucking up. With Carissa. Threatening the clan’s spot at Mist & Market. Gods, how fucking embarrassing that my cousin gave me padded deadlines and I still missed the mark.

“Don’t bother.” Carissa let off a harsh breath. “He’s just speeding up the inevitable. The store’s practically bankrupt anyway.” She yanked another book from the cart. “Might as well let Tate tear it down and build his condos or whatever.”

“There has to be another way.” I reached for her, but she stepped back. “We can figure this out.”

“We?” Her eyebrow arched. “There is no ‘we,’ Torain. I’ve had a job offer. I’m selling the store and going back to Seattle.”

My chest tightened. Imploded. Exploded. A whole fucking mess ofno, no, noscreamed inside me.

Leave? The very thought made my vision blur red at the edges and my lungs refuse to work.

“You can’t leave.” The words tore from my throat.

She drew herself up to her full height and glared. “I can do whatever I want. In case you and the rest of the town haven’t noticed, Mags is gone.Iown this place, and I’ll do whatIdamn well please with it.”

She turned away, but I caught her wrist. One step had her backed against the shelves, her arm pinned above her head. Her pulse raced beneath my fingers.

“You misunderstand.” I pressed closer, drinking in her startled gasp. “I don’t give a fuck about Tate or the store.” My free hand cupped her jaw, tilting her face up to mine. “You can’t leave because you are my mate.”

CHAPTER SIX

CARISSA

Istared up at Torain, his words making my head spin. Mate? As in… fated mates? My heart pounded so hard I was sure he could hear it over the ambient music of the store.

“That’s... that’s not possible.” The words came out as barely a whisper. “I’m human. You’re...”

“An orc?” Torain’s lips curved into a wicked grin around his tusks. “And you’re still my mate.”

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