Page 35 of Alien Orc Warlord's Captive Bride

I look over at Star, who Ragnar puts on his shoulders. She loves to be up high. She's not as tall as other Orcs her age, but she's ferocious, keeping up in play and outrunning them in sprints. She has my eyes, and her jade skin is a lighter shade than that of Ragnar's deep green.

Ragnar walks to me, a huge grin on his face. He smiles a lot, these last years. There hasn't been an attack since he rescued me. Though Lord Ashbourne still rules, I've visited the villages. My little brother found a girlfriend, and learned the art of metalworking, sometimes taking trips up to our mountain village to share tips and trade knowledge with Tusk.

The villages are prospering. Ashbourne reduced his tribute by half, and yet, no longer oppressed by his brutal rule, their crops have grown threefold, and the Lord ironically benefited as well. I saw Lord Ashbourne from afar once. Though I wanted to hate him, I could not. He simply looks old and weak, growing a long beard. I know why.

He can't go near a razorblade again.

Ragnar gets on his knees in front of me, leaning his head forward and pressing it against my swollen belly as Star stares forward with awe in her blue-green eyes. "Is my brother coming soon?"

"Soon, my sweet. Soon. You're going to have a baby brother, and you're going to take care of him and protect him, aren't you?"

I love seeing the pride in my daughter's face as her face gets serious, her brows drawing down hilariously. "Yes! I'll keep him safe."

Ragnar sets her down next to us, and she runs off towards the other Orc children, screaming and yelling for the second fastest to race her. Ragnar stays there, his head against my chest, and I run my hands over his broad, strong face, through his black hair, and I'm filled with so much happiness I feel like I could burst.

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