Page 10 of The Orc's Stolen Shepherdess

She went to a pack sitting at the base of the rocks and dug around inside. The scent of fruit, honey, and dried meat drifted toward me, blotting out her delicious rosemary. I closed my eyes and took a deep inhale, filling my lungs to the brim as I tried to memorize the smell of her beyond the pungent aromas coming from her bag.

“Here!” My eyes snapped open, and I found her right in front of me, holding out a cloth-wrapped bundle the size of my palm. “You can have this. It isn’t much, but it’s all I’ve got now. Once the sheep are sheared, I could give you some wool as well. Do you like wool? Most of the orcs in Rove Wood Clan do. They have it spun and knitted into. . . shirts.”

I raised my brows as she trailed off with her eyes stuck on my chest.

“You warrior types don’t wear shirts, though, do you?” she asked.

Oh, that’s why she was staring. “Not typically. It’s a waste of resources.”

“Your resources are so slim you can’t affordshirts?” She blinked her blue eyes at me. Her golden hair framed her rounded cheeks. Her arms were thick with muscle, andshe’d already recovered her breath despite the exertion of climbing down the rocks.

She was strong and hale, and suddenly, my mind was quickening with thoughts of how I could wear her out. . .

Ah,fuck, what was wrong with me?

“Go ahead and try the oat bar.” She pointed to the cloth in my hand. “I’m sure you’ll like it.”

I reluctantly looked away from her and unwrapped the packaging, only for my nose to curl up in disgust. The sickly-sweet smell of dried fruit and honey curled up around my nostrils and my tongue shriveled with dismay.

“My name is Susara, by the way. I’m Shepherd Tomind’s daughter. What is your name?”

“Caivid,” I responded curtly, warring with myself over taking a bite of the flat oat pancake in my palm. It was harder than rock and stickier than Hendr’s socks.

“Caivid,” she repeated, drawing my full attention. “Caivid, the warrior orc.”

Fades, have mercy. I could get used to that. The sound of my name on her lips felt as warm in my chest as the light from the Fades themselves.

“Try it. Tell me what you think.” She wavedto the bar.

There was no way out of it. I lifted the disgusting thing to my lips and took the smallest bite my teeth could muster.

My tongue shriveled up and my throat closed as it rebelled against swallowing. The taste was even worse than the dry, sticky texture. The sugar flattened my tastebuds until they burned. It took everything I had to keep my expression blank.

“Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry.” The food was taken back out of my hand, and I blinked down at the woman as her brows furrowed with contrition. “You hate it, don’t you? Please feel free to spit it out if you do.”

She didn’t have to tell me twice. I leaned over and spat the food on the ground as far from her feet as I could. Once the taste was gone, I couldn’t help but marvel that she could read my expression so easily.

“I’m truly sorry.” Her remorse burned me. The last thing I wanted was for her to be upset. “Was it the oats? The honey?”

“Too sweet.” I smacked my lips, trying to get the taste out.

“Here, I have some water.” She passed me a leather pouch, and I downed a few grateful gulps. “What elsecould I give you. . . do you like dried mutton? I have a little of that in here. Or I could meet with you at the next trade and bring you some mutton stew?”

She would see me again? I would not pass up that offer. “Yes. I’ll take the stew.”

She clapped her hands and beamed. “Wonderful. Still, I wish I had something for you now. The trade isn’t for another half-moon. I promise it will be worth the wait. I’ll make you the best mutton stew you’ve ever had.”

“That should be easy for you.” My body felt light and full at the same time. “I’ve never had mutton stew before.”

“Really?” Her brows rose adorably.

I shook my head. “Sheep are only owned by humans.” Not even the Rove Wood orcs owned sheep.

“I suppose that’s true.” She tapped her chin. “I wonder why that is?”

“Likely because humans do not share their resources.”

Her brow furrowed with irritation, and it shadowed her eyes. The dark blue was enchanting. “Well, the humans of Oakwalldoshare. Do you want to own a sheep? Several of my ewes are pregnant and we could strike a deal. You could be the first orc toever own one.”

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