Page 11 of The Orc's Stolen Shepherdess

The oddity of that offer struck me so hard I couldn’t help but chuckle. The idea of one of these small creatures following me around, getting into constant trouble. My brethren would mock me mercilessly.

“No, woman,” I said once I’d caught my breath. “I would far prefer the stew. I fear your sheep may be too mischievous for me to handle.”

My response made her grin, and Fades, wake me, she was breathtaking when she smiled. “All right then, but if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

My humor dimmed. I did know where to find her. She was behind tall walls within a community that did not welcome my company. The trade wasn’t for another fourteen days. Anything could happen in that time.

She looked off toward the setting sun. “I should get going home. My father is going to wring me out for being so late.”

I looked around, only then realizing how dark it had grown. “Do you want me to walk you back?”

“Oh, you don’t need to.” She opened up the glass door of her lantern and turned a little knob that made the flame glow brighter. Her golden hair glowed orange and her eyes sparkled in the firelight. “I’ve spent many nights out herein the woods before and I know every path, even in the dark. I’ll be fine.”

My stomach knotted. “What about predators?”

“The sheep have good instincts.” She closed her lantern with a light click. “They’ll warn me if a predator is about.”

That didn’t answer what she woulddowhen one attacked. “Let me walk you.”

Her brow furrowed adorably. “You’ve done so much for me already, Caivid. And I really will be fine.”

“I insist.” My tone was firmer than I’d meant it to be, but all she did was tip her head and blink. “Let me walk you, Susara. For my own peace of mind.”

Her cheeks went a brighter pink at that, and her gaze skittered away. She cleared her throat. “Well, I suppose if you insist.”

I exhaled my relief. “Thank you.”

She chuckled and the sound was like music. It made my blood dance in my veins. “I should be thankingyou,Caivid. After all this, I’m going to owe you more than just stew.”

She tapped her crook on the ground and the sheep stopped their grazing to gather around her feet. “Come on. Let’s gohome for oats.”

Several of the sheep bleated as if excited.

She navigated the path to Oakwall Village so easily despite the darkness. I knew humans couldn’t see in the dark, but the way she moved made me wonder.

“You’re really out here alone with your sheep every day?”

She shot me an amused look. “Yes, I am. I wasn’t always alone though. My father used to be with me, but his joints have been causing him trouble. And before that, my mother was with us too.”

“What happened to her?”

“She passed from illness ten years ago.” There was a hollowness to her voice. An ache that made my throat tight. “There are some things even your healing tinctures can’t cure.”

That I knew all too well. I’d lost many brethren over the years. “I understand that pain.”

Warmth covered my hand, and I blinked down in shock to find her hand on mine.

Was she offering comfort? I met her gaze and her eyes softened as she looked at me, as shereadme, and I exhaled slowly, taking all the tension with it. Her thumb smoothedover my knuckles and my knees threatened to buckle under the soothing weight of her touch.

My hand was covered in scars from a lifetime of using my fist to bash, bruise, and break anyone and anything that threatened me. Pain was more familiar to me than any other sensation.

I’d never known tenderness like this before.

Something pushed hard into my leg and our hands broke apart.

The black sheep I’d saved, Midnight, was shoving me aside so she could nuzzle at my pack.

“Midnight, you naughty thing. That’s no way to show your appreciation.” Susara tapped the sheep’s bum with her crook, but the ewe only bleated with annoyance. “I’m sorry, Caivid, I don’t know what’s come over her.”

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