Page 27 of The Orc's Stolen Shepherdess

“I can think of nothing more I’d rather do,” he whispered. My whole body went lax and my heart felt so full itthreatened to burst.

I leaned to kiss him again when he tensed slightly. “What was that?”

“What was what?” I glanced around the darkened woods but could see nothing. My lantern had fallen to the ground and the flame within was flickering like it was about to go out.

I was plunged into darkness, held captive by a predator, and I’d never felt so safe in my life.

“That!” Caivid said sharply. His hands became bands around me, and his pupils dilated. The glow of his eyes illuminated the tension on his face. “There are voices. Humans.”

I tipped my head to listen but couldn’t make out anything. “I don’t hear them.” Orcs had much better hearing than humans. “How close are we to Oakwall? Could you be hearing the village?”

“No. We aren’t that close.” He took a rapid step backward. Toward the dark woods. “I hear them. . . a whole group is coming up the path.”

There was panic in his glowing eyes. His body had gone tense. I could feel the prickle of his claws against my back.

“You can hear them? What are they saying?”

He didn’t respond, only continued to stand tense and worried. “Something about hunting. About finding. . .” He froze, eyes widening.

“Finding what, Caivid?” Goosebumps were breaking out on my arms as I watched his mind work.

“We should get off the path,” he said firmly. “Hide in the woods until the threat has passed.”

“Until the threat has. . . Caivid, they’re probably out hunting for an elk one of the night watch saw.”

“They’re getting close.” Caivid’s whole body was tense. His fangs were bared like he was about to fight anyone who came around the bend.

Alarm tightened in my throat and I reached up to cup his face in my hands. His eyes shot to mine for only a moment before returning to the path ahead. “Caivid, they’re just humans from Oakwall. They don’t mean any harm.” Even as I said it, I knew it was stupid. He’d lived a lifetime of being hunted by humans.

And the people of Oakwallwerewary of the warriors.

My mind worked rapidly through my options. I could part ways with Caivid here and walk back on my own. Though it would be a bit dangerous. It wasso darknow, and I’d have to make sure thehunters knew who I was long before they caught a glimpse of me, or they might think I was the animal they were hunting. It would be just my luck to be shot with an arrow.

“Fuck, we need to get off the pathnow.” Caivid backed up a few steps. His eyes were far more frantic as he scanned the path ahead, and it made my heart jump into my throat.

“Why? What did you hear? Or see?”

His hands tightened around me, only to release again. Like he was about to set me down and bolt.

“Don’t you dare leave me here, Caivid.” I clung to his shirt. “My lantern is out. I can’t find my way back in the dark. You’re my protector.”

“I am.” His voice was a low rumble and his body was shaking against mine. “I would not leave you here, woman. You decide. Do we leave or stay?”

“Leave or stay?”

His eyes darted to the path again. Then I heard what he did. Low voices. Sharp, rumbling tones.

Growing closer.

I sucked in a hard breath, suddenly acutely aware of our position. Of me, a young woman, out in the woods late at night with Caivid, a huge warrior orc, clutching me in his arms, claws out, teeth bared.

They’d come around the bend and see us any moment now. And they would likelynotwait for an explanation.

And he was on the precipice of giving in to his darker instincts.

“I know a quiet place we can go.” I stroked the hair back from his temple and he went completely still. “Somewhere you can calm down.”

He swallowed so hard that I could hear it.

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