Page 40 of The Orc's Stolen Shepherdess

But then he jerked away, and his eyes snapped back in the direction his chief was calling. “We have to go.”

“Carry me?” I reached up to him. “It will be faster, I think.”

He hummed with delight and lifted me into his arms. Fades, it felt good to be carried by him. To submit to his embrace. To give in and let him take care of me.

The morning light was beautiful as the sun crested over the distant hills. It bathed the red and gold trees in bright light, making them glow. I breathed deep, this moment felt like magic. Carried by Caivid. Content. Safe. I snuggled in closer to him as we made it to the path. I should call a bird now.

Maybe just a few more moments.

Caivid let out a happy little huff as I relaxed against him. He started walking toward Rove Wood Clan. After a few moments, his brow furrowed. “Chief Brovdir is with some of your villagers.”

“Some?” I asked as his expression went tense with concern.

“We should hurry.” He picked up the pace.

The breeze stung my cheeks. We rounded a bend and—

And a fullmobof villagers was waiting.

Caivid halted so fast the world was a blur for a moment, and then we all stared at each other in shock.

Wool and wails! They had pitchforks and scythes and knives. Their faces were contorted with shock and rage.

“There she is!” someone cried.

“He’s got her!”

“Gut him.”

They bolted toward us with such speed and fury it made panic rise in my throat. Caivid backed up a few rapid steps, ready to bolt.

“Stop!” I finally found my voice. “Stop! What are youdoing?”

But they didn’t stop! If anything, they started movingfaster.

Thundering footsteps sounded and Caivid set me down so fast the world around me spun. I could hardly get my bearings.

A crack sounded so sharp I scrambled away, feet sliding on the muddy ground. My arms were caught in a tight embrace, and the familiar smell of mutton stew followed.

My father was holding me.

“Susara, my daughter, thank Fades!” he cried.

What was going on? I looked back toward Caivid and saw Chief Brovdir, with his massive body and his deadly-looking scars, hauling Caivid up off the ground and holding his arms tight around his back.

Caivid’s face was colored up dark and his right eye looked swollen.

Chief Brovdir had slugged him in the face.

“Don’t hurt him!” Panic squeezed my throat. The mob was all hollering and raging so loud I could hardly hear my own voice. “Caivid didn’t do anything wrong!”

“Susara, what are you saying?” My father gripped me tight. His terrified eyes pleaded with me and my heart squeezed.

What had happened while I was gone? “Father, why are you here? You shouldn’t have come all this way in the cold! Your joints are going to swell again.”

“You’re all right? You aren’t hurt?” he asked, running his slender hands over me.

Before I could respond, someone bellowed over the chaos.

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