Page 59 of The Orc's Innocent Plaything

“How do ye ken such things?”

“Because you were doing it to me earlier today, and I found itquitestimulating.”

I couldhearher smirk, despite her whisper, and I shifted, my cock twitching beneath my kilt. ‘Twas common forHighland chiefs to publicly breed their Mates, so the clan would know their next chief was conceived.

Obviously, I’d never seen such a display—Kragorn was unMated, but we’d been conceived during such a public breeding. I shook my head, torn between arousal and disgust.

MyKteer, on the other hand, wasverrainterested in the display below. That, more than anything, had me rolling to my side, determined to ignore the spectacle below as I reached for Myra.

“So ye’re saying ye dinnae think I have to rush down there to save her?”

My Mate placed her hand on my cheek. “I think if you did, we might both end up dead. The Battleborn are our enemies, aye?”

In an attempt to ignore my guilt, I grasped the excuse she offered.

“Aye. Well…” I sighed and admitted the truth. “No’ really. They are fierce warriors who have few allies, and we dinnae count ourselves among them. But Clan Bloodfire is no’ their enemy either.”

Yet.

Myra heard the unspoken word.

“But we would be if the Bloodfire chief hurled himself into what appears to be some kind of public celebration and demanded the Battleborn chief cease his entertainment?”

I allowed myself a low chuckle as I buried my face in the crook of her neck. “How do ye ken so much about the ways of our people?”

“Because they aremypeople as well.” She poked me. “So stop feeling guilty.”

Och, she knew me well. “I’ve heard rumors that the sept of the clan south of us has a chief who enjoys exhibitionism with his Mate,” I whispered.

“And I have heard…” I felt her swallow. “Is this not traditional?”

Sighing, I kissed her neck, realizing I couldn’t avoid her question.

“’Tis tradition for the chief to claim his Mate in a public breeding ceremony. That way the clan kens his heir will be planted in his Mate’s womb, and their future will be secured.”

Her fingers tightened in my braids.

“Everychief does such a thing?”

Realization slammed into me, and I lifted my head, eyes opened wide as my gaze met hers in the darkness.

“I am no’ the true Bloodfire chief, Myra. I’m just…sort of filling in for Kragorn. Aye?”

I couldfeelher uncertainty and rushed to reassure her.

“Love, even if we received word of Kragorn’s death”—Gods forbid!—“I would no’ force ye to undergo such a public display if ye werenae comfortable with it. Besides, we’ve already come together countless times.”

Was her smile too weak when she whispered, “But none of them have truly been…”

She trailed off, and I winced, thinking of how I’d beencareful to spill outside her body each time. I hadn’t yetclaimedher.

“And, Vartok… I am not your Mate, so ‘tis irrelevant. You would claim yourMatein front of the clan, aye?”

Gods below. Biting down on my groan of helplessness and myKteer’srage, I buried my head in the crook of her neck once more. How to answer her?

Tell her she’s yer Mate, ye dobber.Tell her ye love her.

Now? Here?

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