Page 32 of Simon

I tugged at my horn. She was wary of me because of what I was.

I have watched the orcs do games and tasks to prove their strength and worth, to show their ability to care for a female. I would do the same for her because I knew she was worth it.

I had already saved her from an ogre. I already showed I could protect her. Now, I would keep her fed and healthy, all while asking permission to touch her. She would come to me—I would make her want me until she could not stand it.

She ate little the night before, so as the light sources rose further into the sky, I stepped away from her even though it hurt me to do so. I watched her while I pulled fruit and bread from the bags to see if she would run again. The dried meat that I had hung and dried myself, I pulled from the rope where I prepared meals .

Lucy watched me intently and came closer.

“Eat,” I said as I laid it out on the table. I didn’t have cups or plates, but it was clean enough. I was used to eating grass, rotten food and even paper in my previous life, so sitting at a table was a step in the right direction.

It was still strange to me, preparing a table for her. This should be normal for a human or anyone with arms and legs. I instantly felt shame come over me, not having at least a plate to put her food on.

My mate looked over the wooden surface. She didn’t think twice as she reached for one of my favorite fruits and took a plentiful bite. I watched the sweet juice run down her chin and licked my lips.

After she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, she spoke, “How did you make the bread? You don’t have an oven in here.”

Heat burned my face when I shook my head.

“Simon, what’s wrong? Did you take it from someone?”

I cleared my throat and nodded.

“Simon, we are going to use our words. I know you know them. Take your time, obviously, I can’t go anywhere,” she muttered. “I’m going to help you the best I can.” My mate sat back in the chair and rubbed her forehead. “In fact, this all works out in my favor anyway, being up here with you.”

My ears perked up, and I felt my tail wag behind me.

“This will be great to put down in my report. I’m here in the Wood to record species of plants and animals for research. You can be the first big project I write about.” Her eyes lit up, but I remained skeptical.

I didn’t want to be recorded as if I were an animal that lived here.

I huffed and put the loaf of bread next to the fruit she had put on her side of the table. Then, sat on the other side.

“What? Why did you get all huffy?” She tilted her head. “And start talking, even if it is ayesorno. You will get used to using your tongue.”

I want to use my tongue in other ways, but you won’t let me.

Instead, I was faced with the idea that my mate thought of me as an animal. I had to prove to her that despite my looks I was good enough to be her mate.

“I am not an animal,” I drawled slowly. “I was animal. Not animal anymore.”

I fidgeted in my seat when she said nothing back right away. She just stared.

“What do you mean you are not an animalanymore?”

“I am not an animal. I think.” I pointed to my head. “I...” I wanted to say I didn’t eat grass, but grass settled my stomach if I ate food that disagreed with me “I have dis-ires. W-ants. Not be lone-ly. I do not get hard for anyone else but you.”

My mate let out a strangled cough. “For someone who doesn’t talk, you talk awfully blunt.”

I let out a bleating laugh. “If one is s-silent, it does not m-mean they are s-stupid.”

“Why haven’t you tried to speak with me before, then?” Lucy crossed her arms and scooted away from the table.

How did I tell her I had listened my whole life and never uttered a word? I was a goat. I did not have the ability or desire to. My tongue was short, but I knew I was different when I did not follow the herd. I had no way to communicate. Calliope was the only one who understood I was different until that potion fell onto my head.

“I just st-start-ed… pra-practice… practicing.” I wiggled my lips, getting used to using the muscles.

“Why? Why practice now?”

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