Page 57 of Simon

My mate snored again, and I placed my hand on her head to keep it steady. “No, she didn’t start doing it until I bit her—”

Sugah stood to his feet, and the weapon on his back shook behind him. “You bit her? Like shifters and fae do? Does that mean you are mated? I do not smell the bond?” He came closer and took a sniff. Instinctively, I backed away.

“Don’t smell her!” I petted her hair. “I bit her, but I don’t know how to bond her—yet. I will figure it out soon.” It felt right that I should bite and rut her. I did not have the confidence to do so. Not when she didn’t insert my dick inside her.

Sugha rubbed his hand down his face. “I hear females like to be bitten. I cannot wait to experience it myself.” He licked his lips and stared off into the distance. “Yes, I have many things I want to try after getting hold of a Karma Sutra book from Queen Melina. There were notes in it that I found most fun.”

I’m sorry, what?

I continued to back away, giving the orc some space. He was the strange one, and I did not want my mate near him at all. I’d seen her laugh with him, and I would not have her laugh at his jokes any longer.

Mine.

“Lucy acted strange after you bit her? I am wondering if it could be a partial bond. Not that I am an expert or anything, but you being so different from everyone else, who knows what it means.”

I tilted my head.

“You see, shifters and fae bite and fuck to seal their bond. Orcs, we brand our mates.”

I shivered in disgust. I saw too much of that the day when Calliope was claimed by her male. I had actually seen far too much before that day as well, but it was so terrifying I couldn’t look away.

Like when Calliope’s male crushed a pixie with his bare hand—you just can’t look away.

I internally gagged.

“How-how will I know what to do to claim my female, then?” I rubbed my hand up and down Lucy’s back. She let out a snort and wrapped her arms around my neck.

Sugha shook his head. “I do not know, especially because of your predicament. I’ve never seen a creature like you, especially after that potion spilled onto your goat form. You are a brand new species.” The orc rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Are you sure she is your fated? Or did you just pick her?”

I growled out again, and my female’s head perked up. “I said he’s mine!” Lucy yelled.

I patted Lucy’s back and shoved her head back into my neck. She took a deep breath and promptly fell back asleep with a snore.

I did not have to explain myself to this orc. He doesn’t have a mate himself yet. He would not know how it felt to know that a female or male was his.

I narrowed my eyes at the orc, and he raised his hands in surrender. “Alright, she’s yours, then. It isn’t fair. Why can’t I have mine?” He kicked the dirt with his bare feet. “Anyway, bonds, you need to find that witch that keeps helping all the human females. Her name is uh… Starla. Yeah, Starla. Ellie talks to her all the time, my brother Thorn’s mate. Calliope has been visited by her as well, perhaps you should go—”

“I will see Ellie,” I quickly added. I didn’t want Lucy to see Calliope, not yet, especially if Lucy was being so… jealous. Which already had me hardening at the idea.

I only cared for Calliope as a friend and nothing more. I worried Lucy might do something unpredictable, especially with how she was acting now.

Once my mate was better, maybe they could be friends? My ears twirled with excitement.

But then that meant I had to talk to Calliope.

What if she didn’t like my voice? What if she got angry that I didn’t learn to speak to her first?

Sugha cleared his throat. “If that is the case, then go see Ellie. I assume you know the way since you wandered these woods and have stolen meat from me and my brothers.”

My mouth dropped.

Sugha let out a playful laugh and came forward. “We all knew of your struggle. You must not take things seriously. We always make extra. Calliope made sure that we made more than we needed, just in case. She sees you as not only her friend but her brother. Now that you are half-human, that makes more sense.”

I did not know what to say. Calliope thought of me as her brother? Me?

“You think too much. She is fine. Valpar keeps her busy. Just know Valpar will not hurt you, especially when you look half-human. Now go on, I’ll tell the others Lucy is fine and make sure we camp near the entrance of the Wood. We need to keep her father safe.”

I nodded in thanks and stepped away.

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