Page 10 of Enchanted with the Orc
But I shoved that thought aside. I was probably wrong, anyway. My instincts about mates werealwayswrong. I’d thought the same thing about David, but that had been the biggest mistake of my life. Just because this instinct was so much stronger didn’t mean that it was right this time either.
“Hmm,” he repeated, and I watched as his gaze took in the bags on my back and shoulder.
I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping he wouldn’t say anything, but I should have known I wouldn’t be so lucky.
“Why don’t I drive you there, then?” he suggested, and I shook my head.
“I’m fine. I like the bus. And it soothes Gabbi,” I fibbed.
You’re getting worse and worse with every word out of your mouth. Shut. Up.
“It’s kind of late to be travelling on your own though,” he said, and while it was a logical statement, I wassurethat someone—probably Rudgar and Zara—had sent him. And if they did, then he didn’t want to take me anywhere except back to the building. I couldn’t do that. I wouldnotput anyone else at risk.
“We’re fine,” I said in a dismissive tone. “You can leave.”
He heaved a sigh, nodding, and I had to stop myself from sagging with relief again just as the bus pulled up in front of me. I hurried inside assoon as the doors opened, the prospect of freedom filling me with energy.
That energy switched to panic as Enka followed behind me, eyeing the bus with open curiosity. He watched as I tapped my card against the reader, moving to sit behind the driver—since this bus was fuller than the previous one.
The bus driver—a bored looking Ijiraq blinked at him, his huge antlers brushing the top of the bus as he waited for Enka to pay. His eerie yellow eyes moved from him to the card reader and then he huffed out a heavy, impatient breath.
“I don’t have one of those cards,” Enka explained.
“Cash payment is four dollars,” he said in a weary voice. “And I don’t have any change.”
Enka nodded, grabbing his wallet and I watched as he pulled out a twenty-dollar bill, handing it over. The Ijiraq looked from him to the money clutched in his skeletal hand and shrugged, tucking it into the front pocket of his shirt.
“Enjoy the ride,” he said, and Enka clambered in, taking a seat opposite me. Even as fear that we were being followed rushed through me, I couldn’t help but be amused by this big orc squished into a seat on the bus.
It was clear that he was trying to make himself look smaller. He glanced around, taking in all of the different beings on the bus who—after watching his interaction with the driver—had gone back to minding their own business.
When he turned back to me, I stiffened, hoping he wasn’t going to ask me anything. It only took him a few seconds.
“Where’s this bakery located?” he asked and I rolled my eyes, leaning forward to speak to him. He did the same, mirroring my position, but being so much bigger than I was, and taking up so much more space, it was almost funny. Almost.
“You know I’m not going to a bakery,” I told him, my eyes narrowed on his and he nodded, his hands pressed together in front of him.
“Yes,” he told me, the simple word not saying anything more.
“Who sent you after me?” I asked, furious that my plan was being thwarted.
“No one,” he answered with a shrug, sending an apologetic look toward a pretty little Kitsune he’d jostled since she was standing next to him. She tittered, giving him a shy, inviting smile and I felt my chest burn with jealousy.
He didn’t seem to notice though, as he simply turned back to me, effectively dismissing her. Her flirtatious smile turned sour, tails swishing as she moved away in an elegant, miffed huff. I bit my lip, hiding a smile and telling myself that it couldn’t bereliefthat I was feeling.
That would be stupid, Tasia. And remember when we decidednotto do stupid things?
Chapter Seven
Tasia
Itried to ignore Enka for the rest of the bus ride, but when I stood to leave, he followed, exiting with me as I stepped onto the street and started walking. He was a huge, protective presence behind me and it was the first time I’d felt safe that day.
I peeked back at him as he strolled, his hands in the pantspockets of the charcoal suit he was wearing. His lips quirked in a smile as he saw me looking at him and I spun back to face forward, having memorized the look of his drool-worthy shoulders and chest.
There was no way that I could fall for whatever act he was putting on. “I know it was either Zara or Rudgar who put you up to this,” I told him, glaring over my shoulder. “Or maybe both of them.”
He shrugged those big shoulders, his biceps outlined in his suit, and I wished I could just take a bite of them. Maybe my daughter had gotten her biting habit fromme.
