Page 14 of Enchanted with the Orc
His emphasis on the word told me everything that I needed to know. We wouldnotbe stepping out of this hotel until whatever was chasing my mate went away or was subdued. This was our new home.
I nodded, watching as he tapped on the door handle with the black cards before he handed one to each of us. I took mine, tucking it into my pocket as he gestured for Tasia to go ahead. I waited behind and he turnedto face me, his brow furrowed.
“What’re we looking out for?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I admitted, releasing a huge pent up sigh of relief now that my female and youngling were safe inside the room. “But she’s scared, so whatever it is, I’ll have to get her to tell me so I can fix it for her.”
“Wecan fix it,” he said, baring his teeth. “Whoever it is, they’re threatening an innocent female and child. They’ll go through me, too.”
Gratitude filled me. My clan used to be tiny—with just my brothers—but now it was growing in spades with males who I respected and was growing to love. Darak was one of them.
“Thanks, brother,” I told him, slamming my fist against my chest.
He returned the gesture before slapping me on my back, glancing at the door where my female had entered. “Whatever you need, call me. The fact that she’s running tells me that whoever it is, they’re close.”
I nodded, agreeing with him, a shot of fear piercing my heart at the thought of my female and youngling being hurt in any way.
Chapter Nine
Tasia
Ispun in a circle, staring around at thehugesuite that I’d stepped into. This place wasamazing. I’d seen commercials with things like this, but I’d never thought I’d ever bestayingin one of those places.
It wasn’t as nice or as large as the apartment we had left behind, but it came really close. And for a temporary accommodation, that was sayingsomething.
The carpet was plush under my feet and I knew it would be so soft if I took my shoes off. There was a living area spread out in front of us with a dining table behind it. A massive television took up a portion of the wall on the right of us and a set of double doors to the left had to lead to the bedroom and bathroom. There was a smaller door closer to the front door and when I moved over, pulling it open I saw that it revealed a half-bath.
The bright, jeweled tones that had been used for the decorations gave off a modern aesthetic but the furniture looked plush and comfortable. Anddurable, which would be important for Gabbi.
This is amazing.
I spun in a slow circle before everything came to a screeching halt. There wasonedoor, leading toonebedroom.
I hurried over to it, prying the door open and releasing a panicked laugh. Gabbi mumbled against my left breast and I stroked my hand over her back to comfort her.
Fuck, fuck, FUCK!
How was I going to survive staying with Enka in a place with only one bed? Who I was now more certain than ever was my bond mate. The moment we had shared in the elevator had been more intense and intimate thansexhad been with David.
I might have been in denial before, but I couldn’t be now. Still, I wasn’t going to do anything about it. Rash decisions had put me in the place I was now and while I was grateful that my daughter and I were safe and out of danger for the moment, staying in a hotel that wasfarmore luxurious than the borrowed sofa we might have been able to talk our way into once we made it out of the city, I wasn’t going to jump into bed with another male.
Not until I was out from under the thumb of the last male I’d trusted. Even then, I didn’t know that I could give my heart and soul to Enka.I couldn’t trust my heart anymore. It had led me down the wrong path before. I was almost hyperventilating by the time the door snicked closed in the distance.
Enka.
I stepped out of the bedroom, eyeing him as he looked around nonchalantly, putting my bags down on the desk in the corner. He dwarfed the space, and now it felt way too tiny. Too claustrophobic.
“I’ll sleep on the sofa,” he said, without missing a beat, and the racing of my heart slowed along with my erratic breathing.
“What?” I asked, my brow furrowing, not expecting the words from him. He hiked his thumb toward the sofa.
“It’s wide enough that I can fit on it. You and Gruk-ir can take the bedroom. I’ll ask Darak to bring some of my things here. You’ll be safe. I’ll protect you,” he explained.
Just like that, every ounce of panic slid out of my body.
He didn’t expect me to sleep with him. He’s trying to keep us safe.
While a small part of my brain—the part that was trained to not believe males after David—screamed at me to not believe him, the rest of me was finally relaxing. A wave of ease swept over me and I nodded, not able to voice the sweet relief that filled me.
