Page 3 of Enchanted with the Orc
Peering down at the youngling, I gave my leg a testing shake, but she held on even tighter, growling now. My eyebrows popped up in surprise, but I found myself grinning down at her.
“Hungry?” I asked, and she giggled louder. “Famished, I see. Well we’re just going to have to find you something to eat, aren’t we?”
She nodded with enthusiasm, still latched to my ankle. I was careful as I made my way to my feet, trying hard not to dislodge her, but it looked like she wouldn’t be going anywhere any time soon.
Snorting out a laugh, I took one of her feet into my hands, marveling at how tiny it was, but she probably thought I was trying to pull her off, so she squealed her annoyance, squeezing her little arms tighter aroundme. I cupped both of her feet into the palm of my hand, lifting her until she was upside down.
The squeal immediately switched to one of glee, as I walked, holding her with her little braids falling down to tickle my feet inside my shoe. I’d just turned another corner when a female almost collided with me.
If I’d been paying attention, I would have realized someone was coming—and most definitelywhoit was, because it was Tasia, her long hair tied back from her beautiful face, with a red silk scarf wrapped around the top of her head. Her scent filled my lungs, and a strong cascade of possessiveness filled me.
My mate.
Stumped, I blinked down at her, awed by the fact that I could recognize her now when it had been so difficult before. It was as if something had been blocking the instinct inside of me, and now it no longer was.
She skidded to a stop, avoiding me by only an inch and she gasped, staring up at me with wide eyes. I was trapped in her chocolate gaze—that wassolike the youngling’s—for a long moment, before she dropped it to look at the giggling toddler still latched to my ankle as I held hers in the air.
“Gabbi,” she fretted, going to her knees to reach for the youngling’s face. My head tilted with curiosity as I watched her attempt to open the little one’s teeth. “I’m so,sosorry. I can’t believe she did this. She probably thought you were Rudgar—”
“That’s why she called me Rud-Rud,” I said with a low chuckle, watching in fascination as Tasia tickled Gabbi until she was howling with laughter, releasing me. She scooped her from me, turning her so her little body was cradled against her.
The little one pressed her face to Tasia’s neck, and as I looked from the youngling to her, logic coalesced in my brain. With it, denial and crushing disappointment filled me at once.
But I needed to know for certain, so I asked, my voice a low croak of sound, “Your daughter?”
Her bright smile was answer enough, as she pressed her face to the little one’s. “Yes. She’s a handful, though. And I’m so sorry!” she chuckled, her nose scrunching at the end in an adorable expression that made my heart thump in my chest.
Of course she’s already mated. She can’t belong to you.
“No need to apologize,” I told her, dropping my gaze to my feet where the boots that I’d bought with my first paycheck were. “She’s very sweet. Gave me a nickname and everything.”
“She spoke to you?” she exclaimed, rubbing her hand on the little girl’s back. “Oh, that’s wonderful. The only male she talks to is Rudgar, and I was so worried that since she’s only around females she was too shy.”
My eyes whipped up to hers and hers widened as if I’d startled her. “She’s not around males?” I asked, knowing I had no right to question her, but too invested to pretend I was doing anything but hanging on her every word. “What about her father?”
“Oh,” she sighed, her smile becoming tighter, more practiced. “He’s not really in the picture.”
IknewI should stop the beaming grin from spreading across my face, but even as I internally screamed at myself, the ache in my cheeks told me it was firmly in place. “That’s too bad.”
Frowning, she nodded, rubbing her daughter’s back as the little one wriggled in her arms to be put on the floor. While she fussed, Tasia sighed, shaking her head.
“I’ll just take this one back to her room. She wassupposedto be taking a nap, but then she just disappeared,” she huffed, turning Gabbi until she was giving her a stern look, but the youngling just smacked a kiss to her cheek.
Her stern expression gave way to another smile and she nuzzled hernose against her daughter’s. My heart melted at the affection between them and I wished I could be a part of that. Cautioning myself on getting invested too early without knowing everything I needed to, I waved at the pair as they left before turning and heading straight back to my office.
I need to find out more.
Chapter Three
Enka
Istrummed my fingers against the table I was sitting in front of, my eyes glued to the screens in front of me.
“You know this is creepy, right?” Rudgar asked, earning himself two hums of agreement from my brothers who were standing on either side of him behind me, and annoyed grunts from myself and Rok who wassitting next to me.
“It’s my mate,” I explained, my eyes never leaving the female form I was watching as she covered a table with a large, plastic tablecloth covered with butterflies. “There’s no such thing as creepy.”
Rok grunted his agreement next to me, his finger reaching out to gently stroke down the screen over his own mate—Becca—who was helping mine with the decorations. Ever since I’d returned from yesterday’s fateful meeting with my female, I’d been watching her.
