Page 41 of Enchanted with the Orc
“Mommy’s mad,” Gabbi said in a loud whisper to Enka. “We should go play in case she wants to yell at us.”
I rolled my eyes while they snuck off.
Chapter Twenty-three
Enka
I’m in a slow-burning hell.
Tasia was plastered against my side as she waved at the screen I was holding. Our Gruk-ir was on her lap, trying to plaster her face on the screen, but her mother had pinned her against her chest while she wiggled for freedom. It was the only reason she was so close to me.I was both cursing my bad luck and thanking every God that could hear me.
She wanted us to befriends, and here I was enjoying every inch of her body that was soft and sweet against me. The muscles in my body were stiff from holding myself back from what I wanted to do. I wanted to bury my face in her throat, to cradle her and our daughter in my arms. To revel in our closeness.
But I couldn’t do that. Not when I was so close to her trusting me. Instead, I pasted a smile on my face and watched as Gabbi told an amused Rudgar all about her day while he made his way toward Zara’s apartment.
“I’m glad you had a good birthday,” he told her with a wink. “And I have a present for you when you get home.”
She was vibrating against Tasia now, and she grabbed at the phone, causing Tasia to hold her even tighter, pressing harder against me, her ass bumping against my thigh. It was everything I could do to angle my hips away and not roll my eyes back in my head.
Rudgar gave me a knowing look as our Gruk-ir screeched, “Present?” just as the male opened the door to Zara’s apartment. The loud cheer from the other side made my mate and daughter grin. If only based on that reaction, I would forever be grateful that they had them to rely on.
“It’s our girl’s birthday!” Zara called, her hands in the air in celebration while the others clapped. My Gruk-ir wiggled with joy while Tasia wiped a tear from her cheek.
“How was your day, little one?” Tabitha asked. She’d been leading the coven when Zara’s mother—the original High Priestess—had died. Now that Zara had taken over, she was a treasured advisor and one of the strongest witches in the coven.
“So much fun!” Gabbi babbled, telling the enthralled group all about her party and the friends she had made. I scowled as she started talking about her best friendJael, the little centaur male who she appeared to be smitten with. “And we ate cake and then Mommy and Abukissed,” shefinished and her audience turned their awestruck gazes our way instead.
My lips parted to explain, but I snapped them shut, not sure what to say without giving away my intentions. I waited for Tasia to say something—anything—but she just sat there, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open.
“Kissed?” Zara asked, tilting her head at Tasia, sending a wink her way. “Well what do you know, I guess our Tasia is spending her little away time more productively than I thought.”
Tasia was shaking her head violently while Zara spoke, but no one allowed her to talk, breaking out in boisterous laughter instead.
“I’m getting a little sister!” Our Gruk-ir announced then, and it was everything I could do to not laugh along with them. I bit my lip, watching as Tasia sputtered, turning horrified eyes on our daughter.
“I amnotpregnant!” she insisted, and the cackles from the phone didn’t stop. “I’mnot!”
“But sheneedsa sibling, Tasia,” Floria called, wiping tears from her eyes while still leaning against Hanna’s side to hold herself up. “And you havequitea fine specimen there.”
I puffed my chest, grinning down at Tasia, but she shook her head wildly, whispering, “Don’t encourage them!” so I deflated a little.
“There won’t be any sisters,” she said to Gabbi, who turned a mutinous look her way, her entire face scrunching in that way that sent a punch to my gut. And while I knew that it wasn’t time for the discussion, I didn’t want to do anything but give her whatever she wanted.
“Never say never,” Zara laughed, wiggling her eyebrows with vigor, and Tasia sent a withering expression in her direction.
“And what if it ends up being a brother?” Floria asked and it was our Gruk-ir’s turn to look horrified.
The laughter started again until Tasia spoke up, quieting the rowdy group. “Alright, alright. No more of that.” She pulled Gabbi back towardher chest, keeping her close. “Thanks so much for calling,” she told them, “even though all you did was make trouble.”
“It’s what we’re best at,” Zara quipped, but her smile softened as she searched my mate’s expression. “We want you both back soon. You’ll be safe here.”
“I miss you,” Gabbi called, fighting Tasia’s hold to press a sweet kiss to the camera. The females all got a little teary eyed, including my mate. “I want to come home.”
“Soon, sweet girl,” Tasia insisted, pressing a kiss to her hair.
“And until then,” Zara told her with a little wink, “We sent some presents with Darak. They should be waiting outside in the hall. From the coven to our littlest witch.”
The sound that left Gabbi was more war-cry than joy, but she scrambled off of Tasia and onto the floor, running with all her might to the front door. I left Tasia’s side, my body protesting the move, following our daughter to make sure she didn’t get herself into trouble. When I spotted her, she was swinging off of the door handle, but it wasn’t budging.
