Page 42 of Enchanted with the Orc
It was an extra precaution that I’d taken, ensuring that she didn’t get out and run amok in the hallway. I couldn’t bear to think of other possible scenarios of anything happening to her where I couldn’t reach her.
She released her hold on the handle and then pointed at it like the little princess she was. “Abu, open.”
“Please?” I asked, kneeling down so we were closer in height—while still towering over her.
“Please,” she agreed with a firm nod and I grinned, opening the door. In poured dozens of wrapped gifts and her war cry sounded again. I flinched before corralling all of her energy and enthusiasm into the living area near Tasia with her presents.
It was a struggle to get her—the vibrating ball of energy that she was—into the space while also holding all of her presents, but I survivedit. I could barely hear the words being shared between the females, but when I sat next to her again, ensuring that I was pressed against her the way I had enjoyed, they quieted.
“And you, Enka?” Zara asked, amusement filling her gaze. “How’ve you been?”
“Good,” I told her with a contented smile that was probably telegraphing that I was way better thangood.
“I’ll bet,” she drawled with a smirk before focusing on Tasia again. “He’ll take care of you. Trust him.”
She stiffened against me before giving a small, almost imperceptible nod. I knew it was difficult for even that, so I was flattered. Even the smallest show of trust from her was better than nothing.
Progress.
“You know we’re just a call away,” Tabitha said, her voice low but filled with intensity. “If you needanything.We’re your family.”
“And we forgive you for leaving us without a word,” Floria said with pursed lips and crossed arms. “Because you’re trying to protect our little girl. Butnever again.”
Tasia swallowed, and I wanted to hold her so bad that my hand shook with the urge. “I promise,” she whispered, swiping away a tear from her cheek and I had to look away. I couldn’t sit there while she cried and not comfort her.
“Mommy?” Our Gruk-ir asked, abandoning her presents and scrambling up her lap for a hug. Tasia smiled down at her while our precious girl frowned, swiping at her wet cheeks with her tiny hands. “Why are you crying? Abu, hug Mommy.”
I looked at Tasia’s face and she gave me a small smile. I took it as all the approval I needed before gathering them both into my arms, holding them tight against me. I ignored the feel of another tear sliding against my skin.
“Take care of them,” Zara called. “I love you all.”
The words were repeated by the group and Gabbi pressed one last smacking kiss to the phone before we hung up. She pulled away to look at Tasia who had finally stopped crying.
“No more crying,” she told her with a stern voice and my mate’s watery laugh had me holding her tighter. Gabbi waited for her mother’s nod before she ran back to her presents.
“You can let me go now,” Tasia murmured, but she was leaning against me, her eyes closed as she turned her face into my chest.
I didn’t say anything, my heart breaking for my mate as she sniffled, clenching my shirt. Unable to stop myself from doing anything else, I gathered her into my arms, tighter against me, hugging her close.
“It’s okay,” I whispered against her temple, nuzzling against her, taking a deep hit of her scent to calm myself so I didn’t immediately run out of the building to kill her husband.
I had a mate and daughter to think about. I couldn’t be taken away from them for doing anything reckless. Instead, I let her soothe me, her small, soft body curved against mine.
Over my mate’s head, I saw our Gruk-ir looking at me with a grin that could only be described as evil. I quirked my eyebrow and she went back to what she was doing, ripping wrapping paper off of a paint set.
Chapter Twenty-four
Tasia
Ismoothed my finger over my daughter’s hair, making sure everything was in place while she vibrated with glee. She’d put on her best dress, which was saying something, since Enka had boughtso muchclothing for her, that he’d had to get a rolling rack for her that took up a big portion of thebedroom.
“And you’re going to be careful?” I asked her, ducking down so she was looking at me directly.
She nodded, her expression sobering. “I’ll only play with my friends and I’ll run to Darak if I see any adults I don’t know,” she repeated the rules that I’d given to her. “No going outside.”
“I’m sorry we can’t go with you,” I told her, and she shrugged, much less worried than I was.
“Jael’s going to be there,” she explained, as if that should soothe every worry that I had, and I smothered a laugh as I heard the low growl from behind me.
