Page 7 of Enchanted with the Orc
Straightening my shoulders, I prowled closer to her, trying to be inconspicuous in my approach, but her lovely eyes caught my movement and they widened with trepidation as I neared. The same look that I saw on her face whenever there was a male present.
Wariness and vigilance. Something had happened in her past that had hurt her and now she was careful to avoid situations that could lead to it happening again. I pressed my lips together, struggling to hide the smile that wanted to beam out at her in greeting.
“Wonderful party,” I told her instead, trying to show nonchalance. This was the advice that I’d been given by Rudgar.
Females like Tasia didn’t like being pursued outright. They needed to be given time to get used to the male who was mated to them. If her husband was as bad to her as Zara said, she’d be wary. I had to allow her the time to trust me. In all likelihood, she wouldn’t even realize who I was to her until I told her the truth.
She gave me that same, measured smile that she had the first time we’d officially met. “Thank you. The coven and clan planned it for us. I helped, but if it wasn’t for them, it wouldn’t have happened,” she told me, her gaze sweeping out to encompass everyone in the room.
The smile that crossed her face this time was more genuine. “It was more than I could ever ask for,” she murmured, and I was certain that she’d forgotten I was there for a moment. I didn’t mind. If it meant that I would be able to see that sincere look in her eyes, then I could be invisible for years at a time and just watch her.
I scanned the beautiful planes of her face, admiring her doe-like eyesand the sweet curve of her nose and cheeks. I longed to run my finger along her soft jaw, but I held myself back, scared that I was going to pull her from the trance she seemed to be in.
“They’re the only family I’ve ever known,” she told me, swallowing hard and I wanted to pull her into my arms. I needed to comfort her, but I also knew that she wouldn’t welcome it.
I wasn’t anyone to her… yet. Soon, I would be. I had a plan, and I just needed time to execute it. Still, it took a ridiculous amount of self-control to not intervene when her eyes were filled with sadness the way they were now. Clenching my fists, I stopped myself from reaching out to touch her cheek.
My instincts were beating at me to hold her, to comfort her, but that would be a misstep. With Tasia, I had to be careful. Every step of my plan forward had to be mapped and charted.
From what Zara had told me, she had been burned and was now shy when it came to males. I understood that. I’d been watching the news of this plane and while it was shocking, for some reason, there were males who hurt the females they were honor-bound to protect.
It hurt my heart that this female carried the shadows she did because someone she’d trusted had betrayed her. But I also knew that I would be able to win her. Fated mates were fated for a reason. I was going to win her. It would just take time.
“I have a present for Gabbi,” I told her, pulling a little box from my pocket and holding it out to her.
The darkness that was haunting her gaze faded as she focused on the box, her brow furrowed. Wide eyes met mine and a jolt of lust sizzled through me, so strong that I almost staggered back on my feet.
Is that how she’ll look at me the first time I make her come? A little surprised and a whole lot pleased?
“You didn’t have to,” she insisted with a shake of her head, her eyesdarting to where Gabbi was spinning in circles with Rudgar on the dancefloor. The big male was hunched almost all the way over as he spun her while she giggled. “She has so many gifts already—” she started, but I shook my head.
“Of course I had to get her something. It’s her birthday. She’s only had a few so far. Each one should be cherished,” I explained.
Her lips curved and her eyes ducked as she looked down at the box, hesitating for only a moment before she reached out for it. When our fingers touched, the shot of electricity zinged all the way through my body.
This. This is what I’ve been waiting for my entire life.
My brothers were the only family I had growing up. We’d lost our parents early on. And every clan we’d approached had tossed us aside. Chief Rok had been the only one who’d taken a chance on us, and now Dristan. But there had always been something missing. A part that was empty inside me. Now I knew what was missing.
Her.
Even as I thought it, a little missile slammed into my legs, latching around the left one, and my hand dropped to the top of downy curls I was already familiar with.
“Happy birthday, Gruk-ir,” I murmured, and she grinned up at me.
“Gabbi,” she said, tilting her head as she bit into the leg of my pants. Even as Tasia made a sound of distress, I waved her off.
“Gruk-ir means tiny sweet in orcish,” I told her, stroking my hand down her hair again and watching as her eyes closed.
This little one had been protected from whatever had happened to them, I could tell. She was open and loving—if a little bitey. She trusted everyone in the coven and it looked as though she’d never been touched by the darkness that had made my mate so guarded.
I was both proud of Tasia for that and disappointed in myself. I wish I could have been there to stop whatever had hurt her. If I’d been thereto protect her, she wouldn’t have the shadows. She wouldn’t feel the need to run.
“Gruk-eer,” Gabbi enunciated, taking another bite out of my pants.
I beamed with pride down at her and she gave a little wiggle. “What can I call you?” she asked, taking another chomp.
“Enka,” I told her, and she crinkled her little nose as she sounded it out before shaking her head.
